Meaning of
Ramadan
Fasting during Ramadan was ordained
during the second year of Hijrah. Why not earlier?
At that Time, In Makkah the economic conditions of the Muslims were
bad. They were being persecuted. Often days would go by before they had
anything to eat. It is easy to skip meals if you don’t have any. Obviously
fasting would have been easier under the circumstances. So why not then?
The answer may be that Ramadan is not
only about skipping meals. While fasting is an integral and paramount part of
it, Ramadan offers a comprehensive program for our spiritual overhaul. The
entire program required the peace and security that was offered by Madinah.
Yes, Ramadan is the most important month of the year. It is the month
that the believers await with eagerness. At the beginning of Rajab — two full
months before Ramadan — the Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam,
used to supplicate thus: “O Allah! Bless us during Rajab and Sha’ban, and let
us reach Ramadan (in good health).”
During Ramadan the believers get busy
seeking Allah’s mercy, forgiveness, and protection from Hellfire. This is the
month for renewing our commitment and re-establishing our relationship with our
Creator. It is the spring season for goodness and virtues when righteousness
blossoms throughout the Muslim Communities. “If we combine all the
blessings of the other eleven months, they would not add up to the blessings of
Ramadan,” said the great scholar and reformer Shaikh Ahmed Farooqi (Mujaddad
Alif Thani). It offers every Muslim an opportunity to strengthen his Iman,
purify his heart and soul, and to remove the evil effects of the sins committed
by him.
“Anyone who fasts during this month with purity of belief and with
expectation of a good reward (from his Creator), will have his previous sins
forgiven,” said Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. “Anyone who
stands in prayers during its nights with purity of belief and expectation of a
reward, will have his previous sins forgiven.” As other a hadith tell us, the
rewards for good deeds are multiplied manifold during Ramadan.
Along with the possibility of a great reward, there is the risk of a
terrible loss. If we let any other month pass by carelessly, we just lost a
month. If we do the same during Ramadan, we have lost everything. The person
who misses just one day’s fast without a legitimate reason, cannot really make
up for it even if he were to fast everyday for the rest of his life.
And of the three persons that Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam
cursed, one is the unfortunate Muslim who finds Ramadan in good health but does
not use the opportunity to seek Allah’s mercy.
One who does not fast is obviously in this category, but so also is the
person who fasts and prays but makes no effort to stay away from sins or attain
purity of the heart through the numerous opportunities offered by Ramadan. The
Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, warned us: “There are those who get
nothing from their fast but hunger and thirst. There are those who get nothing
from their nightly prayers but loss of sleep.”
Those who understood this, for them Ramadan was indeed a very special
month. In addition to fasting, mandatory Salat, and extra Travih Salat, they
spent the whole month in acts of worship like voluntary Salat, Tilawa
(recitation of Qur’an), Dhikr etc. After mentioning that this has been the
tradition of the pious people of this Ummah throughout the centuries, Abul
Hasan Ali Nadvi notes: ” I have seen with my own eyes such ulema and mashaikh
who used to finish recitation of the entire Qur’an everyday during Ramadan.
They spent almost the entire night in prayers. They used to eat so little that
one wondered how they could endure all this. These greats valued every moment
of Ramadan and would not waste any of it in any other pursuit…Watching them
made one believe the astounding stories of Ibada and devotion of our elders
recorded by history.”
This emphasis on these acts of worship may sound strange — even
misplaced — to some. It requires some explanation. We know that the term Ibada
(worship and obedience) in Islam applies not only to the formal acts of worship
and devotion like Salat , Tilawa, and Dhikr, but it also applies to worldly
acts when performed in obedience to Shariah and with the intention of pleasing Allah. Thus a believer going to work is
performing Ibada when he seeks Halal income to discharge his responsibility as
a bread-winner for the family. However a distinction must be made between the
two. The first category consists of direct Ibada, acts that are required for their
own sake. The second category consists of indirect Ibada — worldly acts that
become Ibada through proper intention and observation of Shariah. While the
second category is important for it extends the idea of Ibada to our entire
life, there is also a danger because by their very nature these acts can
camouflage other motives. (Is my going to work really Ibada or am I actually in
the rat race?). Here the direct Ibada comes to the rescue. Through them we can
purify our motives, and re-establish our relationship with Allah.
