نحن كمسلمين، نرضى بقضاء الله وقدره حين يغيبُ عنا الأحبة. ورغم مرارة الفقد، يظلُ يقيننا بأنَّ الإيمانَ بقدر الله هو الطمأنينةُ والسكينة. ومن واسع رحمته سبحانه، أن جعل لنا سُبلاً لصلة أحبتنا بعد رحيلهم؛ عبر دعائنا لهم، وعبر “صدقةٍ جارية” نجعلها بأسمائهم.
يقول رسول الله ﷺ: «إِذَا مَاتَ ابْنُ آدَمَ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ، أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ» (رواه مسلم).
ما هي الصدقةُ الجارية؟
الصدقةُ الجارية هي عملٌ صالحٌ يستمر أثره؛ كتعليم شخصٍ حرفةً يكسب رزقه من خلالها، أو غرسِ شجرةٍ، أو حفرِ بئرِ ماء. أما الوقف، فهو صدقةٌ دائمة؛ حيث يُحفظُ “الأصل” الذي تبرعت به فلا يُباع ولا يُورث، ليبقى خيرُه جارياً للناس دون انقطاع. ونحن في “صندوق الوقف” نُدير هذه المساهمات بعنايةٍ فائقة لضمان استدامة نفعها؛ وهذا يعني أنَّ كلَّ وقفٍ هو صدقة جارية، ولكن ليس كل صدقة جارية تُعدُّ وقفاً.
هل يمكننا إهداءُ الوقفِ عن المتوفى؟
نعم بالتأكيد؛ فهناك أصلٌ شرعيٌّ واضحٌ لذلك، بما أن الوقف هو أسمى صور الصدقة الجارية..
يُروى أنَّ رَجُلًا قال للنَّبيِّ ﷺ: «إنَّ أُمِّي افتُلِتَت نَفسُها، وأظُنُّها لو تَكَلَّمَت تَصَدَّقَت، فهل لَها أجرٌ إن تَصَدَّقتُ عَنها؟ قال: نَعَم» (صحيح البخاري)
كيف يصلُ أجرُ الوقفِ لأحبتنا؟
حين يرحلُ الإنسان، ينتقلُ إلى حياة “البرزخ”؛ وهي المحطةُ بين الموتِ والبعث، وكلٌّ بما قدَّم من عملٍ في دنياه. وإهداءُ الوقف هو سعيٌ صادقٌ لطلب الرحمة والمغفرة لمن تحب؛ فهو الأثرُ الذي نُرسله لأحبتنا ليكونَ عوناً لهم ونوراً في قبورهم. وحده الله يعلم مدى النفع، ولكن إهداء الوقف بأسمائهم هو من أسمى صورِ البرِّ التي تصلهم بركتُها وأجرُها، بإذن الله.
كيف أضمنُ وصول الأجر؟
بالإخلاص أولاً. اجعل نيتك بينك وبين الله أن هذا الوقف هو باسم فقيدك. وعند المساهمة عبر “صندوق الوقف”، اختر خيار “إهداء الوقف” واكتب الاسم، ثم ابتهل إلى الله أن يتقبل وقفك عنهم.
مشاريعُ الوقفِ الخيرية
ما هي المشاريع التي يمكنني دعمها نيابةً عن شخصٍ آخر؟
تستطيعون تخصيصَ مساهمتكم الوقفيّة لأيِّ مشروعٍ من مشاريعنا؛ وما عليكم سوى اختيار (إهداء الوقف) عند إتمام مساهمتكم، وسنتولى نحنُ إدارة الأمر من هنا.
إليك بعض المشاريع التي يختارها المتبرعون عادةً لإهدائها عن أحبتهم:
سُقيا الماء: محطات التحلية، الآبار، ومصادر المياه المستدامة.
سُبل المعيشة: دعم الأسر المنتجة (كالأشجار، وآلات الخياطة، وتربية النحل) لمساعدتهم على بدء مشاريعهم.
التعليم: بناء الفصول الدراسية، توفير الأدوات التعليمية، والوجبات، والكفالة، والدعم النفسي.
عبر صفحة “إهداء الوقف”، اختر أي مبلغ تراه مناسباً. نحن نجمع هذه المساهمات ونستثمرها في أصولٍ حلال، ونوجه “الأرباح فقط” لدعم المشاريع التي اخترتها سنوياً. أما أصلُ تبرعك فلا يُستهلك أبداً، بل يظلُّ مستثمراً، ينمو ويتضاعف بالخير عاماً بعد عام، بإذن الله.
