Ramadan: a month of pure blessings

Ramadan is once again with us, with its pure blessings providing an opportunity for us to turn to Allah, our Creator and maker, and to make more of our lives, both for ourselves and humanity. Ramadan, the month of fasting from dawn to sunset, is dedicated solely for the sake of Allah, and is designed to teach us righteousness and self-restraint. During this month we come to recognise, accept and alter any excesses in our lifestyle and demonstrate our responsibility towards others by our generosity and kindness.

In accordance to Islamic teachings, the month is regarded as very special and is a time when Allah opens up His doors of mercy and forgiveness for those who seek them out. The duty of fasting in this month is obligatory and is regarded as one of the five pillars of Islam. It requires all believers to pay special attention to this opportunity by doing good and refraining from evil deeds.

The Quran contains verses which highlight its importance and manner in which we should go about receiving it in our life. It says: ‘O believers! Fasting is prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those who were before you in order for you to learn ‘Taqwa’ (righteousness and self-restraints).

It is an obligation upon those who are able to fast for the month, and it is purely a matter of obedience and complete submission to Allah’s will upon us. It should not be ignored for invalid reasons, neither must we attempt to find loopholes by which we may seek to avoid it.

During his lifetime our Prophet Mohammad, Peace and Mercy of Allah be upon him, would make a special point of delivering  guidance just before the start of Ramadhan, so that people would be reminded of its very special nature and purpose, and make special efforts to gain from its blessed days and nights. In one of his sermons, which is narrated by Obadah ibn Saamit, he says: ‘People! The month of Ramadan is on you; it is a month of blessing, Allah covers you in this month with His mercy, removes sins from you, and accepts your dua and supplications. Allah looks towards your acts of competition in it and take pride with His angels, so show to Allah your goodness, because ill-fated is one who is deprived of Allah’s Mercy’. 

This is very important guidance from the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, with seven special features of this month mentioned in it. If only people would take into  consideration, prior to entering the month, those seven points mentioned in the hadith above, they would benefit immensely from a life changing experience that would bring blessings to them, to their families, and the whole of humanity.

If a list of the possible effects of fasting is drawn up, even solely from a medical perspective, we see that it does no harm to fast and abstain from such routine acts such as meals and feasting, but rather that the benefits are innumerable.

However, from the Islamic perspective, the occasion has two main benefits: first, the benefit of the discipline and reflective mindset necessary to complete the fast, and the wider and larger benefit this brings to families, communities and humanity. Secondly, the special spiritual nature of this month, with its blessed days and nights, and Allah’s special mercy to the believers. Both categories contain multi- dimensional benefits derived from fasting and the season.

The Quran simply says: ‘and that you fast which is good for you, only if you could know’.

The special blessing of the fast is that this dearly regarded act is very especially rewarded by Allah. In a hadith Qudsi, narrated by Abu Hurairah, the Prophet, Peace and Mercy of Allah be upon him, says that Allah, Most Sublime and Glorious, says: ‘Each single deed of the son of Adam is for his own sake except the fasting; it is for me and I would reward for it.’ Fasting is a shield. So when it is a day of fasting for you let him not speak of indecent speech, or get involved in idle talks. If he is sworn at by anyone or anyone attempts to induce him to fight, he should respond saying: I am fasting….’

When people fast, they should keep the greater purpose of the fast in the forefront of their thinking, or they may easily spoil it without realising it. The Prophet has delivered a warning for such people saying: ‘anyone who did not abandon lies and their action accordingly then Allah has no need for him to abstain from food and drink’. Even further, the prophet warned: ‘many of people who fast do not get anything out of it except hunger and thirst’.

Ramadan should not be a month of accelerating violence and negative characteristics. It requires calmness, serenity and a spiritual posture. We need not only to benefit from it ourselves, but to also show the world the real benefits of fasting. By our own actions, we must demonstrate the serenity of the occasion and our marking of the importance of the spiritual season.

If only we Muslims could truly demonstrate the positive impact of the five pillars of our Islamic life and Allah’s purpose in human guidance, we would be the best spiritual nation, ever raised, to guide humanity. But if, in the practice of our faith, our acts are only superficial, and we subscribe the very minimal effort to them, then the blessings of Allah will pass us by and we will be forever deprived of them.

Every day of the month of Ramadhan is blessed and every night draws special blessings from Allah on to the believers. It disciplines the Ummah, closing their ranks in goodness and against evil, makes people serene and reflective, shows them the paths of generosity and compassion and brings them back to the Path of Allah.

 Muslim brothers and sisters, let the purpose of Ramadan shine on our lives and when we fast, rather than dwelling on the length of time that we have to fast, focus instead on our obligation and on the real benefits of our fasting.

