Dates for the last 10 Nights & Laylatul Qadr - UK
So valuable is Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power) that the Quran devotes a special surah to it “Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months” [97:3]

 Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

 Not only does the worship of this one night surpass the value of 30,000 nights which is over 83 YEARS OF WORSHIP but an entire lifetime of sins wiped out in this unique and blessed night!Subhanallah!

 There is no way we can afford to miss out on such a blessed night!

 According to authentic narrations Laylatul Qadr can be found in any of the last ten nights of Ramadan. Therefore we should try our utmost to worship in all of the last ten nights of Ramadan.
 If one cannot worship the whole of the last ten nights then one should strive to worship in as many of the last ten nights as is possible in order to gain these immense rewards. Surely to miss out on such rewards will be a source of huge regret on the day of Judgement..

 It is also said that Laylatul Qadr moves around the last ten nights of Ramadan and that it is more likely to be found in the odd numbered nights of the last 10 nights of Ramadan: 21st night, 23rd, 25th, 27th & 29th nights.

 So if we cannot worship the whole of the last ten nights of Ramadan then we should at least worship the last odd nights. If we still cannot do that then we should worship the 27th night but there is no guarantee that this will be the auspicious night of Power. So in order to catch this night then we must worship all the last 10 nights or as many as we can possibly manage.

 The Dates for the last ten nights of Ramadan In the Uk for 2014 are as follows:
21st Night - Friday 18th of July - From Maghrib until Fajr

 22nd Night - Saturday 19th of July 8th - From Maghrib until Fajr
23rd Night - Sunday 20th of July - From Maghrib until Fajr

 24th Night - Monday 21st of July - From Maghrib until Fajr

25th Night - Tuesday 22nd of July - From Maghrib until Fajr

 26th Night - Wednesday 23rd of July - From Maghrib until Fajr

27th Night - Thursday 24th of July - From Maghrib until Fajr

 28th Night - Friday 25th of July - From Maghrib until Fajr.

29th Night - Saturday 26th of July - From Maghrib until Fajr

 30th Night - Sunday 27th July - From Maghrib until Fajr.

If Ramadan is 29 days then Eid Ul Fitr will be on - Monday 28th of July.

If Ramadan is 30 days then Eid ul Fitr will be on - Tuesday 29th of July Insha'Allah   
Remember: We can gain 83 years of worship reward and forgiveness for an entire lifetime of sins for worshipping on this one special night. So we CANNOT afford to miss out. If we are working on the days after those nights and we can take those days or go work later on that day then we should try to, even if it means we to work go tired on those days, so be it as it is only once a year whre this opportunity comes and we may NEVER get such an opportunity again as we may not be alive next year!

So make the commitment!

 So we should all make a firm commitment to devote ourselves in worship on all of the last 10 nights, if not then on the odd numbered nights, if not then at least on as many nights as we can. If we still cannot do that then at least on the 27th night. We should worship Allah with full sincerity, hope for immense reward, forgiveness and mercy from Allah for an entire lifetime of sins.

 We should also make a firm commitment to Allah that we will change ourselves for the better for the rest of the year as Ramadan is for life not just for one month. We must remember that our time is very short and that this may well be our very last Ramadan as it was the last Ramadan for so many who thought they would make it!

 So let us grab this opportunity with both hands! If we walk towards Allah then he will run towards us!
The following threads will help to make the best of the last ten days & nights of Ramadan:
10 ways to Maximize the Last 10 Days of Ramadan:

http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?370715-Worship-Plan-to-Maximise-Laylatul-Qadr-(Night-Of-Power)
Worship Plan to Maximise the Last 10 nights of Ramadan:

http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?370612-Worship-Plan-to-Maximise-the-Last-10-Nights-of-Ramadan!
5 things to do on Laylatul Qadr:

http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?271086-5-things-to-do-on-Laylatul-Qadr
Worship Plan to Maximise Laylatul Qadr:

http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?370710-Worship-Plan-to-Maximise-Laylatul-Qadr-(Night-Of-Power)
The best Sale I the Universe is on NOW:

http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?335245-The-Best-Sale-in-the-Universe-is-on-Now!
 May Allah enable us to make the best of the last 10 days & nights of Ramadan and enable us to gain the maximum rewards from this special, unique and auspicious night. Ameen

3 ways of attaining focus in our Salaah (prayer) - You will be amazed!

