10-11-2004, 12:30 PM
as salam alykom
I received this message on an email from Radiyah, although Lifutushi already posted something similar. I still feel it was good to post it.
May Allah accept
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<b>How to Receive and Invest Ramadan
</b>
Praise be to Allah and peace and prayer be upon the most honorable Prophet Mohamed, his household and companions:
This message addresses every Muslim who enjoys good health and is about to receive Ramadan aiming to remind all of u to use the blessed month for the obedience of Allah.
<b>How do we receive Ramadan?</b>
A Muslim must seize golden opportunities of special seasons in order to be among those who compete and attain progressed positions as Allah Described "and for this let (all) those strive who want to strive (i.e. hasten earnestly to the obedience of Allah)."(Quran 83:26)
Brothers and sisters try to receive Ramadan in the following proper manner:
1. Make dua that Allah Allows you to attend Ramadan in a perfect health, which would help you be active enough in worshiping Allah including fasting, qiyamul lail (night prayer) and making dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Narrated under the authority of Anas Ibn Malik may Allah be pleased with him that he said when Rajab came in, the Prophet (SAW) said: Allahum bless for us Rajab and Sha`ban and allow us to attend Ramadan" ( <b>Reported by Ahmed and Tabarani).
</b>
The righteous predecessors used to supplicate to Allah that they would be available when Ramadan comes in. Then they also invoked upon Allah that Allah Accepts from them their deeds during the month.
As soon as the crescent is proved to be seen make dua and say:" Allah u Akbar, Allahum ahelhuh a`lyna belamn waleman wasalama walislam wattawfeek lema tuheb wa tarda Rubia wa Rubuka Allah) reported by Termidhi.
It translates as: COLOR]2. Praise and gratefulness for being available during Ramadan: Naway may Allah bestow mercy on him stated in the supplication book (It is recommended for one who is advantaged to experience the recurrence of a blessing or the deterrence of an evil to prostrate to Allah in gratitude or Praise Allah in the manner He deserves).
One of the major blessings of Allah on the devotee is to be guided for obedience, good deeds and worship. Just being in good health when Ramadan comes in is a major blessing that deserves gratitude and Praise of Allah Who Granted it. Praise be to Allah, abundant praise that is adequate to His Graciousness.
3. Joy and happiness. It was proved after the Messenger Salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam that he used to inform his companions with the advent of Ramadan in the manner of bringing good news. He used to say:” Here came to you the month of Ramadan, the month of Ramadan is a blessed month. Allah enjoined on you the fasting of this month. During Ramadan the gates of Jannah (heaves) are opened while the gates of Hell are closed” (reported by Ahmed). Companions of the Messenger sallah Allah a`lyhee wa sallam and their successors used to pay much attention to Ramadan and feel happy upon its inception. A season of abundant good and mercy how can one not be happy for it.
4. Determination and pre planning to make the utmost benefit of Ramadan. Many people even those who are committed Muslims plan for the worldly matters while only few plan for the Day After related matters. Actually, this attitude is the fruit of unawareness of the real task of a believer in this life. Also Muslims fail to observe several opportunities given to them by Allah of which they may benefit to improve. After seizing a given chance one may be able to maintain what he/she attained of development during these special occasions Allah Gives us. For example to plan how to invest the time of Ramadan in doing good deeds and worship. A Muslim must actually prepare a program on how to spend the days and nights of Ramadan. In this message we will try Insh a Allah to help u achieve this.
5. Make a sincere determination to use the time of Ramadan and spend it in making good deeds. Actually one who is honest with Allah in return Allah Shall Support him/her making obedience and good deeds easy. Allah Shall also open gates of good before him/her. Allah Say<b>:” then if they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them" (Quran 47:21).</b>
6. Gaining knowledge about the rulings of Ramadan. A Muslim must obtain a base of knowledge sufficient to help in the worshiping rituals. One is not excused for being ignorant about Allah’s obligations enjoined on servants. Being an obligation, one must learn about its rulings before hand in order to ensure performing a sound and Insh a Allah accepted fasting to Allah<b>:” so ask the people of the Reminder [scriptures - the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel)] if you do not know"</b> (Quran 21:7)
7. We must receive Ramadan with a strong determination to refrain from sins and bad deeds, make a sincere repentance of all sins. Remember, it is the month of repentance, if u don’t repent when will you repent then?
<b>"And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful"</b> (Quran 24:31)
8. Mental and spiritual preparation through readings, listening to Islamic lectures or lessons talking about the virtues and rulings of fasting.
The Messenger Salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam used to prepare his companions in order to benefit of this month saying on the last day of Sha`ban <b>:” Here came to you the month of Ramadan, the month of Ramadan is a blessed month. Allah enjoined on you the fasting of this month. During Ramadan the gates of Jannah (heaves) are opened while the gates of Hell are closed”
</b> (reported by Ahmed).
9. Prepare a good plan for making d`awa during Ramadan using the following ideas:
a. Prepare a number of speeches to be delivered in the local masjed.
b. Distribute Ramadan related booklets and messages in the masjed and the local community.
c. Prepare envelopes containing tapes and booklets and labeling them as Ramadan gift.
d. Reminder people about the poor in order to give out alms and charity money.
10. Upon the advent of Ramadan, open a new blank clear page with:
Allah through making a sincere repentance.
With the Messenger Salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam through striving to observe his instructions.
With the parents, relatives and next of kin, spouse and children through Bir (righteous relations and communication).
