The Essence of Fasting and Its Purpose
Ramadan is the month of peace for the world, why? And why was the Night of Destiny called Al Qadr? And why is it the night of peace?
Imagine that one billion and seven hundred million Muslims
fasted the month of Ramadan as prescribed by Allah, so they abandoned all prohibitions and adopted the morals of the Holy Quran, and they fixed all the mistakes they had committed throughout the year: the one that inflicted injustice repents and returns the rights to their owners; the one who harmed his neighbor stops and corrects the harm; the one who cheated in his business repents and trades with honesty; the employee perfects his job and becomes trustworthy; the people who fought before, reconciled; the one who gossiped repented and decided to mediate between people, and the one who did not keep a promise decides to change and honor his word. Wouldn’t there be peace in the world? And how would non Muslims look at the month of Ramadan? Wouldn’t it be a model to follow?
Unfortunately, Muslims have lost the true meaning of fasting and the greatness of the month of Ramadan. But it is time to correct this and to return to the type of fasting the companions
performed, and they filled the world with justice, knowledge, mercy and peace.
If we reduced the wild world to your small one, and if you fasted with the intention of “so you may be pious” day in and day out throughout the month of Ramadan, correcting any harm you have caused and implementing the Prophetic Virtues, then you would achieve peace with yourself and your family, your community and the world. Allah would then elevate you to the grade of the pious. And when the day of celebration arrives, you would have been succeeded and promoted, and Gabriel peace be upon him descends with the angels to witness your honors on the Night of Destiny. And this night is one of the last nights of Ramadan. The believers who fasted before that night would have come a long way towards peace, and Allah returns those steps with multiplied rewards: ﴾The Night of Destiny is better than a thousand months ﴿. (1)
As Allah said: “Whoever draws close to Me by the span of a palm, I draw close to him by the cubit, and if he draws close to me by the cubit, I draw close to him by one fathom, and whoever comes to me walking, I go to towards him in a hurry”. (2)
Peace would engulf the world on that night: ﴾Peace it is till the break of dawn﴿(3). Allah would then note down the reward of all that bliss in your book because you have contributed to it. And if you succeed you are awarded a handshake by Gabriel on that night and the sign of this is a softness in your heart and a flow of tears as related by Salman Al Farisi from the Prophet as he said: “Gabriel shook hands with him on the night of Destiny, and whoever shakes hands with Gabriel sheds tears and finds softness in his heart”. (4)
All of this is great news, as you are promised to meet Al Salam, as He greets you with peace so you live in peace and you enter Paradise, The Home of Peace as He says: ﴾their greeting the day they meet Him is Peace﴿. (5)
Allah makes you hear the beauty of his words as the Prophet Moses peace be upon him heard before and was overwhelmed with joy and happiness. He says to you: ﴾Peace shall be the greeting from the Merciful Lord﴿. (6) This is what has been also promised us by our truthful Prophet as he said: “There are two moments of joy for the fasting person, one upon breaking his fast and one upon meeting his Lord”. (7)
_________________________
(1) Al Qadr:3. 33
(2) Transmitted by Muslim in huis Sahih from Abu Huraira, Hadith 2675, Chapter of Repentance-
Motivating Repentance for the Joy It Brings.
(3) Al Qadr: 5.
(4) Transmitted by Al Baihaqi in Al Shuab, from Salman Al Farisi, Hadith 3669, Chapter of
Fasting, Fasting News and Stories.
(5) Al Ahzab: 44.
(6) Yasin: 58.
(7) Transmitted by Muslim in his Sahih, from Abu Huraira, Hadith 1151, chapter of the Virtues
of Fasting.
Nutritious Recipe
from my kitchen with love
Mnazalet Aswad (منزلة أسود) – Syrian Stuffed Eggplants in Tomato Sauce 🍆🍅
Mnazalet Aswad is a delicious and comforting Syrian dish featuring fried eggplants stuffed with flavorful ground meat, onions, and pine nuts, simmered in a rich tomato sauce. It’s a perfect dish for family gatherings! 😋
🛒 Ingredients:
For the Eggplants:
🍆 8 small eggplants
🧂 ½ teaspoon salt
🫙 Canola oil (for frying)
For the Filling:
🥩 ½ lb (250g) ground beef or lamb
🧅 1 small onion, finely diced
🌰 2 tablespoons pine nuts
🧂 ½ teaspoon salt
⚫ ½ teaspoon black pepper
🌿 ½ teaspoon allspice
🫒 2 tablespoon olive oil or butter
For the Tomato Sauce:
🍅 2 cups tomato puree or crushed tomatoes
🥄 1 tablespoon tomato paste
🧂 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
⚫ ½ teaspoon black pepper
🥄 ½ teaspoon sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
🌿 1 teaspoon dried mint (optional)
💧 1½ cups water
🫒 1 tablespoon olive oil
🧄 2 cloves garlic, minced
👨🍳 Instructions:
1️⃣ Prepare the Eggplants:
Wash and dry the eggplants. Peel stripes off the skin to create a striped pattern. 🍆
Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan and fry the eggplants until golden brown on all sides. Alternatively, roast them in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for about 25 minutes with a little olive oil.
