How Can You Be Stimulated To Exploit Ramadan
EsinIslam
Ramadan
Ramadan Explorer
My
Muslim sister: let's try the following to be stimulated to exploit Ramadan in
performing acts of obedience:
1 – Being sincere to Allah in fasting:
Being sincere to Allah Almighty is the essence of obedience. It is the key to
the acceptance of the good righteous deeds (the five compulsory prayers, deeds
of Allâh's obedience, good and nice talk, remembrance of Allâh with
glorification, praises and thanks...) that last. It is a means of the help and
success of the Lord of the creatures. And up to the intention, the sincerity
and truthfulness with Allah and the will to do good, the help of Allah to His
believing slave will be. Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said,
''As far as the intention of the slave, his goal, his ambition and his desire
for this, the blessing with success of the Almighty and help will be...''
Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has commanded us to be sincere in deeds to Him
alone; with no other partners. Allah Almighty has said, {And they were
commanded not, but that they should worship Allâh, and worship none but Him
Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him),} [Surat Al-Bayyinah 98:5]
{وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ}
البينة: 5
Transliteration: Wama omiroo illa liyaAAbudoo Allaha mukhliseena lahu
alddeena hunafaa wayuqeemoo alssalata wayutoo alzzakata
So, if the fasting woman knows that sincerity in fasting is a reason for the
help of Allah and His success, this will incite her to exploit Ramadan in
obeying the Most Merciful, Glorified and Exalted He is. Fasting + sincerity to
Allah = passion and incitement.
2 – Knowing that the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, used to
give the glad tidings to his companions of the coming of this month:
Another thing that incites you to exploit Ramadan in obeying the Most Merciful
is knowing that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon
him, used to give the glad tidings to his companions by saying, ''Here has
come upon you the noble month of Ramadan, Allah Glorified and Exalted, has
prescribed fasting it on you...'' [Reported by An-Nasâ'i and authenticated by
Al-Albani]
«أتاكم رمضان شهر مبارك، فرض الله عز وجل عليكم صيامه» رواه النسائي وصححه
الألباني
This is an indication of the greatness of exploiting Ramadan in performing
acts of worship and obedience. That is why the Messenger of Allah, prayers and
peace of Allah be upon him, gave the glad tidings to his noble companions; to
be ready to benefit from it.
3 – Realizing the great reward that Allah has prepared for the fasting
Muslims; among which are:
A. The reward of the fasting person is great; it is known only by Allah
Glorified and Exalted, ''Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, with the
exception of fasting, for it is done for Me and I will give a reward for it.''
[Reported by Al-Bukhari]
«كل عمل ابن آدم له إلا الصوم، فإنه لي وأنا أجزي به» رواه البخاري
B. Anyone who fasts for one day for Allah's Pleasure, Allah will keep his face
away from Hellfire for (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years.
Then what about this who fasts for the whole month?
C. Fasting intercedes for the slave of Allah on the Day of Judgment to enter
Paradise.
D. There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayyan through which no one but the
fasting people enters.
E. Fasting Ramadan forgives all the previous sins.
F. In Ramadan, the gates of heavens are opened and the gates of Hellfire are
closed.
G. The supplication of the fasting person is responded to in Ramadan.
[O sister, have you now realized the great reward that Allah has prepared for
the fasting? All you need to do is to start working hard to be one of the
winners of these great rewards.]
4 – Knowing that the guidance of the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of
Allah be upon him, was to increase, in Ramadan, performing all kinds of the
acts of worship:
(He used to particularize Ramadan with some acts of worship that he did not do
in the other months). What makes you more enthusiastic to exploit Ramadan is
to know that your great Messenger, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him,
used to increase performing all kinds of the acts of worship; prayers,
remembrances, supplication and charity. He used to single out Ramadan with
some acts of worship that he did not do in the other months. Do you consider
the Messenger, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, as a role model and
example? Allah Almighty has said, {Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad)
you have a good example to follow.} [Surat Al-Ahzâb 33:21]
{لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ} الأحزاب: 21
Transliteration: Laqad kana lakum fee rasooli Allahi oswatun hasanatun
So, you should increase performing the kinds of the acts of worship in this
month.
5 – The realization of the Muslim of the blessing of this noble month. To be
more enthusiastic here are some features of this blessing:
A. Blessing of the feeling of faith: you see the believing woman in this month
strong in faith, vivid in heart, always pondering and quick to remember. This
is undisputed significant matter; it is part of Allah's bounty upon the
fasting person.