Islam does not approve of monasticism. It does not ask us to permanently
isolate ourselves from this world, since our test is in living here according
to the Commands of our Creator. But it does ask us to take periodic breaks from
it. The mandatory Salat (five daily prayers) is one example. For a few minutes
every so many hours throughout the day, we leave the affairs of this world and
appear before Allah to remind ourselves that none but He is worthy of worship
and of our unfaltering obedience. Ramadan takes this to the next higher plane,
providing intense training for a whole month.
This spirit is captured in I’tikaf, a
unique Ibada associated with Ramadan, in which a person gives up all his normal
activities and enters a mosque for a
specific period. There is great merit in it and every Muslim community is
encouraged to provide at least one person who will perform I’tikaf for the last
ten days of Ramadan. But even those who cannot spare ten days are encouraged to
spend as much time in the mosque as possible.
Through direct Ibada we “charge our batteries”; the indirect ones allow
us to use the power so accumulated in driving the vehicle of our life. Ramadan
is the month for rebuilding our spiritual strength. How much we benefit from it
is up to us.
25 Advices
for Ramadan
.
1. Fast Ramadhan with belief and truly seeking the reward of Allah the
Most High so that He may forgive you your past sins.
2. Beware of breaking your fast during the days of Ramadhan without a
valid Islamic excuse, for it is from the greatest of sins.
3. Pray Salat ut-Taraweeh and the night prayer during the nights of
Ramadhan – especially on Layatul-Qadr – based on belief and truly seeking the
reward of Allah, so that Allah may forgive you your past sins.
4. Make sure that your food, your drink and your clothing are from halal
means, in order that your actions be accepted, and your supplications answered.
Beware of refraining from the halal while fasting and breaking your fast with
the haram.
5. Give food to some fasting people to gain a reward similar to theirs.
6. Perform your five prayers on time in congregation to gain the reward
and Allahs protection.
7. Give a lot of charity for the best charity is that of Ramadhan.
8. Beware of spending your time without performing righteous deeds, for
you will be responsible and reckoned for it and will be rewarded for all you do
during your time.
9. Perform `umrah in Ramadhan for `Umrah in Ramadhan is equal to Hajj.
10. Seek help for fasting during the day by eating the sahoor (Sehari)
meal in the last part of the night before the appearance of Fajr.
11. Hasten breaking your fast after the sun has truly set in order to
gain the love of Allah.
12. Perform ghusl before fajr if you need to purify yourself from the
state of major impurity so that you are able to do acts of worship in a state
of purity and cleanliness.
13. Cease the opportunity of being in Ramadhan and spend it with the
good that has been revealed in it – by reciting the noble Quran and pondering
and reflection of its meanings so that it be a proof for you with your Lord and
an intercessor for you on the Day of Reckoning.
14. Preserve your tongue from lying, cursing, backbiting and slander for
it decreases the reward of fasting.
15. Do not let fasting cause you cross your boundaries by getting upset
due to the slightest of reasons. Rather, fating should be a cause of
peacefulness and tranquillity of your soul.
16. Upon completion of fasting, be in a state of taqwa of Allah the Most
High, being aware of Allah watching you in secret and in public, in
thankfulness for His favors, and steadfastness upon obedience of Allah by doing
all what He has ordered and shunning all that He has prohibited.
17. Increase in remembrance of Allah,
seeking of forgiveness, asking for Paradise and protection against the Fire,
especially when fasting, while breaking the fast and during suhoor, for these actions are among greatest causes of
attaining Allahs forgiveness.
18. Increase in supplication for yourself, your parents, your children
and Muslims, for Allah has ordered making of supplications and has guaranteed
acceptance.
19. Repent to Allah with a sincere repentance in all times
by leaving sins, regretting those that you have done before and firmly deciding
not to return to them in the future, for Allah accepts repentance of those who
repent.
20. Fast six days of Shawwal, for whoever fasts Ramadhan and then
follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasts all the time.
21. Fast on the Day of `Arafah, the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, to attain
success by being forgiven your sins of the last year and the coming year.
22. Fast on the day of `Aashuraa, the 10th of Muharram, along with the
9th, to attain success by being forgiven your sins of the past year.
