Ramadan is a month of intensive worship
BS Foad, M.D 2011
During the month of Ramadan Muslims engage in certain rituals of worship, namely:
1-Fasting, not only abstaining from food or drink or s= ex, but also abstaining from doing
anything that is wrong, and hastening in all good deed= s
2-Prayers: not only the obligatory five prayers every = day with humility and devotion, but
<= span class=3DGramE>also offering optional prayers, particularly the night prayers or Taraweeh prayers.
3-Giving in charity
4-Reciting the Qur’an as often as possible and t= rying to understand its message, and
<= span class=3DGramE>applying its guidelines in our life
5-Turning to Allah often, seeking His forgiveness, mer= cy, guidance and blessings
especially in the early hours of the morning, not only= on our behalf but also on behalf
of other people.
The proper wa=
y of
fasting Ramadan
It is not proper for a fasting person= to lie, cheat or wrong others. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
(Whoever does not stop lying or saying wrong things th= en, in the sight of Allah, there is need for him to leave his food and drink)
Narrated by Bokhari, Termedhi, Abou Dawood & Ibn M= ajja
We learn from this Hadeeth that lying or cheating or s= aying wrong things annul our fast. We get nothing out of our fast except hunger a= nd thirst.
The Prophet (PBUH) confirmed this concept when he said= :
(How many people are fasting yet all they get out of t= heir fast is thirst; and how many
People = are standing up in prayer yet all they get out of their prayers is staying awak= e
At night)
Narrated by Baghawi & Tabarani
If we lie or = talk about others in their absence then we annul our fast and get no reward. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
(Fasting= is protection from Hell Fire, as one of you protects himself during fighting, unless his fast is broken or cancelled by lying or by Ghayba (Back-biting)<= /p>
Narrated by Ahmad, Nesa’ee & Ibn Majja
Fasting is no= t only abstinence from food and drink, but confirming our faith in our behavior. T= his means that we do our work to the best of our ability; and that we are kind, caring, forgiving and merciful; and that we help those who need our help; a= nd that we love others and harbor no ill feelings in our heart; and that we wi= sh all good for other people. This feeling in our hearts is a reflection of our gratitude and how much we love Allah and are grateful for His blessings. The Qur’an and Sunnah confirm this concept:
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
(Whoever fasts Ramadan with full conviction, and seeki= ng his reward only from Allah, his previous sins will be forgiven)
Narrated by Bokhari, Nesa’ee, Ahmad & Termed= hi
Full conviction means faith in Allah and an understand= ing of our accountability to Him. This means proper behavior and noble character.<= /p>
In the Qur’an we are told about the characterist= ics of those who truly believe:
Verily those who live in awe for fear=
of
their Lord;
=
; Al-Mumenoun
23: 57
Those who believe in the Signs of t=
heir
Lord;
=
; Al-Mumenoun
23: 58
Those who join not (in worship) par=
tners
with their Lord;
=
; Al-Mumenoun
23: 59
And those who dispense their charit=
y with
their hearts full of fear, because they will return to their Lord;
=
; Al-Mumenoun
23: 60
It is these who hasten in every good
work, and these who are foremost in them.
=
; Al-Mumenoun
23: 61
On no soul do W=
e
place a burden greater than it can bear: before Us is a record which clearly
shows the Truth: They will never be wronged.
=
; Al-Mumenoun
23: 62
And
O ye who believe! =
Fear
Allah and be with those who are true (in word and deed).
