1. Do a complete focused fast on Mondays and Thursdays.

a) Get up Read in Arabic and English – Inna fee Khalqis samaawati wal Ard (Aali Imraan, 3:191-end) and crying.

b) Make a focused wudoo and Tahajjud followed by

c) a very light Suhoor (brown bread, olives and extra virgin olive oil + 2 table spoons full of canned tuna or one egg) followed by

d) a day of focused sunnah and Fard prayers

e) Utilize throughout the day any of the prophetic du’aas requesting ease like: “Allahumma laa sahla illaa maa ja’altahu sahlaa (O Allah, nothing is easy except what you make easy) wa anta taj’alus sa’ba in shi’ta sahlaa (And You can make what is difficult easy if You wish)

f) as well as the other du’aas for depression like: Allaahumma rahmataka arjoo falaa takilnee ilaa nafsee tarfata ‘ayn. wa aslih lee sha’nee kullah. Laa ilaaha illaa Ant.  (O Allah, it is Your mercy that I hope for, so don’t leave me in charge of my affairs even for the blinking of an eye. And rectify all of my affairs for me. Nothing has the right to be worshipped except You. See  Hisnul Muslim – the Muslim Fortress for more).

g) Then break the fast with 3 dates and a glass of water and pray maghrib,

h) Have a light Iftaar followed by a focused Ishaa,

The depression should begin to lift, if not go altogether from the very first day of the Fast cure. It will work if you do it believing with all your heart, strongly that this prophetic formula WORKS and the degree to which it does work depends on how seriously you take it and apply it.

Back View

Al hamdulillaah the Jumu’ah far exceeded our wildest expectations. Depending solely (after Allah) on only word-of-mouth announcements, a few emails, a post on Qatar living, more than 900 people attended and the mosque was filled almost to capacity – Allahu Akbar. It looks as though we will have to make arrangement for rugs outside the mosque for next Jumu’ah in order to accommodate the next wave, once the word spreads!!

The khutbah topic was on Jumu’ah itself and I hope to have it up here soon. In the first half, I spoke about Allah’s choice of Friday for Muslims, after ordaining Saturday for the Jews and permitting by Qadar Sunday to be chosen by the Christians.  Then I discussed the status of Friday as the Eed of the week, and why fasting on Friday was prohibited. Also I focused on the relationship between Jumu’ah and daily prayers and the benefits of purification from sin attributed to both Jumu’ah and daily prayers.

From the Last Row

In the second half I spoke about the etiquettes of Jumu’ah. Why we are doing it in English and why it is not considered Bid’ah to do so. I clarified that there was no “sunnah” prayers between the two athaans and the rules concerning talking and playing during the khutbah. The issue of bringing children to the mosque was also elaborated on and the responsibility of parents in keeping a close watch on their children was stressed. I also touched on the importance of the 2 rak’aat prior to sitting in the mosque, the importance of the first lines and sitting attentively, as well as preparations for Jumu’ah and Soorah al-Kahf.

Front View