How many of us pray our Salaah day in and day out yet we feel nothing. We pray like robots and we gain nothing from our Salaah except wanting it to end as quickly as possible. We still continue to sin like as if we never prayed Salaah in the first place. Many of us who pray even go days without even thinking of Allah during the prayer. This is because our Salaah has been stolen from us by our own negligence and a heedless heart and mind.

Therefore we must put a stop to this at once. How can we continue to pray in such a way when we are missing out on experiencing the true sweetness of Salaah. We are missing out on such great things which can only be experienced by being able to fully concentrate in Salaah with a focused mind.

So we must make a firm intention and internalise in our minds that we will strive to do our very best to concentrate and focus in our Salaah so that we may connect with Allah in our Salaah. Once we have connected with Allah in our Salaah then our lives will change for the better and will never be the same again!
The following are just three steps for us to be able to attain proper focus in Salaah!:

1. Do not overeat:

By overeating our mind cannot remain focused as we feel discomfort from a bloated stomach. We can hardly stand still in our prayer as we ate so much. Therefore we must not overeat before our Salaah but eat until we are satisfied and NOT until we are so full that we cannot even move!
2. Prepare for the Salaah:

When we are prepare to go to an interview then many of us will shower, make sure we smell good, put on our best clothes etc. But why is it when we prepare to meet with Allah in our prayers then we go to our prayer in our pyjamas? We pray in clothing that we would not even imagine wearing outside of the house. This is a pathetic state of affairs we are in. We dress so smartly and look our best when we go to an interview to see a creation of Allah yet when we go to see our creator we dress in our worst clothes!

Who is higher than our creator? Who deserves from us that we be in our cleanest state and very best clothing than our Master the lord of the worlds?

Therefore whenever we approach our prayer then we must ensure that we are in the very cleanest state preferably making fresh Wudu before each Salaah and in our best clothes so that our minds are prepared for the meeting with Allah as the Salaah is a meeting with our creator.
3. Focus on Allah:

Before commencing our Salaah we may have all kinds of thoughts in our minds like work, family, finances, food, our past and future events in our lives and even sinful thoughts. So we must not go into the prayer like this otherwise we will be thinking about all of these things during our Salaah and our mind will be distracted and occupied with all kinds of thoughts. Therefore we must take out a little time even a minute or two to try to focus our minds towards Allah. If it helps to close the eyes briefly then do it. Do the following exercise:

Just before your Salaah:

- Imagine your mind is wiped clean like a sheet of paper. There is nothing in your mind for it is wiped clean. Now focus and Imagine that you are laying on the death bed and you see around your that your family are mourning you. But you cannot respond to them for your are dead. No one else can help you except Allah. Focus on Allah. Only Allah can help you.

- Now imagine that you are being lowered into the grave and when you are put onto the dirt then people start dropping the dirt onto you until your grave is filled. Now who can help you except Allah. Focus on Allah.

- Now imagine that you have been raised up on the day of resurrection onto the plains of Arafat. You are running to the central area for Judgement. People around you are also running and they are screaming and panicking like you have never seen before. No one can help you now. Even your Mother does not look at you because she is in fear. Who will come to your aide except Allah. Only Allah. Focus on Allah

- Now imagine that you are in front of Allah on the day of Judgement and he asks you to show him your prayer. What will you show him as you never even focused properly in your Salaah. You always thought of other things when you should have focused on your creator. So you feel utterly ashamed of showing your worthless prayers to Allah. Therefore you beg Allah for one more chance to perfect your prayer. You ask Allah to return you to the Earth so that you may do your prayer properly. Almighty Allah grants you just one chance to go back to the Earth to show him that you can do your prayer properly.

- Now start your prayer and focus on Allah as you are in the present. Do not think of your past and do not think of your future. Keep imagining to yourself:

"I have no past, I have no future, I am in the present and Allah is watching me".

When you recite Surah Fathiha and any other Surah then imagine you are reciting it to Allah. When you go down to Ruku (bent position) then focus on Allah. When you go to Sajda (prostration) then focus on Allah, When you come up to Tashahud then focus on Allah. Each and everything you recite and every position you go into in Salaah then focus on Allah as he is watching you and the Angel of Death is behind you waiting for you to finish your prayer so that he may take your soul! This is how we should concentrate in every Salaah because each and every Salaah may be our last.