May Allah bless you all in this most honoured month and a very blessed and Happy Ramadan for all of you.

A meeting with Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais: President of Haramain

It was with great pleasure, and a feeling of privilege, that together with other guests I was invited to meet Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais, the former Chief of Imams at the Masjid al-Haram, & Current President of Haramain (the two holiest mosques).

This meeting with the Shaykh was facilitated by the Director of the London office of Saudi Islamic Affairs ministry, providing an opportunity, for those who work in the Islamic field and greater awareness of Islamic teachings in this country, to remind them of how they could and should be real ambassadors of Islam, and work for the benefit of their religion by serving humanity.

The Shaykh is a well-known religious personality throughout the Muslim world, who, besides his duties as an imam of the holiest mosque in Islam, has also acted as goodwill ambassador for the Haramain for the past 35 years.

He has become very popular amongst Muslims for his recitations of the Quran and dua (supplications) during the month of Ramadan. His voice had a magical impact on listeners, particularly during the traweeh and Night Time prayers (Qiyamul lail salaah), which I myself experienced, and which had a profound effect on me.

Shaykh Sudais's  address demonstrated to those who work for Islam how to be positive and bring benefits to all communities, by showing compassion and kindness to all, and by not becoming involved in controversy or harmful preaching that would divide people and bring harm to Islam.

Some of the key points offered by Shaykh al-Sudais were as follow:

1-                  Working for Allah always should be based on ‘Taqwa’ the piety and awe of Allah, which purifies one's intention for the sake of Allah. No personal gain should be intended or received from such work.

2-                  The Shaykh then, in conjunction with his first point, emphasised that our work should be based on ‘sincerity and pure following’ (al-Ikhlaas wal Ittibaa`). Sincerity is a pre-requisite to our dedication towards our work, as without it our work would not be solely for the sake of Allah. We need to seek the pleasure of Allah through our work and not let any other consideration be part of it, or it may be spoilt. ‘Following’ means following the rules and teachings of the Prophet Mohammad, Peace and Mercy of Allah be upon him, in our dedication in our work, or it may change the nature of the outcome and we may fail to achieve that which we desire. The Shaykh elaborated this point further by giving examples from the hadith.

3-                  He reminded us all that Islam stands as the religion of moderation, between two extremes of attitude, and that the work of Dawah must take this into consideration. He quoted the Quranic verse which says: ‘and that We have made you a nation of moderation (or a just and well balanced nation) so that you may be a witness over people..’

He emphasised the fact that those who practise violence in the name of Islam are misled and harm the spirit of Islamic teachings for their own goals.

4-                  Shaykh al-Sudais also reminded us that those who work towards Islamic awareness must not cause division among the Muslim communities, but rather say the good words and unite them around the word of Allah,

5-                  The Shaykh was keen that Islamic preachers should understand the importance of consultation and taking into consideration the opinions of other people. By doing so we would help create a world of mutual understanding, respect and a decent space for Islamic work.  

6-                  He also emphasised that we very often forget where our priorities lie in our Islamic work. Sometimes, because of the lack of understanding, or a hasty decision that we take, we get a very negative result. Being the ambassadors of Islam, we need to ensure that all our work and our decisions are for the benefit of Islam and the Muslims, and that we serve humanity.

7-                  For this purpose, the Shaykh reminded us that the work of inviting people to the path of Islam should be based on proper knowledge and not  ignorance, and he quoted a famous verse from the Quran which says: ‘Say that this is my path I call on Allah with sure knowledge; I and whosoever follow me..’ S12 V108 

8-                  To this effect, he also reminded us to study more closely the greater purpose of Islamic Law (Shari`ah) and in particular the Five Purposes that form the basis for Islamic understanding and the noble spirit of its teachings. Without understanding Shariah Law in its proper context we would always be vulnerable to errors of judgement.

9-                  Shaykh al-Sudais is the head of Haramain or the body that oversees the work of both Harams, Makkah and Madina. He highlighted the works that are currently being undertaken, to expand the capacity of the grand mosque in Makkah, to accommodate the ever-increasing number of pilgrims. Any work of expansion is to ensure that the number of pilgrims is well accommodated, facilities are well provided and all pilgrims manage to perform their religious duties in complete comfort. The rumours that the Saudi Government is destroying the ‘aathaar’ (historic buildings) are pure misinformation. Muslims should look forward and support the work of expansion that will serve the Muslim pilgrimage in the future.

10-               The Shaykh highlighted some of the work that would double the capacity of the Tawaaf area - facilities for electronic vehicles in the tawaaf area for those who are elderly, disabled or for those for whom it takes great effort to make tawaaf in their pilgrimage. He highlighted the fact that the whole tawaaf area would be covered so that pilgrims do not suffer from the burning heat.

