Dancing With Joy Dancing With Joy This RamadanThis Ramadan

& Making it Your Best Yet!

Asad R Khan, PhD, MAC Trainer & Life CoachArk2Ark.com

The Programme Overview

A half-day event inspiring you to live like the companions of the Prophet for 30 days by showing you how to:

Fortify your Iman and social relationships. Detoxify your body, heart, soul, mind & life. Internalise the most important aspects of Ramadan. Gain the true sweetness of Taqwa (Allah-Awareness). Be in bliss, happiness and ecstasy most of the time. Overcome anger, resentment & other negative emotions. Earn easy extra points & bank them for the Hereafter.

This workshop will help you have a clear idea of: The Purpose of Ramadan & Your Special Mission A Personal Plan of Enhancing Worship & Positive Action Some Specific Goals & Targets that You Want to Achieve How to Maximise Your Time After Ramadan in High-Value Activities

Today: 5 Key Areas

Islam, Iman & Ihsan The Value of Time Good Deeds Body & Person Personal Plan

Know the beauty of Ramadan :

Know Your Creator : Know Yourself

What is Ramadan?

"Ramadan is the (month) in which the Quran was sent down, as a guide to mankind and a

clear guidance and judgment (so that mankind will distinguish from right and

wrong).." (Q 2:185)

STICK TO IT!

Abu Umamah reported: "I came to the Messenger of Allah and said: 'Order me to do a deed that will allow me to enter Paradise.' He said: 'Stick to fasting, as there is no equivalent to it.' Then I came to him again and he said: 'Stick to fasting."' [Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, and al-Hakim].

Ex : Choose a Metaphor

Metaphors are a great way to deal with realities in a simplified way.

Think of some metaphors for Ramadan and your place in it…..

Season / galaxy / house / era / world / … SEASON OF BLOSSOMING

The Purpose of Ramadan

On the Day of Judgement, "Fasting will say: O My Lord I prevented him from food and desires so accept my intercession for him." [Ahmad, al-Haakim and Abu Nu'aim, Hasan]

There are in the month of Ramadhan in every day and night those to whom Allah grants freedom from the Fire, and there is for every Muslim an supplication which he can make and will be granted." [al-Bazzaar, Ahmad, Saheeh]

O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you As it was prescribed for those before you:

that you may attain God-Awareness (learn self-restraint/Taqwa). (Surah al-Baqarah, 183)

Meaning of Taqwa Literal = To protect & preserve The root of Taqwa is the verb وقي which means to be careful, cautious, weary and most clearly

to protect oneself. The word wiqāyah from the same verb means to protect and was so given to a shield for example in the old days and is used for the word ‘preservative’ in our times because it protects the product from being destroyed.

Legal = various forms of description depending on context of citation, but generally means to be ‘extraordinarily careful’

There are many Quranic ayahs:

> “O you who believe! Fear (aquire taqwa of) Allah & let every soul see what he has sent forward for tomorrow. Fear Allah! Verily Allah is aware of what you do.” (59:18)

FEAR mentioned twice: first for past sins, second to refrain from future sins (Imam Qurtubi).

> “Fear Allah as He is supposed to be Feared & die not except in a state of Islam” (3:102)

Ibn Masood commentates on this that it means: to obey Him & not disobey Him, to remember Him and not to forget Him & to thank Him and not be ungrateful”

> The most honoured by Allah amongst you are those best in taqwa."[49:13]

Taqwa

Is the best of provision for this world & the hereafter

From Muadh ibn Jabl, Prophet (s) said: Fear Allah wherever you are, follow up a mistake with

kindness (for it eradicates it) & approach people with good manners.

Imam Ali: Taqwa is to fear the All Mighty; to act upon the Revelation; to be content with little & to prepare for the Day of Travel.

Taqwa

Omar ibn Abdul Aziz =

Taqwa is not fasting by day and standing for prayers at night. Rather it is to refrain from what Allah has prohibited and act upon what He has mandated. Whoever is granted anything beyond (this level of obedience), he has been given goodness upon goodness.(!)

Taqwa

Ibn Rajab = The Essence of Taqwa is to make a shield (which guards) against Allah’s anger & punishment. That shield is to obey His commands & abstain from His Prohibitions. Perfect Taqwa requires that one performs all voluntary & recommended acts as well as refraining from all reprehensible & dubious acts. This is the ultimate form of Taqwa.

Imam Ali’s Advice on Taqwa

The description of al-Mutaqeen

Ex : Choices & Habits

What are you?? What does it mean to be a human being? What does it mean to be a muslim? What does it mean to be a mumin? What does it mean to be a muhsin?