B. Blessing of the physical power: despite leaving food and drink, it seems,
my fasting sister, as if your strength has increased and your power to
endurance has become great. On the other hand, Allah blesses your strength
that you perform the obligatory prayers, their regular optional prayers and
the rest of the acts of worship despite the hunger and thirst.
C. Blessing of time: ponder about the blessing happening to the time where you
accomplish in the day and night what you cannot accomplish in a whole week in
other than Ramadan.
* So take hold of the blessing of Ramadan and add to it the blessing of the
Quran. Make sure that this helps you in obeying the Most Merciful, and of
being straight in every time and every place.
And this is among what keeps you enthusiastic and stimulated to exploit the
blessing of this month.
6 – Among the things that help in exploiting this noble month in obedience:
Bringing into mind the characteristics of Ramadan
* My Muslim sister, Allah has singled out the month of Ramadan with a lot of
virtues and characteristics that are not in any other month. Among which are:
1. The breath of an observer of fast is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of
musk.
2. The angels ask forgiveness for the fasting people until they break their
fast.
3. The gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hellfire are closed.
4. In Ramadan there is a night better than a thousand months. This who is
deprived of its virtues is really deprived.
5. The fasting people are forgiven in the last night of Ramadan.
6. There are people whom Allah frees from hellfire in every night and in the
last night of Ramadan.
7 – Bringing into mind that Allah has singled out fasting for Him from all
other deeds:
It is a great virtue that is obtained by everyone who exploits Ramadan in
doing good. It urges one not to be negligent in Ramadan. Allah Almighty has
singled out the reward for fasting for Himself, from all the other acts of
worship. It is reported in the Hadith that the Prophet, prayers and peace of
Allah be upon him, has said, Allah Glorified and Exalted has said, ''Every
deed of the son of Adam is for him, with the exception of fasting, for it is
done for Me and I will give a reward for it.'' [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
«كل عمل ابن آدم له إلا الصوم، فإنه لي وأنا أجزي به» رواه البخاري
This particularization stimulates the believing woman to exploit this great
virtue.
8 – Realizing the degree the noble companions and the righteous ancestors have
strived in obedience in this holy month:
The righteous companions have realized the virtue of the month of Ramadan to
Allah, so they strived hard in performing acts of worship. They lightened its
nights by prayers, remembrances and reciting the Quran. They used to look
after the poor and needy by giving charity and benevolence. They used to give
food and break the fast of the fasting. They strived in obeying Allah. They
strived to fight the enemies of Allah so that the Word of Allah becomes the
Uppermost and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole
of the world]
9 – Knowing that fasting intercedes to the fasting person on the Day of
Resurrection:
Another virtue that keeps you attached to fasting and keen in observing it is
that fasting intercedes to the fasting person on the Day of Resurrection, with
Allah Almighty. It will be a reason to erase the sins. What a blessed
companion, a companion that intercedes to you in the darkest of situations.
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, ''The fast and
the Quran are two intercessors for the slave of Allah on the Day of
Resurrection. The fast will say: 'O My Lord, I have prevented him from his
food and drink during the day, so let me intercede for him.' The Quran will
say: 'O My Lord, I have prevented him from sleeping at night, so let me
intercede for him.' He said, 'Their intercession will be accepted.'''
[Authenticated by Al-Albani]
«الصيام والقرآن يشفعان للعبد، يقول الصيام: رب إني منعته الطعام والشراب بالنهار؛
فشفعني فيه، ويقول القرآن: رب منعته النوم بالليل؛ فشفعني فيه، فيشفعان» صححه
الألباني
10 – Knowing that Ramadan is the month of the Quran and the month of patience:
That fasting Ramadan and spending its nights in performing optional acts of
worship is a means of forgiving sins. Fasting is a treatment to a lot of
social, psychological, sexual and health issues.
* Knowing all these characteristics; both in this worldly life and in the
Hereafter, urges the fasting person to exploit Ramadan and observe it.
Those were some of the incentives that help the believing woman to exploit the
season of performing the acts of obedience, the month of mercies and
blessings. Beware of neglecting these seasons lest you regret where regret is
in vain. Allah Almighty has said, {and verily, the Hereafter will be greater
in degrees and greater in preferment.} [Surat Al-Isrâ' 17:21]
{وَلَلآخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجَاتٍ وَأَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلاً} الإسراء: 21
Transliteration: walalakhiratu akbaru darajatin waakbaru tafdeelan
We ask Allah to accept our fasting and night optional acts of worship. Prayers
and peace of Allah be upon our Prophet, Muhammad and upon all his family and
companions.
Slightly modified
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