Ramadan 2020 (1441)

Suhoor and Iftar Ideas

We all have those days when we just can’t decide what to eat for suhoor and iftar. Do you reach for the spicy pakoras or the bowl of fresh fruit? Do you eat an omelette or a waffle at four in the morning? What will fill you up? At times, decisions like these can drive you insane, and they can also distract you from what really matters in this blessed month of Ramadan. To help you out a little, here’s a quick list of some delicious meal ideas that might spark your interest!

Suhoor:

1. Eggs. Scrambled, sunny-side up, in an omelette, whatever. (Be sure to throw some veggies into your omelette, too). Eggs are a great source of protein to help you get through the day. Pair up with a piece of toast and/or some fruit, and you’ve got a great meal packed full of energy. Speaking of fruit, that brings us to the next idea...

2. Smoothies. You can be really creative with this one. Throw in your favorite fruits, a couple veggies, and some seeds or nuts, and you’ve got yourself a drink that’s both refreshing and filling. The possibilities are endless. One of my favorite combinations includes: milk, dates, almonds, bananas, and chia seeds. Just be careful that you don’t pack your smoothie full of sugar. That sort of defeats its healthy purpose.

3. Avocado Toast. I know, I know, it’s super overdone, but it really is a great meal for Suhoor. Avocados are extremely high in fiber, and they’re very nutritious for you. The toast should give you energy throughout your fast. Add some spices, a sprinkle of feta cheese, and some pomegranate, and a boring breakfast becomes packed full of flavor.

4. Peanut-butter Banana Toast. If you’re free of nut-allergies, this is a super filling meal to eat at Suhoor. Spread some chunky or smooth peanut-butter (whichever you may prefer) on a piece of toast, slice up a banana, and enjoy. The perfect mix of saltiness and sweetness is sure to wow your taste buds. But, if you’re feeling a little boring, go ahead and make yourself a regular old PB&J. The important thing is that you eat the peanut butter.

Iftar:

1. Make-your-own Pizza. This is a great one if you have little kids running around who want to help out in the kitchen. Simply buy or make pizza dough, cut it into small pies, and the rest is up to you! Whether you want a traditional cheese and sauce or something a little bit more creative, make-your-own pizzas are not only a delicious Iftar but also a fun way to engage your entire family in the cooking process. Since they’re able to be customized, everyone will end up with toppings they actually enjoy.

2. Grill something. The weather’s getting warmer, so if you have an outdoor grill, now’s the time to start using it. Once again, you have a lot of room to personalize your meal. Burgers, kababs, hotdogs, wings, anything. For me, barbecues always remind me of gatherings with family friends. Even though we’re not able to share a meal with each other now, holding a small barbecue with your immediate family can help lift your spirits and give you a wonderful meal.

3. Diner night. New Jersey is famous for its many diners, but since we can’t go out right now, creating one in your home is a great idea. The idea of a “diner night” basically means eating traditional breakfast foods for dinner. One of the best classic diner foods you can recreate at home is waffles and ice-cream. Others can be pancakes, french toast, hash browns, or anything else that your heart desires. Just have fun with it!

So, there you have it: seven different Iftar and Suhoor ideas. Don’t be afraid to mix it up and experiment with your food! It’s been hard being apart from one another for so long, especially since we cannot share food together, but insha Allah these meal ideas will give you some hope in this blessed month. Have fun making these foods for your family and enjoy the rest of your Ramadan and Eid break!

Hadith for the last 10 nights

مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَمَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ ‏"‏ ‏

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

He who observed the fasts of Ramadan with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven, and he who observed prayer on Lailat-ul- Qadr with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven.

[Sahih Muslim Book 6, Hadith 209]

The Hadith:

The Prophet (PBUH) once said that one who fasts faithfully and with the intention of pleasing Allah then their sins would be erased and one who prays on Lailatul Qadr a prayer which is sincere seeking a reward from Allah will also have their sins erased and forgiven.

The Application:

Ramadan went by quickly. We have already made it to the last ten nights. In the last ten nights, a night called the night of power or laylatul Qadr occurs. It is a night that is worth more than 1000 months as stated in Surat al Qadr. Even though no one knows for sure what night Laylatul Qadr is, we do know it occurs during these last ten days. Even though Ramadan feels like it might already be coming to an end, it still has so many more rewards to offer. There is still time to repent and praise Allah, especially in these last ten days where you could have all your sins erased in just one night. So in these last ten days of Ramadan, try to grow closer to Allah than you ever have, and pray sincerely while seeking forgiveness and reward from Allah. Who knows? You might have all your previous sins forgiven in just one night.

