Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Ramadan |
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| widad |
| 11/10/00 at 22:56:12 |
| I got this in an e-mail,I would like to share it with you: The Ideal Muslim Fasts In RamadanBy Dr. Muhammad ‘Ali Al-Hashimi (Taken from the author’s book “The Ideal Muslim”, copyright and published in 1999 by the International Islâmic Publishing House (IIPH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Alhamdullillah, Brother Muhammad A. R. Muhsin Al Tuwaijri, the IIPH Publisher, has given us permission to include it together with other very useful books on Islam according to the Qur’ân and the Sunnah in the Islamic electronic books/CD-ROMs, WEFOUND is developing for the World Islamic Service for Developing Outstanding Muslims (WISDOM) International Islamic Learning Program.)* * * * * The true Muslim fasts in Ramadan with the sincere intention of earning reward, and with his heart full of faith: “Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim) He knows that the obligation to fast includes guarding his tongue, his sight, and all of his other faculties, so as to avoid committing any error which may invalidate his fast or cancel out his reward: “When any of you is fasting, he should not utter foul words or raise his voice in anger. If then anyone provokes or fights him, he should say, ‘I am observing a fast.’” (Bukhari and Muslim) “Whoever does not give up false speech and evil actions, Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink.” (Bukhari) The fasting Muslim is constantly aware that this is a month unlike any other: it is the month of fasting for the sake of Allah (S.W.T), and the reward of Allah (S.W.T), the All-Bountiful and All-Munificent, is greatest and vastest than anyone could ever imagine: “The reward for every good deed of the sons of Adam will be multiplied anywhere between ten and seven hundred times. Allah said: ‘Except for fasting, because it is for Me and I Myself will give recompense for it. He gives up his food and his passion for Me.’ For the one who fasts, there are two times of rejoicing, one when he breaks his fast, and one when he meets his Rabb. Verily the smell that comes from the mouth of one who is fasting is more pleasing to Allah (S.W.T) than the scent of musk.” (Muslim) So the smart Muslim takes care to make the most of this blessed month. He fills its days with fasting, prayer, reading Qur’an, charity and other good works, and fills its nights with prayers, tahajjud and du‘a’s: “Whoever spends the night in prayer during Ramadan out of faith and hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim) The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) used to strive to do more good deeds during this month than at other times, and especially during the last ten days of it. ‘A’ishah (R.A.A) said: “The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) used to strive during Ramadan, and especially the last ten days of it, more than he used to at other times.” (Muslim)‘A’ishah also said: “When the last ten days of Ramadan began, the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) would stay up for the whole night, wake his family up, strive extra hard, and abstain from marital relations.” (Bukhari and Muslim) The Prophet (S.A.W) ordered Muslims to seek laylat al-qadr and encouraged them to spend this night in prayer: “Seek laylat al-qadr during the last ten days of Ramadan.” (Bukhari and Muslim) “Seek laylat al-qadr in the odd-numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.” (Bukhari) “Whoever spends the night of laylat al-qadr in prayer and worship out of faith and hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim) So this blessed month is a time that is purely for worship. The serious-minded Muslim has no time to spend on chatting and idle pursuits throughout the night. He should not be among those who while away the night until dawn approaches, whereupon they have something to eat and fall into a deep sleep, and even miss the fajr prayer! The Muslim who truly understands his religion does not stay up late after he comes home from praying tarawih, because he knows that in a few short hours’ time, he will have to get up again to pray qiyam al-layl and eat sahur (pre-dawn meal) before he goes out to the mosque to pray fajr. The Prophet (S.A.W) commanded Muslims to eat sahur, because there is much goodness in it. He said: “Eat sahur, for in sahur there is blessing.” (Bukhari and Muslim) This is because getting up for sahur reminds one to pray qiyam al-layl, and motivates one to go out to the mosque to pray fajr in congregation, in addition to the fact that it helps people to fast and that it is the Sunnah of the Prophet (S.A.W) that he also taught to his Sahabah. Zayd ibn Thabit (R.A.A) said: “We ate sahur with the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W), then we got up to pray.” Someone asked, “How much time was there between the two?” He said, “Fifty Ayat (i.e., the time it would take to recite fifty Ayat).” (Bukhari and Muslim) |
| NS |
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