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She Performs Her Prayers Properly
The true Muslim tries hard to perform her prayers properly, with deep concentration and precision of physical movements. She thinks about the meaning of the ayat she is reciting, and the words of praise and glorification that she is uttering. Her soul is flooded with fear of Allah (SWT), and with gratitude to Him and sincere worship of Him. If the Titan happens to whisper some idea to her during the prayer, to distract her from concentrating properly, to keep him away she focuses on the words that she is reciting from the Qur'an, and the words of praise that she is uttering.
The Muslim woman does not rush back to her housework and chores when she has finished her prayer. Rather, as the Prophet (PBUH) used to do, she asks Allah (SWT)'s forgiveness by saying "Astaghfir-Allah" three times, and repeats the du`a': "Allahumma anta al-salam wa minka al-salam, tabaraka ya dha'l-jalali wa'l-ikram (O Allah (SWT), You are Peace and from You comes peace, Blessed are You, O Lord of majesty and honour.)"50 Then she repeats the adhkar and du`a's that the Prophet (PBUH) is known to have recited after completing his prayer. There are many such adhkar51, one of the most important of which is to repeat "Subhan Allah" thirty-three times, "La ilaha ill-Allah" thirty-three times, "Allahu akbar" thirty-three times, then to complete one hundred with "La illaha ill-Allah wahdahu la shaika lah, lahu'l-mulk wa lahu'l-hamd, wa huwa `ala kulli shayin qadir." According to a sahih hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) said:
Note: 50. Ibid., 5/89, 90, Kitab al-masajid, bab istihbab al-dhikr ba'd al-salah.
Note: 51. See Imam al-Nawawi, Riyadh al-Salihin, p. 621, Kitab al-adhkar, bab fadl al-dhikr wa'l-hathth 'alayhi; Sahih Muslim, 5/83-95, Kitab al-masajid, bab al-dhikr ba'd al-salat.
"Whoever glorifies Allah (SWT) (says subhan Allah) after every prayer thirty three times, praises Allah (SWT) (says al-hamdu lillah) thirty three times, and magnifies Allah (SWT) (says Allahu akbar) thirty-three times, which adds up to ninety-nine, then completes one hundred by saying La illaha ill-Allah wahdahu la shaika lah, lahu'l-mulk wa lahu'l-hamd, wa huwa `ala kulli shayin qadir, his sins will be forgiven, even if they were like the foam of the sea."52
Note: 52. See Sahih Muslim, 5/95, Kitab al-masajid, bab al-dhikr ba'd al-salah.
Then she turns to Allah (SWT) humbly asking Him to correct all her affairs, in this world and next, and to bless her abundantly and guide her in everything.
Thus the Muslim woman finishes her prayers, purified in heart and mind and reinvigorated with a dose of spiritual energy, which will help her to cope with the burdens of everyday life, knowing that she is under the protection of Allah (SWT). She will not panic if anything bad befalls her, nor will she become miserly if she enjoys good fortune. This is the attitude of those righteous women who pray and fear Allah (SWT):
( Truly man was created very impatient; Fretful when evil touches him; and niggardly when good reaches him. Not so those devoted to Prayer. Those who remain steadfast to their prayer; And those in whose wealth is a recognized right For the [needy] who asks and him who is prevented [for some reason from asking]) (Qur'an 70:19-25)
She Pays Zakat on Her Wealth
The Muslim women pay zakat on her wealth, if she is wealthy enough to be liable for zakat. Every year at a specified time, she calculates how much she owns and pays what she has to, because zakat is a pillar of Islam, and there can be no compromise or excuse when it comes to paying it every year, even if the amount comes to thousands or millions. It would never occur to the true Muslim woman to try to avoid paying some of the zakat that she is obliged to pay.