&n=
bsp; At-Tawba
9: 119
Safeguardi=
ng our
prayers in Ramadan and offering optional prayers
It is not proper for a fasting person to miss h=
is
prayers. On the contrary safeguarding our prayers is essential in Ramadan. =
Such
an attitude is a characteristic of those who believe: The Believers must
(eventually) win through,
&n=
bsp; Al-Mumenoun
23: 1
And who (strictly)=
guard
their prayers;
&n=
bsp; Al-Mumenoun
23: 9
Those
believers who fast Ramadan also offer additional optional prayers and try to
improve their prayers by being devoted, humble and obedient to Allah. In
addition to the optional prayers outlined in the Sunnah which are the ten
optional Rak’a (2 before Fajr, 2 before Zuhr, 2 after Zuhr, 2 after
Maghrib and 2 after Eisha’a), additional optional prayers are offered
including night prayers and Duha prayers. Night or Taraweeh prayers in Rama=
dan
are offered in the mosque or at one’s home. The Prophet (PBUH) used to
pray 11 Rak’a in Ramadan. According to Bokhari Aesha said that
Allah’s messenger did not pray more than 11 Rak’a; he used to p=
ray
4 Rak’a usually long, and then pray 4 Rak’a, usually long, then=
he
would pray 3 Rak’a).
At
the time of Omar he thought it would be a good idea to ask one person to le=
ad
the Muslims in prayer, rather than let them pray alone. So he asked Obai Bin
Ka’b to lead the Muslims in prayer during Ramadan. He used to pray 20
Rak’a.
It
is not important how many Rak’a we pray in Ramadan, whether it is 8 o=
r 11
or 20 or more. What is important is that we do not argue or quarrel about t=
his
or become divided. Those who want to pray only 8 Rak’a can do so. Tho=
se
who want to complete 20 Rak’a can do so. These night prayers are opti=
onal,
not compulsory. There is a precedent for both 8 and 20 Rak’a, and no
Muslim or groups of Muslims should criticize others for not agreeing with t=
hem.
Giving in
charity
Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) is our example of proper behavior. Ibn Abbas relates that he
was most charitable during Ramadan
(Allah’s
messenger (PBUH) was the most generous person, and he was most generous dur=
ing
Ramadan when Jebreel used to meet with him; and Jibreel used to meet him ev=
ery
night in Ramadan and teaches him the Qur’an; and Allah’s messen=
ger
(PBUH) was then more generous than the wind that carries rain)
Narrated
by Bokhari, Muslim & Nesa’ee
This chari=
ty
that we give is atonement for our sins and confirms our faith in Allah. We reach =
out
and help the poor and needy and help support institutions that provide valu=
able
service for the community.
There is a
special charity in Ramadan called Zakat Al-Fitr. It is in=
tended
to help the poor and needy in the community. It is given before Eid prayers=
in
order that those less fortunate can celebrate and join in the happiness of =
the
community at Eid time. This charity wipes out the mistakes that we make dur=
ing
the month of fasting.
Reciting t=
he
Qur’an as often as possible, understanding its message and applying i=
ts
guidelines in our life
The Qur=
217;an
is God’s literal words. It is a blessing from God. It guides us to His
way. It is a mercy and a cure for the ills in our hearts
O mankind! there hath come to you a
direction from your Lord and a healing for the (diseases) in your hearts, a=
nd
for those who believe, a Guidance and a Mercy.
&n=
bsp; Yunus
10: 57
And
We send down (stag=
e by
stage) in the Qur-an that which is a healing and=
a
mercy to those who believe: to the unjust it causes nothing but loss after
loss.
&n=
bsp; Al-Isra’a
17: 82
And
O People of the Bo=
ok! there hath come to you Our Messenger, revealing to you=
much
that ye used to hide in the Book, and passing over much (that is now
unnecessary): There hath come to you from Allah a (new) light and a perspic=
uous
Book.
&n=
bsp; Al-Maeda
5: 15
Wherewith Allah gu=
ideth
all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety, and leadeth them
out of darkness, by His Will, unto the light, guideth them to a Path that i=
s Straight.
&n=
bsp; Al-Maeda
5: 16
We need to=
read
the Qur’an slowly, try to understand its message and its principles a=
nd
guidelines. And we need to think and reflect and appreciate the rationale of
this Divine revelation
(Here is) a Book which We have sent down unto thee, full of
blessings, that they may meditate on its Signs, and that men of understandi=
ng
may receive admonition.
