PENPAL :

Assalamu-alaykum, Oh I’m so excited and its all because of my mum!

She was in the kitchen all weekend, cooking the mince and making samosas. No not just five or six samosas but what looked like hundreds of them.

I asked my mum what the special occasion was and she said Ramadhan is coming very soon and I am making preparations for it.

Amina asked my mum who is Ramadhan and my mum just laughed.

She said, Ramadhan is a special time in which  Muslims don't eat and drink during the day. We do this fasting for a whole month!

Amina and I were  so excited and decided that we are going to fast as well. My Mum said, “You will need to make preparations as well and only then can you fast.”

It sounds so much fun, I hope you will be able to fast with us.  pp

RAMADHAN FACTS :

Ramadhan is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed to prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Muslims are commanded to fast during this month and do many good deeds.

It is such a special month that if we do a good deed, we will be rewarded many times more for it. To make it easier, Allah has chained the Shayateen so that they can not influence us into bad things.

In this month, Allah opens the doors of mercy and forgiveness. Allah invites us to repent so that he can forgive us all.

At night time, we have special prayers — Tarawih — which we don't perform any other time of the year. In this month there is a special night called Laila tul Qadr which is more superior than a thousand months.

STORY: THE FIRST VERSES

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was forty years old. He would often go away for a few days to the mountains near Makkah and spend time alone. He would think about the world around him. His wife, Khadija would prepare some food for the few days he was away.

One night, the Prophet (pbuh) was in a cave in mount Hira in the outskirts of Makkah. The angel Jibrael appeared to him in the form of a man and commanded him "Iqra" which means read. The Prophet (pbuh) was shocked to see this person in the cave. Muhammad (pbuh) was unlettered, which means he could not read or write so he replied, "I can not read."

The angel squeezed the Prophet (pbuh) very hard and again commanded "Iqra". The Prophet (pbuh) again replied to the angel, " I can not read".

The angel squeezed him very hard a second time and commanded him “Iqra”.  Again the Prophet (pbuh) gave the same reply. The angel squeezed the Prophet (pbuh) for a third time and this time recited five verses, which were the first verses of the Holy Qur’an to be revealed. The Prophet (pbuh) repeated the words after the angel.

The Prophet (pbuh) was terrified and he ran home and told his wife.

After that they went to Waraqah, a learned man, who confirmed that this was an angel that had brought a divine message to Muhammad (pbuh).

It was on this night in Ramadan that the Prophet (pbuh) got revelation. It was also the first time he had seen the angel Jibrael. The Prophet (pbuh) continued to get verses from Allah over the next twenty-three years. These verses are the Qur’an which we have with us today.

REFLECTIONS

Assalamu-alaykum, sometimes we might find things difficult but we must still keep going and keep trying our hardest. This might be in fasting or in our school work. If we keep trying hard, Allah makes things easier for us and makes us into better people. PP 

PENPAL:

Assalamu-alaykum, again my friends.

Amina was so excited last night that she couldn’t get to sleep. She asked mum to tell us a bedtime story to help her sleep.

Mum sent dad up stairs instead to talk to us. Dad told us stories about when he was a little boy.

He said, “My brothers and sisters used to stay awake all night awaiting news of the new moon.

Once we saw something strange in the sky. It couldn’t be a star so we quickly shouted to grandma and ask her what it was.

Grandma just said, “Happy Ramadhan!” and told us to go to sleep so we can wake up for Suhoor tomorrow.”

Dad told us its getting late and we should also go to sleep now.But Amina was even more excited and wouldn't let me go to sleep either.

Thanks a lot dad!  pp

DELAYING THE SUHOOR: Zayd bin Thabit: We ate (Suhoor) with the Prophet (pbuh) then we stood up for Fajr Salah. The space between them was equal to 50 Ayats.

The Suhoor should be a small meal or snack. It has many blessings so don't miss out.

KNOWLEDGE BUILDER

• Allah made the moon so that we can distinguish between the different months of the Islamic calendar
• A lunar month is the time taken for the moon to complete one cycle
• One lunar month takes 29 to 30  days to complete
• The First year of the Hijri calendar is when the Prophet (pbuh) did the Hijra from Makkah to Yathrib (Madina).
• The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar calendar
• The Islamic month starts with the sighting of the new moon.
• The lunar year is shorter than the solar year by about ten days
• The Islamic calendar has twelve lunar months
• The solar calendar is based on the solar cycle. One solar year is equal to 'one cycle of the sun' which is roughly equal to 365 days.

