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Ramadhan : The Month Of Oppurtunity - hefny - 10-13-2004
"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before so that you may attain taqwa."{Surah Baqarah:183}
RAMADHAN : The Month of Oppurtunity
O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (Fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwa (piety) [Al-Baqarah: 183]
When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.[bukhari Volume 3, Book 31, Number 123]
"Fasting is a shield and a powerful fortress."
[Ahmad, Baihaqi]
“All the good deeds of the son of Adam multiply his reward from ten to seven hundred times. Allah said: ‘Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I reward for it.’”
Jabir (RA) related that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, "In every day and every night, during the month of Ramadan, there are people to whom Allah grants freedom from the Fire, and there is for every Muslim a supplication which he can make and it will be granted". [Ahmad]
The Unrestricted Reward
There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. [bukhari: Volume 3, Book 31, Number 120]
Every servant of Allah who observes fast for a day in the way of Allah, Allah would remove because of this day, his face farther from the Fire (of Hell) to the extent of seventy years' distance. [Muslim: Vol 6, Number 2570]
Allah, the Majestic and the Exalted, said: Every act of the son of Adam is for him except fasting. It is done for my sake, and I will give a reward for it. By Allah in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad [sAW], the breath of the observer of fast is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk. [Muslim: Vol 6, Number 2564]
Dua which is not rejected
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, "There are three people whose supplications are not rejected. The fasting person when he breaks the fast, the just ruler and the supplication of the oppressed". [at-Tirmidhi]
Beneficial actions during this month
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: Allah's Apostle was the most generous of all the people, and he used to reach the peak in generosity in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel met him. Gabriel used to meet him every night of Ramadan to teach him the Qur'an. Allah's Apostle was the most generous person, even more generous than the strong uncontrollable wind (in readiness and haste to do charitable deeds) [bukhari, Volume 1, Book 1, Number 5]
The Messenger of Allah(SAW) said, ‘Fasting and reciting Qur'an intercede for the slave on the Day of Resurrection. The fast will say: O Allah, I prevented him from eating and satiating his lawful lust, so let me intercede on his behalf; and the Qur'an will say: I prevented him from sleeping during the night, so let me intercede for him.’ (Ahmad & Tabaraani)
Abu Umaamah(RA) reports that (SAW) said: “Recite the Quran for indeed it will come on the Day of Judgment as an intercessor for its Ashaab (those who read, memorise and implement it)
The people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast [bukhari: Volume 3, Book 31, Number 178]
Open your fast with dates, if it is not possible with dates then with water, dates is blessed and water purifies [Tirmidhi (Kitab ul Zakat) and Abu Dawood (Kitab ul Saum)]
The difference between our fasting and that of the people of the Book is eating shortly before dawn and the meal is blessed [Muslim: Book 006, No 2412-2413]
There should be a time span of at least fifty verses between our Suhur and observing of salat [Muslim: Book 006, Number 2415]
To feed a person fasting to open his fast is righteous, the reward for it is the same as the person fasting while no reward is deducted from the person fasting [Tirmidhi (Kitab ul Saum)]
The Sahabah asked: “Oh messenger of Allah none of us finds means wherewith to give food to a fasting man!”