اجعل لفقيدكَ نوراً يرافقه في آخرته، ولِقلبكَ عزاءً في فقده؛ وصلهُ بفيضِ الرحمات وبركات الإحسان، اليومَ وفي القادمِ من السنين، عبر وقفٍ ينمو.. وأثرٍ لا ينقطع.
بعد ثلاث سنوات من العمل تحت اسم “الوقف البريطاني الدولي”، نخطو اليوم خطوةً واثقة نحو المستقبل بهوية متجددة تحت مسمى “صندوق الوقف”.
ليس مجرد تغييرٍ للأسماء، بل هي إعادةُ صياغةٍ لرسالتنا لتتحد مع رؤيتنا وقيمنا. إن “صندوق الوقف” يجسد التزامنا الراسخ بالشفافية والمسؤولية، ويؤكد إيماننا بأن يد الخير التي تمتد لمرة واحدة، قادرةٌ على إحداث الأثر لسنواتٍ طويلة، للمجتمع والمتبرع على حدٍ سواء.
لماذا الآن؟
الحمد لله، بفضل الله ثم بدعمكم، نمت استثماراتنا وتوسعت مشاريعنا. إن تغيير هويتنا البصرية يعكس هذا النمو وهذا التأثير الملموس والقدرة على تغيير الواقع. أردنا اسماً يعبّر عن روح العطاء الذي لا يعرف الحدود، مع التزامٍ تامٍّ بأصول عقيدتنا ومبادئها.
رسالةٌ ثابتة
قد يتغير الاسم، لكن مهمتنا تظل كما هي. نحن ملتزمون بتطوير ورعاية مشاريع وقفيّة مستدامة، غايتها تمكين المجتمعات، وهدفها أن نجعل من أعمالكم إرثاً يبقى لآخرتكم.
وكما عهدتمونا، تظل كافة استثماراتنا ومشاريعنا خاضعةً وبدقةٍ متناهية لأحكام الشريعة الإسلامية المنظمة للوقف.
الوقف.. متاحٌ للجميع
من خلال نموذجنا الوقفي، نؤمن بأن أصل العمل صدقُ النية. سواء كانت مساهمتكم بـ 10 أو 1000 دولار، فإنها تمنحكم فرصة الاستثمار في الآخرة عبر كيانٍ ينمو كل عام. نحن نجمع هذه المساهمات المباركة، ونستثمرها لنستخدم أرباحها سنوياً لنكون عوناً للمحتاجين؛ نوفر لهم الغذاء، ونبني لهم المدارس، ونحفر لهم الآبار، ونقدم لهم الرعاية الطبية.
هل تودون معرفة رحلة عطائكم من التبرع إلى الأثر؟
ماذا حققنا معاً؟
خلال ثلاث سنوات، نجحنا في استثمار ملايين الدولارات في ثلاثة أصول عقارية مستقرة، تمثل مصدراً آمناً وعائداً ثابتاً متوافقاً مع الشريعة. بفضل هذا النموذج، استطعنا الوصول إلى آلاف المستفيدين من خلال المشاريع التي تُمكّن المجتمعات؛ مثل مشاريع الغذاء، ومصادر المياه النظيفة، وسُبل دعم المعيشة، والتعليم، والرعاية الصحية، ودعم الأيتام.
في كل رمضان، تتحول أرباح “وقف رمضان” إلى طرودٍ غذائية تكفي العائلات طوال الشهر الكريم، ومن خلال الوقف وفي كل ذي الحجة من كل عام، نؤدي أمانة “الأضاحي” أيضاً.
سواء كنت معنا منذ البداية في “الوقف البريطاني الدولي”، أو انضممت إلينا اليوم بهويتنا الجديدة “صندوق الوقف”، يسعدنا أن نكون رفقاءكم في هذه الرحلة لصناعة تغييرٍ حقيقي.. وأثرٍ لا يغيب.
Gifting in Islam: special occasions
How Islam encourages gift giving.
Gift giving is a sunnah, and one that helps to bond families, friends and communities. Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to accept and reciprocate gifts.
According to Abu Hureira (RA) related that Muahmmad ﷺ said “Give each other gifts and you will love each other”.
There are many celebrations that are permitted or encouraged in Islam – we have both Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr, marriages, and even the birth of new babies. Each of these milestones is a cause for celebration, and a chance to thank Allah for blessings.
When Eid comes around, we love to spread joy, gifting new clothes and toys to children, sharing food with our neighbours, and gifting desserts to those we visit.