The courageous person dies once, the coward dies a thousand times!

Repetition is the mother of all skill.

Ex : Quranic Character

Muminoon (23) Furqan (25) Luqman (31) Ad-dhariyat (51) Maarij (70)

Attitude + Discipline Effort + Attainment Intention + Understanding

ALLAH

List how you want to gain closeness to your Creator

List why you want this closeness List what you are prepared to do to gain this List what would happen if you did not gain

this?

Ex: Who is Your Lord?

Right down your thoughts about Him Do you know Him & His Qualities? What do you think He needs? What reaches Him What does He want of you? What will you present to Him when you

MEET HIM? Don’t you think He Cares for you?

The Immense Power of Asking "When My servants ask thee concerning

Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me: that they may walk in the right way." (Q 2:186)

In-Can-Tations

Authority, Intensity, Emotion There is no feeling in a to-do list: its not

associated with your person Get passed personal blind spots (scitsoma) –

people delude themselves into thinking I can / I cannot.

Repeat the goal in the positive, affirmative, present, doing sense

In-Can-Tations

“I am getting closer to my Creator” “I am feeling His love radiate in me daily” “I know He is watching over me always” “I am shy to let Him see me commit sins” “I am moving by the Grace of my Maker” “I know He loves me more than anything” “I will never move without involving Him” “I am a reflection of His Goodness”

Ex : Power Moves

Make your move to breakthrough to the next level of achievement.

Remove –ve’s Adopt +ve’s

TIME FOR GROWTH

Take Benefit of 5 before 5: Time < Busy Youth < Old Age Health < Sickness Wealth < Poverty Life < Death

Feet of the Son of Adam will not move from His lord till 5 answered:

Youth – what done? Time – how spent? Money – how acquired & how spent? How acted upon the knowledge gained

Time

Value of Time; shortage = less than a day! Clock ticking, & ONLY one way = forwards Life = Time = activity of the heart + limbs No life without Plan 24 x 60 = 1440 minutes x 30 = 43,200 minutes Ramadan sectioned into 3:

1. Rahma – prepare the ground2. Maghfira – plant the seeds3. Itqum-min-nar – reap the fruits

UNDERSTANDING TIME

Chronos v Kairos = Ancient Greek terms Chronos = With time Kairos = Through time

Its not only how long you live, Its not only how long you live, its how you liveits how you live

Ex : TIME 4 CHANGE

How long are you to continue in the same way? When are you going to step-up? You MUST make the decision to change your ways

to really get close to your MAKER & BE ILLUMINATED

LAST CHANCE – HOW MUCH DO YOU VALUE IT??

WHAT ARE YOU PREPARED TO GIVE-UP FOR IT??

NO CHANGE WITHOUT SACRIFICE Ask: How can I spend Time on the things I really

want, enjoy & will bring lasting peace and success?

IHSAN / TAQWA

Ihsan = Perfection / Excellence / Proficiency Spiritual ecstasy = closeness & awareness Expansion of Mind + Heart Not just knowledge, but Insight What do you see, how do you see? Firasah + Baseerah

5 Levels of Psycho-Spirituality

The human soul has 5 faculties (or spirits) from Surah Nuh (24:35)

1. The Sensory Spirit (Niche): info from senses recorded

2. The Imaginative Spirit (Glass): records info conveyed by senses & presents it to the Intelligential Spirit above. The glass is a protective, refined material till transparent – to let in light from ideas of intelligence.

5 Levels of Psycho-Spirituality

3. The Intelligential Spirit (Lamp): apprehends ideas beyond the spheres of sense & imagination. These ideas are of universal application; gives cognisance of Divine Ideas

4. The Discursive Spirit (Tree): takes data from pure reason, combines them, & deduces from them abstract (illuminating) knowledge.

5. The Transcendental Prophetic Spirit (Oil): possessed by Prophets + some saints. Absolutely luminous, clear – luminous of self, independent of what Angels provide. 3 types: (1) theology = statutes of law; (2) science of realm celestial & terrestial; (3) science of deity.

Essence of Ibadah?

What is the real spirit of ibadah? Islam = Integrated whole = inner + outer parts Can’t expect to do good in one area of life

whilst cheating yourself in another. Must try to do more good and decrease

disfavoured acts. The more we try, the sweeter it gets…! Essence of Worship = Dua And Athkar is the Greatest

GOOD DEEDS

Towards: Allah, People, Self Best = small + continuous Why? Essence = to gain Allah’s favour Birr = good deeds towards people Relationships Giving & Forgiving

Good Deeds

BLOOM TIME!! HASANAT: 10-700 TIMES ++++ INFINITE

GRACE, MERCY & REWARDS

Good Deeds

Narrated Abu Dharr: Allah's Apostle (saw) said: that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious,

stated: 'He who comes with goodness, there are in store for him ten like those and even more than those: 'And he who comes with vice,' it is only for that that he is called to account.

