Assalam alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatu
Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim
Allah subhaana
wa ta’alaa tells
us in the Qur’an that “He has created us in the best of molds” [At-Teen:4]. We are also told that
Allah has “appointed a due
proportion” [At-Talaq:2-3] for everything and that “for every matter there
is an appointed time given” [Ar-Rad:38].
Many women, when their menstrual period begins, find that their
level of engagement with the high spiritual atmosphere of the month drops. For
some, frustration and a sense of lacking spirituality sets in. This, however, shouldn’t be the
case. It is all part of Allah’s creation,
which He created in perfect wisdom. Thus, to complain about it
would be to question the Wisdom of Allah subhaana wa ta’alaa. `Aisha said, "We set
out with the sole intention of performing Hajj and when we reached Sarif, (a
place six miles from Mecca) I got my menses. Allah's Messenger (ï·º) came
to me while I was weeping. He said 'What is the matter with you? Have you got
your menses?' I replied, 'Yes.' He said, 'This is a thing which Allah has
ordained for the daughters of Adam…' Reference : Sahih Bukhari 294, Book 6,
Hadith 1. This is not anything to feel sad or inconvenienced about, but
rather it should be accepted as part of the Divine Wisdom. It is not a
punishment for women wanting to draw near their Lord. It is just part of the
special package of blessings, opportunities and challenges that Allah has given
uniquely to women.
Not just restricted from praying, women on their periods are
also excuse from fasting during the days of their menses. It may not easy to stay positive at
times like these, especially when we see those around us enjoying the rush to the masaajid for taraweeh prayers,
spending time in ‘itikaaf and reciting the Qur’an etc. This can
lead us to feeling deprived of the reward of this blessed month, and often this
feeling ends up decreasing our spirituality rather than increasing it. But now is not the time to fall back into bad habits,
you can still participate and earn the blessings of this holy month. Okay,
you can’t pray, no big deal. But you can do dhikr.
Even
without purification, at any time you may fall in Sujood, and make supplication
to Allah subhaana wa ta’alaa for anything that concerns you.
You can make supplication sitting down with hands raised to your Creator at any
time as well.
You
don’t have to have any special supplications memorized, or even speak in
Arabic. Talk to Allah as though He were your best friend, with the at most
respect and you will find that He subhaana wa ta’alaa is. You
will begin going to Him subhaana wa ta’alaa more and more,
even after Ramadan is over In Shaa Allah. It’s not only by doing more good
deeds that you improve your character, but also by drawing yourself closer to
Allah subhaana wa ta’alaa ; as you grow closer to Him subhaana
wa ta’alaa, He changes your character
and therefore your deeds change as a result of the change in your heart.
Allah subhaana
wa ta’alaa says in the Qur’an, 2:185, “…
Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for
you.”
Here
are a few practical suggestions of good deeds that a Muslimah can do while she
is menstruating or has postnatal bleeding.
AT THE TIME OF ADHAAN:
- Repeat after the adhaan
- Make du’a for the intercession of the
Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam after the adhaan: Allaahumma
Rabba haathihid-da ‘watit-taammati wassalaatil-qaa’imati, ‘aati
Muhammadanil-waseelata walfadheelata, wab ‘ath-hu
maqaamam-mahmoodanil-lathee wa’adtahu, [‘innaka laa
tukhliful-mee’aad] (O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and established
prayer. Grant Muhammad the intercession and favor, and raise him to the
honored station You have promised him, [verily You do not neglect
promises]). [Reference: Bukhari & Bayhaqi]
- Make du’a between the adhaan and iqaama.
