Fasting
What is the main purpose of fasting in Ramadan?
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous - AlBaqarah: Aya 183
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
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Which surah in the Qur'an discusses the virtue of laylatul Qadr? Briefly explain the surah's meaning.
Surat Al- Qadr
Name one sunnah of the prophet Mohammad (pbuh) that he used to do in the month of Ramadan.
Taraweeh prayer, tahajud, charity
In a hadith Qudsi, Allah (swt) says that "All the deeds of Adam's sons (people) are for them, exept..." What is the exception to this statement?
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Allah said, 'All the deeds of Adam's sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.' Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, 'I am fasting.' By Him in Whose Hands my soul is' The unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting." Sahih al-Bukhari 1904
What are the two conditions, as mentioned by hadith, for which one's fasting can be considered as an expiation for their sins?
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, he will be forgiven his previous sins."'
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ " .
Which surah is considered the greatest surah in the whole Qur'an? Explain why.
Surat Al- Fatihah;
Abu Sa'id Ar-Rafi' bin Al-Mu'alla (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Shall I teach you the greatest Surah in the Qur'an before you leave the mosque?" Then he (ﷺ), took me by the hand, and when we were about to step out, I reminded him of his promise to teach me the greatest Surah in the Qur'an. He (ﷺ) said, "It is 'Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil 'Alamin (i.e., Surat Al-Fatihah) which is As-Sab' Al-Mathani (i.e., the seven oft- repeated Ayat) and the Great Qur'an which is given to me."
[Al-Bukhari].
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him)reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The ____ , and ____ to the next ____, and the fasting of Ramadan to the next Ramadan, is expiation of the sins committed in between them, so long as major sins are avoided."
[Muslim].
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him)reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The five daily (prescribed) Salat, and Friday (prayer) to the next Friday (prayer), and the fasting of Ramadan to the next Ramadan, is expiation of the sins committed in between them, so long as major sins are avoided."
[Muslim].
Salah in congregation (Jama'ah) is how many times more reward than one performed alone?
25 or 27;
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A man's Salat in congregation is twenty-five times more rewarding than his Salat at home or in his shop, and that is because when he performs his Wudu' properly and proceeds towards the mosque with the purpose of performing Salat in congregation, he does not take a step without being raised a degree (in rank) for it and having a sin remitted for it, till he enters the mosque. When he is performing Salat, the angels continue to invoke Blessings of Allah on him as long as he is in his place of worship in a state of Wudu'. They say: 'O Allah! Have mercy on him! O Allah! Forgive him.' He is deemed to be engaged in Salat as long as he waits for it."
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Salat in congregation is twenty-seven times more meritorious than a Salat performed individually."
[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].
In what hijri year was fasting in the month of Ramadan prescribed for the Muslims?
In Sha'ban of the 2nd year after hijra
Which surah of the Qur'an was mentioned in a hadith as a being a third of the whole Qur'an? 100 extra points will be given if you can explain why.
Surat Al Ikhlas;
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported about Surat Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, it is equivalent to one-third of the Qur'an."
According to another version, he (ﷺ) said to his Companions, "Is anyone of you incapable of reciting one-third of the Qur'an in one night?" They considered it burdensome and said: "O Messenger of Allah, which of us can afford to do that?" He (ﷺ) said, "Surat Al-Ikhlas [Say: He is Allah (the) One] is equivalent to one-third of the Qur'an."
[Al- Bukhari].
According to hadith, which two surahs did the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) frequently recite in the two rak'as before Fajr prayer?
Surat Al-Kafirun and Surat Al-Ikhlas;
I observed the Prophet (ﷺ) for one month reciting in the two supererogatory Rak'ah of the Fajr prayer Surat Al-Kafirun (No. 109) [in the first Rak'ah], and Surat Al-Ikhlas (No. 112) [in the second Rak'ah].
[At-Tirmidhi].
What is the deed that is worth 1000 times more in Ramadan than in any other time of the year?
Az-Zuhri said:“A Tasbihah in Ramadan is better than a thousand Tasbihah in other that it.”
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ الأَسْوَدِ الْعِجْلِيُّ الْبَغْدَادِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ آدَمَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ تَسْبِيحَةٌ فِي رَمَضَانَ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ أَلْفِ تَسْبِيحَةٍ فِي غَيْرِهِ .
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger, and there are those who pray and get nothing from their prayer but a sleepless night.”
Explain one act that can make someone who fasted gain no reward for it.
- backbiting, impure intention for fasting ( fasting for reasons other than to please Allah alone)
- Actions that decrease reward: performing sins of any kind. This includes what you think and talk about as well as what you hear and look at.
Explain why laylatul Qadr is called by this name.
It is called by this name because qadr means of high power and standing, which explains the great importance of this night. Also, in that night, the provisions that will be sent to the people are determined for the coming year which is a part of their qadar--destiny.
What Du'aa is recommended for us to say in Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree)?
Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?" He (ﷺ) replied, "You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun, tuhibbul-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni (O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me)."
[At-Tirmidhi].
اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعفُ عني
Which deed will we be asked about first when we are called to account on the Day of Resurrection?
Salah;
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The first of man's deeds for which he will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection will be Salat. If it is found to be perfect, he will be safe and successful; but if it is incomplete, he will be unfortunate and a loser. If any shortcoming is found in the obligatory Salat, the Glorious and Exalted Rubb will command to see whether His slave has offered any voluntary Salat so that the obligatory Salat may be made up by it. Then the rest of his actions will be treated in the same manner."
[At- Tirmidhi].
What is the name of the door of Jannah meant especially for those who are special in their fasting?
Al-Rayyan
Which ayah in the Qur'an explains what one should do if they are sick or traveling during Ramadan?
Surat Al-Baqarah, Verse 184 or 185
What did the prophet Mohammad (pbuh) say upon breaking his fast?
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا أَفْطَرَ قَالَ ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتْ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الْأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
رواه أبو دواد وحسنه الألباني في الإرواء
'Thahab al thama' wabtalat al 'rooq wa thabat al ajru inn shaa Allah
According to hadith, "When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things." Name them.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased)."
[Muslim].