10 great goals to set for this Ramadan

1. Eat, drink and be moderate

Almost all of us do it - once Iftar time hits, we just keep plowing food and drink into our mouths till it's hard to move afterwards. And those of us who do it know this is totally contrary to the spirit of Ramadan, through which we're supposed to learn self-control not self-indulgence. Let's try to stick to the Prophetic rule on eating: fill our stomachs with one-third food, one-third water and one-third breathing space, even in Ramadan.

2. Give a dollar a day in charity...or five or ten

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was always generous but even more so in Ramadan. Let's open our hearts and dig a little deeper in our wallets this year. Even less than a dollar a day adds up. Whatever you can give, it's the intention that counts.

3. Memorize 4 new Surahs

Memorizing the Quran often seems like a daunting task. But the key is doing it in small bites. Since there are four weeks in Ramadan, try to memorize one new Surah a week. Start off with a short, easy one. Once you've started, you'll build momentum and may even want to memorize a longer one the following week.

4. Go to Tarawih prayers

Post-Iftar, the first urge is to sleep after an exhausting day. But try your best to head out to the mosque for Tarawih prayers. Praying alone is wonderful, but doing it in congregation is fantastic. The community spirit is part of Ramadan's blessings. Don't miss it this year. If going every day is not possible, try going at least one week.

5. Attend the Tarawih prayer in which the recitation of the Quran will be finished

Call the local mosque and find out which day the Imam will be finishing the recitation of the Quran in prayer. Attend to not only hear part of the Quran's recitation in prayer, but also participate in the heart-rending Duas that follow it.

6. Stop swearing and/or backbiting – with a special box

It's hard not to shoot our mouths off when someone's upset us. Whether we utter those four-letter words or backbite about someone to our family and friends, we know this isn't the God-approved way of letting off steam. In Ramadan, when we want to build our spirituality, we've got to wage Jihad against our bad habits.

Try this: get a box and every time you catch yourself swearing or backbiting put some money in it. It could be a buck or less. The point is to choose an amount that makes it feel like punishment.

At the end of the month send the money to a charity or buy a gift for the person whom you've backbitten the most against.

7. Call/email your relatives

You'd think that given the easy access to email, competitive long-distance calling rates, phone cards, etc. these days, we'd keep in touch with family and friends more often. But the opposite seems to be the case, as we get caught up in life's "busyness."

Strengthening ties with family members and keeping in touch with friends is part of our way of life and an act Allah is very pleased with. This Ramadan, call family and friends or at least email them a Ramadan card and ask them how their fasting is going.

8. Go on a technology diet

Even if you work in the IT industry, you can do this. Avoid checking personal email and surfing the web during your fast. After Iftar, instead of plopping yourself in front of the screen, go to Tarawih. The same goes for the television. The point is to try to give our full attention to spiritual elevation this month.

9.Read 5 minutes of Quran a day...just five, not more, not less

Even if you feel you've got absolutely no time, set a timer or the alarm on your cell phone and find a relatively quiet place. You can read the first page of the Quran you open or follow a sequence. The choice is yours. The point is simply to connect with God through His revelation in the month of the Quran.

10. Forgive everyone who has hurt you

Still got a festering wound from the fight with your friend last year? Still upset about something your spouse said during a heated argument? Or are you still bitter about the way your parents sometimes treated you as a kid? Let go of the anger and pain this Ramadan and forgive those who have hurt you. Forgiving someone is not only good for the body, but it's also great for the soul. And in Ramadan, ten days of which are devoted to Allah's forgiveness, shouldn't we lesser beings forgive too?

If you find it very difficult to forgive everyone, forgive at least three people.

Interfaith or Selling Your Faith

JAWED ANWAR
Friday, May 12, 2006

IT is not the issue of GOD or issue of Tawheed (Unity) where the faith groups differ much. It is the issue of Risalah (Prophethood) where we differ.

Jews reject the prophethood of Eisa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary) and the last Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). Christians reject the prophethood of Muhammad (s.a.w.). Muslims confirm the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be unto him), Jesus (peace be unto him), Moses (peace be unto him), and all other prophets mentioned in Al-Quran. A Muslim can't be Muslim unless he/she declares, "I believe in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers and the Last Day."