I even forgive him (as I like and he who draws close to Me by the span of a palm I draw close to him by the cubit, and he who draws close to Me by the cubit I draw close to him by the space (covered) by two hands, and he who walks towards Me I rush towards him, and he who meets Me in the state that his sins fill the earth, but not associating anything with Me, I would meet Him with the same (vastness) of pardon (on My behalf)."

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Waki'.

Good Deeds

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) addressed his companions on the last day of Sha`ban, saying, "Oh people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night.

Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time.

It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer's sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all." [Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah]

Internal & External Activities

Patience, perseverance, gratitude, forgiveness, internal balance, empathy for the poor and starving, unity, spirituality, God-consciousness etc…

Assisting People: mount, carrying things Fulfilling People’s Needs: £, items, Keeping Promises Maintaining Punctuality Upholding Truth & Justice Sharing Food, Time, Talent & other Gifts Solving Problems

WHOLE BODY Experience

Habit = Integrated Transformation = Decision + ACTION Amanah = Endowments

Conscience Self-Awareness Independent Will Creative Imagination

About HEALTH…

1/3, 1/3, 1/3 A MORSEL IS SUFFICIENT FOR THE SON

OF ADAM TO KEEP HIS BACK STRAIGHT Break with dates / water Eat wholesome foods: fresh fruits,

vegetables, dairy products, lentils, meat, fish etc

Keep away from too much fried foods

Ex : Power Moves

Make your move to breakthrough to the next level of achievement.

Remove –ve’s Adopt +ve’s

Look: What’s Your Level?

He who is amongst those who pray will be called from the gate of the prayer (in Paradise) and he who is from the people of Jihad will be called from the gate of Jihad, and he who is from those' who give in charity (i.e. Zakat) will be called from the gate of charity, and he who is amongst those who observe fast will be called from the gate of fasting, the gate of Raiyan." Abu Bakr said, "He who is called from all those gates will need nothing," He added, "Will anyone be called from all those gates, O Allah's Apostle?" He said, "Yes, and I hope you will be among those, O Abu Bakr." [Bukhari]

COMPETE!!

Wa sari’oo ila magfirah As-sabiqoon-as-Sabiaqoon Race / Vie / Compete Better Personal Performance

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) says, "Ramadan has come to you. (It is) a month of blessing, in which Allah covers you with blessing, for He sends down Mercy, decreases sins and answers prayers. In it, Allah looks at your competition (in good deeds), and boasts about you to His angels. So show Allah goodness from yourselves, for the unfortunate one is he who is deprived in (this month) of the mercy of Allah, the Mighty, the Exalted." [Narrated by Tabarani]

Fasting is a Shield

"Fasting is a shield with which a servant protects himself from the Fire." [Ahmad, Saheeh]

Internal state Ward of evil: protection from onslaught of shaytan Sabr + Shukr Taqwa + Tawakkul Ilm + Aml + Haal Input + Output Fasting, just like Taqwa,is a shield, Protection from Khatira & Waswasa

Ex : List your Common Inner Dialogue/s What to do in your personal time? What you think about when travelling? How do you think about others? What do you get caught-up into easily?

GIVE-UP FALSEHOOD: NOW!! If one does not give up speaking falsehood

and acting by it, God does not require him to give up eating and drinking (Bukhari)

Many are the people who fast but who gain nothing from their fast except hunger + thirst; & many are those who stand praying all night but gain nothing except sleeplessness (Darimi)

BREAK FROM SIN

Allah's Apostle said, "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained." [Bukhari] ...

Narrated Abu Huraira(r.a): The Prophet said:"... whoever fasts during Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven." (Sahih Al-Bukhari).

Don’t Stack-up then Mash-up!! Sin – Be aware! Tongue, Heart, Mind, Limbs Taqwa

Makes the path easy Clears away ill & wrong deeds Enlarges the reward (65:4-5)

Ex : Power Moves

Make your move to breakthrough to the next level of achievement.

Remove –ve’s Adopt +ve’s

SURRENDER FULLY

How many people gain nothing from their fasting except hunger and thirst? How many people gain nothing from their standing in prayer except exhaustion? (The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him)

SEEK PENITENCE

Abu Said al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah, said: "No servant fasts on a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes the hellfire seventy years further away from his face." This is related by "the group," except for Abu Dawud.

