[2:184] Specific days (are designated for fasting); if one is ill or traveling, an equal number of other days may

be substituted. Those who can fast, but with great difficulty, may substitute feeding one poor person for each day of breaking the fast. If one volunteers (more righteous works), it is better. But fasting is the best for you, if you only knew. [2:185] Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. GOD wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify GOD for guiding you, and to express your appreciation. [2:187] Permitted for you is sexual intercourse with your wives during the nights of fasting. They are the keepers of your secrets, and you are the keepers of their secrets. GOD knew that you used to betray your souls, and He has redeemed you, and has pardoned you. Henceforth, you may have intercourse with them, seeking what GOD has permitted for you. You may eat and drink until the white thread of light becomes distinguishable from the dark thread of night at dawn. Then, you shall fast until sunset. Sexual intercourse is prohibited if you decide to retreat to the Masjid (during the last ten days of Ramadan). These are GOD's laws; you shall not transgress them. GOD thus clarifies His revelations for the people, that they may attain salvation.

Niyaah for observing the fast Wa bisawmi ghadinn nawaiytu min shahri ramadan (I intend to keep the fast today in the month of Ramadan) Niyaah for breaking the fast Allahumma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu wa 'ala rizq-ika aftarthu (O Allah! I fasted for You and I believe in You and I break my fast with Your sustenance)

Through fasting, a Muslim experiences hunger and thirst, and sympathizes with those in the world who have little to eat every day. Through increased devotion, Muslims feel closer to their Creator, and recognize that everything we have in this life is a blessing from Him. Through increased charity, Muslims develop feelings of generosity and good-will toward others. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said, "A man's wealth is never diminished by charity. Through self-control, a Muslim practices good manners, good speech, and good habits. Through changing routines, Muslims have a chance to establish more healthy lifestyle habits -- particularly with regards to diet and smoking. Through family and community gatherings, Muslims strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood, in their own communities and throughout the world.

Quite an extensive topic, check any website for full details and answers to specific questions. You can direct any questions to the imams at the mosque as well.

The virtues of the Taraweeh Prayer Abu Hurayrah said: Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said "He who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven"

The Majority of scholars say that by all his pasts sins it means his minor sin not major sins if the person stand all the nights of Ramadan in prayer and not just a few nights. The scholars say in order for major sins to be forgiven a person is required to make sincere toba (sincere repentance) Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Whoever stands with the Imam until he finishes, it is equivalent to spending the whole night in prayer.

The time for Taraweeh prayer is between Isha and Fajr. There is a difference of opinion of how many rakahs to pray 8 or 20, however we should follow what the imam of our Madhab (school of thought) instructs. Note one mustn't get into a dispute with another brother/sister about this, both parties have hadiths to back up their view.

The Taraweeh prayer is prayed two rakahs at a time. So you pray 2 rakahs and then another 2 rakahs and so on and then finally 3 rakahs of the witr prayer. Most Masjids have Imams who have memorised the whole Quran. They will recite it in the taraweeh prayers and by the end of Ramadan the congregation will have listened to the recitation of the whole Quran. There is no set limit as to how much Quran is recited in each night of the taraweeh prayers.

Witr Prayer After the 20 rakahs of the Taraweeh prayers witr is also prayed. Sheik Albaani said: It is Sunnah to recite Surah Ala (Sabbih ismi Rabbika al-Alaa) in the first rakah, Surah Kafiroon (Qul Yaa ayyuhal-Kaafiroon) in the second rakah, and Surah Iklas (Qul Huwa Allaahu ahad) in the third rakah.

Suhoor is distinctive of the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (saw). There are blessings in Suhoor . Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (S) said: "Indeed Allah placed blessing in the Suhoor and in the weighing [of grain]". [Shirazi and al-Khateeb/ al-Jami`us-Sagheer; Hasan] Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "Eat Suhoor, for there are blessings in it." [alBukhari and Muslim] A companion said: "I entered upon the Prophet (S) and he was taking the Suhoor and he said: "It is a blessing which Allah has given to you, so do not leave it". [Ahmad and an-Nasa'i; Sahih]. Abu Said al-Khudri said: The Prophet (S) said: "The Suhoor is a meal of blessings, so do not leave it, even if one of you just takes a gulp of water, since Allah sends mercy and His angels seek forgiveness for those who take Suhoor". [Ahmad and Ibn Abi Shaibah] Perhaps the greatest blessing of Suhoor is that Allah (SWT) covers the people eating Suhoor with His forgiveness and send His Mercy upon them. The angles ask for forgiveness for them and supplicate to Allah to pardon them, so that they may be granted freedom from the Fire by the Most Merciful in the month of the Qur'an. These reports from the Prophet (S) leave no room for the believer to miss Suhoor. Therefore let us take it upon us to never miss it.