So keep repeating this concentration and focus exercise before each Salaah until your focus becomes 100%. It may begin to be less at first but it will improve gradually. Even if we trip and fall then keep gong until you achieve 100% focus every time. Spend however long it takes before each Salaah so that you can focus before you begin. It will not necessarily be an over night change but gradually you will be able to focus more and more in your Salaah and this focus will also help you to focus in other aspects of your life inshaAllah. Ask of Allah to help you focus in each Salaah to give you the true sweetness of the Salaah.

May Allah enable us to pray each Salaah with full focus and concentration so that we may attain the true sweetness of Salaah!

Daily Ramadan Timetable
You can adapt this timetable around your daily routine:

1. Awaken for Suhoor by reciting the Dua for awakening from sleep and make Miswak

 
Note: Ensure you leave enough time after eating Suhoor to pray Tahajjud and make sincere Dua before Fajr begins as Dua during this time is readily accepted

2. Prepare for Fajr prayer - Make Wudu - Pray Tahiyyatul Wudu - Use Miswak

 
Note: To leave so that you get to the Masjid for the Adhan or at least enough time to pray 2 Rakah Tahiyyatul Masjid upon arrival at the Masjid. Also for men to wear best clothing and Ittar to the Masjid

3. Go to work or complete daily tasks and chores

If working then skip to point 5 otherwise continue:

 
Note: Complete daily tasks including doing preparing of Iftaar food as this will ensure valuable time is saved after Asr which is the time of worship and Dua. Alternatively prepare food for the week on a Sunday and freeze.

4. Prepare for Dhuhur prayer - Make Wudu - Pray Tahiyyatul Wudu - Use Miswak

5. 17:00 - 18:00 - Read one Juz (chapter) of the Qur'an or if back from work then rest for 30 minutes.

6. After Asr prayer devote the time to reciting the Qur'an and reading Tafseer (Meanings of the verses) for a minimum of one hour

Note: DO NOT OVEREAT AS THIS WILL HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON WORSHIP

Note: The time between Iftaar and Maghrib Jamaat (congregation) is very short so have a few dates with fruit then pray Maghrib and eat properly afterwards. Even if not praying at the Masjid then pray first and eat properly afterwards.

7. Make Wudu or have a bath and prepare for Isha prayer

Note: Ensure you prepare for Isha + Taraweeh before hand by readying clothes etc as the time between Iftaar and Taraweeh is very short.

8. Recite a minimum one Juz of the Qur'an and also read some Tafseer for between 60 - 90 minutes.

Repeat the points again for each day

Daily Worship target list:

 
1. Subhaanallah - Glory be to Allah

 2. Alhamdulillah - All praise be to Allah

 3. Allahu Akbar - Allah is the greatest

 4. Laa ilaaha illallah - There is no worthy of worship except Allah

 5. La hawla wa la quwatta illah billah-Hil aliyyil adheem - There is no power or might except with Allah

 6. Asthaghfirullah-halladhee Laa ilaaha illa-huwal Hayyul Qayyuumu Wa athoobu Ilay -

‘I ask forgiveness from Allah the One whom there is no deity worthy of worship except He, the Ever-Living and Sustainer and I repent to Him’ three times, Allah would forgive his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea.

Or the shorter version: Asthaghfirullah - I seek Allah's forgiveness

 7. Sub-Haan'Allahi Wa bi-ham'dihi Sub-haan'Allah-IL Adheem -

Glory be to Allah and Praise Him, Glory be to Allah, The Supreme,  and Praise Him

Or shorter version: Sub-Haan'Allahi Wa bi-ham'dihi - Glory be to Allah and Praise Him

 8. Subhāna-llāhi, wa-l-hamdu li-llāhi, wa lā ilāha illā-llāhu, wa-llāhu akbar. Wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāhi-l-aliyyi-l-azīm -

Glory be to Allah, All Praise is for Allah, There is No God but Allah, Allah is  the Greatest

 9. Lā ilāha illā-llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-ḥamdu yuhyi wa yumītu wa huwa ḥayyu-llā yamūtu abadan abada, ḏū-l-jalāli wa-l-ikrām, biyadihi-l-khayr, wa huwa alā kulli Shay-in qadīr -

(There is) none worthy of worship except Allah. He is only One. (There is) no partners for Him. For Him (is) the Kingdom. And for Him (is) the Praise. He gives life and acuses death. And He (is) Alive. He will not die, never, ever. Possessor of Majesty and Reverence. In His hand (is) the goodness. And He (is) the goodness. And He (is) on everything powerful.