23. Continue being in a state of iman and taqwa and perform righteous
actions after the month of Ramadhan, until you die. And worship your Lord until
there comes to you the certainty (i.e. death). [Quran 15:99]
24. Ensure that you attain the positive effects of your acts of worship
such as prayer, fasting, zakat and hajj, sincere repentance and leaving of
customs that are in variance with the Sharee`ah.
25. Invoke a lot of salawat and salam upon the Messenger of Allah, may
Allahs blessings and peace be upon him, his Companions and all those who follow
them until the Day of Judgment.
Prepare for Ramadan
Many of us have been counting the days remaining up to the holy month of
Ramadan. Five days, four, three, two and the next thing you know here it is.
For a believer the name of this month “Ramadan” gives the thought of joy,
rewards and a feeling of Allah’s mercy. Truly, this is a season that should be
awaited for. Anticipations and emotions for this month are not sufficient. This
holy month requires action and activity. It is about altering our timetables
and schedules, it demands us to train ourselves to attain Taqwa (fear of Allah
or devotion to Him) which in turn, is the element to carry us successfully
through the ongoing journey towards the hereafter (akhirah).
But let us ask ourselves have we
really prepared for this month? Are we ready to dedicate more time for our
spiritual revival ? During the month of Ramadan the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.)
would stay awake in the nights worshiping Allah, awaken his household and
increase in worship. Even though we
may have experienced many a Ramadans but every Ramadan must be treated as a
once in a lifetime opportunity since we have no idea whether we will live till
the next Ramadan. Let us look at a few a hadith concerning this holy period.
Increased Rewards & Forgiveness
What are the rewards of good deeds in the month of Ramadan? The reward
of every Fardh (compulsory) act is multiplied seventy times while every Nafl
(optional) act earns the reward of one Fardh out of Ramadan. (Ibn Khuzaymah).
It is important to understand the latter aspect in its proper perspective.
Tahajjud (Nafl Salah in the last third of the night) is an extremely great
ibadah (worship). Great virtues have been narrated for this Salah. However, a
lifetime of tahajjud cannot equal one Fardh of Fajr Salah! Yet in the month of
Ramadan Almighty Allah grants us the reward of a Fardh action for every Nafl
performed.
The fish in the sea seek forgiveness for those fasting until they break
their fast . Allah decorates His Jannah (Paradise) every day and then says,
“The time is near when My pious servants shall cast aside the great trials and
come to me.”
When Ramadan arrives, the gates of Paradise are flung open, the doors of
the Hellfire are closed and the Shayateen are imprisoned.
Fasting
All good deeds are for the one who renders them, but fasting. Fasting is
exclusively for me (Allah).
The odour of the mouth of a fasting person is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk.
The odour of the mouth of a fasting person is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk.
Fasting is a shield, as long as the fasting person does not tear it up
(by disobedience)
Not a single prayer made by a fasting
person at the time of breaking the fast is rejected.
The Nights of Ramadan
Whoever stands in prayer and worship in (the nights of) Ramadan, with Iman and with sincere hope of gaining reward , all his previous sins are forgiven.
Whoever stands in prayer and worship in (the nights of) Ramadan, with Iman and with sincere hope of gaining reward , all his previous sins are forgiven.
Laylatul Qadr (The
Night of Power)
Whoever stands in prayer and worship in the night of power with Iman and
with sincere hope of gaining reward , all his previous sins are forgiven. (
Muslim)
Look for the night of power among the odd numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadan. (Mishkat)
Look for the night of power among the odd numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadan. (Mishkat)
I’etikaf
The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) observed I’etikaf for ten days every year in the
month of Ramadan. In the year he passed away he observed it for twenty days.
(Bukhari)
The Last Night Of Ramadan
On the last night of Ramadan the fasting Muslims are forgiven. (Musnad
Ahmed)
Let us really make this Ramadan a
profitable one that brings change in our life. We leave you with a quotation of
the honourable Mufti Zubair Bayat:
All the “T’s” of Ramadan must be kept in mind so that when Ramadan comes, “everything is to the T!”. These “T’s” are: Tilawah, Tahajjud, Taraweeh, Tasbeehat, Tadharru’ (fervent Dua), Tatawwu’ (Nafl Ibadah), Tasahhur (eatingSehri/Suhoor), Taubah (repentance), Tawadhu (humility) and Tafakkur (contemplation). May Almighty Allah make this Ramadan a turning point in the life of the long-suffering Ummah. Aameen.
