Ramadan Journal: Prayer In The Park And Jannat-Ul Firdaws

Subhan-Allah wa bi hamd, alhamdulillahi rabbil `alameen, bismillah. Fast number three was spent mostly in the outdoors, summery, heated, breezy and green.

Alhamdulillah, Allah's creation is a sign of Him, and there's nowhere we would rather be than in harmony with what He has made. So, today my siblings and I prayed dhuhr and `asr, the midday and afternoon prayer in the park.

Our du`a for the third fast has been focused on forgiveness. Since we are present in the first ten days of seeking Allah's Mercy, our du`a is taken from Prophet Moses `alayhis-salam.

Ramadan Du`a Day 3 [partial]

Anta wa liyyu na faghfir lana warHamna, wa anta Khayr'ul ghafireen.
"...You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy upon us; and You are the best of forgivers." (Qur'an, 7:155)

Sister Sayyidah behind {www.iwantjannah.com} shared this prophetic du`a which I remember studying years back. Prophet Muhammad, Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, was reported to have said to the Sahabah, when you make a supplication to ask Allah for something, ask His for the best. Thus, the du`a befits our current state of fasting. When you ask Allah, ask Him for Jannah.

"If you ask Allah for anything, ask Him for the Firdaws, for it is the last part of Paradise and the highest part of Paradise, and at its top there is the Throne of Rahman, and from it gush forth the rivers of Paradise.”

اللهم إنّي ادخلني جنّة الفردوس

Allahumma ad'khilni Jannat-il Firdaws. "Allah grant me the highest level of Paradise". Ameen.

Unfortunately I do not have the reference. If someone could post it I'd appreciate it because my young brother has learnt this without knowing where it comes from.

We've started planning simple `Eid gifts for our families abroad and bought light-weight non-perishable products. Things such as ittar, bangles, scarves, toy cars and dhikr beads.

My brother is camera shy. May Allah preserve his soul in light.

Finally, a game of hide and seek. But we got thirsty so sat and prayed `Asr before leaving.

We're making paper lanterns now, listening to Shaykh Hamza Yusuf teaching us about using our `Aql (intellect) and respecting our children and parents, in wait for Maghrib and Iftar. (:

Ramadan Mubarak,
Zaufishan & family.