Ex : List Negative Deeds

To help you get started:

Backbiting / slander / over-praising / vain talk / Name calling

Cheating / fraud / deception / Lying / stealing / injuring / Viewing illegal material / prolonged gazing

Ex: Releasing the Guilt

Think of all the time that has gone by so far? Think of the opportunities wasted ? Think of how much time is spent on lesser aspects? Think of the crimes and sins you’ve committed? Think how your Lord watched you doing all these

things? Think of how many times He turned away from you

whilst you engaged in such things? Think of how many times He helped thereafter

despite letting yourself down?

Levels of Spiritual Fast + Taqwa Level 1 = To abstain from eating + drinking + marital

relationships from dawn to sunset + to perform the five daily prayers + Tarawih prayers

Level 2 = Level 1 + to abstain from the sins of the tongue, eyes and feet.

Level 3 = Levels 1+2+ to observe and abstain from all sins of the sensual organs of the body

Level 4 = Level 3 + to use your heart & call to Allah in all worship you do, using the sensual organs to do good deeds by fulfilling the rights of Allah + the creation, and practicing the amal of ramadan

Levels of Spiritual Fast + Taqwa Level 5 = Level 4+ to abstain from sinful thoughts Level 6 = Level 5+ to use your heart + mind to

remember, ponder and contemplate the creation of Allah and the Day of Judgement

Level 7 = Level 6+ to use your heart + mind to truly focus on Allah + His beloved Messenger, to reflect on his life struggles & build immense love for him

Level 8 = To be totally absorbed in the Love of Allah & reflect on his grand design, masterful creation and the onwards journey toward him.

Asad’s Mission & Targets

My Mission To satisfy the means of reaching Allah (Fasting,

Charity, Qiyam, Sil-ar-Rahm) in order to reach the objective of these means: taqwa & ta’ulluq-billAllah

My Vision To be in harmony with my Lord and His creation so

that I am calm & joyful at all times.

Asad’s Activities

Some of My Targets Areas: Parents, Wife & Asiya Neighbours: care & share Sadaqa: donate regularly Dzikr – morning, evening, after every salah Dua – all times: for afiya, rizq, Taubah – often, after salah, when waiting, Quran: complete tilawah + more Qiyam-al-layl - nightly Aml-as-Salih Work / Business ‘Itikaf

MAKING DECISIONS

Should? Could? Would? MUST!! What is the role of Intention &

Understanding?

PEAK PERFORMANCE

GUT FEELING TO DO SOMETHING MAKE A MASSIVE CHANGE WHOLE-BODY EXPERIENCE SHIFT MIND-SETS RAISED SELF-AWARENESS + ESTEEM KNOW YOUR AIM + PURPOSE WORK REGULARLY DO YOUR BEST MAINTAIN SPIRIT & CONFIDENCE

Generate Exceptional Power

By using a thinking process that moves you towards Greater Results:

Physiology : Healthy Body for Healthy Mind Language : Questions Focus : is the ultimate power that our Creator has

given us that can change the way we think, the way we feel & what we do – in a moment

Extraordinary People have an Extraordinary Extraordinary People have an Extraordinary Psychology!Psychology!

OPA

Outcome: What do you really want? Purpose: Why do you want it? Action: How are you going to make it happen?

Purpose creates drive to work on multiple goals Passion is the genesis to genius Spirit & Creativity are vital life forces that grant you

the freedom to create a life that you want.

Ex : YOUR PERSONAL PLAN

MISSION STATEMENT VISION AIM/s GOALS / TARGETS WHAT / WHEN / HOW / HOW MUCH?

30-day Challenge

To fully understand the meaning of Ibadah Complete surrender to the Creator at all

times, in all situations, for all activities.

“I have not created jinn and mankind except to worship me.” (51:56)

After Ramadan

Powerful, lasting feeling of Ramadan is to be continued into Shawal, Dhul Qhada, Dhul Hijja and beyond!

Sustain Momentum by focussing on targets and habits.

Don’t be slip back! Perform activities on TIME Seek to increase: extra prayers (Shukr,

Tawbah, Hajja, Istikhara)

Special Bonus

Listen! Most of you will forget this by the time you get home; by tomorrow you’ll have a memory of what happened. By the 3rd day you’ll be following normal habits.

First few to buy the MPPPL Workbook will get free Coaching & Support for the duration of Ramadan

Conclusion

You have understood the Purpose of Ramadan & Taqwa You have gained clarity on who Allah is & what Allah wants of

you You have understood that Life = Time & how to value it Ramadan is a training ground in which to maximise good deeds

& Break loose from SIN You know how to build will power, self-esteem & momentum You know to how to keep connected, keep in completion, and

keep in touch!