WHEN YOU WAKE UP:
- “Alhamdu lillaahil-lathee ‘ahyaanaa ba’da maa ‘amaatanaa
wa’ilayhin-nushoor.” (Praise is to Allah Who gives us life after He
has caused us to die and to Him is the return.) [Reference: Bukhari]
- “Laa ‘illaha ‘illallahu wahdahu la shareeka lahu,
lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa ‘alaa kulli shay’in Qadeer
Subhaanallahi, walhamdu lillaahi, wa laa ‘ilaha ‘illallahu, wallaahu
‘akbar, wa laa hawla wa laa Quwwata ‘illaa billaahil-‘Aliyyil-‘Adheem,
Rabbighfir lee.” (There is none worth of worship but Allah alone, Who
has no partner, His is the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He
is able to do all things. Glory is to Allah. Praise is to Allah. There is
none worth of worship but Allah. Allah is the Most Great. There is no
might and no power except by Allah’s leave, the Exalted, the Mighty. My
Lord, forgive me.) [Reference: Bukhari]
IN
THE MORNING (AFTER FAJR) / EVENING (BEFORE MAGHRIB):
- “A ‘oothu billaahi minash-Shaytaanir-rajeem. Allaahu laa
‘ilaaha ‘illaa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyoom, laa ta’khuthuhu sinatun wa laa nawm,
lahu maa fis-samaawaati wa maa fil-‘ardh, man thai-lathee yashfa’u
‘indahu ‘illaa bi’ithnih, ya’lamu maa bayna ‘aydeehim wa maa khalfahum, wa
laa yuheetoona bishay’im-min ‘ilmihi ‘illaa bimaa shaa’a, wasi’a
kursiyyuhus samaawaati wal’ardh, wa laa ya’ooduhu hifdhuhumaa, wa Huwal-
‘Aliyyul- ‘Adheem.” (I seek refuge in Allah from Satan the outcast. –
Allah! There is none worthy of worship but He, the Ever Living, the One
Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber nor sleep
overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is
on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission?
He knows what happens to them in this world, and what will happen to them
in the Hereafter. And they will never encompass anything of His Knowledge
except that which He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the
earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is
the Most High, the Most Great.) [Reference: Al Hakim] Recite Surat’l-Ikhlaas, Surat’l-Falaq, Surat’l-Nas –
3 times each in morning and evening [Reference: Abu Dawud &
Tirmidhi]
DURING AFTERNOON TIME:
- Listen to Islamic lectures or read an Islamic book
AT MAGHRIB TIME:
- Help people break their fast by offering them dates and
water
- Host an iftaar for family and guests
AT ISHAA TIME:
- Have family circle time at home and have a member of the
house recite the Qur’an to the rest of the family followed by tafseer of
those ayaat
BEFORE SLEEPING:
- Cup your palms together, blow gently into them and recite Surat’l-Ikhlaas, Surat’l-Falaq, and Surat’l-Nas. Then pass your hands over as much of your body as you can reach, beginning with the head and then face, then the entire front of your body. Do this three times. [Reference: Bukhari]
OTHER ACTS THAT YOU CAN DO,
AT THE MASJID:
- Shake hands with sisters and spread salaam at the masjid,
especially engaging with newcomers.
- Sponsor iftaars at various masaajid if
possible
- Volunteer for masjid clean up
afterwards
- Babysit during taraweeh so that the
mothers (and everyone else!) can pray with khushu’ and
concentration
- Make a CD of beautiful Qur’an recitation and du’as and
distribute it at the masjid
AT HOME:
- Have a qiyaam program for other sisters at
your house –prepare iftaar and suhoor for
them
- Look for new converts, those who are newly practicing or
people who have lost touch with the community and invite them over
for iftaar and ‘Eid
- Think of Eid party ideas/gifts for family, spouse,
children, neighbors and begin your preparations.
- Encourage and help your siblings in ibaadah.
AT YOUR OWN TIME:
- Memorize ayaat of the Qur’an.
- Isolate yourself and talk to Allah not only about the problems in your life but the good as well 😊
- Donate – clothes, food, toys, money etc.
- Make tawbah (repentance) and shukr (gratitude)
- Memorize Allah’s names and their meanings. Use them in
making personal du’a.
- Visit the sick in your area or at the hospital.
- Always keep your tongue moist with the dhikr of
Allah subhaana wa ta’aala. Say SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La
ilaaha illallah, Allahu Akbar and send salaams and salawaat on
the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam while cooking,
cleaning, driving, etc.
I sincerely pray that this Ramadhan all of us witness an
increase in our spirituality and a betterment in the relationship we have with
Allah subhaana wa ta’aala. May Allah allow us to witness the
blessed month of Ramadhan and give us the opportunity to perform acts of ibaadah that
weigh heavy on the scales on the Day of Judgment, ameen.
And Allah knows best.
0 comments:
Post a Comment