10 Easy Ibadaat for Women in Ramadan on their Menses / Periods

ਬਿਸਮਿਲਾਹ
Rabbi Zidnee Ilman
“My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.”

What is Ibadah?!
The term “Ibadah” (ਤਬਦੀਲੀ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ) in Islam is not only confined to the pillars of Islam as it comprises many other goodly aspects. ਰੱਬ [Exalted be His mention] ਵਰਜੀਨੀਆ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ [what means]:
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”
{Surat Adh-Dhariyat 51: ਆਇਤ: 56}

Many people mistakenly understand the term “worship” to mean living an ascetic way of life. This is not true at all. ਇਸਲਾਮ ਵਿੱਚ, worship is not [ਅਤੇ ਜੋ ਕੋਈ ਯਤਸਬਾਰੁ] restricted to prayer, going to the masjid, giving in charity, or going for Hajj, as one can even turn permissible acts such as sleeping, eating, drinking, going to work, ਆਦਿ. into an act of worship. How is that?! By having a good intention! ਇਸ ਲਈ, if one sleeps with the intention to rest his body so he can have more energy to worship Allah then this is a good intention. If one goes to work so he can provide for his family and those under his care, then this is a good intention which he will be rewarded for.

Mu’aadh (ਅੱਲ੍ਹਾ ਉਸ ਨਾਲ ਖੁਸ਼ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ) ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ: I sleep and I get up (to pray at night), and I seek reward for my sleep as I seek reward for my getting up.
[Narrated by al-Bukhari]

ਨਬੀ (ਅਮਨ ਅਤੇ ਅੱਲ੍ਹਾ ਦੀ ਅਸੀਸ ਉਸ ਉੱਤੇ ਹੋਵੇ) ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ: “You will never spend anything that you spend for the sake of Allah, but you will be rewarded for it, even the morsel of food that you put in your wife’s mouth.”
[Narrated by Al-Bukhari]

Sheikh ul-Islam Ibn Tayimah (May Allah have Mercy on him) gave a very comprehensive definition of the word “Ibaadah” as he said: “Al-Ibadah is a collective term for all of the deeds and words which Allah loves and is pleased with [whether] inward or outward.”

WHAT CAN I DO DURING MY PERIOD?
Many sisters feel that they cannot do much of Ibaadaat while on their monthly period, this is not true. ਰੱਬ (Exalted be His mention) gave us the blessing of time, we should take advantage of it in doing things that are pleasing to Him. ਇਸ ਲਈ, here is a list of ten easy Ibaadaat that can be done during the period:

1. Make lots of du’a (ਵਿਆਹ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ ਉਹ ਸੂਚੀ ਬਣਾ ਚੁੱਕੀ ਹੈ) ਅੱਲ੍ਹਾ ਨੂੰ
Being in that state of ritual impurity should not prevent you from making du’a.
It is reported from An-Nu’man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported the prophet (ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ & blessing of Allah be upon him) ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ: “Du’a is worship.”
[ਅਬੂ ਦਾਊਦ]

2. Visit a close family member
When you are visiting one of your close family members make sure to have the intention of keeping good ties of kinship between both of you.

The prophet (ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ & ਅੱਲ੍ਹਾ ਦੀ ਅਸੀਸ ਉਸ ਉੱਤੇ ਹੋਵੇ) ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ: “And he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should unite his ties of kinship.”
[Reported by Al-Bukhari]

3. Make lots of Istighfaar (seeking forgiveness from Allah) and dhikr (remembrance of Allah)
This can be done when you are cooking, cleaning, going to work, going to the shop, ਆਦਿ. ਰੱਬ [Exalted be His mention] ਵਰਜੀਨੀਆ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ [what means]:
“O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance.”
[Surat Al-Ahzab: 33: ਆਇਤ: 41]

4. Give Da’wah to Muslims and non-Muslims
This can be by sharing an Islamic post on face book, sharing Islamic knowledge in general through media, and most importantly being a good example through your manners, speech and actions. Allah says what means: “And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, “Indeed, I am of the Muslims.” [Surat Fussilat: 41: ਆਇਤ: 33]

And the prophet (ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ & ਅੱਲ੍ਹਾ ਦੀ ਅਸੀਸ ਉਸ ਉੱਤੇ ਹੋਵੇ) ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ: “Convey from me even if it is (ਅਤੇ ਜੋ ਕੋਈ ਯਤਸਬਾਰੁ) one ayah (ਆਇਤ)."
[Narrated by al-Bukhari]

5. Read beneficial books
Choose books that will help you understand more about Islam, purpose of this life and duties towards our creator. Anas ibn Malik said, the Messenger of Allah (ਅਮਨ ਉਸ ਉੱਤੇ ਹੋ) ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ: “Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.”
[Sunan Ibn Majah]

6. Visit the sick
It is one of the rights upon another Muslim to visit them when they are sick, and not only that, there are great virtues for visiting the sick as mentioned by our beloved Prophet (ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ & ਅੱਲ੍ਹਾ ਦੀ ਅਸੀਸ ਉਸ ਉੱਤੇ ਹੋਵੇ): “When the Muslim visits his (sick) Muslim brother, he is harvesting the fruit of paradise until he returns.” [ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਵਰਣਿਤ]. This would also enable us to be more thankful to Allah for the good health that we have and content with the condition we are in.

7. Listen to the Qur’an frequently
Listening to the Qur’an would enable you to prefect your recitation of the Qur’an, help you revise what you memorized, and constantly remembering Allah in your heart and mind.

8. Help others
If you see your sister in Islam going through hard circumstances, do what you can to help her. One day if you are in that same position, Allah will bring to you someone who will help you too.

9. Smile in your sister’s face
By doing so, we are following the prophet’s sunnah and will be rewarded for it Insha’Allah.

10. Spread the greeting of “Salam”
This should be done with those [ਭੈਣਾਂ] we know or never met before. The prophet (ਅਮਨ ਉਸ ਉੱਤੇ ਹੋ) ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ: “You will not enter paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I tell you about something which, if you do it, will make you love one another? Greet each other with Salam.”
[ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ]

ਅੰਤ ਵਿੱਚ, let’s renew our intentions and make sure we are doing all these good deeds sincerely for Allah’s sake and following the footsteps of our beloved prophet Muhammad and his companions (May Allah be pleased with them all).