Zakat is a clearly-defined financial obligation and act of worship which Allah (SWT) has enjoined upon every Muslim, man or women, who owns the minimum amount (nisab) or more. Withholding zakat, or denying that it is obligatory, is tantamount to apostasy (riddah) and kufr, for which a person may be fought and even killed, until or unless he pays in full as required by Islam. The words of Abu Bakr (RAA) concerning the apostates who withheld their zakat echo down the centuries to us: "By Allah (SWT) I will fight whoever separates salat from zakat."53
Note: 53. See Sahih Muslim, 1/207, Kitab al-iman, bab wujub qital tarik ahad arkan al-Islam.
These immortal words demonstrate the greatness of this religion, which made the connection between "religious" and "secular" affairs, and reveal Abu Bakr's deep understanding of the nature of this integrated, holistic way of life, which combines abstract beliefs with the practical application of their principles. Many ayat of the Qur'an confirm the interdependence of salat and zakat in the structure of faith:( . . .Those who establish regular prayer and regular charity . . .) (Qur'an 5:55) ( And be steadfast in prayer: practise regular charity.) (Qur'an 2:43) ( . . . [those who] . . . establish prayers and regular charity) (Qur'an 2:277)
It is clear to the true Muslim woman that Islam - although it has given her the right to financial independence, and has not obliged her to support herself or others, which is, rather, the duty of men - has indeed enjoined zakat on her, and has made zakat a right to which the poor are entitled. So the Muslim woman would not hesitate to pay it in the ways prescribed by shari`ah. She cannot claim to be excused because she is a woman and no woman is obliged to spend on others. Any woman who makes such a claim has a poor understanding of Islam, her faith is weak and there is some fault in her personality. Or else she is a woman who appears to be religious, but she is ignorant and negligent, or is stingy and loves money, and it would never occur to her to pay zakat even though she fasts, prays and performs Hajj, and occasionally gives a small charitable donation from her great wealth. These types of women - ignorant or stingy - are nothing like the true Muslim woman as envisaged by Islam.
She Fasts During the Day and Prays at Night in Ramadan
The true Muslim woman fasts the month of Ramadan, and her soul is filled with faith that: "Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven."54 She has the attitude of one who truly fasts, whose faculties keep away from all kinds of sins that may invalidate the fast or diminish its reward. If she finds herself exposed to the trials of hostility or argument, she follows the Prophet's advice to men and women who fast:
Note: 54. (Bukhari and Muslim), See Sharh al-Sunnah, 6/217, Kitab al-siyam, bab thawab man sama Ramadan.
"When any of you is fasting, he should not utter foul words or raise his voice in anger. If then anyone provokes or fights him, he should say, `I am observing a fast.'"55
Note: 55. (Bukhari and Muslim), See Riyad al-Salihin, p. 570, Kitab al-fada'il, bab fi amr al-sa'im bi hifz lisanihi wa jawarihihi 'an al-mukhalifat.
"Whoever does not give up false speech and evil actions, Allah (SWT) has no need of his giving up his food and drink."56
Note: 56. Fath al-Bari, 4/116, Kitab al-sawm, bab man lam yada' qawl al-zur wa'l-'aml bihi fi'l-sawm.
During Ramadan, the true Muslim woman feels that she is immersed in the atmosphere of a month unlike any other, when good deeds should be multiplied and the gates of goodness should be opened wide. She knows that her fasting during this month should be only for Allah (SWT), and that He will give the reward for it, for the reward of Allah (SWT), the Bountiful and Munificent, is greater and vaster than anyone could even imagine:
"The reward for every good deed of the sons of Adam will be multiplied anywhere between ten and seven hundred times. Allah (SWT) said: `Except for fasting, because it is for Me and I Myself will give recompense for it. He gives up his food and his passion for Me.' For the one who fasts, there are two times of rejoicing, one when he breaks the fast, and one when he meets his Lord. Verily the smell that comes from the mouth of one who is fasting is more pleasing to Allah (SWT) than the scent of musk."57
Note: 57. (Bukhari and Muslim), See Sharh al-Sunnah, 6/221, Kitab al-sawm, bab fadl al-sawm.