There’s no better charity than something given to your family. What if you could celebrate a marriage, a new baby, or Eid with a gift that brings your loved on blessings year after year, even after their lifetime?
Give for the dunya and akhirah
It’s not always easy to pick the right gift. In western countries, the messaging around gifts can be rude, selfish and capitalist. But there’s ways to give practical and lasting gifts. Someone in your family is having a baby? Bring them clothes and useful newborn items, but also gift a waqf in the name of the baby, ensuing blessings for that child for their whole life and beyond.
Celebrating a marriage? Offer a useful gift for the home, and bring a waqf in the couple’s name, blessing their union and marriage year after year.
For Eid, nothing shows how much you care as much as a gift for the akhirah.
Gifting a waqf
When you gift a waqf in your loved one’s name, you’ll receive a digital gift card that you can present them. A waqf shows that you don’t just care for them in this life, but you care about their hereafter to.
Since a waqf donation is never spent, your loved one will receive blessings every single year, even after they pass away.
How does it work?
Gift a waqf for a special occasion. At checkout make sure you click ‘in celebration’ and enter the name of your loved one.
Check out, and receive your gift certificate. Now your donation gets to work. We’ll pool it and invest it in a Sharia-compliant asset – most commonly a property to rent – and each year we’ll withdraw your profit to fund the projects you selected, all in the name of your loved one.
Did you know?
Whoever gifts charity on behalf of another also receives blessings for this beautiful act of kindness. Gifting doesn’t just feel rewarding – it is rewarding!
Show how much you care with a gift for the akhirah. Gift your loved one a waqf.
Everything you need to know about the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah
We gain so much from Ramadan – physically, spiritually and even in terms of our happiness and fulfilment in the dunya. When it’s over, it can be hard to navigate our lives.
But The Most Merciful has given us a second chance to seek His mercy, a second chance, every single year, to ask our prayers, to have our sins wiped clean. Every single one of the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah is equivalent to Laylatul Qadr:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “There are no days more beloved to Allah that He be worshiped in them than the ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Each day of fasting in it is equivalent to the fast of an entire year. And each night standing in prayer is equivalent to standing in prayer on the Night of Power.” (Tirmidhi)
How to reap the blessings of Dhul Hijjah
There’s no better example to follow than The Messenger’s ﷺ example for these blessed 10 days. Seek Allah’s mercy and maximise your blessings in Dhul Hijjah by:
1. Fasting – especially on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah – the day of Arafah. Fasting this day expiates the sins of both the previous and the upcoming year.
2. Making dua – pray for your forgiveness, for the sick, for the ummah, and for Allah to make you a tool for his decree in the dunya.
3. Increase your dhikr – Keep a prayer counter handy and integrate your prayer into your day, whether commuting, at the gym, or while you cook.
4. Give your Qurbani – it’s a sunnah and many scholars consider it a duty for all Muslims of means.
5. Do good – support your community by volunteering, visiting the sick, supporting people without family, or lending a hand to new parents. Increase your charity – we recommend investing in a waqf as it will continue to benefit you forever, even after your lifetime.
1. It is when pilgrims on Hajj congregate at Mount Arafah in intense prayer to Allah
2. It is the day when more people are forgiven from hellfire:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “There is no day on which Allah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of ’Arafah. He comes close to those (people standing on ’Arafah), and then He revels before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking.” (Tirmidhi)
3. Allah’s mercy extends to all Muslims, not just those on Hajj
“When the evening of Arafah arrives, nobody with a mustard seed’s weight of faith (Iman) in their hearts is left, except that they are forgiven.” It was said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, is this restricted only to the people on Arafah?’ He said: ‘No, it is for all of the Muslims.’” (Haythami)
4. Fasting Arafah expiates the sins of 2 years
Abu Qatadah reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked about fasting the day of ‘Arafat, and he said, “It will expiate the sins of the previous and upcoming years.” (Muslim)
Duas for the Day of Arafah
1. The best dua for Arafah:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The best supplication is the supplication on the Day of 'Arafah, and the best words that I and the prophets before me have said are 'La ilaha illa Allah, wahdahu la sharika lahla hul mulk wa lahul hamd wa huwa ala kulli shayin qadeer'” (Muslim)
Abdullah ibn ʿUmar (rA), a close companion of the Prophet ﷺ, spent much of ʿArafah engaging in takbirat and praise of Allah, saying, “Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and to Allah belongs all praise (Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, wa lillahil-hamd).”
Allahumma ihdini bil-huda, wa qini bi-t-taqwa, waghfir lee fil-akhirati wal-oola.
