Archive for the ‘Ramadan’ Category
Administrator on July 27th, 2011
In the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast which involves refraining from food, drink, smoking and conjugal relations from dawn until sunset for a whole month. Fasting is one of the pillars of Islam and over 2 million Muslims in the UK will be fasting for a month to detox their bodies and to re-direct their hearts and souls. It is an act of worship which is designed to bring believers closer to Allah and to rediscover and re-direct themselves and teach self-discipline.
One of the amazing traditions of Ramadan is sharing food with others. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) has said: He who gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him, except that nothing will be reduced from the fasting persons reward.” (Ahmad, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, Saheeh).
In the spirit of sharing and giving food to others, each year at Leeds Makkah Masjid, iftar food is provided to everyone who comes to break its fast in the mosque.
Should you wish to earn the reward mentioned by the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the hadith and participate in the community spirit by offering Iftari on one of the evenings, please contact us at Makkah Mosque.
Leeds Muslim Council will then allocate an evening to you.
Administrator on July 26th, 2011
Islam has encouraged Muslims to try their best to take up a healthy living lifestyle that includesa balanced diet, regular mental and physical exercise and a balance between material and spiritual needs.
The blessed Prophet (peace be upon him) has said: “The children of Adam fill no vessel worse than their stomach. Sufficient for him is a few morsels to keep his back straight. If he must eat more,then a third should be for his food, a third for his drink, and a third left for air.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi)
The blessed month of Ramadan is a great opportunity to focus on bringing back a balanced and healthy lifestyle in our life. Our diet should be such that we maintain our normal weight, neither losing nor gaining.
In view of the long hours of fasting, we should consume slow digesting foods including fibre containing-foods rather than fast-digesting foods. Slow digesting foods last up to 8 hours, while fast-digesting foods last for only 3 to 4 hours.
Slow-digesting foods are:
foods that contain grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans, lentils, wholemeal flour, unpolished rice, etc. (called complex carbohydrates).
Fast-burning foods are:
foods that contain sugar, white flour, etc. (called refined carbohydrates).
Fibre-containing foods are:
includebran, cereals, whole wheat, grains and seeds, potatoes with the skin, vegetables such as green beans peas, sem (papry), marrow, mealies, spinach, and other herbs like methie, the leaves of beetroot (iron-rich), fruit with skin, dried fruit especially dried apricots, figs and prunes, almonds, etc. are foods that contain sugar, white flour, etc. (called refined carbohydrates).
The foods eaten should be well-balanced, containing foods from each food group, i.e. fruits, vegetables, meat/chicken/fish, bread/cereals and dairy products. Fried foods are unhealthy and should be limited. They cause indigestion, heart-burn, and weight problems.
Avoid
Fried and fatty foods.
Foods containing too much sugar.
Over-eating especially at sehri.
Too much tea at sehri. Tea makes you pass more urine taking with it valuable mineral salts that your body would need during the day.
Smoking cigarettes. If you cannot give up smoking, cut down gradually starting a few weeks before Ramadan. Smoking is unhealthy and one should stop completely.
Eat
Complex carbohydrates at sehri so that the food lasts longer making you less hungry.
Haleem is an excellent source of protein and is a slow-burning food.
Dates are excellent source of sugar, fibre, carbohydrates, potassium and magnesium.
Almonds are rich in protein and fibre with less fat.
Bananas are a good source of potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates.
Drink
Drink as much water or fruit juices as possible between iftar and bedtime so that the body may adjust fluid levels in time.
NHS published guidelines can be found at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/
digitalasset/dh_078408.pdf
Administrator on July 25th, 2011
Ramadhan will insha’Allah start on Monday 1st August 2011.
For details, please visit: http://moonsighting.com/ramadan.html
The first Taraweeh prayer will be at 10:45pm on Sunday 31st July 2011.
Taraweeh facilities are provided for sisters as well.
Iftari (fasting opening facilities) are provided at Makkah Masjid throughout the month of Ramadan and brothers and sisters are most welcome.
From 31st July to 5th August, the taraweeh prayers would be aired live on Leeds Community Radio.
Click here to view the Ramadan 2011 timetable.