&n=
bsp; Sa D 38: 29
We also ne=
ed to
explain the Qur’an to others and teach them its useful message. Spreading
useful knowledge and teaching the Qur’an is stressed in the Sunnah of
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
(The
best amongst you is the person who learns the Qur’an, then teaches it=
to
others)
Narrated
by Bokhari, Termedhi & Ahmad
Turning to=
Allah
seeking His forgiveness, guidance and mercy and saying Du’a
In
Ramadan we turn to Allah often in repentance. This serves several objective=
s:
1-It
confirms our faith and that we understand our dependence on Allah and
Our accountability to Him
2-As
we turn to Allah, we renew our pledge to serve Him and to worship Him
3-We
turn to Him seeking His forgiveness
4-We
turn to Him acknowledging His blessings and thanking Him
5-We
turn to Him knowing that He is with us guiding our steps and helping us
The
Qur’an confirms these concepts
And your Lord says:
"Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer): b=
ut
those who are too arrogant to serve Me will surely find themselves in Hell,=
in
humiliation!"
&n=
bsp; Ghafir
40: 60
And
When My servants a=
sk
thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of
every suppliant when he calleth on Me: let them also, with a will, listen t=
o My
call, and believe in Me: that they may walk in the right way.
&n=
bsp; Al-Baqara
2: 186
And
"Saying, `Ask forgiveness from your Lord; for He is
Oft-Forgiving;
&n=
bsp; Nuh
71: 10
"`He will sen=
d rain
to you in abundance;
&n=
bsp; Nuh
71: 11
"`Give you in=
crease
in wealth and sons; and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers (of
flowing water).
&n=
bsp; Nuh
71: 12
And
And remember! your Lord caused to be declared (publicly): "If y=
e are
grateful, I will add more (favours) unto you; but if ye show ingratitude, t=
ruly
My punishment is terrible indeed."
&n=
bsp; Ibrahim
14: 7
And
O ye that believe!=
Fear
Allah, and believe in His Messenger, and He will bestow on you a double por=
tion
of His Mercy: He will provide for you a Light by which ye shall walk (strai=
ght
in your path), and He will forgive you (your past); for Allah is Oft-Forgiv=
ing,
Most Merciful:
&n=
bsp; Al-Hadeed
57: 28
Prophet Mu=
hammad
(PBUH) stressed that our Du’a to Allah is answered, especially the
Du’a of a person who is fasting. He said:
(Three
people their Du’a is answered and not turned down: The person who is
fasting; and the just ruler; and the person who was wronged: his Du’a=
is
raised above the clouds, and the gates of heaven are opened for it, and the
Lord says: “By My might I will come to your aid, if not now then afte=
r a
while)
Ahmad,
Termedhi & Ibn Majja
Our DuR=
17;a
is also answered during the early hours of the morning. Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) said:
(Our
Lord, Glory be to Him descends down to the lower heaven every night in the =
Last third of the night, and says:
“Who is calling on Me, and I will respond =
to
him? Who is asking Me and I will give him? And w=
ho is
seeking My forgiveness, and I will forgive him?)=
Narrated
by Bokhari & Muslim
Prophet Mu=
hammad
(PBUH) applied the Qur’an in his character and behavior
(His
character was that of the Qur’an) Bokhari
We should =
follow
the example of Allah’s messenger and embody Qur’anic character:=
-We
should be kind and caring; forgiving and merciful
-We
should tell the truth and be honest and not cheat others
-We
should be just and not wrong other people
-We
should spread useful knowledge and be wise
-We
should work hard and do our work to the best of our ability
-We
should be devoted to Allah, humble and turn to Him in repentance every day =
of
our lives
Ramadan is a month of intense worship=
BS Foad, M.D 2011
Fasting is not only ab=
stinence
from food and drink, but also abstinence from doing anything that is wrong =
and
hastening in all good deeds.
It is not proper for a
fasting person to lie or cheat or wrong others. Prophet Muhammad (PB=
UH)
said: (Whoever does not stop lying or saying wrong things then, in the sigh=
t of
Allah, there is no need for him to leave his food and drink) Bokhari, Terme=
dhi
& Abou Dawood.
