Ramadan
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Ramadan
Ramadan Explorer
Various Scholars
''The month of Ramadan in which the Quran was revealed, guidance for people
and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever is present for the
month let him fast through it. Anyone on ill or on a journey (who does not
fast) should make up an equal number days (outside Ramadan). Allah wants ease
for you and does not want hardship for you so that you complete the period and
glorify Allah for what he guided you and perhaps you will be grateful''. (Al-Baqarah
2:185)
In these ayat from the Quran Allah tells us the importance of the month of
Ramadan. One of the greatest favours he has given us is the Quran a guide and
criterion between right and wrong.
Ramadan is a month of mercy and blessings for the believers. It is a season
for worship, generosity and kindness. It is an occasion to become closer to
Allah and strengthen the relationship with him. There is plenty of opportunity
to please Allah. Ramadan is the month to revive and strengthen Iman. Iman goes
up and down. The sign of strong Iman is the amount of worship one does. The
doors of mercy are wide open and the doors of Allah's punishment are firmly
closed. The forces of evil, shayateen are chained up. Nothing stands between
us and success except desires.
Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah's Messenger (saw) said, ''When Ramadan comes
the doors of Jannah are firmly opened and the doors of the fire are firmly
closed and the shayateen are chained'' (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Once the Prophet (saw) said to the Sahabah, ''Ramadan has come, a blessed
month, Allah has made it obligatory for you to fast... (An-Nasai and Al-Baihaqi)
Ramadan is not about hungry days and long nights in the Masjid. It is not an
excuse for laziness or weakness. To the contrary it is a time for strength and
to exert one's effort in the worship of Allah. Two of the greatest victories
for Muslims happened in Ramadan, the victory at Badr and the conquest of
Makkah, the centre of the Muslim world and the focus of Muslims through out
the world.
The real purpose of Ramadan is to come out a better person at the end of the
month. Ramadan cleans away the sins that may have accumulated over the year.
At the end of the month a Muslim should hope to be forgiven and saved from the
hell fire. There are several ways of achieving forgiveness, through fasting,
praying at night, reading the Quran, feeding the poor.
The Prophet (saw) said, ''Whoever fasts in Ramadan with Iman and seeking
reward (from Allah) his past sins will be forgiven''. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (saw) said, ''Whoever prays during Ramadan with Iman and seeking
reward (from Allah) his past sins will be forgiven''. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
To achieve forgiveness through these actions two conditions must be met:
• Complete and truthful Iman
• A desire for the reward from Allah
Siyam
Fasting doesn't only involve going hungry for the day. The objective of
fasting is to gain Taqwa, piety, by doing what Allah commands and keeping away
from what He forbids. Fasting means avoiding all that is forbidden, avoiding
looking at haram, listening to haram, speaking haram. Otherwise the only gain
from fasting is hunger and thirst.
The Prophet (saw) said, ''Perhaps someone fasting, his share is hunger and
thirst''. (Al-Hakim and Ibn Khuzaimah)
The Prophet (saw) said, ''Whoever does not abandon false words and deeds Allah
has no need for him to leave his food and drink''. (Al-Bukhari)
One of the Salaf said, ''The easiest fast is keeping away from food and
drink''.
Jabir said, ''When you fast let you hearing sight and tongue abstain from
lying and haram leave harming the neighbour. You should be calm and collected
the day of your fast. Don't make the day you fast the same as the day as you
don't''.
Qiyam (praying at night)
To receive the desired result from Salah at-Tarawih it should be performed
calmly with humility and without haste. Two Rakah with humility and
concentration are better than twenty quick ones. Quality of the Salah is more
important than quantity. The Prophet prayed long at night. When he read the
Quran in the Salah he reflected on the meanings. The Sahabah followed the same
example. They didn't race to finish one Juz in twenty Rakah. What is important
is that the Quran is read in a manner that the listener can follow and take
heed.
Ihsan (generosity and kindness)
Since this is the month of mercy, Allah has mercy on those servants who are
merciful to others. The Prophet (saw) was the most generous of people. He was
most generous in Ramadan. This is a chance to be grateful for what Allah has
given us by giving to others in need. Sadaqah and Zakah are means of
strengthening the ties amongst Muslims. They provide a way for the more
fortunate to show the less fortunate that their suffering is felt. Fasting
should remind us of the hunger of those who are constantly fasting not by
choice but by necessity.
One of the Salaf was asked why fasting was enjoined. He replied so that the
wealthy may taste hunger and not forget the poor.
Fasting, Praying, feeding others will help us to enter Jannah.
The Prophet (saw) said, ''In Jannah there are rooms, the inside can be seen
from the outside and the outside from the inside''. They asked, ''Who are they
for?'' He answered, ''For one who speaks good words, feeds others, fasts
regularly and prays at night while people are asleep''. (At-Tirmidhi, Ahmad)
Quran
Ramadan is the month of Quran. Muslims should use this month to get acquainted
with the book of Allah. If Muslims held onto the Quran and followed it they
would not be in this state of weakness and humiliation. The Quran is a book of
guidance, a manual for life not just for Ramadan. The practice of the Prophet
was to read the whole of the Quran in Ramadan. Many of the Salaf read it many
more times than this. Some of them left other acts of Ibadah for reading the
Quran showing the importance they gave to it. Reading it is not simply for
barakah but for the message it conveys.
Let us remember that this Ramadan if we change ourselves for the better Allah
will change our condition for the better. Allah does not change the condition
of a people until they change themselves.
We ask Allah to praise and grant peace upon the Messenger, his family and
followers.
By Abu Talha (Tayyibun Institute)
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