“The blessed month of Ramadan is upon us. It is the month of patience, kindness and charity. It is a month in which a believer’s sustenance is increased. It is a month of disciplining the body and the soul. Despite external or internal obstacles, being persistent in doing good deeds, with sincerity, is one of the main purposes of this month.
Let’s all endeavour to purify our hearts, uplift our souls and empower ourselves. Let’s all aim to refine our characters and gain closeness to Allah, the Exalted”, said Imam of Makkah Masjid, Qari Asim.
We wish you all a very happy and spiritually uplifting blessed Ramadan.
Administrator on July 23rd, 2011
A seminar regarding prepare for the blessed month by exploring the inner meaning and Inward Dimensions of Fasting.
Date: Saturday 30th July 2011
Time: 7:00 pm-9:30 pm
Venue: Makkah Masjid 36 Thornville Road, Leeds LS6 1JY
Come and Learn about:
- Significant and Virtues of the month of Ramadan
- 5 Things God bestows on Those Fasting
- Things to Do and Avoid in the blessed month
- Ways to Discipline our Body and Soul
- Ensuring the benefits of Ramadan imbue the rest of the year
- prepare an individual and collective Ramadan planner
- learn about the link between chsrity & fasting
- learn about self-discipline & self-assessment
- Sermon of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in preparation of Ramadan
- Making the most of Ramadan in a non-Muslim or work environment
The seminar will be facilitated by Imam of Makkah Masjid, Qari Muhammad Asim.
The seminar is FREE but attendance is via REGISTRATION ONLY. Prior to the event, for the purposes of gender ratio, space and any changes so as to notify attendees, we would be grateful if those interested in the course could register by contacting us at mail@makkahmasjid.co.uk
A reminder about the Do’s adn Not Do’s in Ramadhan:
Administrator on June 3rd, 2011
The blessed month of Ramadan is fast approaching us. Each year in the month of Ramadan, Muslims listen to the beautiful and spiritually uplifting recitation of the Noble Qu’ran in the Taraweeh prayer.
The huffaz of the Makkah & Madina Masajid have led Taraweeh prayer in various mosques in the UK and abroad. Each year hafizs from Leeds go to different mosques to lead the Taraweeh prayer.
If you require a hafiz for Taraweeh prayer, please contact us at: mail@makkahmasjid.co.uk
Administrator on September 8th, 2010
Insha-Allah, Eid ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday, 10 September 2010.
Eid ul-Fitr prayer will be held at 10:00am.
Praying facilities are always available for sisters.
On this happy occasion of Eid Makkah Masjid sends its greetings to the entire Muslim community with sincere wishes that Allah would enable us all to enjoy many more such occasions with increased faith, goodness and prosperity. We pray that we continue worshipping Allah for the rest of the year as we have done in the month of Ramadan and that we employ the qualities of God-consciousness, devotion, self-sacrifice, discipline, and unity that we have acquired in the month of Ramadan in our daily lives.
To learn about the sunnahs of the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding Eid day, please clik on the link below:
http://www.makkahmasjid.co.uk/wp/index.php/2009/09/18/eid-ul-fitr-2009/
Please click on the links below to learn about the “Eid gift” and donations given to the victims of flood in Pakistan by the Muslim community of Leeds, in particular the attendees of Leeds Makkah Mosque:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2010/sep/07/leeds-mosque-celebrates-eid-as-30-000-is-raised-for-floods-victims
http://www.myyorkshire.org/playback-video.asp?journeyid=140&resourceid=264
http://www.northleedslifegroup.com/2010/09/makkah-masjid-celebrates-eid/
Regarding the Pakistan Flood Fundraising Appeal at Makkah Masjid, Greg Mulholland MP said: “My best wishes and my praise and thanks for all the wonderful fundraising efforts. We must continue to raise money for some time as the devastating effects of the floods will be felt for a long time.”
The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Jim McKenna, praised Makkah Mosque’s efforts in raising a substantial amount for his charity appeal. He said that the humantarian crisis in Pakistan had united the communities in Leeds and the funds riased at Makkah Masjid showed that even in difficult economic times the communities of Leeds had not forgetton the victims of disasters in other parts of the world.