5 Ways to Boost Your Emaan this Ramadan

Read Quran

Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an for Allah (swt) says in Surat Al Baqarah:

"شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ …

“The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.”

This ayah is referring to the first descent of the Qur’an, that is, the revelation of the Qur’an unto the Bayt Al Izzah (the lowest heaven/firmament). This instantaneous descent took place in Ramadan, and more specifically on Laylat-ul-Qadr (Night of Power). However, it is important to note that the second descent, which was the revelation of the Qur’an onto our messenger Muhammad (S) over a period of 23 years, also began in the Holy month of Ramadan. Given that Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an, it is imperative that we give the Qur’an its due rights, because it will be a Shafa’ah (Intercession- شفاعة) for us or against us on Yawm Al Qiyamah (Day of Resurrection).

Pray Tahajjud (Prayer in the Last 1/3rd of the Night)

Allah (swt) says,

وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا - 17:79

"And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station.”

As we can ascertain from this ayah, Tahajjud Salah raises the status of a believer and brings them close to Allah ta’ala. The Prophet (S) would have a regular habit of praying at night, and would often remain in qiyam and in sujood for extended periods of time. Ramadan is the best time to develop this habit, because we wake up for suhoor (sehri- Pre Dawn Meal) anyways. We should wake up 20-30 mins earlier than the rest of those who are in our households so we can reserve a time for Tahajjud and dua. Also, it was the practice of the Prophet (S) that even after suhoor, yet before Fajr time, he would pray a couple rakaahs of prayer. It is important that suhoor should be delayed, as per the instruction of the Prophet (S), but at the same time the Prophet (S) used to finish suhoor and there would still be a duration of time equivalent to the recitation of fifty verses before the time for Fajr came in. So, it is best that we do not eat to the last minute, but rather leave some extra time after suhoor for nafl ibadah as well. With regards to the reward of praying at night in Ramadan, the Prophet (S) said,

“ مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ”

“If anyone prays during the night in Ramadan because of faith and seeking his reward from Allah, his previous sins will be forgiven for him.”

Note: Qiyam Al Layl (Night Prayer) is synonymous with Tahajjud Salah, however, Taraweeh is a completely separate Ibadah.

Make Dua

The Prophet (S) said,

“إِنَّ لِلصَّائِمِ عِنْدَ فِطْرِهِ لَدَعْوَةً مَا تُرَدُّ”

“Verily, the supplication of a fasting person is not turned away at the time of breaking fast.”

One of the best times to make dua (supplication) is while we are fasting, so Ramadan is the perfect opportunity for us to make dua. Furthermore, given the pandemic that has taken root, it is necessary that we make abundant istighfar and ask Allah (swt) to protect us from this virus. Another time which is really important for us to utilize for making dua is at Tahajjud time. Imam Shafi’i (RH) said,

“الدعاء في التهجد كالسهم الذي لا يخطئ هدفه"

"The Supplication at the time of Tahajjud is like an arrow which does not miss its target.”

Seek Knowledge

Islam places immense emphasis on the acquisition of Deeni Ilm (Religious Knowledge). Allah (swt) says in the Qur’an:

يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ

“Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees.”

The Mufassirun (Qur’anic Exegists) mention that the specific reward for those who are given knowledge is not mentioned in this ayah, but the use of the word “Darajaat (ranks)” indicates an immense reward known only to Allah (swt).

Given that we are largely staying at home given the current crisis, we should use some of our time in seeking Deeni knowledge. There are even some courses being offered for free for a limited time due to Covid, so if we come across one of these opportunities, we should take advantage of them.

Avoid Sins

Last, but most important, is the notion that we should try to avoid sins and break our bad habits this Ramadan. In order to become a muttaqi, one who is God- Conscious, it is required of us to avoid sinning. Of course, as Bani Adam we are Khatta’oun (prone to repeatedly make errors), but that does not give us an excuse to sin, especially if we recognize that what we are doing is wrong.

The following incident is regarding a man who approached Ibn Abbas (RA) with the question: “(What is better?) A man with lots of deeds and lots of sins, or a man with few deeds and few sins?” Ibn Abbas (RA) said, “I cannot equate anything with Salamah.” Salamah can be best translated here to mean innocence. This shows the importance of keeping oneself away from disobeying Allah ta’ala.

Given that it is the month of Ramadan where the leaders of the Shayateen (Ru’oos Al Shayateen) are chained, it is in our best interest to work on quitting old habits and forming new ones.