At the time of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), Jews and Christians both claimed that they believed in Tawheed. Al-Quran itself confirmed that several of them are God-fearing and right-practicing people, but they were rejected by God because of their rejection of the contemporary Prophet of God. Some of them had faith in ‘Tawheed' but rejected ‘Risalah'; therefore, they did not find favor with God.. Despite their strong opposition, people at large accepted and confirmed the prophethood of Muhammad (s.a.w.). The hearts of the people were conquered by the message of Muhammad (s.a.w.), even in the heartlands of Christianity --Syria, Falestine, Egypt, Libya, Tunis and Algeria. All these powerful Christian states came under the control of Shariah (laws and regulations) of Muhammad (s.a.w.). Christian masses didn't find much difference in the Deen (way of life) brought by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), except within their self-created Christology and not practicing Shariah and orders of their own prophets. Hence, Christian leadership completely failed to stop the reversion and embracement of Islam and Shariah brought by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). Their hatred against Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) and Muslims transferred generation after generation. They declared war against these renewed Muslims from the very beginning, and the latest clash of civilizations is nothing but to demonize the prophethood of Muhammad (s.a.w.). Occupation of Muslim lands, Muslim genocides, humiliating and degrading Prophet Muhammad (S.AW.) and Muslims are all part of the revenge and hatred that Christians and Jews have in their hearts after the advent of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), whom they knowingly rejected.

Muslims must know the historical perspective of the clash of civilizations and the main agenda behind it. The issue of ‘Risalah' is the most important factor in the clash of Civilizations. In the physical absence of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), we Muslims are the messengers and diplomats of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) in every part of the world. Prophet Muhammad's life and teachings in minute details are present and alive, and we have to stand for the establishment of the Risalah of Muhammad (s.a.w.). The concept of Tawheed is the priority number one of our faith, but in presentation Risalah (prophethood) is on top. Without presenting Risalah --i.e., the life of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) as a role model and leadership for all humankind-- the concept of Tawheed (Unity of Allah, unity of the universe, and the unity of human beings) can't be established. "He who obeys the Messenger obeys Allah" (Surah Nisa 4: 80, translated by Yusuf Ali). "(O! Prophet) Say: "If ye do love Allah, Follow me. Allah will love you" (Surah Al-Imran 3: 31, translated by Yusuf Ali).

Our success and failure in this life and hereafter now solely depends upon our love of Muhammad (s.a.w.). He (s.a.w.) was/is the messenger of Allah, and we are the messengers of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). He (s.a.w.) is the messenger till the last day of the world and for all nations and races. The same Nusrah (victory) that was bestowed upon Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) and his companions can again welcome us if we fulfill our obligations. This world doesn't belong to Bush and Blair! Allah is the Sovereign, Almighty, The Super Power, and the Ruler! We are here in this part of the world on the wish and mercy of Allah (S.T.), and we are deputed and are on the diplomatic missions of Prophet Muhammad (s.aw.) This is our actual position. We must assert and announce our position and practice accordingly. We have the promise of Allah: "Already has Our Word been passed before (this) to our Servants sent (by Us), That they would certainly be assisted, And that Our forces, they surely must conquer" As-Saaffat 37: 171-173, translated by Yusuf Ali).

A peaceful, non-violent, social, civil, political, and resistant movement in America following 13 years of the Makkan period of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) is the main work that we have to do. When we accept our responsibility, we will receive assistance from Allah, which is His promise. And Allah never betrays. Our job is to present, by our deeds and words, the personality, life, character, the system he created, the society Muhammed (s.a.w.) created. When the people see the real, burning Sun, they will get true light and heat from it. And victory will be closer and achievable.

Islamic organizations and their leaderships in the interfaithing process with rabbis, priests, ministers, reverends, monks, and pundits have lost the central message of Islam. They now don't mention Risalah of Muhammad (s.a.w.) even by mistake. We have attended all the major Muslim organizations' conferences for the last several years. In three to four days of each conference, not even a single, small, side session was allocated on any aspect of the life of Prophet (s.a.w.) or on the issue of "Risalah"; however, you will find an interfaith session in each conference every year.

This year, when blasphemous cartoons provoked controversy, the American masses experienced a desire to know more about the Seerah [Personality and Life of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.); therefore, the main theme of the conventions of major Muslim organizations should be the Seerah, but it is not. The conventions' themes are irrelevant and confused. This proves the marginalization of the faith of Islamic groups in America. The abstract issues of humanity, human rights, liberty, women's rights, and democracy, etc. without true divine guidance are the creation of the Western civilization and distorted religions. We have much more under the leadership of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). What we can get and achieve under it is the beyond the imagination of the people. All, we need is the Nizam (System) of Mustafa (Prophet Muhammad, s.a.w.).


----Jawed Anwar, Editor in Chief of Muslims Weekly and www.DailyMuslims.com can be reached at Jawed@DailyMuslims.com