Narrated Hakim bin Hizam (Radi-Allahu 'anhu): I asked the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) (for some money) and he gave me, and then again I asked him and he gave me, and then again I asked him and he gave me and he then said, "This wealth is (like) green and sweet (fruit), and whoever takes it without greed, Allah will bless it for him, but whoever takes it with greed, Allah will not bless it for him, and he will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied. And the upper (giving) hand is better than the lower (taking) hand. (Narrated in Sahih Bukhari)

Narrated Mujahid (Radi-Allahu 'anhu): 'Abdullah bin 'Umar said, "Allah's Apostle (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) took hold of my shoulder and said, 'Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveller.' " The sub-narrator added: Ibn 'Umar used to say: "If you survive till the evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening, and take from your health for your sickness, and (take) from your life for your death."

July 2017 Prayer Timetable

Narrated Abu Ayyub: The Prophet (ﷺ) as saying: If anyone fasts during Ramadan, then follows it with six days in Shawwal, it will be like a perpetual fast.

Al Salamu Alykum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatu, The UL ISoc would like to wish you all a very happy and joyous Eid al Fitr. Eid mubarak to all of you and your families. Kulu am wa antum bekhair As far as we know: (1) Eid prayers will be held at al Furqaan mosque, windmill street Limerick city centre, at 7am tomorrow. For timings at other mosques please check directly with the respective mosque. (2) Zakat Al Fitr in Ireland is approximately €7 per person, please check with the relevant mosques for confirmation of this amount. Important information regarding zakat al Fitr: (1) zakat al-fitr is to be paid on your own behalf and on behalf of the people on whom you are obliged to spend in terms of maintenance (i.e. people you're responsible for such as your children, spouse etc). (2) The preferred form of zakat al fitr is that it be given as food: it is narrated that Abu Sa‘eed al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We used to give it at the time of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), a saa‘ of foodstuff, or a saa‘ of dates, or a saa‘ of barley, or a saa‘ of raisins. (3) Finally: it must be paid before the Eid prayer.

Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) says in the Qur’an: The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn. [Qur’an: 97:3-5] The blessed Laylatul Qadr can be found in any of the last 10 nights of Ramadan, which are the most blessed nights of the year. As such, we should increase our worship and devotion during this period. Aisha raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her) reported: With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work harder) and used to pray the whole night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers. [Bukhari] Abu Hurayrah raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) relates that the Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “Whoever stands (in the voluntary night prayer of) Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven. And whoever spends the night of Lailat Al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Sunan an-Nasa’i] Subhan Allah! Such immense rewards are to be gained during these blessed 10 nights. How can we afford to miss out on them? Who is to say that we will live to see the next Ramadan? We MUST make the best of these 10 nights. If we cannot manage all of the 10 nights, then as many as we can manage, particularly on the odd-numbered nights: 21st, 25th, 27th and 29th. There is a saying that a person who fails to plan, plans to fail. So I have created a Worship Plan that we can use to maximise these blessed 10 nights of Ramadan. But first, there are a few points to consder: 10 Points to Consider in the Worship Plan Remain in I’tikaf: The best way of catching the blessed night is to remain in I’tikaf, which both men and women can do. If it is not possible for one to remain in I’tikaf for the whole of the 10 days and nights, then one should try to remain in I’tikaf for as many days and nights possible. It is also possible to make intention of Nawafil I’tikaf each and every time one enters the masjid to gain rewards for the time spent in the masjid. Worship all the 10 nights: Try to worship the whole of the 10 nights or as many days you can manage as that is the best way to catch the unimaginable and incomprehensible rewards of Laylatul Qadr. Each and every good deed from Maghrib until Fajr on Laylatul Qadr is rewarded a minimum of at least 83 years’ of worship. Subhan Allah, that is longer than most of us will live! Best dua of the last 10 nights: اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ ، تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي Aisha raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her) reported: I asked: “O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?” He ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) replied, “You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun, tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me).” [At-Tirmidhi]. Give charity: Any good act such as charity during Laylatul Qadr is rewarded like you have done it for over 83 years. Eat light: As you will be staying up until Fajr, the more you eat, the harder it will be for you to stay up and the less productive you will be! Hydrate well: Keep some water with you at all times. This will help you stay up, feel energised and refreshed and have a clearer mind. Complete all tasks beforehand: Make arrangements to clear as many of your pending tasks as possible or make a plan for tackling them later. This way, we are free to worship during the 10 nights without being distracted by worldly tasks. Show exemplary character: The Prophet ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “Nothing will be heavier on the Day of Resurrection in the Scale of the believer than good manners. Allah hates one who utters foul or coarse language.” [At- Tirmidhi]. So we must aim to be the best in character during these blessed nights and continue to do so for the rest of the year. We must not argue, swear, backbite, slander or gossip. No time wasting: We must make a firm intention that during these blessed 10 nights, we will not take part in idle talk, watch TV, play computer games or spend time on the social media. There are 355 days in the year for all that – if you really cannot resist. This is just 10 nights! There will be indeed an utter loss and regret for those of us who waste these blessed 10 nights. Making life changes: We should make the necessary changes to improve ourselves as Muslims and what better time to make such changes than during these blessed 10 nights where we can change our lives forever. We must internalise these changes and make a firm commitment to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He), and maybe that he will wipe off our sins until we become newborn babies, In sha Allah. Source: http://www.hadithoftheday.com/laylatul-qadr-worship-plan-to-maximise-the-last-10-nights-of-ramadan/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF0AYvmqjJk