In addition to this dhikr, he would repeatedly say, “O Allah, guide me with Your guidance, protect me with Your piety, and forgive me in this life and the next.”
O Allah, I ask You from all that is good, in this world and in the hereafter, of what I know and what I do not know. O Allah, I seek refuge with You from all evil, in this world and in the hereafter, of what I know and what I do not know. O Allah, I ask You for the good that Your slave and Prophet has asked You for, and I seek refuge with You from the evil from which Your slave and Prophet sought refuge. [Sunan Ibn Majah 3846]
Each year it seems there’s another Muslim charity here to tell you they’re the only place you should give your Sadaqah and Zakat. Maybe they promise you zero admin fees or 100% donation policies, or impossibly low prices.
Here’s the secret that nobody will tell you – with charity, there are no shortcuts. If someone’s offering 100% donation – this comes at a cost elsewhere – in expertise, longevity, quality, or simply they have funding for their administration costs.
Even The Waqf Fund does this. We do take funds from your donation to run your projects safely and keep your charity changing lives in the long term but when we don’t need funding, we pause taking an admin fee.
So what should I look for?
The charity you choose to donate to should:
– Be a registered charity – this keeps them legally accountable and regulated
– Registered with the Fundraising Regulator – meaning they’re committed to ethical fundraising by following the Code of Fundraising Practice and the Fundraising Promise.
– Transparent reporting – through annual reports, fundraising reports and publicly acknowledging their admin percentage.
– No impossible promises. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You can’t buy a well for £10, sponsor all a child’s needs for £20, or change a life with one meal.
Bonus: We’re biased, but we think it’s an added bonus if you choose a charity that works in the long term, not with only one-off handouts.
So what makes The Waqf Fund different?
The Waqf Fund’s model means that your charity is never spent; it’s invested, and only the profit is used to help people. The same way that we save money in our youth for our old age, giving a waqf ensures that you’re investing in charity for your hereafter, allowing your charity to accumulate blessings, and multiply impact, every single year, even after your lifetime. That means even after you pass into the grave, your waqf can continue benefiting you.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “When a person dies, his deeds come to an end, except for three: ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah), knowledge that is benefited from, and a righteous child who prays for him.” (Sahih Muslim)
Every single donation to The Waqf Fund is a sadaqah jariyah
So what about 0% admin fees?
At first glance, this might sound ethical. You might think it’s great for all of your donation to go to the people who need help. But without an admin fee, who is checking the expertise and background of the people who deliver your aid? How can a water well be installed safely without a water engineer? How is it ethical to work with children and orphans unless you’re trained to do so?
An admin fee is so essential, it’s even permitted in Zakat Islamically. One of the outlined recipients of Zakat mentioned in the Holy Quran is the person employed to administer it.
We believe that an admin fee is what keeps projects safe, ethical, and protects the people we help.
But we don’t believe in taking more than is needed to fulfil projects – that’s why when our Waqf Support Fund has sufficient funding for our upcoming projects, we halt taking any admin fee from new donations.
The most unique reward
When you donate to our Waqf Support Fund gets a unique reward unlike any other. We actually think it’s one of the neatest ways to support waqf, and many of us within the organisation donate to it already.
Because you don’t receive the reward of one single waqf, but you share in the reward of every single waqf that we administer. A small slice of barakah from every single waqf, year after year.
Invest in your akhirah. Keep donations and the people we help safe by donating to our Waqf Support Fund.
Qurbani is the annual sacrifice that Muslims offer on the day of Eid al-Adha, continuing the legacy of Ibrahim (AS). Traditionally, a third of the animal is kept for your family, a third for your friends and relatives, and a third for poor people, but today, many people choose to donate an entire animal to vulnerable families.
When was asked what Qurbani is, the Prophet ﷺ answered, “It is the Sunnah of your father Ibrahim. For every hair of the Qurbani you receive a reward from Allah.” (Hadith Al-Tirmidhi)
The history of Ibrahim
Ibrahim (AS) longed for a child for years. When he was finally blessed with his son Ismail (AS), he was asked to sacrifice him for the sake of Allah. Despite how hard this was, Ibrahim obeyed, but Ismail was spared by Allah at the last second, who replaced Ismail with a ram.
Muhammad ﷺ continued this legacy, sacrificing an animal during Dhul Hijjah. In fact, he sacrificed two – one his own Udhiya (another word for the sacrifice), and one on behalf of the ummah who couldn’t afford to sacrifice.
Each year, we honour Ibrahim’s obedience and sacrifice by continuing the sunnah of sacrificing an animal.