FASTING INFO:

• Whoever does not quit false speech (lying, cheating, swearing, slander, backbiting…) and acting upon it; Allah does not have any need for him leaving his food and drink.
• When Ramadhan comes… the Shayateen are chained... (so that they can’t influence us)
• If one is fasting, he should not speak vulgarly or act indecently. If someone swears at him or wants to fight with him, he should reply “I am fasting!”
• Fasting is a shield (it protects you from sin)

QUESTIONS:

What is Suhoor?

How long is a Lunar month?

Who did Muhammad (pbuh) meet in the cave

Why should we eat the Sehri meal?

Why is doing good easier in Ramadhan?

What did the Angel bring to Muhammad (pbuh)?

Why is the Islamic year shorter?

WHAT IS FASTING?
No eating or drinking during the hours of daylight (before Fajr til Magrib).To also refrain, more so, from all bad deeds during this same time such as lying, cheating, swearing,
backbiting and fighting.

ACTIONS TO AVOID?
To ovoid all bad and negative Behaviour.Even getting angry, arguing and bad language should be avoided.

SOME BENEFITS OF FASTING ARE:
* Whilst fasting, we appreciate food and drink more and understand how people with no food feel.
* The stomach gets a rest from a whole years work.
* Improves patience and will-power.
* Reminds us that Allah is always watching
* Gives us reward and takes us towards Jannah.

WHY DO WE FAST
There are many benefits of fasting to our health and well-being.The reason we fast is so that we gain Taqwah and patience. We become better, sincere and pious Muslims.

ACTIONS TO DO IN RAMADHAN:
Whilst fasting we should do as many good deeds as we can.We should read more Qur’an, be regular in our prayers and be kind and helpful to  our teachers, elders and parents.

WHAT BREAKS THE FAST?
The fast is broken if we eat or drink whilst we are fasting.(If we accidentally eat or drink our fast does not break.)

WHO SHOULD FAST?
All Muslims, male and female,  must fast. Some people don't need to fast:
·    Ill people
·    Very old who cant fast
·    Travellers
·    Young children (can keep a half fast until they are old enough to keep a full fast)

Once a man came to the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and told him about two fasting women. He said that these two women were close to death due to thirst.

The Prophet (pbuh) asked for the two women to be brought to Him. Both women were brought before prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and he requested that a bowl also be brought.

The Prophet (pbuh) instructed the two women to vomit into the bowl. Much to the surprise of everyone, meat blood and puss was seen going into the bowl. After the women finished vomiting the bowl was full!

The Prophet (pbuh) explained to the people that the two women had kept their fast (had eaten suhoor) with food that Allah had made halal for them. The women had then broken their fast with that which Allah had made haram for them.

The Prophet (pbuh) further explained that this haram was referring to the fact that both these women had sat and talked about people - backbiting – which is like eating the flesh of people.

We learn from this incident that backbiting is an evil action and we should refrain from it. This is especially so in Ramadhan where all these bad habits should be kicked out of our lives.

PENPAL - IFTAR

Assalamu-alaykum, ‘Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!’

Sorry that wasn’t me, that was my stomach telling me its almost Iftar time again!

I remember yesterday at this time. I was so hungry and could not wait to eat. I was in the kitchen watching my mum cook. My mum told me that I should not waste this important part of the day.

She said, ”It is a very blessed time. Use it wisely by doing something good - read the Qur’an, do Zikr or make dua to Allah.”

She said, ”Just before Iftar, Allah listens to everyone’s duas.”

I did my Wudhu and hurried to the masjid. I  started reading the Qur’an and doing Zikr.

Before I knew it my teacher at the mosque said, ”Penpal, there are only a few minutes left, remember to make dua!”

I made dua for everyone I could think of and a very special dua for my Mum and Dad.

Penpal

Allah says, “The most beloved servant to me is the one who is quicker in breaking fast” (i.e. exactly at Maghrib time)

There are three people who’s duas are never rejected. This includes a fasting person until he breaks fast.

QUESTIONS:

How many pillars are in Islam?
What breaks the fast?
Write some benefits of fasting?
How is Fasting a shield?
What is back biting?
What and when is Iftar?

When you perform a Nafl act in Ramadhan you are rewarded with that of a fardh. When we perform a Fardh act, it is multiplied seventy times.

