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 …

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 …

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 …

Dua for forgiveness and mercy

We all need it from time to time: وَقُل رَّبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ rabbighfir warham wa-anta khayru arrahimeen My Lord (rabb), forgive (igfir) and (wa) have mercy (arham), and (wa) You are (anta) the best (khayru) of the merciful (arrahimeen). Surah Al-Mu’minūn, ayat 118