Pick Your Calls* [[--Episode 9--]]

 *Pick Your Calls*

[[--Episode 9--]]
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بسم الله الرحمان الرجيم

Ramadan is almost here. It is not just a month of no food and no drink. It is much bigger than that. It is a special school. A school where we train our hearts for God. Everything we do in this month—the fasting, the praying, the reading & listening of Qur'an—it is all to build something inside us called Taqwa. Taqwa is when you are so aware of Allah (swt) that you choose what pleases Him, always.

But Allah (swt) tells us a secret about how to get this Taqwa. He says:

لَن تَنَالُواْ ٱلۡبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنفِقُواْ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِن شَيۡءࣲ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمࣱ

"You will never reach true goodness and taqwa until we give away something we love most. And whatever you spend - indeed, Allāh is Knowing of it." 📚Aal-e-Imran 3:92

Think about that.

What do you love?

Is it your favorite food? Your money? The comfort of yourself and family members?

Allah (swt) says: Give from that - Fissabilillah.

And,

You do not need to be rich. If you have five cups of rice, give one. If you have prepared for your children to have two new clothes for festive celebrations, give one to those who have no father. Give food to the children who have no father, give food to that woman who is fasting and has no husband.. Give to the one who has nothing to eat at sunset, let alone at dawn.

My People,

This giving, from what you love most, is a key to a door. The door to Allah’s heart. This Ramadan, let us use that key.

Now,

Let us talk about the early, early morning. The time when it is still dark and everyone is asleep.

This meal before dawn, called Suhoor, is not just food. It is a powerful sunnah.

(1) It is Pure Blessing. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Take the Suhoor meal, for in it there is blessing.” 📚[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. So, even if you are amongst those who doesn't like eating early, at least eat some date or a sip of water. Yes. Bring that blessing into your day.

(2) It is Our Identity. Other religions fast too. But what makes our fast special? The Prophet told us: “The difference between our fasting and their fasting is the meal of Suhoor.”📚[Muslim]... It is our flag. It is our team’s uniform. Let us wear it with pride.

Now,

*What is the Interval between the End of the Suhur and the Dawn Prayer?*

Zayd ibn Thabit, (ra) said, "We took the suhur with the Prophet (pbuh). Then he stood for the prayer. I asked: What is the interval between the suhur and the call to prayer? He replied: *'The interval is sufficient to recite fifty verses of the Qur'an.'"* 📚 Authentic

*The Call to Prayer Should not Stop You from Taking Suhur*

'A'ishah (r.a), reported that Bilal used to pronounce the call to prayer at night, so Allah's Messenger (saw) said: *"Carry on taking your meals till Ibn Umm Maktum pronounces the call to prayer, for he does not pronounce it till it is dawn."* 📚Recorded by Al-Bukhari

My People,

This Ramadan, let us not just be hungry. Let us be changed.

Give your most loved thing. Find one thing you truly love and share it for Allah’s sake. This is the highway to piety.

Allah (swt) is watching. He knows the love you have for what you give away. And He promises that for every single step you take toward Him, He will run to you.

This Ramadan, let us run toward Allah (swt) like never before.