We are about to enter the blessed month of
Ramadan, indeed it already feels like Ramadan as we eagerly look forward to the
blessings it brings and the spiritual impact it will undoubtedly have upon us.
Our prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon
him, welcomed it warmly and recommended it to his people saying: ‘Ramadan has
come to you, the leader of all months, so welcome to it’. (narrated by
al-Bazzar and al-baihaqui)
As the fifth pillar of Islam its importance
is clear to all Muslims. Fasting is an
obligation upon all Muslims who are healthy enough to carry it out. Its rewards
are potentially immense as its fulfilment is very special in the Sight of
Allah.
The Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon
him, would draw the attention of the people to the wide spread benefits, particularly
the religious and spiritual benefits, to be gained from this month. Let us then
ponder, together, on some of the references from the Quran and the Hadiths of
the Prophet that highlight its importance for us all.
To begin with, let us see what the Quran says
regarding the prescription of fasting in this month:
'O believers! Fasting is enjoined upon you as
it was enjoined upon those before you that you may attain taqwa’.
So, fasting is a means to attain Taqwa, the
fear or awe of God the Almighty, that will keep us steadfast and
straightforward in our lives. But, we must never forget that Taqwa also
requires that we accept responsibility for all our actions and thoughts in this
world and to do so in the right way, so that we can put things right and become
channels for goodness and charitable deeds. Taqwa also embraces the doing of
any work that God has asked us to carry out in this life.
In a famous sermon, on the eve of Ramadan,
the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, said: ‘O people! A great and
blessed month has indeed overshadowed you. It is a month wherein is a night
better than the (nights of) a thousand months. It is a month whose fasting has
been made obligation by Allah, and offering prayers in its nights as voluntary
act. Whoever comes in this month with an act of goodness, he is as though has
performed an obligatory work in other months. And whoever has performed in it
an obligatory work, he is as though has performed seventy obligatory works in
other months'
It is indeed a month of patience and patience
is rewarded with Paradise (Jannah). It is also a month of mutual consolation
and a month in which a believer’s
provision is increased. If any person facilitates for others the breaking of
their fast it would cause forgiveness for his sins and free him from hellfire.
Further, he would have same rewards without any deduction from the rewards of
the fasting person.
People
said to the Prophet: O messenger of Allah! Not all of us do find what could be
provided for breaking the fast! The
Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, said: 'Allah grants this reward
to anyone who is able to facilitate breaking the fast with even a single date,
or some water or runny yogurt'.
The Prophet continued: 'It is a month the
beginning of which is all days of mercy, the middle part are days of
forgiveness and last part is about freedom from hell fire. Whoever lightens the burden from his slaves
(servants) in this month Allah will forgive him and free him from the hellfire.
So increase in this month four things. Two of these things will make your Lord
pleased and the other two you have to seek it for yourself. The two things that
you would make your Lord pleased with are: 1) you witness that there is no Lord
but Allah; 2) and you seek forgiveness from him.
The other two things that are important for
you are that 1) you ask Allah to grant you the Jannah and, 2) seek His
protection from the hellfire.’
This hadith needs to be understood by every
Muslim before entering the month of Ramadan. It is a great introduction and
guidance and creates the real spirit necessary to complete the fast and receive
the blessings of the month.
In another hadith, in a different sermon, the
Prophet drew the attention of people to the importance of this month in this
way:
‘Ramadan has approached you which is the
month of blessings. Allah covers you with His mercy in this month. He removes
sins and responds to your dua. Allah looks forwards to your competition in this
month and takes pride with His angels. So show to Allah goodness from you as
wretched is the one who is deprived of the mercy of Allah in this month'.
(narrated by al-tabrani)
The theme, highlighted in the long sermon
above, divides the blessings of the month into three parts; mercy, forgiveness
and freedom from hellfire and as Muslims we all need to understand its importance
and make our best efforts to seek them out.
The hadith also suggests that only a wretched person can be deprived of
the mercy of Allah in this month of mercy.
Another hadith highlights the importance of
forgiveness in this month. This hadith which tells us that once the Prophet,
peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, was climbing his pulpit in the mosque.
People heard him saying ‘Amen’ three times. When they asked him about this the
prophet explained: 'when I took the step
on the pulpit Gabriel (Jibreel) said: ‘whoever entered the month of Ramadan and
was not forgiven and as a result he entered the hellfire may Allah remove him
(from his mercy), say Amen (aameen) and I said Amen (aameen)'.
That Ramadan is important and a pillar of
Islam, we as Muslims, all believe, but the benefits and goodness that may be
shown to us if we utilise the month, as we are guided in the Quran and the
hadith, are also important.
I will be writing regular and frequent
articles on issues and different aspects of Ramadan, so that I may remind
myself and others constantly of its benefits and blessings. I would, therefore,
be grateful for any suggestions you may have as to content and if you would
forward these articles to your contacts to encourage feedback.
May Allah bless us all in this month of
blessings, grant us His mercy, forgiveness from our wrongdoings and freedom
from hellfire.
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