Rekindling our relationship with the Quran is the need of the hour. As we see the Muslim Ummah trapped in the shackles of Western propaganda, there is nothing but the Quran that can save us all.

To our misfortune, Muslims worldwide, particularly the youth, are slowly traveling into a web spread by Western media. We feel inspired by their lifestyle. The luxuries they enjoy and their overall conduct keeps us in awe. Allah (SWT) and His beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) repeatedly instructed people to strengthen their connection with the Quran.

For example, here in the first verse of Surah Ar-Ra’ad, Allah (SWT) says:

“These are the Verses of the Book (the Quran), and that which has been revealed unto you (Muhammad (S)) from your Lord is the truth, but most men believe not.”

Over and over, we are told that bonding with This Book will protect us in this world and the Hereafter. The fact that you have read this blog so far proves your eagerness to connect with The Holy Book.

If yes, may Allah (SWT) bless you, abundantly!

Also, take a look at the following tips to ease this journey for yourself:

1. Start Reading

Opening this Book, with the intention of mere recitation, brings incredible reward. The first step towards every goal is to acknowledge yourself with the basics. Recitation of the Quran opens a whole new world for you.

Don’t agonize over how many pages to read so that you can finish the entire recitation in the minimum possible time. Instead, recognize the beauty of slow and mellow recitation. We suggest you set a routine where you would recite a specific number of pages at a particular time. You can fix a slot after Fajr or after Isha.

Just make sure you adhere to the schedule.

2. Learn Proper Tajweed

When you begin to recite, there is a high chance of making pronunciation mistakes. Arabic is a beautiful language. And Quran, in particular, has a unique dialect. Non-Arabs must enhance their understanding of highs and lows, symbols, and gestures required to read the Quran correctly.

You can enroll yourself in online tajweed classes or ask a professional tajweed tutor to aid you with this mission. As you begin the effort, it will be a little hard in the early days. But slowly, you will fall in love with the profound Arabic dialect used in the Quran.

For such people, Allah (SWT) says in the Quran:

Those to whom We gave the Book recite it as it should be recited, they are the ones that believe therein.” (2:121)

3. Study Tafseer

Quran is the Book of Allah Almighty (SWT). And there are fantastic lessons hidden beneath the verses which we must know. Understanding the Quran should be our mission in this life as it allows us to understand what our Lord wants from us.

Allah (SWT) tells us the impact of reading and understanding the Quran can:

“take mankind from the depths of darkness to light” (14:1)

“guides them to the ways of peace” (5:16)

“guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers” (17:9)

You can join a Halaqah in the local mosque or enroll yourself in a nearby Islamic Institute. If none of this is possible, there is always an option of going for virtual learning. Nowadays, we have plenty of digital platforms where teachers from credible backgrounds help students learn the Quran online. It is flexible, easy, and quite accommodating for busy individuals.

A few days into an authentic program and you will find the state of your heart changing steadily. It compels you to rethink your life’s goals and make decisions that please Allah (SWT).

Final Thoughts

These are only a few tips that can help to enhance your journey towards the Quran. Once This Book becomes your partner, you will have a new set of priorities. For instance, you’d prefer to listen to beautiful recitations while driving instead of playing songs. And who knows, you might get the motivation to memorize the Quran from cover to cover?

May Allah (SWT) make us among his beloved servants and rekindle our relationship with the Quran forever!

At the end of each day, do you reflect on your state of Imaan? Have you drawn any closer to your Rabb? Or, are you caught up in the glimmer of Dunya and forgot that you have to return?

It is human nature to forget. But if the forgetfulness lasts long, it may bring doom. You get so involved in Satanic desires that you forget why you were sent here, in the first place.

Fortunately for the Muslims, we have hundreds of ways to cope with these devilish instincts. You may know of some ways like Recitation of the Quran and Salah. But today, we will highlight the importance of Sadaqah (voluntary charity). It is something we often ignore yet this is what’s going to rescue us from the Hellfire.

What is Sadaqah?

Sadaqah is derived from the Arabic root word Sadq (truth). The literal meaning of this word is to spend from one’s possessions and abilities in the way of Allah (SWT). It is an important constituent of a Muslim’s faith as it helps him/her draw closer to their Rabb.

Allah (SWT) says in the Quran:

“And those who are patient, seeking the countenance of their Lord, and establish prayer and spend from what We have provided for them secretly and publicly and prevent evil with good – those will have the good consequence of [this] home.” [Quran, 13: 22]

It is important to acknowledge the difference between Zakah and Sadaqah.