He (SAW) replied: “Allah will bestow this reward on one who gives food to a fasting man even if it is a sip of milk or a date or a sip of water. And whosoever gives satisfaction to a man, Allah will give him a drink from my fountain that will not make him thirsty till he will enter Paradise. And it is a month of which the beginning is mercy, the middle is forgiveness and the end is freedom from the fire. And whosoever makes light the (burden of) his covenanted slaves therein, Allah will forgive him, and He will make him free from the fire.” [Mishkat ul Masabih]
Reprehensible acts during this month
Whoever does not give up telling lies and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.) [bukhari: Volume 3, Book 31, Number 127]
If one of you is fasting, he should avoid quarrelling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, 'I am fasting’ [bukhari: Volume 3, Book 31, Number 128]
A person who breaks the fast in Ramadan should free a slave or observe fasts for two (consecutive) months or feed sixty poor persons [Muslim: Book 006, Number 2461]
Time for repentance
O you who believe! Turn to Allâh with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) the Day that Allâh will not disgrace the Prophet (Muhammad SAW) and those who believe with him, their Light will run forward before them and with (their Records Books of deeds) in their right hands they will say: "Our Lord! Keep perfect our Light for us [and do not put it off till we cross over the Sirât (a slippery bridge over the Hell) safely] and grant us forgiveness. Verily, You are Able to do all things" [Al-Tahrim: 8]
Hudhaifah Ibn al-Yaman reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, "The evils caused for a man through his family, wealth and neighbour are expiated by prayer, fasting and charity." [bukhari and Muslim]
DUA
Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn al-Aas also reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, "Indeed there is for the fasting person, when he breaks his fast, a supplication which is not rejected". [ibn Majah]
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Ramadhan : The Month Of Oppurtunity - hefny - 10-13-2004
Ramadhan - The blessings are here
With the advent of another Ramadaan, a mixture of feelings overwhelm the hearts of Muslims all over the world. The hearts are full of hope, based on truthful promises and glad tidings given by Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAW), of great bounties and endless bliss.
We have been promised that the past sins will be forgiven for those whose fast is based on belief (Eemaan), sincerity and on truly expecting the rewards from Allah (Ihtisaab).
We also have been promised that past sins will be forgiven for those who offer night prayers (Qiyaam) during the entire month, and who do that with the same two conditions of Eemaan (belief) and Ihtisaab (truly expecting the rewards from Allah).
We have further been told that there is one night in this month which is better (in rewards) than a thousand months of worship, and that all sins will be forgiven for those who spend it offering Qiyaam with both Eeman (belief) and Ihtisaab (truly expecting the rewards from Allah).
We have been told that the devils will be chained down, that the gates of Hell will all be shut and that the gates of Paradise will all be open throughout this month.
We have been told that Allah (SWT) will free (from punishment) some of his `Ibaad (worshippers) on every single night of Ramadaan.
We have been told that Allah (SWT) answers the Du`aa (supplications) of the fasting person at the iftaar (fast-breaking).
We have been told that Allah (SWT) multiplies the rewards of fasting beyond the limits of imagination.
We have been told that the fasting person will be joyous and happy when he meets his Lord (SWT).
We all hope:
To be from among those who will offer the fast in the correct way, in order to reap its glorious fruits.
To be granted forgiveness for our previous sins, to be able to do much more good and to overcome all our weaknesses.
To be among those who receive the gifts from the Jannah, whose gates are opened.
To humiliate our enemy (Satan), who is chained down, by rejecting any of his deceitful suggestions.
To be from among those who will receive full atonement for their sins by the end of Ramadaan.
To be among those who will be most happy with their fasts when they meet their Lord (SWT).
We further hope that all of us will be pleasing to Allah (SWT) in order to deserve His mercy and victory.
However, although we have hope, we should also have some concerns in our hearts because there are certain conditions for the fast to be acceptable and to give its desired results. These are Eemaan (belief and sincerity) and Ihtisaab (truly expecting the reward from Allah (SWT)).
So, are we going to perform our fast with true belief and full surrender to Allah (SWT), or is it going to be an exercise for us to lose some weight? Are we going to fast because Allah (SWT) imposed it upon us, or just because we have been used to it from childhood? Are our intentions to please Him or to please our friends and family?
And even when we feel that we satisfy the conditions for an acceptable fast we should still be concerned that our deeds may not be accepted from us because of some deficiency that we may have overlooked. This is the way of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors) and their true followers, some of whom were reported to have said: "I will not feel safe even if I see one of my feet is already in Jannah - not until both of them are in there".