Or the shorter version:

Laa ilaaha illal-laahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay-in qadeer -

There is No God But Allah Alone, who has  no partner. His is the dominion and His is the raise, and He is Able to do all  things
10. Astaghfirullah al-'Adheemal-ladhi la ilaha illa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum wa  atubu ilaih

(I seek the forgiveness of Allah the Mighty, Whom there is none  worthy except Him, the Living, The Eternal, and I repent unto Him)

 11. Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, Anta Khalaqtani wa ana abduka, wa  ana 'ala ahdika wa wa'dika mastata'tu, A'udhu bika min Sharri ma sana'tu, abu'u  Laka bini'matika 'alaiya, wa Abu Laka bidhanbi faghfirli innahu la yaghfiru  adhdhunuba illa anta

(O Allah! You are my Lord! None has the right to be  worshipped but You. You created me and I am Your slave, and I am faithful to my  covenant and my promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from all the  evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed  upon me, and I confess to You all my sins. So I entreat You to forgive my sins,  for nobody can forgive sins except You.)

 12. Recite the following abundantly especially during the last ten nights of Ramadan.

Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee -

'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.'
NOTE: We should also send much salutations to our beloved Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), especially on Jummah. The best way of doing this is to recite much of Durood e Ibrahim which is what we recite during every Salaah just before we finish:

ALLAHUMMA SALLI ALA MUHAMMADIW WA ALA AALI MUHAMMADIN KAMAA SALLAITA ALA IBRAHIMA WA ALA AALI IBRAHIMA INNAKA HAMIDUM MAJID. ALLAHUMMA BAARIK ALA MUHAMMADIW WA ALA AALI MUHAMMADIN KAMAA BAARAKTA ALA IBRAHIMA WA ALA AALI IBRAHIMA INNAKA HAMIDUM MAJID.

Oh Allah! Send blessings upon (Holy Prophet) Muhammad and upon the followers of (Holy Prophet) Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibraheem and upon the followers of Ibraheem; indeed, You are praiseworthy and glorious. Oh Allah! Bless (Holy Prophet) Muhammad and the follower of (Holy Prophet) Muhammad as You blessed Ibraheem and the follower of Ibraheem; indeed, You are praise worthy and glorious.

Or the shortest Durood is: Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallim - Blessings of Allah be upon him and peace

My Last Ramadan before death:

Please listen to this short final message:

12 Hugely Rewarding Dhikr's to keep repeating in Ramadan

The following is a list of 12 daily Dhikr we should keep repeating during Ramadan. Set yourself a target. 100 of each in the morning and evening or however much you can manage:
 1. Subhaanallah - Glory be to Allah

 2. Alhamdulillah - All praise be to Allah

 3. Allahu Akbar - Allah is the greatest

 4. Laa ilaaha illallah - There is no worthy of worship except Allah

 5. La hawla wa la quwatta illah billah-Hil aliyyil adheem - There is no power or might except with Allah

 6. Asthaghfirullah-halladhee Laa ilaaha illa-huwal Hayyul Qayyuumu Wa athoobu Ilay -

‘I ask forgiveness from Allah the One whom there is no deity worthy of worship except He, the Ever-Living and Sustainer and I repent to Him’ three times, Allah would forgive his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea.

Or the shorter version: Asthaghfirullah - I seek Allah's forgiveness

 7. Sub-Haan'Allahi Wa bi-ham'dihi Sub-haan'Allah-IL Adheem -

Glory be to Allah and Praise Him, Glory be to Allah, The Supreme,  and Praise Him

Or shorter version: Sub-Haan'Allahi Wa bi-ham'dihi - Glory be to Allah and Praise Him

 8. Subhāna-llāhi, wa-l-hamdu li-llāhi, wa lā ilāha illā-llāhu, wa-llāhu akbar. Wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāhi-l-aliyyi-l-azīm -

Glory be to Allah, All Praise is for Allah, There is No God but Allah, Allah is  the Greatest

