Assalamu Alaykum,
All praise is due to Allah, the Almighty. Peace and salutations be upon the best of Allah’s creation, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). The most significant month of the year has arrived, the guest from Allah Azza Wa Jall and the start to our spiritual year…Ramadan Al Mubarak! The Prophet (S.A.W) anticipated this month with much eagerness. Sixty days prior to Ramadan (at the beginning of Rajab) he (S.A.W) would start supplicating to Allah Ta’aala, “Oh Allah bless us in Rajab and Sha’baan and make it possible for us to reach Ramadan.” A time of fortune has dawned on the Ummah, a time to rekindle our relationship with the generous Rabb, make amends and clear up arrears of the past, by virtue of abundant Taubah and Istighfaar. It is a time to polish the soul with increase in ibaadah and closeness to Allah (S.W.T). A time for spiritual recharge. This time is also an opportunity for colossal gain on an interpersonal level. Practising qualities of patience, charity and empathy are but a few examples of what Ramadan is offering. The unusual and unique characteristics of this month have been outlined in the following hadeeth narrated by Salmaan Al Faarsi (R.A) The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) addressed his companions on the last day of Sha`baan, saying, “Oh people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; a month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory (fardh) deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy (faraaidh) obligations at any other time.
It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Jannah (Paradise). It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer’s sustenance is increased.
Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his/her fast, shall have his/her sins forgiven, and he/she will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he/she shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his/her reward being diminished at all. He/she who makes the workload of his/her subordinates lighter in this month, Allah will forgive him/her and free him/her from Hell till he/she enters Jannah. The first ten days are of mercy, the middle ten are of forgiveness and the last ten days are of freedom from Hell. So, increase in it four qualities, two will please your Rabb and two you are in need of! What will please Allah is recitation of the Kalimah and Istighfaar, and what you are in need of is to ask Allah for Jannah and seek protection from Jahannam.” (Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah). The Qur’aan Majeed states, “Oh you who believe! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you, so that you may attain Taqwa (awareness of Allah). For a fixed number of days…” (Surah Baqarah 2:184)
Note: “For a fixed number of days,” indicates that Ramadan is a passing event. Missing out on these sanctified days by spending them in negligence and laxity is something every person should be cautious of.
“By time. Verily man is at a loss, except those who have Imaan and do good deeds, and recommend each other with the truth (righteousness) and advice each other with patience (abstinence from evil)” (Al-Asr 30:103)
In the preceding Hadeeth of Salmaan (R.A), directives are given as to how a Muslim’s time should be utilized during Ramadan. These are as follows:
- Taking care of the obligatory acts (Faraaidh) like fasting and Fardh Salaah.
- Increase in voluntary practices (Nawaafil) such as Quraan recitation and additional Salaah.
- Charity
- Learning of worthy qualities.
- Taraweeh Salaah.
- Abundant Dua and supplication.
- Remembrance of Allah and Zikr of the Kalimah.
- Searching for the Night of Power.
Maximum benefit from this can be achieved if we structure a timetabled day with daily and weekly goals for example, to set times and number of pages/ajzaa to be recited throughout the day etc.
May Allah (S.W.T) grant each and every one of us and the ummah a fruitful and accepted.
Ramadaan Mubarak, Aameen!
Mr Sayed A.H. Fakroodeen
Principal – New Madinah College