All the “T’s” of Ramadan must be kept in mind so that when Ramadan comes, “everything is to the T!”. These “T’s” are: Tilawah, Tahajjud, Taraweeh, Tasbeehat, Tadharru’ (fervent Dua), Tatawwu’ (Nafl Ibadah), Tasahhur (eatingSehri/Suhoor), Taubah (repentance), Tawadhu (humility) and Tafakkur (contemplation). May Almighty Allah make this Ramadan a turning point in the life of the long-suffering Ummah. Aameen.
Five Groups of People during Ramadan
Ramadan is the month
of fasting, standing, generosity, self-evaluation, patience and the Qur’aan.
Indeed there are many groups and paths regarding the month of Ramadan. Let’s
see which group we belong to.
The first group:
is a group that sees Ramadan as a time of restrictions and preventions;
a time of prohibitions from desires and lust. They do not comprehend the
benefits of Ramadan. You will find them lazy and tired. They fast with great
difficulties while continuing in backbiting, lying and other sins. They see the
fast as nothing more than an obstacle in front of their desires.
As for the second group:
it is a group that sees the month of ramadan
as a month of food and drink. Most of their time is consumed going and
coming from the grocery store purchasing food for themselves, families and
guests. Ramadan doesn’t increase them except in appetite. We know that consuming
lots of foods will cause fatigue and laziness. The worst thing that the sons of
Adam can fill is their stomachs. In addition, some from amongst them actually
gain weight in Ramadan.
As for the third group:
they know nothing of Ramadan except that it is obligatory. Neither the
days nor the nights are spent in worship rather they might not even perform the
five daily prayers. They awaken with Allah’s displeasure and sleep with Allah’s
displeasure.
As for the fourth group:
it is a group who does not know Allah except and until the month of
Ramadan. They attend the Jumu’ah Prayer, frequent the Masjid and
the women wear the hijaab for the duration of Ramadan. And when the month is
over all of those good deeds come to end, that is until the next Ramadan.
As for the fifth group:
this group is a group who cannot wait for the arrival of Ramadan. And
when it comes they roll up their sleeves even more and they work as hard as
they can. This month rejuvenates and strengthens them.
O Allah make us and all Muslims of those who fast and stand in prayer during the month of Ramadhan based on belief and truly seeking Your reward so that we are forgiven our past and future sins.
O Allah make us of those who fasted
the month, attained full reward, witnessed Layatul-Qadr and attained success by
permission of the Lord, Blessed and Most High.
O Allah, verily you are Forgiver,
like to forgive, so forgive us.
O Lord, accept from us, verily you
are the All-Hearing, all-Seeing, O Living, O Independent, O Owner of all
majesty and honor.
Conclusion
It can be well comprehended from the above that during this month of
Ramadan, Almighty Allah makes it easy for us to acquire His blessings, mercy
and forgiveness. There can be no better time to attain this than this blessed
month. All that is required on our part is to create in our hearts the desire,
ambition, devotion, zeal, eagerness and that we exert increased efforts to
acquire the pleasure of Almighty Allah.
While one should engage to the maximum in good deeds, the purpose of
Ramadan must be kept foremost in mind, which is to acquire Taqwa. Thus together
with the maximum amount of righteous actions one must totally refrain from all
sins. We should ensure that no act of disobedience is committed. This
abstinence in itself is a worship. One month of strictly conducting oneself in
this manner will Insha-Allah have the effect of enabling one to live the next
eleven months in a similar manner in the complete obedience of Allah. Thus, can
we afford to waste this time? Can we still have time for “loafing?” Is it
possible for a person who values Ramadan to spend hours eating? or loitering
around after taraweeh feasts and gatherings?, or have time for any other idle
pursuits? Can we afford to spend valuable time glued to the airwaves listening
to the opinions and views of one and all, whereas that time could have been
used to at least recite the Holy Quran or send Durood upon our beloved Prophet
(p.b.u.h.)? And entertainment? How can it be possible? The last thing that any
Muslim who values Ramadan should be bothered about is, who somewhere in the
world is whacking a little red ball all over a field or who is kicking a ball
between two posts! Let alone comedy or other shows!
“I have no special talents. I am
only passionately curious.”
― MJN
― MJN
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