 9. Lā ilāha illā-llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-ḥamdu yuhyi wa yumītu wa huwa ḥayyu-llā yamūtu abadan abada, ḏū-l-jalāli wa-l-ikrām, biyadihi-l-khayr, wa huwa alā kulli Shay-in qadīr -

(There is) none worthy of worship except Allah. He is only One. (There is) no partners for Him. For Him (is) the Kingdom. And for Him (is) the Praise. He gives life and acuses death. And He (is) Alive. He will not die, never, ever. Possessor of Majesty and Reverence. In His hand (is) the goodness. And He (is) the goodness. And He (is) on everything powerful.

Or the shorter version:

Laa ilaaha illal-laahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay-in qadeer -

There is No God But Allah Alone, who has  no partner. His is the dominion and His is the raise, and He is Able to do all  things
10. Astaghfirullah al-'Adheemal-ladhi la ilaha illa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum wa  atubu ilaih

(I seek the forgiveness of Allah the Mighty, Whom there is none  worthy except Him, the Living, The Eternal, and I repent unto Him)

 11. Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, Anta Khalaqtani wa ana abduka, wa  ana 'ala ahdika wa wa'dika mastata'tu, A'udhu bika min Sharri ma sana'tu, abu'u  Laka bini'matika 'alaiya, wa Abu Laka bidhanbi faghfirli innahu la yaghfiru  adhdhunuba illa anta

(O Allah! You are my Lord! None has the right to be  worshipped but You. You created me and I am Your slave, and I am faithful to my  covenant and my promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from all the  evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed  upon me, and I confess to You all my sins. So I entreat You to forgive my sins,  for nobody can forgive sins except You.)

 12. Recite the following abundantly especially during the last ten nights of Ramadan.

Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee -

'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.'
NOTE: We should also send much salutations to our beloved Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), especially on Jummah. The best way of doing this is to recite much of Durood e Ibrahim which is what we recite during every Salaah just before we finish:

ALLAHUMMA SALLI ALA MUHAMMADIW WA ALA AALI MUHAMMADIN KAMAA SALLAITA ALA IBRAHIMA WA ALA AALI IBRAHIMA INNAKA HAMIDUM MAJID. ALLAHUMMA BAARIK ALA MUHAMMADIW WA ALA AALI MUHAMMADIN KAMAA BAARAKTA ALA IBRAHIMA WA ALA AALI IBRAHIMA INNAKA HAMIDUM MAJID.

Oh Allah! Send blessings upon (Holy Prophet) Muhammad and upon the followers of (Holy Prophet) Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibraheem and upon the followers of Ibraheem; indeed, You are praiseworthy and glorious. Oh Allah! Bless (Holy Prophet) Muhammad and the follower of (Holy Prophet) Muhammad as You blessed Ibraheem and the follower of Ibraheem; indeed, You are praise worthy and glorious.

Or the shortest Durood is: Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallim - Blessings of Allah be upon him and peace
 May Allah enable us to say and do that which pleases him the most. Ameen

A topic to keep up to date with going ons...

First step is Tikrit.

Before ISIS Rebranded as IS, they captured large parts of Iraq including the city of Tikrit on June 11.

Currently the Iraqi government is in the process of trying to recapture the city.

Initial reports from Baghdad were that the city had been retaken, but they seem to have been premature.

The biggest victims will be the residents of TIkrit - ISIS has shown no qualms carrying out massacres, and since Tikrit has a large sunni majority. the forces of Al Maliki will not show much compassion to the residents - their aim is to show control on the ground, not to minimise civillian casualties so worse comes to worse they wont be against levelling the city.

Hello everyone

Ramadan Mubarak.
Welcome to the latest NO TOPIC 11.

Here you can talk about everything except anything.
So just relax and begin nothing.

1. There is no magazine.

2. The site is more or less abandoned

3. The price for hosting this site has increased marginally.

So the question is when to call it quits.

There is a big part of me that says keep the site running, making small changes/improvements and the hosting costs are negligible.

The smaller aprt says that every soul must taste death and if this site continues it will only waste people's efforts - people who could spend that time doing something more productive as for people wanting to use therevival for da'wah, it takes ten times more effort than it should.

Thoughts?

New lectures, Qur'an recitation, nasheed playlists.