We ask Allah (SWT) to make the fasting easy upon us, to help us to perform it in the perfect way that pleases Him, to reward us with all the bounties that He promised to the fasting people, to grant victory and supremacy to the Islamic Ummah (nation), and to make our most pleasant and happy day the Day we shall meet with Him. Aameen
Ramadhan : The Month Of Oppurtunity - hefny - 10-13-2004
Lessons for Ramadhan
"The month of Ramadhaan in which the Qur'ân was revealed, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance of the Criterion between right and wrong. So whosoever of you sights the crescent for the month of Ramadhaan, he must fast that month." [soorah al-Baqarah 2:185]
Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: "Islaam is built upon five: Testifying that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and the Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the Prayer, giving the Zakaah performing Hajj to the House, and fasting in Ramadhaan." [bukhari (1/48) and Muslim (no.16)]
He (SAW) also said: "There has come to you Ramadhaan, a blessed month, in which Allah has made it obligatory to fast. During it the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the rebellious devils are chained. In it is a night (Laylatul-Qadr) which is better than a thousand months. He who is deprived of its good has truly been deprived." [al-Nasai (no.1992]
From the many important lessons to be learnt from fasting are:
GAINING TAQWA
Fasting has been legislated in order that we may gain taqwa as Allah (SWT) said: "O you who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed upon those before you in order that you may attain taqwa." [soorah al-Baqarah 2:183].
Talq ibn Habeeb (rh) said: "When fitnah (trial and tribulation) appears then extinguish it with taqwa." So he was asked as to what taqwa was, so he replied: "Taqwa is to act in obedience to Allah, upon a light (i.e. Iman, faith) from Allah, hoping in the Mercy of Allah. And taqwa is leaving acts of disobedience to Allah, upon a light from Allah, due to the fear of Allah." [ibnul-Mubaarak]
"This is one of the best definitions of taqwa. For every action must have both a stating point and a goal. And an action will not be considered as an act of obedience, or newness to Allah unless it sluts from pure Iman (faith in Allah). Thus, it is pure Iman - and not habits, desires, nor seeking praise or fame, nor its flee - that should be what initiates an action. And the preparation showed, to earn the reward of Allah and to seek His good pleasure." So Fasting is a means of attaining taqwa, since it helps prevent a person from many sins that one is prone to. Due to this, the Prophet (SAW) said: "Fasting is a shield with which the servant protects himself from the Fire." [imam Ahmads Musnad (3/241)] So we should ask ourselves, after each day of fasting: Has this lasting made us more fearful and obedient to Allah? Has it aided us in distancing ourselves from sins and disobedience?
SEEKING NEARNESS TO ALLAH (SWT)
The Prophet (SAW) said: "Allah said: Whosoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I shall be at war with him. My servant does not draw near to me with anything more beloved to me than the obligatory duties that I have placed upon him. My servant continues to draw nearer to Me with optional deeds so that I shall love him." [bukhari (11/48I)]
The Prophet (SAW) said: "Whosoever reaches the month of Ramadhaan and does not have his sins forgiven, and so enters the Fire, then may Allah distance him."[Ahmad (2/246) and Bayhaqi (4/204)]
So drawing closer to Allah - the Most Perfect - in this blessed month, can be achieved by fulfilling one's obligatory duties; and also reciting the Qur'ân and reflecting upon its meanings, increasing in kindness and in giving charity, in making du‘aa (supplication) to Allah, attending the Taraaweeh Prayer, seeking out Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power and Pre-Decree), a night which is better than a thousand months, attending gatherings of knowledge, and striving in those actions that will cause the heart to draw closer to its lard and to gain His forgiveness. Our level of striving in this blessed month should be greater than our striving to worship Allah in any other month, due to the excellence and rewards that Allah has placed in it. Likewise from the great means of seeking nearness to Allah in this month is making I‘tikaaf (seclusion in the mosque in order to worship Allah) - for whoever is able.
Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim (rh) said: "Allah also prescribed i’tikaaf for them, the objective being that the heart becomes fully preoccupied with Allah (SWT) concentrated upon Him alone, and cut-off from being preoccupied with the creation. Rather, the heart is only engrossed with Allah - the Most Perfect - such that loving Him, remembering Him, and turning to Him takes the place of all the heart's anxieties and worries, so that he is able to overcome them. Thus all his concerns are for Allah, and his thoughts are all directed towards remembering Him and thinking of how to attain His Pleasure and what will cause nearness to him which leads him to feel contented with Allah instead of people. This, in turn prepares him for being at peace with Allah alone, on the day of loneliness in the grave, when there will be no one else to give comfort, nor anyone to grant solace, except Him. So this is the greater goal of I‘tikaaf." [Zaadul-Ma‘aad (2/87) - Ibnul-Qayyim]
ACQUIRING PATIENCE
Imaam Ahmad (d.241H) (rh) said: "Allah has mentioned sabr (patience) in over ninety places in His Book."