In the name of Allah Most Merciful, Most Compassionate There is a story of an old man who was on his death-bed. He called his sons and asked them to break a bundle of sticks which was bound together. Although the sons were strong and tried hard to break it, they failed. The old man then advised them to untie the bundle and to break the sticks separately. Everyone of them could do so very easily. The bundle of sticks is like co-operation and working together in unity which cannot be destroyed. Thus co-operation is strength. We would like to bring to your attention the unfortunate act(s) that have occurred at one of the local Limerick mosques recently. http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/254204/verses-of-the-quran-wrapped-in-bacon-sent-to-limerick-mosque.html Acts like these can serve to teach us a valuable lesson: unity. Allah SWT says: And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided. 3:103 And verily this Brotherhood of yours is a single Brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore fear Me (and no other). 23:52 We would therefore like to call upon the entire community in Limerick and the respective leaders to call towards unity and dialogue especially during the blessed month of Ramadan. The month of mercy and forgiveness from Allah SWT.

In the name of Allah most Gracious, most Merciful. Anas ibn Malik (radi Allahu Anhu) said, The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) said, ” Whoever prays Fajr in congregation ,after that sits and remembers Allah until the sun rises, following this he prays two rakah earns the reward of a Hajj and an Umrah.” Allah SWT says in surat Al Isra: Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn (fajr). Indeed, the recitation of dawn (fajr) is ever witnessed.

Ramadan Reminder: It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever does not give up evil and ignorant speech, and acting in accordance with that, Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink.” Allah SWT says: Those who witness no falsehood, and, if they pass by futility, they pass by it with honourable (avoidance); 25:72 And when they hear ill speech, they turn away from it and say, "For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace will be upon you; we seek not the ignorant." 28:55

Ramadan Reminder: Az-Zuhri said: “A Tasbihah in Ramadan is better than a thousand Tasbihah in other than it.” Whoever says “SubhanAllah wa bihamdihi” a hundred times during the day, his sins are wiped away, even if they are like the foam of the sea. [Sahih al-Bukhari] “Whoever says Subhan Allah il ‘azeem wa bi hamdihi (Glory and praise be to Allah, the Almighty), a palm tree will be planted for him in Paradise.”

Ramadan Reminder: Allah SWT mentions in surat Al Baqarah: O you who have believed, spend from that which We have provided for you before there comes a Day in which there is no exchange and no friendship and no intercession. 2:254 The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “Whoever feeds a fasting person will have a reward like that of the fasting person, without any reduction in his reward.” (Ahmad and Al-Nasai. Verified by Al-Albani as sahih) Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet (ﷺ) was the most generous of all the people, and he used to become more generous in Ramadan when Gabriel met him. Gabriel used to meet him every night during Ramadan to revise the Qur'an with him. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) then used to be more generous than the fast wind. (Bukhari)

June 2017 Prayer Timetable