Place them on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
2️⃣ Prepare the Meat Filling:
Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté the diced onions until soft and golden. 🧅✨
Add the ground meat and cook until browned. 🥩
Stir in the pine nuts and toast them slightly. 🌰🔥
Season with salt, black pepper, and allspice. Mix well and remove from heat.
3️⃣ Stuff the Eggplants:
Make a lengthwise slit in each fried eggplant without cutting all the way through. 🔪🍆
Stuff each eggplant with the meat mixture.
4️⃣ Prepare the Tomato Sauce:
In a deep pan, heat olive oil and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant. 🧄🥄
Add the tomato paste and stir for a minute. 🍅
Pour in the tomato puree, water, salt, black pepper, sugar, and dried mint. Stir well and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
5️⃣ Cook the Stuffed Eggplants:
Place the stuffed eggplants gently in the sauce. 🍆🍅
Cover and let simmer on low heat for about 20–25 minutes, allowing the flavors to blend.
6️⃣ Serve & Enjoy!
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with rice or pita bread. 🍽️🌿
Enjoy your homemade Mnazalet Aswad, a true taste of Syrian comfort food! 😋🍆
Sahtein! 🤍🥄
From One Seed to Seven Hundred: The Power of Giving
The Virtue of Fajr and the Blessings of Giving Sadaqah at Dawn
Fajr time is one of the most sacred and blessed times of the day. It is a time when the righteous and those seeking closeness to Allah are awake, engaging in worship, supplication, and acts of goodness. The tranquility of this time carries immense rewards, and those who give in charity at this hour earn special blessings.
🌅 The Significance of Fajr in Islam
Allah (SWT) swears by the Fajr prayer in the Quran, emphasizing its importance:📖 "By the dawn (Al-Fajr) and the ten nights." (Surah Al-Fajr 89:1-2)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ highlighted the special reward for those who pray Fajr:
🔹 “Whoever prays Fajr is under the protection of Allah.” (Muslim)
🔹 “The two Rak‘ahs (Sunnah) of Fajr are better than this world and all that it contains.” (Muslim)
Fajr is the time when blessings descend, and deeds are multiplied. The angels witness the prayer, as Allah says: 📖 "Indeed, the recitation of the Qur'an at Fajr is witnessed." (Surah Al-Isra 17:78) It is witnessed by both the angels of the night and the angels of the daylight, meaning it is recorded twice and rewarded twice.
Those who rise at this hour are among the chosen ones—those who prioritize their relationship with their Creator over sleep.
🤲 The Power of Sadaqah (Charity) at Fajr
The early morning is a time of barakah (blessings), and it is highly recommended to give sadaqah (charity) during this time. The Prophet ﷺ taught that every morning, an angel makes a special supplication for those who give charity:
🔹 “Every morning, two angels descend. One of them says, ‘O Allah, give more to the one who spends (in charity),’ and the other says, ‘O Allah, destroy the wealth of the one who withholds.’” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Giving sadaqah at Fajr is an act of secret devotion that brings immense rewards. It is a time when people are asleep, and only those sincerely seeking Allah’s pleasure are awake—making their deeds even more beloved to Him.
✨ The Rewards of Giving in Charity
Protection from calamities – The Prophet ﷺ said:🔹 “Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.” (Tirmidhi)
Increased sustenance – The Prophet ﷺ said:🔹 “Charity does not decrease wealth.” (Muslim)
Shading on the Day of Judgment – The Prophet ﷺ said:🔹 “The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity.” (Tirmidhi)
A means of purification – Allah says in the Quran:📖 “Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them to increase.” (Surah At-Tawbah 9:103)
🌙 The Secret Acts of Worship in the Last Part of the Night
The Prophet ﷺ taught us that the last third of the night is a time of special mercy and divine acceptance:🔹 “Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the night remains and says: ‘Who is calling upon Me that I may answer him? Who is asking from Me that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness that I may forgive him?’” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Those who give charity, pray, or make dua at this time are among those truly seeking Allah’s pleasure. Their actions are sincere, unseen by the world but known to Allah.
🚀 Call to Action: Give Fajr Sadaqah & Reap the Rewards
Now is the best time to establish the habit of giving at Fajr—to be among those special individuals who wake up seeking Allah’s blessings and helping others in secret.
🌟 Give consistently at Fajr and experience the increase in blessings, protection, and spiritual elevation.
Mozaic helps underserved community, refugees, women and children, you can support them here https://mozaicdmv.org/donate/
May Allah accept from us all and make us among those who rise at Fajr in worship and charity.
Ameen. 🤲💖
Du’a of the Day
ليلة الجمعة ليلة مباركة، ومن أفضل الأعمال المستحبة فيها وفي نهار الجمعة الإكثار من الصلاة على النبي ﷺ.