• Zakah is the third pillar of faith. It binds a Muslim to pay out a standard proportion of the supplementary wealth and property to the poor and needy people in the community.
• Sadaqah is something that everyone can give out. You can spend your skills, blessings, and money to help out those in need for it. This is something that people of every social status can perform.

Unlike Zakah, Sadaqah has no fixed amount. You can donate anything that is within your capacity.

Types of Sadaqah

There are three types of Sadaqah:

• Sadaqah in the way of Allah (Sadaqah Lillah)
• Continuous Goodness (Sadaqah Jaariyah)
• Donated Assets (Waqf)

Every good thing that a person shares to seek the pleasure of Allah (SWT) is counted as Sadaqah. Even if it is as little as a date, it can be given as a Sadaqah. Allah (SWT) will reward a person for the intention and effort that he/she makes to give Sadaqah. Besides this, it is mentioned in a Hadith of Holy Prophet (PBUH) that smiling towards your Muslim brethren is also a Sadaqah. This is an act that promotes friendliness and assures safety from a Muslim brother to his fellows.

The Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said:

“To smile in the company of your brother is charity…” (Bukhari)

Rules of Sadaqah

There are some regulations one must follow when giving out in charity. These include:

• Spending sincerely to seek Allah’s pleasure, not praises from other humans around
• One must have Halal earnings when he/she gives Sadaqah
• Do not keep account of Sadaqah
• Do not remind or mock people after you have given Sadaqah to them
• Make sure you do not announce what you give, keep it hidden
• Always be ready to do Sadaqah

Benefits of Sadaqah

Allah (SWT) highly values every ounce of effort you put in to spend in His way. It is an investment that will help you to exit the shackles of Hellfire on the Day of Judgment. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) once said:

“Charity extinguishes sin just as water extinguishes fire.” (Bukhari)

Allah (SWT) promises to His Believing servants that whatever they spend will not be lost. They will find rewards for it eventually in this Dunya and in the Hereafter, as well. It may seem like you are running out of money, but human sight cannot perceive what The Creator decides. He has promised in the Quran that He will multiply the rewards of charity by at least 700 times.

“The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed of grain, which grows seven ears; in each ear is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies His reward for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and all-Knowing.” (Qur’an, 2:261)

So, my dear Muslim brothers and sisters, whatever you spend from time, money, and resources, you will definitely get better returns for it. Let’s hope and pray that we meet and rejoice in JANNAH!

Most of us, even vaguely, know a little about Hajj. It is the fifth pillar of Islam and obligated once in a lifetime. Though, there are some regulations on who should perform Hajj and when this blog will not focus on that.

Our motive in this post is to help you all understand the core of this ritual. Why should a person perform Hajj? What is the point of journeying so far away from your land? Is there a reason for leaving your comfort zones and wandering about the Holy places?

For starters, let’s begin with the foundation.

What is Hajj?

Hajj is associated with the life of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS), his wife Hajra (AS), and Hoy Prophet (PBUH).  The struggle that Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hajra (AS) went through for the sake of seeking Allah’s pleasure holds paramount importance in Islam.

The Almighty was extremely pleased by the sacrificial nature of Ibrahim (AS) and his family. So much so that the entire Ummah (till the Day of Judgment) will recall their names and glorify their practices.

As mentioned earlier, anyone who sets out on this journey must abide by some laws. Allah gives us a bunch of commands in the Quran, such as:

Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of ihram], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do – Allah knows it and take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah and fear Me, O you of understanding. (2:197)

And when you are finally on the journey, remember that:

O you who have believed, do not kill game while you are in the state of ihram. And whoever of you kills it intentionally – the penalty is an equivalent from sacrificial animals to what he killed, as judged by two just men among you as an offering [to Allah] delivered to the Ka’bah, or an expiation: the feeding of needy people or the equivalent of that in fasting, that he may taste the consequence of his deed. Allah has pardoned what is past; but whoever returns [to violation], then Allah will take retribution from him. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Owner of Retribution. (5:95)

Similarly, as you are about to slaughter the sacrificial animals on the 10^th of Zil-Hajj, Allah tells us that it isn’t their meat or blood that reaches Him. It is the righteousness in your heart that is of significance.

For further clarification on the subject, we suggest you should consult a scholar who would help you understand in the light of the Quran.

Lessons to take home from Hajj

Every person who goes there must brace himself/herself for days of struggle. Perhaps, they have to walk long distances, or the food may not be delicious enough. And maybe, the places to sleep are not as comfy as homes. But there are four takeaways from the entire journey that should stay in sight.

