Alhamdulillāh unlimited! All thanks and praises are due to Allāh, the Lord of the worlds. May His Peace and Blessings be upon His beloved, Habībī Muḥammad, his family members, companions and all those who follow his path till the Day of Judgment. Ameen.
Ramaḍān is here once again. But only the lucky ones are given another opportunity to enjoy it. No doubt, you are one of those lucky ones to live this Ramaḍān. However, no one knows but Allāh, whether or not, you will live to see the next Ramaḍān.
Fasting in the month Ramaḍān is just one of the many ways we, humans and Muslims, demonstrate our obedience to the Almighty Creator, as it is an obligatory ʿibādah’. It is also a platform for us to express our gratefulness and gratitude to Allāh for opening wide the doors of His Mercy and Blessings, to forgive our sins and purify our hearts and bring us closer to Him, High and Exulted is He.
Sometime in Ghana, a non-Muslim lady was seen outside her house past midnight. Her neighbour, who is a friend of mine, was going to the mosque to lead ‘Tahajjud‘ prayers when he met her. He asked her “what are you doing here at this time, Mm?” Her response was, “This month is so safe, that I don't have any fears”. Subhana Allāh! The happiness, tranquility, safety and blessings brought by Ramaḍān are even felt by non-Muslims! Do you remember when you used to be happy (in your childhood) during the month of Ramaḍān for no reason? Can you see how happy and excited your kids, nephews and nieces are in welcoming the month of Ramaḍān? That happiness and excitement are not because of the food going to be available during sahūr or iftār. It rather reflects a few of the many blessings brought along by Ramaḍān.
Ramaḍān may be just another dietary exercise for some, but for the majority, hardworking, sacrifice and extra honesty with Allāh are needed in order for them to be able to embrace a day of Ramaḍān without food and drink. This applies to our brothers and sisters around the world (who have no choice, but to) whose jobs require a lot of physical energy.
During Ramaḍān, we know that a Muslim who is fasting will be required to refrain from the consumption of food and water, as well as sexual intercourse, from dawn to sunset. But what we sometimes forget is that, Ramaḍān also requires us to refrain from all kinds of misdeeds, no matter how small it may be.
Allāh subhānahī wa taʿālā says:
وَتَحْسَبُونَهُ هَيِّناً وَهُوَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ
“and you think it (the wrongdoing) is insignificant while it is tremendous, in the sight of Allāh”. [Surah An-Nour: 24:15] .
Examples of such misdeeds include telling lies, gossiping, occupying others’ rights, victimizing others and setting eyes on the ‘aurah‘ of others.
This is one of the secrets behind the following ḥadīth Al-Qudsī, which was narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim, in which Allāh says:
كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلاَّ الصَّوْمُ فَإِنَّهُ لِي، وَأَنَّا أَجْزِي بِهِ…ـ
“Every deed of the son of Adam is for him except fasting; it is for Me and I shall reward for it…”
People may bow (in rukūʿ), prostrate (sujūd) and give charity for the sake of gods and idols other than Allāh, subhānahī wa taʿālā. But for fasting, it has always been purely done, solely for the sake of Allāh.
The companions of Rasulullāh, ṣallā Allāhu ʿalaihi wa sallam, and the first generation of Islam used to welcome Ramaḍān with lots of joys. They also bid the holy month farewell with sorrow to the extent that some of them (if not all) wished the whole year to be Ramaḍān. This tells us how they looked forward to perform the ʿibādah’ and to show their gratefulness to Allāh, subhānahī wa taʿālā.
Today, let us welcome Ramaḍān with happiness, and with the intention (niyyah) similar to that of the companions (ṣaḥābah). Let us spend our Ramaḍān in the mosques, give charity and do good deeds; not in the night markets and in front of TV sets.
Let us bid Ramaḍān farewell with sorrow as the companions did, and not with happiness of going back to food consumption 24/7.
Food should not be something we crave for in Ramaḍān, because we will eat, inshā Allāh, during and after Ramaḍān. The blessings that come with Ramaḍān are meant to be achieved and received only during Ramaḍān. Allāh, subhānahī wa taʿālā says:
لَيْلَةُ القَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ
“The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months”. [Surah Al-Qadr: 97:3].
The Night of Decree is agreed to fall on an odd night (21,23,25,27, or 29) of the last ten days of Ramaḍān.
Our Holy Prophet, Habībī Rasulullāh, ṣallā Allāhu ʿalaihi wa sallam, also said, in a hadīth narrated by Imām al-Bukhārī:
مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيـمَاناً وَاحْتِسَاباً غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِه
“Whoever fasts in the month of Ramaḍān out of faith and in the hope of reward [from Allāh], his previous sins will be forgiven.”
He also said, in a hadīth narrated by Imam Muslim:
مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيـمَاناً وَاحْتِسَاباً غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ
“Whoever spends the nights of Ramaḍān in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward [from Allāh], his previous sins will be forgiven.”
Yaa Allāh! Truly our efforts, no matter how much put in, do not entitle us for Your Rewards and Forgiveness. But Your Love for Your hopeful servants, encourages us to seek Your pleasure and Forgiveness.
O Allāh! we know we do not deserve Your Kindness due to our mischief and bad deeds, but the presence of children, the elderly, the sick are all factors that give us the hope that You will certainly shower us with Your Mercy, Forgiveness, Blessings, Wealth, Tranquility, Happiness and that You will fulfill all our needs.
Yaa Allāh! Please grant us, in this Ramaḍān and the days to come, obedience, respect, patience and kindness towards our parents and the elderly. Grant us affection and mercy for our spouses. Grant us love, care, and sense of ‘amanah’ towards our children. Please make us faithful followers, diligent workers, responsible citizens and above all, good Muslims.
Oh Allāh! Some of your servants were looking forward to your blessings this Ramaḍān, but You have chosen them to be by Your Side; and no doubt; that is better for them. Please multiply for them Your Rewards, Mercy and Forgiveness the same or more than what You would have granted them if they were still among us.
Yaa Allāh! Please grant us Your Guidance and bring us back to the good practice of Your Religion. Please be in the aid of our brothers and sisters who are oppressed around the world, simply because they embrace and practise Your Deen. Amīn.
Allāh knows best.
PS: You can read this article and other Ramaḍān-related articles in my new book, Reviving the Spirit of Ramaḍān. Kindly obtain your copy from http://www.gsalam.net/ramadan-spirit.
Allāhu Hāfiz 🙂
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