Cain and Abel – what’s the connection to the sacrifice?
When God asked the sons of Adam – known in Arabic as Habil and Qabil – to offer him a sacrifice, Habil – a shepherd – offered the best sheep in his flock with sincerity, whereas Qabil offered only poor crops and his sacrifice was not accepted, ultimately leading to his jealousy and murder of his brother.
Choosing your Qurbani
What should you consider when choosing where to give your Qurbani? Since it’s your Qurbani, you can decide where you’d like to perform the sacrifice – do you want to give it to people in a specific country that you have ties to? Maybe you want to help people going through emergencies, such as in Sudan and Gaza? You can also let your budget help you decide – meat is cheaper in some countries, and so it follows that it’s cheaper to give your Qurbani there.
The key thing to consider is whether the charity performing your Qurbani has a thorough understanding of Islamic requirements, with experience in the complex and rigorous nature of the Qurbani sacrifice. An organisation with experience will strictly follow the follow the regulations for Qurbani.
What are the requirements of a Qurbani slaughter?
The animals must be well-treated and not witness any sacrifice, so they do not experience distress.
A very sharp knife should be used to minimize pain.
The animals must be slaughtered in the name of Allah
Slaughtered in accordance with halal requirements
Animals must be healthy and well cared for.
All sacrifices must be performed on the four days of Eid al-Adha, after Eid prayer.
A goat or sheep counts as one sacrifice, whereas a cow counts as seven
It is also sunnah that the person performing the slaughter shouldn’t cut their hair or nails during the first 11 days of Dhul Hijjah until after completing the sacrifice.
Can I make a Qurbani on someone else’s behalf?
Yes, in fact it is sunnah for a man to offer a Qurbani on behalf of their household – living and passed – and you can even make the intention to include other people in the reward too.
A Qurbani can even be carried out on behalf of a loved one who has passed, providing them with the blessings of a sadaqah.
One donation gives your Qurbani for the rest of your life (and beyond)
How does that work? When you donate your Qurbani via The Waqf Fund, your charity is never spent; it’s invested in Sharia-compliant assets – such as properties. The profit made – in this case rent – is used to provide your Qurbani, after the very first year. Each year, 10% of your profit is reinvested, so not only do we provide your Qurbani sacrifice every year, but we increase the amount you give, every single year. After your lifetime, this share becomes an ongoing charity, providing blessings to you in the grave, year after year, after year.
A Qurbani share costs £2,000, but it gets to work right away – from year 1, you never have to pay another Qurbani again – we’ve got you sorted!
The five pillars of Islam are the core and foundation for every Muslim. They structure our lives, define our relationship and obedience to God and create community and spirituality. Since they are core tenets, a Muslims should persist in following them regardless of their mood, which in turn helps to ground them through good times and bad.
But what are the five pillars?
Pillar 1
Shahada – The declaration that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger. This is said into the ears of newborns and uttered by people to become Muslim.
Pillar 2
Salah – Performing five prayers each day, a way of connecting with Allah.
Pillar 3
Zakat – Giving a portion of our wealth to purify it every year.
Pillar 4
Sawm – Fasting the month of Ramadan for spiritual focus and religious recentring.
Pillar 5
Hajj – The pilgrimage to Mecca, a life-changing act of devotion and closeness to God.
What’s the significance of the order of the pillars?
The order of the pillars takes a person from the simplest foundation of the daily life, before requiring bigger sacrifices such as fasting for a month or travelling for Hajj. It gives grace and time to a person who is developing their faith to start with learning the core element of prayer before demanding an entire month of fasting or the physical and mental commitment of the pilgrimage.
What if we break the pillars?
First, a caveat – for a person who is new to Islam, the pillars will always take time. Even for a person who is Muslim but neglected their faith but is looking to return to it, it can take time to return to all elements of Islam, and Allah knows the hardships that each person faces. With Hajj, for example, it is a duty for all who can afford to do it. Likewise, Zakat is obligatory only for those who meet the threshold of wealth.
But once a Muslim understands and practices their religion, they should strive to be consistent throughout hardships as this is what grounds us to Allah. Even in deep struggle, a sense of structure – such as through daily prayers – can be deeply helpful.
At this point, it is considered sinful to knowingly neglect the pillars of Islam, as these are foundational duties. There are many other ways that Muslims can improve on their worship to expand upon this foundation, but the pillars are mandatory.
I’m not fulfilling the pillars of Islam, how can I fix it?
