The believer should be cognizant of the fact that the month of Ramadan is nearing to end and its departure is imminent. Who­ever is blessed to fill it with faith and good deeds should thank Allah  for the honor, and must be assured of reward in the Hereafter. For Allah will never deny a soul his or her just and complete reward. Whoever fills it with unseemly acts should return to Allah in repentance, which He has promised to accept.

Allah has mandated acts of worship at the end of Ramadan in order to assist us in our desire to express our love for Allah, to strengthen our faith and increase the weight of our deeds. The word istiqamah comes from the Arabic root word قام (qaama) which means to rise, to stand upright. The word مستقيم (mustaqeem) is derived from the same root. 

Istiqamah does not depend on Ramadan, Hajj or Umrah, but Ramadan could be an opportunity for us to build and maintain the istiqamah skills. From the perspective of Shari’ah, it means “to remain consistent on the path you are in, no matter what happens.”

It is a quality that we continuously strive to attain in order to remain steadfast in deen, although we may fail many times in the process. It is one of the tools to attain the pleasure of Allah and it strengthens our belief in Allah. He says in the Quran "Verily, those who say: “our lord is Allah (alone)”, and then they stand firm, on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): “Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!” [Surah Fussilat, 41:30]
 

Conditions To Achieve Istiqamah:

According to Ibn al-Qayyim, there are five conditions to achieve istiqamah.

1. The act should be done for the sake of Allah (Ikhlaas).

2. It should be done on the basis of ‘ilm (knowledge).

3. Performing ibaadah should be in the same manner that they have been commanded.

4. To do it in the best way possible.

5. Restricting oneself to what is lawful while performing those deeds.

[Commentary of 40 hadith of An-Nawawi by Dr. Jamal Ahmad Badi, Page no. 103.] 
 

Tips To Achieve Istiqamah:

• Have a sound and righteous heart.

• Read Quran regularly.

• Spend your valuable time in du’aa and dhikr of Allah.

• Read the seerah of the Prophet (PBUH) and biographies of the Sahabah and Salaf-us-Saliheen (righteous people of the past).

• Remind yourself about Jannah and Jahannam.

• Fulfill the faraidh (obligations) of the religion properly.

• Seek beneficial knowledge i.e., knowledge of the shariah.

• Have good companions.

• Contemplate on things that turn you away from steadfastness.

• Be humble towards Allah.
   

Factors Which Affect Istiqamah:

• Committing sins

• Shirk

• One must know the factors affecting steadfastness in order to avoid the barriers. [Commentary on 40 Hadith of An-Nawawi by Dr. Jamal Ahmad Badi, p. 103]

• Hypocrisy

• Bid’ah

• Recklessness, reluctance, heedlessness, and being misled by desires.

 May Allah make this Ramadan a turning point in our lives. "O turners of hearts, keep our hearts firm on your religion." [Sahih Muslim] 

Source: Muslim Ink.

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This year Infaq.SG hopes to welcome Ramadan with the spirit of giving. 

Organised by Ikhwan Services, Project Iftar Cambodia 2017 aims to sponsor iftar at four different villages daily for the entire month of Ramadan. There are about 100 - 150 people per location.

Village 1: Kampung Osondan, Chnang Province
Village 2 Kampung Longkuf, Chnang Province
Village 3: Kampung Pram Domleng, Tbong Khmom Province
Village 4: Kampung Lopram, Chnang Province

Lately some of the villages have had to go without the mass iftar as there were not enough donations. Do contribute if you can! This infaq project will be going on until June 21st. 

Click here to find out more! :) 

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In Singapore we are fortunate to have food on the table however this may not be the same elsewhere for families in Cambodia. While we consume much food here, there are 1000 families in 21 villages in Cambodia who needs help.

In this project goodwill, you will have the opportunity to sponsor the poor families in Cambodia for their daily necessities.

The following package can last for one month:

Infaq $73
1. Rice - 20kg
2. Raw Sugar - 2kg
3. Condensed Milk - 5 cans
4. Syrup - 1 Bottle
5. Cooking Oil - 1 liter 
6. Can Sardine Ikan - 12 cans

The provision above can last one family a month. Depending on the size of the family. Some may need 2 packages. 

This project is organized by Ikhwan Services. Click here for more info! 

 

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Free Food For All has organised a special campaign to provide Iftar Meals for the needy Muslims who are under the category of fakir and miskin. They aim to provide for 150 of such families in various locations in Singapore. These families have been identified by various social services and organisations.

The areas of service are in Tampines, Chai Chee, Eunos, MacPherson, Boon Lay and Marsiling.

 

Don't fret, if you are not able to contribute financially, you can also help by lending us your energy! This campaign requires many hands to help out. If you wish to volunteer for this project, please contact Bro Nizar @ 9656 7280.
 

If you happen to be an event organiser or know anyone organising Islamic activities, do submit your events to our portal at www.islamicevents.sg/submit.php