Tasbih (2)

Should you want to make tasbih, but not have your beads around, your fingers make a good alternative to the mustahab.

Every finger has three bones, so it’s pretty easy to count 33 SubhanAllahs, 33 Alhamdulillahs and 33 Allahu Akbars, and your pointer finger is right there to finish it off with la ilaha il Allah. 

  
Alhamdulillah Allah has made it so easy to remember Him. We just have to take the time to do it. 

dua after takbeer, at the start of prayer

اللّهُـمَّ باعِـدْ بَيـني وَبَيْنَ خَطـايايَ كَما باعَدْتَ بَيْنَ المَشْرِقِ وَالمَغْرِبْ ، اللّهُـمَّ نَقِّنـي مِنْ خَطايايَ كَمـا يُـنَقَّى الثَّـوْبُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسْ ، اللّهُـمَّ اغْسِلْنـي مِنْ خَطايـايَ بِالثَّلـجِ وَالمـاءِ وَالْبَرَدْ

‘O Allaah, distance me from my sins just as You have distanced The East from The West, O Allaah, purify me of my sins as a white robe is purified of filth, O Allaah, cleanse me of my sins with snow, water, and ice.’

Bukhari and Muslim Continue reading “dua after takbeer, at the start of prayer”

Tasbih

Throughout Ramadan, we make every attempt to worship more, make more dhikr (rememberance) and dua (supplication). 

One tool that helps some people is the misbaha, which has three groups of 33 beads or stones or whatever; some are a single group of 33. This aids in reciting the tasbih: reciting SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar (Glory be to God, all praise and thanks to God, God is Greater) 33 times each, and finishing with la ilaha il Allah (there is no god but God).

In this last few minutes before Iftar, take some minutes to remember God and ask for His blessings. 

A couple of thoughts on Ramadan, after spending far too much time thinking about the silly parts of the world

Ramdan is expressly a month for worshiping God, for prayer (salat), rememberance (dhikr), and supplication (dua). He ordained fasting for us so that we might become Al Muttaqun, those people who are filled with taqwa, with piety and righteousness. 

At its best, the practice of self restraint in the month helps increase our patience, reminds us of the peace that comes from submission to Allah azza wa jall, and helps to center us and toughen our spirituality against the things we experience in the rest of the year.

During Ramadan, we pray more: there are group prayers long into the night; we gather together more:there are community dinners and break-fasts nightly, where you can sit with neighbors, friends, and strangers and eat a few dates and sip some water and give thanks to God for allowing us to complete another fast and to ask Him to accept our worship. 

During Ramadan, the whole pace of life realigns toward giving thanks to God and asking for His guidance and blessings. 

That’s what it’s meant to be. 

May Allah subhannahu wa ta’ala guide me to remember Him, and give thanks to Him, and worship Him in the best possible manner. Ameen.