Everyone is in a different place in their faith. For a person new to Islam, rushing in to complete all five pillars can backfire if not done with understanding and support. For example, they may start by learning the surahs of prayer, and struggling to complete one prayer a day until they are able to add additional prayer. Allah is the Most Understanding.
But if you’ve been neglecting your religion and want to Allah’s help to return – you’ve already done the hardest bit – the change of the heart. Thank The Most Merciful for this blessing and ask for His help to continue in obedience. Make a plan, with tangible steps about how you will reintegrate the pillars into your life. Be realistic, but also push yourself out of your comfort zone. How many prayers are you neglecting? Set a plan to add them back into your day. Is there a situation that’s preventing you from praying that you can change? Choose a time of year – maybe Ramadan or the Day of Arafah – to give your Zakat and put it in your calendar. Recite adhkar to help keep remembrance of Allah close.
With one step at a time, you’ve got this, inshallah.
What is Hajj?
Today, Hajj can be quite a bureaucratic process that requires a lot of planning and a big budget. You can begin saving for Hajj, and remember to make duaa that you can perform your pilgrimage – you can even set a timeframe in your duaa.
Arafah, Hajj and Qurbani
Each year, coinciding with the Day of Arafah – when pilgrims climb Mount Arafah (or stand in its surroundings) to intensely seek repentance from Allah. Muslims around the world who are not on Hajj usually pray on this day as fasting the Day of Arafah brings forgiveness for two years of sins.
On the day of Eid, Muslims globally also perform Udhiyah or Qurbani – sacrificing an animal as the Prophet Ibrahim (AS) did, a rite that became sunnah when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ also sacrificed an animal at Eid.
One donation to The Waqf Fund can cover the cost of your Qurbanis for the rest of your life. We invest your donation, and only the profit used pays for the sacrifice – every single year. In fact, your donation grows every year since we reinvest 10% of the profits.
What is Istikhara and how can it change your life?
The simple prayer that changes destinies
What is istikhara?
Istikhara is a prayer that helps you to make decisions – big or small – and a submission to Allah’s divine knowledge.
It’s a sunnah that the Messenger ﷺ encouraged the sahaba to do for all matters, in combination with seeking advice from people of knowledge.
How to pray istikhara?
Continue to pray the following sequence until your dua is answered
Set a pure intention for Allah to guide you and work to avoid sins so that your dua is not compromised. Ensure you are praying for something halal and that is not harmful.
It is sunnah to make wudu and pray 2 rakat of namaz (salah) first, but it is also permissible to recite the istikhara prayer without the salah, especially if you are unable to pray or make wudu (such as during menstruation).
Allahumma innee astakheeruka bi ‘ilmika wa astaqdiruka bi qadratika wa as’aluka min fadlika al-’adheem fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru wa ta’lamu wa la a’lamu wa anta ‘allaam ul-ghuyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna haadha al-amra [mention the thing to be decided here] khayrun lee fee deenee wa ma’aashee wa ‘aaqibati amree faqdurhu lee wa yassirhu lee thumma baarik lee feehi wa in kunta ta’lamu anna haadha al-amara sharrun lee fee deenee wa ma’aashee wa ‘aaqibati amree fasrifhu ‘annee wasrifnee ‘anhu waqdur lee al-khayra haythu kaana thumma ardinee bih
Translation of istikhara dua:
O Allah, I seek Your guidance (in making a choice) by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, and I do not. You know, and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [mention the thing to be decided] is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, my worldly affairs, and in the hereafter then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, my worldly affairs, and in the hereafter then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be and make me content with it [Sahih al-Bukhari #6382].
How to know if my istikhara has been answered?
There are many misconceptions that istikhara will be followed by signs, but the reality is that Allah makes easy for you the right path, and makes difficult the one that is not blessed.
An example of an answered istikhara dua could be: You have to make a decision to take a new job abroad or stay in your current job. You consistently pray istikhara and now you start to have issues at your current job, and you keep hearing positive things about the new country. Maybe your heart feels inclined to the change, or maybe you encounter practical examples of the path to the right decision.
There are many ways istikhara prayer can be answered, but having faith that Allah will guide you ultimately ensures you feel at peace with your decisions.
Sadaqah as a blessing
Giving charity is another way that people bless their successes, health, life, and decisions.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity” (Al-Tirmidhi).
Giving charity when making a decision can help to bless your path and protect you from harmful choices.
Donate a waqf from as little as £3 and it’ll continue to bless you forever since your charity is never spent. Find out more about how waqf works.