Imam of Makkah Masjid, Qari Asim said: “I offer my sincere greetings and mubarak to all Muslims on the joyful occasion of Eid. On this occastion when we are showing gratitude to Allah for everything that He has given us, we must remember that Eid will be difficult for people of Pakistan who have been affected by monsoon floods.
I want to thank every person who has donted generously to the appeal made by Leeds Makkah Mosque. Despite tough economic times, the response of British people is praise worthy and is a testament to the human connection they have to help those suffering around the world. Their donations have made a real and immediate impact in saving lives and providing clean water, food and medicine. We must continue in the same spirit.”
Administrator on September 6th, 2010
ANNUAL COMMUNITY IFTARI
In the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast which involves refraining from food, drink, smoking and conjugal relations from dawn until sunset for a whole month. Fasting is one of the pillars of Islam and over 2 million Muslims in the UK have been fasting for a month to detox their bodies and to re-direct their hearts and souls. It is an act of worship which is designed to bring believers closer to Allah and to rediscover and re-direct themselves and teach self-discipline.
In the spirit of the month of Ramadan during which Muslims fast, Leeds Muslim Council annunly holds a community iftar reception. This year, Leeds Muslim Council cordially invites the whole community of Leeds to share a meal with them at Leeds Makkah Mosque on Tuesday, 7 September 2010. This meal, called Iftar, is eaten after sunset and breaks the Muslims’ day long fast.
The management committee of Makkah Mosque, Leeds Muslim Council, has historically been committed to helping achieve harmony within the local community by planning initiatives that actively engage with different community organisations, with the aim of providing opportunities for visitors to explore and share the beauty of Islam.
PAKISTAN FLOOD APPEAL
Refraining from food and drink teaches people to empathise with those who cannot afford to have a meal and have access to clean water.This year, Muslims of Leeds have been focusing on this aspect of fasting more than ever due to the terrible floods that have swept away villages upon villages in Pakistan. Consequently, there are people in Pakistan who have not had food for 3 days, not by choice but because they have lost everything that they owned. Families and friends of people who are caught up in the floods have reported that some of them have been eating leaves from trees as that is the only dry thing that is available for them to chew. According to UN the effects of floods in Pakistan have exceeded the combined total in three recent mega disasters being, Tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Concerted efforts have therefore been made at Leeds Makkh Mosque to raise funds for the victims of flood in Pakistan.
The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Coun. Jim McKenna, launched his eight week long Pakistan flood appeal on Monday 16 August 2010 from Leeds Makkah Mosque and he will be a special guest of honor at the community Iftar dinner. Leeds Muslim Council will handover the funds raised at Makkah Mosque to the Lord Mayor of Leeds to form part of his Pakistan flood appeal. The donations will then be sent to Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).
The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Coun. Jim McKenna, will be an honoured guest at the event.
Please see below coverage regarding the Pakistan Flood Appeal:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-10877528
http://www.northleedslifegroup.com/tag/makkah-masjid/
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Leeds-Pakistan-appeal-off-to.6480475.jp
http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2010/aug/15/leeds-makkah-mosque-qari-asim-pakistan-floods-ramadan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2010/aug/04/bookmarked-leeds-mosque-prays-for-pakistan-earthquake-victims
The iftar dinner will be served on Tuesday 7 September 2010 @ 7:45pm
Administrator on September 5th, 2010
In Makkah Masjid, the recitation of the Holy Qur’an is completed in the Taraweeh prayer (night prayer) every year. The Tarweeh prayer has been lead by two huffaz: Qari Asim and Qari Qasim.
The khatam-ul-Qur’an mehfil will be held on 27th night of Ramadhan. The 27th night of Ramadan is considered by many scholars as the most likely night of Shab-e-Qadr/ Laylat-ul-Qadr / the Night of Power.
The whole community is invited to this blessed gathering on Monday 6th September at 9:45pm.
The programme will include, tilawat, na’at, nasheed and talks.
Shab Qadr, meaning the Night of Power enjoys superiority over all the nights of the year as a night Shab-e-Qadr is better than 1000 months. The Glorious Quran says : “Surely We revealed it (the Noble Quran) on the grand night. And what will make you comprehend what the grand night. The grand night is better than a thousand months. The angels and Gibreel descend in it by the permission of their Lord for every affair, Peace! It is till the break of the morning.” (97:1-5)
In other words, this night is better than worshipping 80 years and 4 months in terms of its reward. Lailatul Qadr is when everything is at its best, the Divine Mercy and Forgiveness is also at its best.
Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) stated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Look for Lailat-ul-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadhan.” (Bukhari) This night should be sought in one of the odd nights of the last nine/ten nights of the month of Ramadan. According to most narrations it falls on the 27th night of Ramadan.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “Laylatul Qadr has been bestowed by Allah to my Ummah (People). It was not given to any people before this.” (Dur-Mansoor).
Hazrat Aisha (Radiallah Anha) stated that “I asked the Propeht of Allah (peace be upon him), ‘If I find Lailatul Qadar then what should I do?’. He (peace be upon him) said, recite this Dua.“ALLAH HUMMA INNAKA A’FUVUN TOHIB BUL AFVA FA’AFU ANNI” (Tirmidhi)
“You are the Most Forgiving and Most Gracious! You love to forgive, so forgive my errors and sins, oh Forgiver of sins.”
اللهم انــك عفو تحـــب العـــــــفو فاعف عنــــا
Special attention should be paid to the excessive recitation of this dua on the blessed night. Furthermore, one may engage in lengthy rakaats of additional prayer (nawafil), Tilaawat of the Qur’an, Zikr, and Dua.
Muslims should remember all the Ummah in their Dua on this night.
Administrator on September 3rd, 2010
The Youth – Muslims or otherwise- throughout the world are facing many challenges.
In Britain more than 50% of the Muslim population is under the age of 25. Although Muslims are the fastest growing ethnic group in the UK, their success rate overall in the mainstream activities has not been a source of pride for the youth themselves or their parents and there are many psychological, social, political, cultural and economic reasons for that. In the recent years, there has been increasing rates of involvement in crime & violence, drugs use, gang culture and anti-social behaviour. In additions, there are further issues around relationships, mental health, school drop-outs and unemployment.
Youth Committee of MINAB- the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board-recognizes that British Muslim community has a serious challenge on its hands: to ensure that it invests in today’s children (tomorrow’s adults) so that the youth play a more fulfilling role in British society. It requires all partners involved in the upbringing of the youth working towards this objective and not wait for a crisis to occur and then react.
From religious perspective, parents, teachers, mosques and Imams, youth workers and social workers all need to work together to help the youth overcome these issues & challenges.
MINAB and Leeds Makah Mosque in join venture with Muslim Youth Skills has organised a programme around the theme: ‘A Time to Invest’. This event will cover the importance in investing in our future generations.
The event is held on Friday 3 September 2010 after Taraweeh prayer at Leeds Makkah Mosque.
The event is open to everyone.
Speaking about the event, MINAB Youth Committee chair, Qari Asim, said: “Youth are the community of tomorrow. The British Muslim Community needs to transform the mindset towards youth and development to embrace youth as equal partners in the decision making and problem solving processes of their community. It is an investment that is most needed in our community.”
Administrator on September 3rd, 2010
Sayyid Ibn Tawus and Shaykh al-Saduq have both narrated the following on the authority of Jabir ibn `Abdullah al-Ansari:
I visited the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) on the last Friday of Ramazan. As he saw me, he said, “Jabir: This is the last Friday of Ramadan. You should thus bid it farewell by pryaing in the following manner:اللّهُمّ لا تَجْعَلهُ آخِرَ العَهْدِ مِنْ صِيَامِنَا إِيَّاهُ
allahumma la taj`alhu akhira al`ahdi min siyamina iyyahu
فَاجْعَلْنِي مَرْحُوماً وَلا تَجْعَلْنِي مَحْرُوماًk فَإِنْ جَعَلْتَهُ.
fa-in ja`altahu faj`alny marhuman wa la taj`alny mahruman
“O Allah: do not make it the last of our fasting in this month;
but if You decide so, then make me enjoy (Your) Mmercy and do not make me deprived (of it).”
Indeed, anyone who says this supplication will be granted one of the two good things; either live long enough to be see the next Ramadhan so that he can agin dip in the occean of mecry of God, or attain the forgiveness and mercy of teh Lord of the Heavens & Earth.