The Prophet (SAW) said: "The month of Patience, and the three days of every month, are times for fasting." [Ahmad (2/163) and al-Nasai (1/327)]
Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr (rh) said: "So fasting is called patience because it restrains the soul from eating, drinking, conjugal relations and sexual desires."
He (SAW) said: "O youths! Whoever amongst you is able to marry then let him do so; for it restrains the eyes and protects the private parts. But whoever is unable, then let him fast, because it will be a shield for him." [bukhari & Muslim]
So fasting is a means of learning self-restraint and patience. With patience we are able to strengthen our resolve to worship Allah alone, with sincerity, and also cope with life's ups and downs. So - for example - with patience we are able to perform our Prayers calmly and correctly, without being hasty, and without merely pecking the ground several times! With patience we are able to restrain our souls from greed and stinginess and thus give part of our surplus wealth in Zakaah (obligatory charity). With patience we are able to subdue the soul's ill temperament, and thus endure the ordeal and hardships of Hajj, without losing tempers and behaving badly. Likewise, with patience we are able to stand firm and fight Jihaad against the disbeliveers, hypocrites and heretics - withstanding their constant onslaught, without wavering and buckling, without despairing or being complacent and without becoming hasty and impatient at the first signs of hardship. Allah (SWT) said: "O Prophet, urge the Believers to fight ... So if there are one hundred who are patient, they shall overcome two hundred; and if there be one thousand, they shall overcome two thousand, by the permission of Allah. And Allah is with the patient ones." [soorah al-Anfaal 8:65-66].
Thus, without knowledge and patience, nothing remains, except zeal and uncontrolled emotions, shouts and hollow slogans, speech that does not strengthen, but rather weakens, and actions that do not build, but rather destroy! So in this month, we should strive to develop a firm resolve for doing acts of obedience, and to adorn ourselves with patience - having certainty in the saying of our Messenger (SAW): "And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and case with hardship." [Ahmad (1/203)]
CULTIVATING GOOD MANNERS
The Prophet (SAW) said: "Whosoever does not abandon falsehood in speech and action, then Allah the Mighty and Majestic has no need that he should leave his food and drink." [bukhari (4/99)]
He (SAW) also said: "Fasting is not merely abstaining from eating and drinking. Rather, it is also abstaining from ignorant and indecent speech. So if anyone abuses or behaves ignorantly with you, then say: I am fasting, I am fasting." [ibn Khuzaymah & Haakim]
These narrations point towards the importance of truthfulness and good manners. Thus, this blessed month teaches us not only to abstain from food and drink, but to also abstain from such statements and actions that may be the cause of harming people and violating their rights - since the Messenger (SAW) said whilst describing the true Believer: "A Muslim is one from whom other Muslims are safe from his tongue and his hand." [bukhari & Muslim]
Thus it is upon us as individuals, to examine the shortcomings in our character, and to then seek to improve them - modelling ourselves upon the character of the last of the Prophets and Messengers, and their leader, Muhammad (SAW) - aspiring also for the excellence which he mentioned in his saying: "I am a guarantor for a house on the outskirts of Paradise (or whosoever leaves off arguing, even if he is in the right; and a house in the centre of Paradise (or whosoever abandons falsehood, even when joking; and a house in the upper-most part of Paradise for whosoever makes his character good." So by shunning oppression, shamelessness, harbouring hatred towards Muslims, back-biting, slandering, tale-carrying, and other types of falsehood, we can be saved from nullifying the rewards of our fasting - as Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: "It may be that a fasting person, receives nothing from his fast, except hunger and thirst." [Ahmad (2/441) & Ibn Maajah (I/539)]
SENSING MUSLIM UNITY
The Prophet (SAW) said: "Fast when they fast, and break your fast when they break their fast, and sacrifice the day they sacrifice." [Al-Tirmidhi]
Imaam at-Tirmidthee (rh) said: "Some of the People of Knowledge explained this ahaadeeth by saying: Its meaning is to fast and break the fast along with the Jamaa’ah and the majority of people."