كثيرٌ منا يحرص على بِرِّ والديه وفاءً للتضحيات التي قدماها، ويتساءل البعض: هل يمكننا أن نَبَرَّهما بأموالنا؟ وهل يُحتسب ذلك صدقةً إذا فعلنا؟
الصدقة عملٌ خيريٌ تطوعي، قد يكون طعاماً، أو مالاً، أو تعليم مهارة، أو حتى تبسّمك في وجه أخيك؛ لكن الإسلام يميّز بوضوحٍ بين الصدقة والواجب. فعندما يكون أفراد العائلة، كالوالدين، في حاجةٍ مالية، يصبح دعمهم واجباً شرعياً، وهو أمانةٌ في أعناق الأبناء.
في هذه الحالة، يعتبر الإنفاق المادي على والديك حقاً واجباً، وليس صدقةً تطوعية. ومن عظمة ديننا الحنيف أننا نُؤجر أيضاً على واجباتنا، مع خصوصية التشريع والثواب.
قال النبي ﷺ: "أنت ومالك لأبيك"
وهو ما يفسره العلماء بأن للوالد الحق في استخدام مال ابنه لتلبية احتياجاته الأساسية، وفق ضوابط ومعايير معلومة. وقد أجمع العلماء من مختلف المذاهب الفقهية على أن الابن الراشد مسؤول عن الاحتياجات الأساسية لوالديه اللذين لا يستطيعان إعالة نفسيهما.
1. هل تجوز الزكاة على الوالدين؟
شرع الله الزكاة لإرساء مبدأ التكافل الاجتماعي، يؤديها الغنيُّ من فائض ماله لتصل إلى المحتاجين في المجتمع. لذا، فهي ليست وسيلةً لدعم مَن تجب عليك نفقتهم شرعاً؛ ففي ذلك مخالفةٌ لحكمة الزكاة التي تقتضي التوسع في العطاء خارج نطاق الأسرة. وعليه، إن كان والداك في حاجة، فإن دعمهما واجبٌ عليك من مالك الخاص كحقٍّ من حقوق البرّ، ولا يصحُّ إخراجه من زكاة مالك، ولا يُعدُّ في ميزان الشرع صدقةً تطوعية.
2. ماذا لو لم يكن والداي في حاجةٍ مالية؟
إذا كان والداك في غنىً عن الدعم المادي، فإنَّ ما تقدمه لهما من مالٍ أو هدايا يخرج من دائرة “الواجب” ليدخل في رحاب “البرّ والودّ”. إنَّ هذا العطاء -وإن لم يكن لسدِّ حاجةٍ- يُعدُّ من أعظم أبواب القُربات؛ فهو تعبيرٌ عن الامتنان، ولفتةٌ طيبةٌ تزيدُ من أواصر المحبة. وهو من صميم أعمال “بر الوالدين” التي تشمل الزيارة، والكلمة الطيبة، والخدمة، وإسعادهما بكلِّ سبيلٍ يملأ قلبيهما بالرضا.
3. النية في برّ الوالدين
النيةُ هي روحُ العبادة ومحركها؛ فقد علّمنا النبي ﷺ أنَّ “الأعمال بالنيات”. فإذا كان إنفاقك على والديك لسدِّ احتياجاتهم، فإنَّ نيتك هي أداءُ الواجب وابتغاءُ مرضاة الله؛ وهذا برٌّ جليلٌ تتقرب به إلى الخالق، وإن لم يُصنَّف صدقةً بمفهومها الشرعي التقني. أما إن كنت تبادرُ بعطاءٍ فوق الحاجة وهما في غنىً، بدافعِ الامتنان والمحبة، فإنَّ الله -بفضله- يضاعفُ لك الأجر ويتقبله كصدقةٍ تطوعية. في كلتا الحالتين، يظلُّ صدقُ قلبك ونقاءُ نيتك هما الميزان الذي يُوزن به عملك عند الله.
4. أيُّ نوعٍ من الصدقة يمكنني تقديمه لوالديّ؟
بينما يظلُّ الإنفاقُ الواجبُ واجباً، يفتحُ الله لنا أبواباً للصدقة الجارية التي تُهدي والدينا أجراً لا ينقطع؛ فقد شرع الإسلام لنا سبلاً للبرِّ بهما، منها:
التبرع لمشاريع الوقف والصدقات الجارية باسمهما: كحفر بئرٍ، أو بناء مدرسة، أو دعم مشروع صحي؛ فهي أصولٌ تجري عليهما حسناتها حتى بعد رحيلهما.
