Let Us Pray Tarawee

Ramadan has come! Who's excited?

Well, I am. I don't know why, but I think my Ramadan (this time) feels different from last year. There is something new, which I call 'the spirit of Ramadan' (the Christians have their Christmas spirit, why can't I have my own spirit?).

This is it!

To show my Ramadan spirit, here I share to you information related to Ramadan. Tarawee prayer, check this out...

Tarawih prayers are prayed in pairs of two and can be prayed in at least 20 raka‘āt according to the two major schools (Hanafis, Shafi'i) of islam. Some Hanbalis say it is 8 while others say it is 20. Malikis say that it is 36 while the Ahl al-Hadeeth say it is 8. Due to varying numbers, the number of prayers performed is broad in scope. This prayer is performed only during Ramadan of the Islamic calendar after Salāt of Isha'a. Muslims believe it is customary to attempt a khatm "complete recitation" of the Qur'an in Ramadan by reciting at least one juz' per night in tarawih. If someone does not know how to read Qur'an or cannot read it very well, they may recite salāt that they know. Tarawih prayers can therefore be considered optional, not mandatory.

This is the hadith about Tarawee (I take the longest one)

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever prayed at night the whole month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven." Ibn Shihab (a sub-narrator) said, "Allah's Apostle died and the people continued observing that (i.e. Nawafil offered individually, not in congregation), and it remained as it was during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr and in the early days of 'Umar's Caliphate." 'Abdur Rahman bin 'Abdul Qari said, "I went out in the company of 'Umar bin Al-Khattab one night in Ramadan to the mosque and found the people praying in different groups. A man praying alone or a man praying with a little group behind him. So, 'Umar said, 'In my opinion I would better collect these (people) under the leadership of one Qari (Reciter) (i.e. let them pray in congregation!)'. So, he made up his mind to congregate them behind Ubai bin Ka'b. Then on another night I went again in his company and the people were praying behind their reciter. On that, 'Umar remarked, 'What an excellent Bid'a (i.e. innovation in religion) this is; but the prayer which they do not perform, but sleep at its time is better than the one they are offering.' He meant the prayer in the last part of the night. (In those days) people used to pray in the early part of the night."

Here is another hadith...

Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah's Apostle saying regarding Ramadan, "Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven."

Muslim Sunni give their opinion about Tarawee prayer,

Sunni Muslims regard the Tarawih prayers as Sunnat al-Mu'akkadah, a salaat that was performed by the Islamic prophet Muhammad very consistently. Sunni Muslims believe tarawih is a Sunnah salat and may be performed at home if one is unable to attend a Masjid. According to this tradition, Muhammad initially prayed the tarawih in congregation during Ramadan but later discontinued this practice out of fear that Muslims would start to believe the prayers to be mandatory, rather than sunnah. During the time when Umar ibn al-Khattab was the Caliph, he reinstated the practice when there was no longer any fear of people taking it as something mandatory.

What my mind says about Ramadan....

Ramadan is the ninth month from Arabic calendar. The start of Ramadan shown by 'Hilal' or moon crescent. Since the new moon indicates the beginning of the new month, Muslims can usually safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan

There are disagreements each year however on when Ramadan starts. This stems from Saudi traditions to sight the moon with the naked eye and as such there are differences for countries on opposite sides of the globe. More recently however, some Muslims are leaning towards using astronomical calculations to avoid this confusion. However, many Muslims believe this is incorrect. Muslims are to sight the moon with their naked eye. If it is not sighted the first night, they would not fast the next day. They would however, fast the following day after that even if they can't see the moon.

Ramadan teaches us to be a diligent person. Praying at the exact time, iftar (break the fast) at sunset time, etc. Such unlucky for those who miss it, I mean, those who don't do sawm (shaum). Allah opens the Gate of Paradise widely, so why don't we 'come in' and plea for His mercy?

When the night is falling, seek not but only the peace at the Holy Night of Lailatul Qadar. Be thankful to Allah, for we are given the time to trod this Ramadan solemnly.

Ramadan mubarak to all my Muslim friends!

We are Muslim Brotherhood :D