At least perform your 5 obligatory prayers if you dont already. 2. Try to do sunnah and nafl prayers. 3. If you cant increase in quantity of prayers, try to improve the quality of your prayers. 4. Try not to miss the special Taraweeh prayers. 5. Try to do the tahajjud prayers since most of us are up anyway.
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And during a part of the night, pray Tahajjud beyond what is incumbent on you; maybe your Lord will raise you to a position of great glory. [(AlIsra 17:79]

`Abdullah ibn Salam reported: The first words I heard him say were: O people, extend the salutations, feed the people, keep the ties of kinship, and pray during the night while the others sleep, and you will enter Paradise in peace. (At-Tirmidzi)
Salman Al-Farsi quoted the Prophet SAW as saying: Observe the night Prayer; it was the practice of the righteous before you and it brings you closer to your Lord and it is penance for evil deeds and erases the sins and repels disease from the body. [At-Tabarani]

The 6 Ts 1. Tajweed: learn to recite correctly. 2. Tilawat: read the whole Quran at least once. 3. Tarjuma: read the translation of verses. 4. Tafseer: read the interpretation of verses. 5. Tadabbur: Ponder over the meaning. 6. Tahfeez: Memorise some surahs or verses (especially the recommended ones).

Ayat Al-Kursi (Verse 255 of Surat Al-Baqarah) Surah Al-Kahf Surah Al-Mulk Surah Al-Kaafirun Surah Ya Sin Surah Waqiah Surah Ala

3 persons dua is accepted:

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (SWT)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveller. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih]

Keep your tongue wet with the remembrance of Allah. When a group of people assemble for remembrance of Allah: The angels surround them Allahs mercy envelopes them Tranquillity descends upon them

Ibn Abbas narrates that Rasulullah P.B.U.H said: "Whoever walks to fulfil the needs of his brother, this is better for him than performing I`tikaf for ten years. And whoever performs I`tikaf for (just) one day, seeking Allah"s pleasure, Allah will place three trenches between him and the fire of Hell. Each trench is wider than the distance between the Two Wings (the expanse of the East and West)."

Charity in Ramadan Imams Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported that Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, had said, The Prophet (saw) was the most generous of people. He used to be the most generous in Ramadan when he would meet with angel Jibreal and study the Quran with him. ......Imam Ahmad added to this narration, And nothing he was asked for but he would give it. Furthermore, Al-Bayhaqi reported that Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, had said, When Ramadan would start, the Prophet (saw)would release all prisoners of war and fulfil the need of every person who would ask him for something.

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This increased generosity of the Prophet (saw) in Ramadan has several reasons and indications that we have to pay attention to, among them some are: Ramadan is an honourable and blessed month, and the rewards for generosity are multiplied in it. The reward for a single good deed done in Ramadan is equivalent to 70 good deeds done in any other month. The Prophet (saw) said, The best charity is that given in Ramadan. [At-Tirmithi]. This is a source of help and support, especially to the ones fasting. To encourage this, the Prophet (saw) said, He who feeds a fasting person will gain the same reward as he will, without decreasing from the fasting persons rewards. [Ahmad]. Ramadan is the month of giving and mercy, and in it Allah blesses the believers with forgiveness and being saved from Hellfire. Therefore, whoever is merciful and giving in Ramadan, Allah will be even more Merciful and Giving, and will bestow upon him countless bounties and blessings. Charity and Fasting are a stronger and more effective barrier that will keep the person away from the Fire. As for fasting, the Prophet (saw) had said, Fasting is a shield and protection from Hellfire [Ahmad].He also said regarding charity, Charity extinguishes the sin just as water extinguishes the fire. So give generously this month.

This is very IMPORTANT.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (saw) said: "Fasting is not abstaining from eating and drinking only, but also from vain speech and foul language..." [Ibn Khuzaimah, Ibn Hibban, and al-Hakim; Sahih]. Abu Hurairah also reported that the Prophet (saw) said: "Allah does not need the fast of one who does not abandon false speech or acting according to his false speech [Bukhari and others]

He also reported the Prophet (saw) saying: "Whoever does not abandon falsehood in word and action, then Allah Mighty and Majestic has no need [i.e. will not accept] that he should leave his food and drink".[Bukhari] Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said: "Perhaps a fasting person will get nothing from his fast except hunger, and perhaps the one who stands to pray at night will get nothing from his standing except sleeplessness." [an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and al-Hakim / Sahih al-Jami`].

Set yourself realistic goals to achieve during Ramadan but aim to continue this/these after Ramadan. Allah loves the thing which you continually do, more than the act you do just the once. For instance continuous charity regardless of your state, amount etc is better than a one-off cheque of 10,000 during your good times.

One way of knowing whether your fasts have been accepted or not is to see whether you have made any changes or not after Ramadan.
Have you continued the good habits you started, have you stopped any of the bad habits or have you remained exactly the same or reverted back to the way you were before Ramadan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixN0 qhN39k0