Suhoor Skies

My camera can do 15, 30 and 60 second exposures.  I tried 60 before but you start to pick up star motion a bit too motion due to Earth's rotation.  These are two 30 and two 15 second exposures around 3:45ish a.m. from my backyard.  There is some ambient light from house lights, etc.

Dua For the time of Sahar/Sehri/Suhoor

Asalaam Alaaykum,
I received the below in e-mail - no source is mentioned but at least generally insha'allah the information should be useful, insha'allah.

Salamun Alaikum


It is highly advised not to neglect the suhur (meal before starting fast) even if a single date or drink of water are had. A Hadith reads that Almighty Allah and his angels bless those who seek forgiveness in the last hours of the night and have the meal before starting their fasts.

It is recommended to recite Sura Qadr at the time of sahar for a Hadith reads that any believer who recites Sura Qadr at the meal before starting the fast and the meal of breaking the fast (iftar) will be rewarded as sacrificing his blood for the sake of Almighty Allah between these two periods.

Recite Tahajjud Salaat (atleast witr) before the Azan time.

Recite the following duas at this time i.e. in the last hours of the Ramdhan nights:

1. Dua Baha

2. Dua Ya Mafzaee

3.Tasbih for Sahar

4. Dua Idris

5. Dua Ya Uddati

6. Dua Abu Hamza Thumali : In Misbah al-Mujtahid it has been narrated on the authority of Abu hamzah al-Thamaliy that Imam Zaynul Abidin (as) used to recite the supplication at the time of Sahar.


Ending The Fast- Iftaar

أدعية الأ٠طار



This is the BEST time for Dua to be accepted.

A Hadith reads, "Almighty Allah (swt) releases from Hellfire one million persons in the last hour everyday in the month of Ramadhan; therefore pray to Almighty Allah (swt) to include you with these released ones.

It is advisable to postpone breaking one's fast to later than the Isha Prayer unless one is too weak to keep fasting or other people are waiting for you to break the fast.

It is advisable to begin breaking fast with dates.

It is advisable to recite Sura Qadr at the time of breaking the fast.

It is advisable to offer food to other fasting people even if with a single date and a drink of water.Allamah Hilli in al-Risalah al-Sa'diyyah has narrated that Imam Ja'far Sadiq (as) has said, "If a believer treats another believer with a single morsel of food in Ramadhan, Almighty Allah (swt) will give him the reward of freeing thirty believing slaves and his wishes will be granted."

Recite the following supplications at the time of breaking fast:


O my Allah, for Thee, I fast, and with the food Thou gives me I break the fast, and I rely on Thee.

ALLAAHUMMA LAKA S'UMTU WA A'LAA RIZQIKA AFT'ARTUWA A'LAYKA TAWAWKKALTU


It has been narrated that Imam Ali (as) used to say the following when he would break his fast:

In the name of Allah, O Allah, we fast, and with the food Thou gives us we break the fast, an obligation we fulfill, and Thou art Hearer, Knower

BISMILLAH ALAAHUMMA LAKA S'UMNAA WA A'LAA RIZQIKA AFT'ARNAA FA—TAQABBAL MINNAA INNAKA ANTAS SAMEE—U'L'A'LEEM

ASSALAAMUN ALAIKUM TO ALL:

It is advisable to say the following at the first bite of food taken:

In the name of Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful, O He whose indulgence is boundless, forgive me.

BISMILLAHIR RAH'MAANIR RAH'EEM YAA WAASI—A'L MAGHFIRATI IGFIR LEE


Recite the Supplication of 'Allahumma Rabba Nuril Azeem' reported by Sayyid ibn Tawus and al-Kaf'aimy. This supplication brings about great merit. The Holy Prophet (saws) recommended this dua to Imam Ali (as) and said that Jibreel (as) came to me and said," Whoever in the holy month of Ramadhan before iftaar recites this dua, Allah (swt) answers his prayer, accepts his prayer and fasting, grants his ten requirements, forgives his sins, removes his grief's, makes his heart at ease, grants his wishes, makes his deeds to ascend upward with the deeds of prophets and righteous saints and on the Day of Judgement brings him to HIS presence with his face illuminated like a bright moon."

WASSALAAM,
ILTIMAAS E DUA.

Suhoor Suggestions

I asked people for suggestions for easy and satisfying suhoor ideas. Insha'allah I will share them, but first here is a poem from Rumi reminding that the month of Ramadan is not all about food:


Rumi’s Ramadan Poem

O moon-faced Beloved,
the month of Ramadan has arrived
Cover the table
and open the path of praise.

O fickle busybody,
it’s time to change your ways.
Can you see the one who’s selling the halvah
how long will it be the halvah you desire?

Just a glimpse of the halvah-maker
has made you so sweet even honey says,
“I’ll put myself beneath your feet, like soil;
I’ll worship at your shrine.”

Your chick frets within the egg
with all your eating and choking.
Break out of your shell that your wings may grow.
Let yourself fly.

The lips of the Master are parched
from calling the Beloved.
The sound of your call resounds
through the horn of your empty belly.

Let nothing be inside of you.
Be empty: give your lips to the lips of the reed.
When like a reed you fill with His breath,
then you’ll taste sweetness.

Sweetness is hidden in the Breath
that fills the reed.
Be like Mary – by that sweet breath
a child grew within her.

Okay so now suggestions for suhoor:

1.
whole wheat bread, skim milk, water, hard-boiled egg....

2.
yogurt, rice, hashbrowns

3.
OATMEAL.
not the instant...and add sugar, cinnamon, and if you want maple syrup :)
oh and Almond milk :)
and if you want you can add peanut butter and banana to the oatmeal as well

4.
scrambled egg and some cheese wrapped in whole wheat tortilla..an apple and buku (lots of) water.
or instead of apple, nice green salad!!! make sure you eat some RAW earth based food in whatever you eat!!! oh yeah, a handful of almonds and a bit of peanuts...

5.
Take about 2 cups of 2% milk or even soy milk in a blender,add a little dry oatmeal,1 banana,honey,cinnamon,4 almonds,a little of flax seeds.
Blend well for about 3 min. I hope you enjoy as much as I do every time. You can have a piece of toast or bagel with it or just by itself is fine.

6.
Almond butter and honey (or banana) sandwich on whole grain toast.

7.
date , some almond, tea, bread with butter or cheese or yogurt , of course water

8.
I put frozen mixed berries and 4 oz soft tofu in the blender with a little agave and blend. You can also substitute vanilla yogurt in place of tofu.