The Virtues of Ramadaan

Source: http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/13480/ramadan%20blessings

1 – Allaah has made fasting this month the fourth pillar of Islam.
2 – Allaah revealed the Qur’aan in this month.
3 – Allaah has made Laylat al-Qadr in this month, which is better than a thousand months.
4 – Allaah has made fasting Ramadaan and spending its nights in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward a means of forgiveness of sins.
5 – In this month, Allaah opens the gates of Paradise and closes the gates of Hell, and chains up the devils.
6 – Every night Allaah has people whom He redeems from the Fire.
7 – Fasting Ramadaan is a means of expiation for the sins committed since the previous Ramadaan, so long as one avoids major sins.
8 – Fasting in Ramadaan is equivalent to fasting ten months.
9 – Whoever prays qiyaam in Ramadaan with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer.
10 – ‘Umrah in Ramadaan is equivalent to Hajj.
11 – It is Sunnah to observe i’tikaaf (retreat for the purpose of worship) in Ramadaan.
12 – It is mustahabb in the sense of being strongly recommended in Ramadaan to study the Qur’aan together and to read it a great deal.
13 – It is mustahabb in Ramadaan to offer iftaar to those who are fasting.

And Allaah knows best.

In preparation for the upcoming month of Ramadaan, here are a few audio lectures (and some videos) to get in the zone inshaAllah Most of these can be downloaded alhamdulillah.

Dr Saleh as Saleh rahimahullah – Fasting in Ramadaan (20+ lectures on the fiqh, etiquette, focus and benefits of fasting)
Abu Uwais rahimahullah – We need Ramadaan! (Transcribed lecture here)
Dr Bilal Philips – Ramadaan: a Way of Life (video)
Ali Tamimi – Benefits of Ramadaan
Ahmad Jibril – Are you Ready for Ramadaan?
Ahmad Jibril – Greeting Ramadaan
Yasir Qadhi – Preparing for Ramadaan
Yahya Ibrahim – Rewards Derived from Ramadaan
Yahya Ibrahim – Renewing One’s Faith is a Priority in Ramadaan
Muhammad Alshareef – Towards an Outstanding Ramadaan (video)
Nouman Ali Khan - Welcome Ramadaan (video)
Siraj Wahhaj – Ramadaan: Prepare Yourself
Waleed Basyouni – How to Make this your best Ramadaan (9 parts)
Navaid Aziz – Preparing for Ramadaan
Sa’eed Rageah - Ramadaan Reminder

may Allah ta’ala bless this month for us, Ameen.

Hard as a Rock

Bismillah

From An Explanation of Riyaadh as-Saaliheen:

The servant is not afflicted with a punishment greater in severity than the hardening of the heart and its being distant from Allaah. The Fire was created to melt the hardened heart, this heart which is the most distant of hearts from Allaah. If the heart becomes hardened the eye becomes dry.   …

The heart becomes sick as the body becomes sick and its cure lies in repentance and seeking protection from evil.
It becomes rusty as a mirror becomes rusty and it is polished through dhikr.
It becomes naked as the body becomes naked and its adornment comes about through taqwaa.
It becomes hungry and thirsty as the body becomes hungry and thirsty and its hunger and thirst is satiated through knowledge, love, reliance, repentance and servitude to Allaah.

From: http://www.troid.org/raqaaiq/strengthening-the-heart/the-hardness-of-the-heart.html Al-Fawaa`id [pp. 111-112] of ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him. [The translation is taken from 'An Explanation of Riyaadh as-Saaliheen Vol. 1, Trans. Abu Sulaymaan and modified.]

-may Allah ta’ala reward the person who sent this to me abundantly, Ameen.

–
«لا إله إلا الله ولا نعبد إلا إياه، له النعمة وله الفضل وله الثناء الحسن، لا إله إلا الله مخلصين له الدين ولو كره الكافرون»