(How
many people are fasting, yet all they get out of their fast is thirst; and =
how
many people are standing up in prayer at night, yet all they get is lack of
sleep) Baghawi & Tabarani
(Fasting is protection from Hell Fi=
re, as
one of you protects himself when fighting, unless his fast is broken or
cancelled by lying or back-biting) Ahmad & Nesa’ee
Fasting is confirming =
our faith
in our behavior and being sincere and devoted to Allah. Prophet Muhammad (PBU=
H)
said: (Whoever fasts Ramadan with full conviction, and seeking his reward o=
nly
from Allah, his previous sins will be forgiven) Bokhari & Nesa’ee
& Ahmad. This means that we should be kind, caring, forgiving and merci=
ful;
and that we help those who need our help; and that we love others and harbo=
r no
ill-feelings in our hearts, and we wish them well; and that we do our work =
to
the best of our ability. Confirming our faith in our character and behavior=
is
a reflection of our love of Allah and that we are grateful for His blessings
and we understand our accountability to Him.
The
Qur’an explains that those who understand their accountability to All=
ah
always hasten in all good deeds:
“And those who approach everything that they do with the understanding
that they will return to their Lord: these hasten in all good deeds and are
foremost in them” Al-mumenoun 23: 60 & 61
“O
you believe be conscious of Allah and be with those who are true in word and
deed) At-Tawba 9: 119
We should safeguard our
prayers in Ramadan and offer additional optional prayers
“And who strictly
guard their prayers” Al-Mumenoun 23: 9
Muslims
offer optional prayers: the Sunnah, as well as Duha and night prayers
(Taraweeh). Such prayers are done at the mosque or at one’s home,
preferably in congregation. It is 8, 11 or 20 Rak’a. The number of
Rak’a is not important. What is important is to preserve the unity of
Muslims, and that no one criticizes others who do not pray as he does, for
there is a precedent for each type of Taraweeh prayers.
We should give in char=
ity,
following the example of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Ibn
Abbas related: (Allah’s messenger (PBUH) was the most generous person,
and he was most generous during Ramadan, when Jebreel used to meet him; and
Jebreel used to meet him every night in Ramadan and teaches him the
Qur’an; and Allah’s messenger (PBUH) was then most generous than
the wind that brings rain) Bokhari, Muslim & Nesa’ee.
There
is a special charity in Ramadan called Zakat Al-Fitr (the charity of breaki=
ng
the fast) to atone for the sins and mistakes that we do during this month of
fasting. It is given to the poor and needy.
Reciting the Qur’=
;an
often, understanding its message, applying its guidelines in our life and
teaching the Qur’an to others and spreading its useful message. The Qur’an is
God’s words, and serves as a guidance, a mercy, a cure for the ills in
our hearts and as a blessing from Allah
“O mankind there=
has
come to you a direction from your Lord, and a healing for the ills in your
hearts; and for those who believe a guidance and=
a
mercy” Yunus 10: 57
“There has come =
to you
from Allah a light and a clear book; with it Allah guides all who seek His =
good
pleasure to ways of peace and safety, and leads them out of darkness, by His
will, unto the light, and guides them to a path that is straight”
Al-Maeda 5: 15 & 16
Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) said: (The best amongst you is the person who learns the
Qur’an, then teaches it to others) Bokhari, Termedhi & Ahmad
Turning to Allah in
repentance, seeking His forgiveness and mercy and praying to Him (Du’=
a)
“And your Lord s=
ays:
“Call on Me, I will answer you; but those who are too arrogant to ser=
ve Me will surely find themselves in Hell, in humiliation=
”
Ghafir 40: 60
“When My servant=
s as
you concerning Me, I am indeed close: I will listen to the prayer of every
supplicant when he calls on Me” Al-Baqara =
2: 186
Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) stressed that our Du’a to Allah is answered, especial=
ly
the Du’a of a fasting person. He said: (Three people their Du’a=
to
Allah is never turned down: the person who is fasting; and the just ruler; =
and
the person who was wronged: his Du’a is raised above the clouds and t=
he
gates of heaven are opened for it, and the Lord says: “By My might, I
will come to your aid, if not now then after a while) Ahmad, Termedhi &=
Ibn
Majja. Our Du’a is answered especially in the early hours of the morn=
ing.