It was a very positive meeting. Muslim scholars and the public should be behind this great project of expansion.  The Saudi government does not have any ulterior interest in this expansion but seeks only to facilitate it for the benefit of visiting pilgrims of the Haramain. This is something that should unite all Muslims worldwide, as their support for this great cause belongs only to Allah and is done for the sake of Allah.

Month of Sha`ban – doorway to the blessings of Ramadan

According to the Quran, the order and the 12 monthly cycle of the of the year were designed by  Allah (PBUH)  at the time of the creation of the heavens and the earth.  It is written in surah al-Tawbah: ‘indeed the number of the months with Allah is twelve months in the Book of Allah, on the Day He created the heavens and the earth, out of these four are sacred, so do not wrong yourselves in them.’

This Quranic verse clearly shows the well-designed purpose behind the creation of months and indicates that people will benefit if they respect the sanctity of some of these months, by refraining from wrongdoing in them.

However, neither the month of Sha`ban, nor the month of Ramadan, are included in the four sacred months, even though the month of Ramadan is designed to accomplish one of the pillars of Islam; fasting.  This reinforces the fact that every month has its own characteristics and consequent benefits for people.

In Islam, everything has importance and plays a role when utilised in the right context. That includes the cycle of day and night and even the passing hours of the day and night. All contain different required degrees of excellence and present a source of spiritual benefits for people who believe in them and make efforts to reach them.

The Quran says: ‘and it is He (Allah) who has made the night and the day in a cycle for those people who seek to be reminded or want to be grateful (to Allah in their lives). Al-Furqan

What a beautiful Quranic verse to explain and introduce a different dimension into our understanding of the smooth cycle of these two daily phenomena that occur in our lives, and  remind us of God’s greatness and His glory and majesty in His creation. There are hours in which our prayers and dua are more likely to be acceptable than others. From midnight to the dawn of fajr is described as the most spiritual, in terms of getting closer to Allah.

Also our Prophet Mohammad said of these cycles: ‘indeed Allah had placed in the days of the year some cool breezes, so expose yourselves to them and perhaps some of you will receive them and thereafter never become wretched in your lives.’

The month of Sha`ban is a doorway to Ramadan, the most blessed month in spiritual terms, to make a believer benefit in this world, and the Hereafter, and fulfil one of the obligations of Islamic pillars.

So what are the ways that a believer may benefit from the month of Sha`ban? It would be only too easy, that in the absence of proper knowledge, we may fall into wrongdoing, and spoil our good deeds and lose any benefits that may arise from them. Let us see what our prophet used to do in this month.

In a hadith narrated by Osamah bin Zaid, he says that: I said to the Prophet: ‘O Messenger of Allah! I have not seen you fasting in any month the way you fast in the month of Sha`ban!, (he was talking about the voluntary fasting). The Prophet replied: ‘this is a month most people are heedless of, which is between the months of Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds of people are raised to the Lord of the worlds and I love that my deeds are raised to Him when I am in the state of fasting.’

Very importantly, another narration from Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, says: ‘the Prophet, peace be upon him, would fast till we say would he not break for a day. And would go without fasting till we say he may not fast. I have not seen the Prophet fasting a complete month except in the month of Ramadan. And I have not seen him fasting most except in the month of Sha`ban’.

So fasting is one of the most virtuous deeds that people can achieve in this month.

However, many people choose to fast most specially on the 15^th of Sha`ban. This has no validity, either from the sayings or the actions of the Prophet. Fasting in general is recommended. Additionally, of course, people should try to gain spiritually by reciting the Quran, doing charitable deeds, showing kindness and compassion and by submitting themselves to the guidance of Allah.

Celebrating the 15^th night of Sha`ban

This  also has no validity and is based on week narrations that fail to institute an act of ibadah for a particular night of a month. All that is said about fasting, offering salaah, reciting the Quran and other acts, like visiting the graves on that particular night, is without foundation and not backed by valid hadith.

Many other beliefs are held about the excellence of this night i.e. Allah distributes the provision of His servants in this night, all of which are invalid. The Night of Power, Lailatul Qadr, and not the 15^th night of Sha`ban, is when we are told that Allah distributes the provisions for the year among His servants.

Ibadaat or religious obligations are always enacted on the basis of Allah’s guidance to His prophet, presenting us with the strongest of evidence and by acts of collective following. Established obligations in Islam contain sufficient means to achieve the blessings of Allah by doing the right things.

Islam is a blessed guidance from Allah and people only need to follow it to receive their salvation and the pleasure of Allah. Any day is always a good starting point but a month like Sha`ban, the doorway to Ramadan, is one of the best times to start receiving those blessings.