Abu Hurairah narrates: When the month of Ramadhan enters, the shayateen are chained, the doors of paradise are opened and the doors of hell are locked.

The first part of the month is linked to mercy, the second to forgiveness and the third tosalvation.

The smell from the mouth of a fasting person is more fragrant in the eyes of Allah than the smell of musk.

Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break the fast, his sins will be forgiven and he will be saved from  the fire. Even if its a sip of water, milk or a date.

HISTORY: TARAWIH PRAYER

During Ramadhan, Muslims pray a special night prayer called Tarawih. Muslims have been praying this from the time of the Prophet (pbuh) until today.

In the time of Umar, he saw the people praying Tarawih in the masjid and at home. They were praying on their own or in small groups.

He advised the people to come to the mosque and pray together in one big group (Jamaat).  He also fixed the number of rakats to twenty. After four rakah they would rest and make a special dua just like the prophet (pbuh) would.

Since then Muslims pray Tarawih together after the Isha and before the witr salah.

The Muslims try and complete the whole Qur’an during Ramadhan by reciting it in theTarawih prayers.

This salah has great blessings and is only performed in Ramadhan.

TARAWIH FACTS

	Everyday of Ramadhan is so important. There is a special Salah which is read every single day during this month. A portion of the Qur’an is recited in this prayer. By the end of Ramadhan the whole Qur’an is completed in this Salah.
	This Salah is called the Tarawih prayer. It is performed between the Isha prayer and the Witr Salah. During this month even the Witr prayer is often read with Jamaat.
	During the month of Ramadhan the Prophet (pbuh) would recite the entire Qur’an to the angel Jibrael. The angel Jibrael would also recite the whole Qur’an to the Prophet (pbuh).
	Normally we read twenty tarawih—two rakat at a time. Every time we complete four tarawih we take a short rest during which we recite the following dua:
	Who ever stays up the night of Ramadhan in prayers, believing in Allah and hoping for his reward. Allah will forgive his sins. (Hadith commentators  say that this refers to the tarawih prayer)

DID YOU KNOW:

The Qur’an is a guidance for all mankind until the day of Judgement. It tells us how to lead our lives and about Allah—our creator and Lord.

The Qur’an has never been changed and the message is the same as the time of the Prophet (pbuh). Even today it is widely taught throughout the world and is memorised by Muslims.

QURAN FACTS:

	The first verses came to the Prophet (pbuh) in the cave (Hira) near Makkah.
	The Qur’an was revealed over 23 years.
	The Qur’an has about 6700 verses.
	There are 114 Surah in the Qur’an and is divided into 30 sections.
	The Qur’an is the word of Allah and is not authored by any man.
	Allah wont reveal any more books after the Qur’an.
	Quran is a guidance for all Mankind. From the time of the prophet until the day of Judgement.
	Allah has protected the Qur’an. It has never been changed and never will.
	A Hafiz is a person who knows the  whole Qur’an by heart.

During the month of Ramadhan there is one special night called Lailatul Qadr (the night of power). This one night is greater than a thousand months.

When we do one good deed on this night we get the same reward as doing the deed every night for over a thousand months.

On this night the Qur’an was brought down to the lowest heaven from the ‘Lawh-i-Mahfooz’. From here, the verses of the Qur’an were sent to the Prophet (pbuh) over a period of 23 years.

We don't know the exact day when this night takes place. We do know it is during one of the odd nights in the last ten days of Ramadhan.

We should dedicate this night to the worship of Allah, reciting the Qur’an, performing optional Salah, doing zikr and as many good deeds as possible.

If we can’t stay awake during Lailatul Qadr we should pray Isha with Jamaat. We should then wake up and also perform Fajr with Jamaat. We will be rewarded for a full night of worship.

QUESTIONS:

What is the Hawz-e-Kawthar?
How many surahs are in the Quran?
What is the special night called?
Where were the first verses revealed?
What is Tarawih?
How many times are good deeds multiplied in Ramadhan?
What are the three parts of Ramadhan?

WHAT IS ITIKAF?

I’tikaf is to seclude oneself inside the masjid (for men) from Maghrib until the Maghrib next day. Whilst fasting during the day, the person dedicates himself to worship and study. He  can only leave the masjid for taking a bath, making wudhu or going to the toilet.

I’tikaf is sunnah for the last 10 days of Ramadhan.

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