مشاركة الوالدين في الأجر: اجعل لوالديك نصيباً من كل صدقةٍ تُخرجها، واسأل الله بقلبٍ حاضرٍ أن يتقبلها عنهما.
نورُ الدعاء والقرآن: اقرأ القرآن، وأكثر من الدعاء لهما، واسأل الله أن يشملهما برحمته ويرفع قدرهما في الدنيا والآخرة.
قد علَّمنا النبيُّ الكريمُ ﷺ أنَّ الصدقةَ الجاريةَ، والعلمَ المنتفعَ به، والولدَ الصالحَ الذي يدعو لوالديه، تستمرُّ في نفعِ الإنسانِ حتى بعد الموتِ. فصدقتُك الجاريةُ ودعواتُك هي الزادُ الباقي لوالديك في هذه الحياة وفي دار البقاء.
فلتجعل برَّك بوالديك واحدةً من أعظمِ عباداتك، في إنفاقك، وسلوكك، ولا تنسَهما من صدقاتك.
إذا كان الوالدان بحاجة إلى المال وتقوم بإعالتهم، فإن ذلك يُعد نفقة واجبة لا صدقة؛ لأن إعالتهم من حقوقهم عليك ومن واجباتك في الإسلام
إذا كان الوالدان غير معتمدين عليك ماليًا ولكنك تمنحهم المال أو الهدايا تطوعًا ابتغاءً للأجر، فيمكن اعتبار ذلك نوعًا من الصدقة وبرّ الوالدين
لا يجوز دفع الزكاة للأبوين أو الأبناء؛ لأن إعالتهم واجب عليك. يجب مساعدتهم من مالك الخاص لا من أموال الزكاة
نعم. دعم الوالدين من أعظم الأعمال وأحبها إلى الله، فهو وإن لم يُسمَّ صدقة يحمل ثوابًا كبيرًا باعتباره طاعة وبرًّا
يمكن تكريم الوالدين من خلال التبرع بمشروع وقف باسمهم، أو المساهمة في حفر بئر ماء أو دعم التعليم أو الرعاية الصحية، والاستمرار في الدعاء لهم بالعافية والمغفرة
Fasting 6 Days of Shawwal
Reward, Rules & How to Start
The reward of a year of fasting
Fasting 6 Days of Shawwal ,While fasting the entire month of Ramadan is an obligation on Muslims, fasting six days during the month of Shawwal is a sunnah that brings an abundance of reward. Since good deeds are rewarded in Islam 10 times their worth, fasting one month of Ramadan (equal to 10 months) and 6 days of Shawwal (equal to 60 days/ 2 months) brings the reward of fasting an entire year.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six [days] from Shawwal, it’s as if they have fasted a year” [Sahih Muslim].
Maintaining the spirit of Ramadan
It’s rarely sustainable to maintain the enthusiasm and commitment we show to worship in Ramadan. But Ramadan was never meant to be for the entire year – instead it is a catalyst for us to reset and recentre our lives on our true purpose – worshiping Allah.
Ramadan gives us a chance to see what we’re capable of, allowing us to increase our day-to-day worship all year long. Add that extra five minutes of Quran, that small but consistent donation, that weekly fast. After pushing ourselves in Ramadan, these acts seem much more possible.
An easy, slow push
Shawwal is the ideal springboard to kick us into action after Eid, pushing us to remember the joy and struggle of fasting, without the higher expectation of Ramadan.
You don’t need to fast the six days of Shawwal consecutively, so they are low pressure, and an easy, attainable reward that will seal the benefits of Ramadan. It’s easy to get lost in the post-Eid slump and procrastination – push yourself to fast Shawwal to reconnect with the rewarding feelings and connection of Ramadan.
A support for any shortcomings in Ramadan
When our prayers are judged on the Day of Resurrection, our sunnah prayers will be used to compensate for any missed or invalid prayers. So too can our sunnah fasts be used to compensate for any invalid fasts. Ensuring we build up a habit of fasting – even just once a month – throughout the year helps us to protect our Ramadan fasts, helping them to be accepted.
Can I make up missed fasts simultaneously with Shawwal
No – Shawwal fasts are a separate intention, but you can fast the six days of Shawwal first and then later make up for any missed fasts in Ramadan.
I fasted 6 days of Shawwal – what next?
Maintain this energy – continue fasting Mondays and Thursdays wherever you can to build up small, consistent good deeds.
The Prophet ﷺ was asked, "What deeds are loved most by Allah?" He said, "The most regular constant deeds even though they may be few." (Hadith Bukhari)