Thus, in this blessed month we can sense an increased feeling of unity and of being a single Ummah due to our fasting and breaking our fast collectively. We also feel an increased awareness about the state of affairs of the Muslims and of the hardships that they endure, because during the fast a Muslim feels and experiences what his needy and hungry brothers and sisters feel, who are forced to go without food and drink for many days - as occurs today to many of the Muslims in Africa, Afghanistan and Iraq. Indeed, the unity of the Muslims - and their aiding and assisting one another - is one of the great fundamentals upon which the Religion of Islaam is built, as Allah (SWT) said: "And hold fast altogether to the rope of Allah and do not be divided." [soorah Aal-‘Imraan 3:103]. Allah (SWT) also said: "The Believers - men and women - and friends and protectors to one another." [soorah at-Tawbah 9:44].
It has been said:"The welfare of people will not be complete - neither in this world, nor in the Hereafter - except with ijtimaa‘ (collectiveness), ta‘aawun (mutual cooperation), and tanaasur (mutual help); mutual cooperation in order to secure benefits, and mutual help in order to ward off harm. It is for this reason that man is said to be social and civil by nature." [Al-Hisbah fil-Islaam]
Thus we see that Islaam lays great importance in bringing hearts together and encouraging ijtimaa‘ (collectiveness). This is not only reflected in the month of Ramadhaan, but also in the other acts of worship as well. So, for example, we have been ordered by the Prophet (SAW) to pray the five daily Prayers in congregation, and that it has been made twenty-seven times more rewarding than praying it individually. Likewise, this similar collective spirit is demonstrated in the act of Hajj (Pilgrimage). Even in learning knowledge and studying it, blessings have been placed in collectiveness, as Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: "No people gather together in a house from the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it amongst themselves, except that tranquility descends upon them, mercy envelops them, the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them to those that are with Him." Likewise, even in our everyday actions such as eating, Islaam teaches us collectiveness. Thus, when some of the Companions of the Prophet (SAW) said to him: O Messenger of Allah, we eat but do not become satisfied. He replied: "Perhaps you eat individually?" They replied, Yes! So he said: "Eat collectively and mention the name of Allah. There will then be blessings for you in it." Indeed, even in the etiquette’s of sitting the spirit of collectiveness ' is demonstrated. So, one day the Prophet (SAW) came across the Companions who were sitting in separate circles, so he said to them: "Why do I see you sitting separately!" [26] Similarly, Aboo Tha‘labah al-Khushanee (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) said: Whenever the people used to encamp, they used to split-up into the mountain passes and valleys. So Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: "Indeed your being split-up in these mountain passes and valleys is from Shaytaan." Thereafter, whenever they used to encamp, they used to keep very close together, to such an extent that it was said: If a cloth were to be spread over them, it would cover them all.
Thus, Ramadhaan is a time to increase our sense of unity and brotherhood, and our commitment to Allah and His Religion. And there is no doubt that this sense of unity necessitates that: "We all work together as required by Islaam as sincere brothers - not due to hizbiyyah (bigoted party spirit), nor sectarianism - in order to realize that which is of benefit to the Islaamic UMMAH and to establish the Islaamic society that every Muslim aspires for so that the Sharee‘ah (Prescribed Law) of Allah is applied upon His earth" So we must examine ourselves during the month of Ramadhaan and ask: What is my role? - and each of us has a role - in helping this precious Ummah to regain its honour, and return to the Ummah its comprehensive unity and strength, and victory that has been promised to it? Likewise, we should reflect upon our own character and actions and ask: Are they aiding the process of unity and brotherhood, or are they a harm and a hindrance to it?
So we ask Allah to grant us the ability to change ourselves for the better, during this blessed month, and not to be of those who are prevented from His Mercy and forgiveness. Indeed He is the One who Hears and He is the One to Respond.
Ramadhan : The Month Of Oppurtunity - Muslimah - 10-19-2004
Jazakum Allah khairan hefny for sharing this and it is good to see u around. u were absent for a long time, hope all is fine