Let’s take a look through them:

Islam

These days, Corona-virus is something that everyone is talking about. The outbreak initiated in China, and so far, it has affected about 100 countries on the world map. Upon recommendations of the scientists, people around the globe are avoiding crowded places, canceling their travel plans, and taking precautions like working remotely.

It got even worse when Saudi Arabia banned pilgrimage for residents and outsiders in the past week. According to the Gulf SPA, this move was the “precautionary measures taken by Saudi authorities to prevent the spread of the virus.” So far, more than 60,000 people have applied for the upcoming Hajj event. And all of a sudden, Saudi Arabia has abandoned further accepting requests. Although all of these measures are only temporary, it is an alarming situation for the Muslims.

As the disciples of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), we have to examine everything in the light of Islamic Law. There is a narration of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) that tells us not to enter or leave an infected city. We must have a firm faith that death is a fact. It will catch everyone at their appointed time. We have no idea if we will be alive the next day. Thereupon, fleeing from the city or country is not a good idea.

Another approach you can adopt is to take precautions. Islam calls upon its followers to perform two tasks for seeking protection from diseases:

• Preserve your souls. That is, try all the practical measures recommended by experts to protect ourselves from all harm.

• Focus on your cleanliness. The Prophet (PBUH) clearly said: “Purification is half of faith.” (Muslim)

Our religion is beautiful. You must have heard how doctors across the world are recommending people to wash their hands and be extra alert of their cleanliness to minimize the chances of being infected. Our religion has been asking us to do so for a long time! SubhanAllah!

When we perform ablution, we wash the hands and face, rinse the mouth and nose. These actions are known to curb the spread of infectious diseases. These are the main areas through which germs spread (hands, face, respiratory tracks) are frequently cleaned. Just imagine if you perform Wudhu five times a day, how much you are reducing the risk of infection with minimum efforts!

Therefore, all we need to do is follow the Sunnah and way of life given to us by Allah (SWT) and the Prophet (PBUH). Being afraid and running away will bring no good. Remember, our final destination is in the Hereafter. Our lives here are temporary. Adorn them with Islamic laws and put your trust in Allah (SWT).

May Allah give us the strength to be staunch followers of Islam and protect us from all harms. Ameen!

Are you in need to study and read Arabic? Do you want to expand your knowledge about the Holy Quran? Read on to find more about the topic.

The Arabic language is one of the most authentic languages in the whole world. Research says that Arabic is one of the oldest languages. It is the language of Prophet Mohammad, and also the language of the almighty Allah, in Sacred Quran. The language dates back around 1400 years and is still one of the most common languages of communication even today in the contemporary Arab world.

Some tips to learn Arabic

Writing down the words and then saying them aloud:

The learner needs to say the words out loud each and every time the person transcribes them. Associating with new words with the help of pictures also take place. If the beginner wants to remember any word, the pronunciation, then the person can relate to the word with a particular sound or any picture. To learn Quran online USA you have the available option from several websites that provide effective Quran learning service.

Recording while speaking new words:

When the beginner records her or himself, and listens to the recording afterwards, the learner may come across the mistakes and correct them. Using the vocabulary the learner is learning. Whenever you will come across a native Arabic speaker, you should make it a point to use around 5to10 words you learned from the course. To learn Quran online USA from leading portals like BEST ONLINE QURAN TEACHING is by far the safest option for small kids.

Summary of the ways of mastering the vocabulary of Arabic

Listening

The more one hears, the more the person does it, the better will be the Arabic language skills. The learner can watch documentaries or listen to the speech and lectures, which are in fluent Arabic language.

Speaking and practicing

While continuing with your listening practices, you should also start speaking in Arabic with your friends, for strengthening the skills in Arabic. An individual can also practice in front of the mirror, as if the person is speaking to the general mass. This particular way is greatly beneficial and productive.

Reading

Arabic reading contents are well-located on World Wide Web, and also in several newspapers. An individual can search online in different fields, read an Arabic novel, Arabic magazines, etc. These things will help to study Arabic.

Writing

After experiences from these practices, the learner will find that writing will become a simple matter. Particularly, reading in dictation, numbering. The learner can start writing what she or he learns each and every day.

Following the Sacred Quran

A Muslim should search for Islamic centers or Masjids for knowing to read, memorize the Holy Quran. If you are unable to get Islamic centers or any Masjid in your nation, then you should seek the help of the Internet.

Methods of learning Quran:

From Islamic centers or Masjids to learn Quran.
You can hire tutors to learn at home.
Contemporary technologies to study on the Internet.
Conclusion

You can always get in touch with the top platforms as they are one of the most sought after companies providing effectual Arabic and Quran learning services.