قال النبي ﷺ:"أكثروا من الصلاة علي يوم الجمعة وليلة الجمعة، فإن صلاتكم معروضة علي"— (سنن أبي داود 1531، حديث صحيح)
الصلاة على النبي ﷺ وسيلة عظيمة للتقرب إلى الله، وجلب الطمأنينة، ونيل الأجر العظيم، إذ أن من يصلي على النبي ﷺ مرة، صلى الله عليه بها عشرًا.
فلنملأ يوم الجمعة بالصلاة على النبي ﷺ لننال بركتها وفضلها العظيم! 🌿✨
الصيغ المباركة للصلاة على النبي ﷺ
اللهم صلِّ على سيدنا محمد عبدك ونبيك ورسولك الأمي بقدر عظمة ذاتك في كل وقت وحين، وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم.
اللهم صلِّ صلاةً كاملةً، وسلِّم سلامًا تامًا على سيدنا محمد، الذي تنحلُّ به العقد، وتنفرج به الكرب، وتقضى به الحوائج، وتنال به الرغائب، وحسن الخواتم، ويُستسقى الغمام بوجهه الكريم، في كل لمحة ونَفَس، بعدد كل معلوم لك.
اللهم صلِّ على سيدنا محمد حبيبك المحبوب ومحبيه، كما يرضيك ويرضيه، وحببه فينا، وزدنا محبةً فيه.
اللهم صلِّ على سيدنا محمد الفاتح لما أُغلق، والخاتم لما سبق، ناصر الحق بالحق، والهادي إلى صراطك المستقيم، وعلى آله وأصحابه، حق قدره ومقداره العظيم.
اللهم صلِّ على سيدنا محمد طبِّ القلوب ودوائها، وعافية الأبدان وشفائها، ونور الأبصار وضيائها، وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم.
اللهم صلِّ على عين الأعيان، نقطة بداية الأكوان، صلاةً تذهب بها عنّا جميع الهموم والغموم والأحزان.
اللهم صلِّ على سيدنا محمد صلاةً تخرجني يا الله بها من ظلمات الوهم، وتكرمني بنور الفهم، وتوضح لي المشكل، إنك علاَّم الغيوب، وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم.
اللهم صلِّ على سيدنا محمد صلاةً تملأ خزائن الله نورًا، وتكون لنا ولوالدينا ولمشايخنا وللمؤمنين فرجًا وفرحًا وسرورًا.
اللهم صلِّ على سيدنا محمد، السر الساري، والنور الذاتي، في سائر الأسماء والصفات.
اللهم يا من جعلت الصلاة على النبي من أعظم القربات، أتقرب إليك بكل صلاةٍ صُلِّيت عليه، من يوم النشأة إلى أن ألقاك.
Friday night is a blessed time, and sending Salawat (peace and blessings) upon the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is one of the most recommended acts of worship during the night and day of Jumu‘a.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Increase your sending of blessings upon me on Friday, for your blessings are presented to me."— (Sunan Abi Dawood 1531, Sahih by Al-Albani)
Salawat is a means of drawing closer to Allah, easing worries, and attaining immense rewards. Every time we send blessings upon the Prophet (ﷺ), Allah sends ten blessings upon us in return.
Let us fill our Jumu‘a with Salawat and reap its countless blessings! 🌿✨
Blessed Supplications of Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ
O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammad, Your servant, prophet, and unlettered messenger, in proportion to the greatness of Your Essence, at every moment and time, and upon his family and companions.
O Allah, send a complete prayer and a perfect peace upon our master Muhammad, through whom knots are untied, difficulties are relieved, needs are fulfilled, desires are attained, and good endings are granted; and by whose noble face clouds bring rain. Send these blessings with every glance and every breath, in numbers known only to You.
O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammad, Your beloved and the beloved of his followers, in a way that pleases You and pleases him, and make us love him more and increase our affection for him.
O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammad, the opener of what was closed, the seal of what came before, the defender of truth with truth, and the guide to Your straight path. Bless him and his companions according to his immense rank and noble station.
O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammad, the healer and cure of hearts, the remedy and well-being of bodies, the light and radiance of eyes, and upon his family and companions.
O Allah, send prayers upon the essence of all essences, the point from which all creation began, a prayer that removes all our worries, grief, and sorrows.
O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammad, a prayer that takes me, by Your grace, out of the darkness of confusion, honors me with the light of understanding, and clarifies for me what is unclear, for You are the Knower of the unseen. Bless him and his companions.
O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammad, a prayer that fills the treasuries of Allah with light, and brings us, our parents, our teachers, and all believers relief, joy, and happiness.
O Allah, send prayers upon our master Muhammad, the secret that flows through all things, and the light that is present in all divine names and attributes.
O Allah, You have made sending prayers upon the Prophet one of the greatest acts of devotion. I draw near to You with every prayer that has ever been offered upon him, from the beginning of time until the day I meet You.
✨ May these salawat be a source of blessing, mercy, and nearness to Allah! ✨
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