Therefore the wise Muslim woman must strike a balance, during this all-too-short blessed month, between her domestic duties and the opportunity this month brings to draw closer to Allah (SWT) through worship and good deeds. She should not let her household chores distract her from performing the obligatory prayers at the appointed times, or from reading Qur'an or praying nafil prayers. Nor should she let traditional late-night family gatherings keep her from praying qiyam al-layl and tahujjud, and making du`a'. She knows the great reward and abundant forgiveness that Allah (SWT) has prepared for those who stay up to pray during the night in Ramadan:
"Whoever spends the night in prayer during Ramadan out of faith and hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven."58
Note: 58. (Bukhari and Muslim), See Sharh al-Sunnah, 4/116, Abwab al-nawafil, bab qiyam shahr Ramadan wa fadluhu.
The Prophet (PBUH) used to strive to do more good deeds during Ramadan than at other times, especially during the last ten days of it:
`A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said:
"The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to strive during Ramadan, and especially the last ten days of it, more than he used to at other times."59
Note: 59. Sahih Muslim, 8/70, Kitab al-sawm, bab al-ijtihad fi'l-'ashar al-awakhir min shahr Ramadan.
`A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) also said:
"When the last ten days of Ramadan began, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) would sty up for the whole night, wake his family up, strive extra hard, and abstain from marital relations."60
Note: 60. (Bukhari and Muslim), See Sharh al-Sunnah, 6/389, Kitab al-siyam, bab al-ijtihad fi'l-'ashar al-awakhir.
The Prophet (PBUH) used to command the Muslims to seek laylat al-qadr, and encouraged them to spend that night in prayer:
"Seek laylat al-qadr during the last ten days of Ramadan."61
Note: 61. (Bukhari and Muslim), See Sharh al-Sunnah, 6/380, Kitab al-siyam, bab ma ja'a fi laylat al-adr.
"Whoever spends the night of laylat al-qadr in prayer and worship out of faith and hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven."62
Note: 62. (Bukhari and Muslim), See Sharh al-Sunnah, 6/379, Kitab al-siyam, bab ma ja'a fi laylat al-qadr.
This blessed month is a time that is purely for worship. The serious-minded Muslim woman has no time to spend on chatting and idle pursuits throughout the night. She should not be among those who while away the night until dawn approaches, whereupon she offers her family something to eat and they fall into a deep sleep, and may even miss the fajr prayer!
The true Muslim woman and her family should live an Islamic life during Ramadan, striving to organize themselves in such a way that when they all come back from tarawih prayers, they do not stay up for too long, because in a few short hours' time, they will get up to pray qiyam al-layl and then eat suhur, for the Prophet (PBUH) commanded us to eat suhur, as there is much benefit in it:
"Eat suhur, for in suhur there is blessing."63
Note: 63. (Bukhari and Muslim), See Sharh al-Sunnah, 6/251, Kitab al-siyam, bab fadl al-suhur.
The true Muslim woman helps all the members of her family to get up for suhur, in obedience to the command of the Prophet (PBUH) and in the hope of obtaining the blessings of suhur, such as the reminder to pray qiyam al-layl, and encouragement to go out to the mosque to pray fajr in congregation, awell as the physical benefits of strengthening the body for the day's fast. This is what the Prophet (PBUH) used to do and trained his Companions to do likewise:
Zayd ibn Thabit (RAA) said:
"We ate suhur with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), then we got up to pray." Someone asked, "How much time was there between the two?" He said: "Fifty ayat [i.e. the time it would take to recite fifty ayat]."64
Note: 64. (Bukhari and Muslim), See Sharh al-Sunnah, 6/253, Kitab al-siyam, bab fadl al-suhur.
There is no doubt that Allah (SWT) will increase the reward of the Muslim woman who is the means of bringing these blessings to her family during Ramadan:
( As to those who believe and work righteousness, verily We shall not suffer to perish the reward of any who do a [single] righteous deed.) (Qur'an 18:30)
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