With the local community in order to be a righteous and useful servant. The Messenger Salla Allah a`lyee wa sallam said:” The best among people one who is most useful to them”
The above mentioned were ideas on how to receive the blessed month of Ramadan.
How can you motivate yourself to benefit of Ramadan?
1. Develop sincerity to Allah with your fasting:
In fact, developing sincerity to Allah is the core of good deeds, key for the acceptance of the sustainable good deeds, a catalyst to gain the Support and Guidance of Allah. As much as one develops with Allah a sincere and honest intention in pursuing righteous deeds, as much as Allah Supports and Helps this person. Ibn Qayem may Allah bestow mercy on him said: According to the person’s intention, effort, aim and desire to perform righteous deeds, Allah Supports and Guides.
Allah may He be Glorified Commanded us to dedicate our deeds sincerely to Him as in
<b>:” And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him),
</b>" (Quran 98:5).
Being aware of the importance of sincerity to gain Allah’s Support, the person shall be motivated to try hard and dedicate Ramadan for the acts of obedience to Allah SWT (fasting + sincerity to Allah = motivation and enthusiasm.).
2. Being aware that the Prophet Salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam used to bring good news to his companion upon the advent of this blessed month:
By just pondering upon the above mentioned hadeeth in item 8 of the previous section in which the Messenger explained the major benefits inherit in this month for them to prepare and seize, one must be motivated to work hard during this month.
3. Realize the major reward Allah Prepared for the fasting people including:
The reward of the fasting person is immense and is not known except to Allah Almighty:” All the act of the son of Adam is to him except fasting it is for Me and I Reward for it”.
One who fasts one day in the name of Allah (fee sabeel Allah) Allah Pushes away from him Hell fire a distance equal to 70 years, so how about one who fasts the whole month.
Fasting intercedes for the servant on the
Day of Judgment till he/she enters Jannah (heaven).
Jannah has several gates one of them is named Alrrayan. Only those who fast are allowed through this gate.
Fasting Ramadan expiates the preceding sins.
Gates of Jannah are opened and those of Hell are closed during Ramadan.
Supplications of the fasting person are granted during Ramadan.
Don’t you feel that you want to strive hard in order to win such major prizes.
4. Being aware that Sunnah of the Messenger Salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam includes increasing the types of worship during Ramadan:
He used to treat Ramadan special in terms of worship compared to other months. Knowing this is enough for us to take him as a role model and follow. Allah SWT Say:” Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) you have a good example to follow" (Quran 33;21). Isnt this a motivation factor to increase the types of worship in this month?
5. Realize the blessing inherit in this month which is also another encouraging factor:
Blessing of faith: Usually the believer develops a strong level of faith, attentive heart, a reflective status, reminded soul. No doubt we all recognize such points during Ramadan which is Allah’s gift for the fasting person.
Blessing of physical strength: Although the fasting person refrains from food and drink, yet experiences an increased level of strength that enables him/her to endure hardships. On the other hand, Allah Blesses this strength to the extend that you are easily capable of performing obligatory prayer, Sunnah’s as well as the rest of the worships.
Blessing of time: Just ponder on how you are able to perform during the day and night what you can not assume in a week outside of Ramadan.
We encourage you to seize the blessing of Ramadan coupled with the blessing of Quran in order to gain the necessary support enabling you to be obedient to Allah.
6. Realize the special traits of Ramadan:
Allah blessed this month with a number of virtues such as:
Smell of the fasting person’s mouth is better to Allah than the odor of musk.
Angles supplicate to Allah to forgive the fasting people till they break their fast.
Allah on every day, decorates His Jannah and Say: “ My righteous devotees are about to get rid of harm and tiresome then come to you."
It includes the night of Qadr, which is better than a thousand months. One who looses its chance has endured a major loss.
On the last night of Ramadan, Allah forgives the fasting people.
On the last night of Ramadan Allah grants a number of people full freedom of Hell.
7. Recognize the fact that Allah allowed fasting a special position by making it for Him:
This advantage makes the person very keen not to waste the time of Ramadan in any way.
8. Being aware of the attitude of the companions and righteous predecessors during this month. They strove hard on the path of good deeds:
They realized the virtue of Ramadan to Allah. Thus they spent its nights praying and reciting Quran, gave out charity money for the poor, provided food for the fasting people. They also strove hard in the face of Allah's enemies in order to maintain Allah's word to be superior and for the Deen to be for Allah.
9. Realizing that fasting intercedes for the person on the Day of Resurrection:
Enough of a motivation to know that fasting shall be a reason to push away our sins on the Day of Resurrection. The best companion is one that intercedes for you during the hard times. The Messenger Salla Allah a`lyhee wa Sallam said:" Fasting and reciting Quran intercedes for the servant on the Day of Resurrection when fasting would say O Allah I forbade him food and desires during the day so Allow me to intercede for him/her. While the Quran would say O Allah I forbade him/her sleep during night, so Allow me to intercede for him/her. And they are allowed to intercede" (Reported by Ahmed).
10. Awareness that Ramadan is the month of Quran and patience:
Fasting the month expiates sins. On the other hand, fasting actually is a remedy for many social, psychological, sexual and health problems. Being aware of such characteristics encourages one to invest the month as much as possible.
The above mentioned were a number of incentives to help the believe invest the season of obedience, the month of mercy and blessings.
Brothers and sisters, try hard not to waste this special occasion so that you would not regret when there is no other chance.
Allah may He be Glorified Say
Sources: Booklet and messages related to Ramadan.
Translated after brother: Khalid AbduRahaman Al Darweesh.