The Salaf in Ramadan

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The Salaf in Ramadan
bhaloo
11/10/01 at 02:11:47
slm

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The Salaf In Ramadaan
from Al Manar Magazine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The first generation of Muslims, the pious Salaf, were undoubtedly the
best of generations.  Their character and way of life stand witness to
this fact  and is further confirmed by the statement of Allaah's
Messenger, :

'The best of generations are my generation, then those which follow
them, then those which follow them.' (Reported by Muslim)

They were indeed, the best amongst those who implemented the teachings
of our  beloved Prophet Muhammad. So naturally it is their example that
one must  follow in all matters and Ramadaan is no exception. The Salaf
were frugal with their  own iftaar meals but generous hosts towards
others.

'Abdullaah ibn 'Umar, for example, would prefer to eat his iftaar meal
with  the poor. Whenever he broke his fast at home, he never ate his
fill, so that if a needy  person visited, 'Abdullaah could give him his
iftaar meal. Thus he would end  up virtually "fasting" that whole night
too! He used to give away sweets in  charity saying, 'I am aware of
Allaah's saying; "you shall not attain piety until you spend  out of
that which is beloved to you" [Ali 'Imraan: 92] and Allaah knows that  I
love sweets.'

Once when Al-Imaam Ahmad had prepared some bread for iftaar, a needy
person  called on him. Without hesitating he gave away all his bread,
and went  hungry.Ibn-ul Mubaarak used to prepare sweets for his
brothers, despite the  fact that he was fasting.

Al-Imaam Ash-Shaafi'ee, once said, 'It is beloved to me to see one
increasing  his acts of generosity during the month of Ramadaan,
following the example of  Allaah's Messenger, and for one's own good.
There are many who become  over-occupied with fasting and Prayers,
forgetting the other benefits of the  month of Ramadaan [i.e. forgetting
about the benefits and rewards for being  generous towards others].'
(Lataa'if-ul Maaarif)

The Prophet, said, 'The best of deeds is that of keeping your believing
brother happy, or that of paying off a debt of his, or that of feeding
him.' (Ad-daylamee,  1/1/123, AsSilsilah As-Saheehah/Al-Albaanee, 1494)

The most beloved of people to Allaah are those who are of most benefit
[to  others]. The most of beloved actions to Allaah, 'azza wa jalla, is
when you make  another Muslim happy, removing a hardship that has
befallen him, paying off a  debt of his or rid him of hunger. It is more
beloved to me indeed that I walk  with my Muslim brother to see to a
need of his than performing i'tikaaf (secluding oneself) in a  Masjid
for a month…' (At-Tabaraanee/Al-kabeer, 3/209/2, As-Silsilah
As-Saheehah, 906)

'The best of people is the one who is of most benefit to them'
(As-Silsilah  As-Saheehah, 426) 'The likeness [i.e. in terms of rewards]
of the one who  comes to [the aid of] a widow and [the aid of] a
destitute is like that of a mujaahid  (striver) in the cause of Allaah
or that of someone who spends the night in  prayers and the day in
fasting. (Al-Mishkaat, 4951)

'Abdullaah ibn 'Amro ibn Al 'Aas,  narrated that a man once asked
Allaah's  Messenger, , 'Which is the best [of actions] in Islaam?' He []
replied,  'Feeding [others] and extending the Salaam to those who you
know  and those  you do not.' (At-Targeeb - Saheeh)

The Prophet, also said, 'Once there was a dog wondering around, dying of
thirst, when a prostitute saw it. She then took off her shoe and used it
to  give the dog water [out of a well]. She was granted forgiveness
[i.e. for her sins for being a  prostitute, when she repented].'
(Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

If this huge reward was granted to a woman because of kindness to a dog,
even  though she was involved in major sin, can we imagine the rewards
for kindness  to an obedient, fasting Muslim?! Our Prophet, told us,
'Allaah, ta'aala, has  singled out certain people with abundance for the
benefit of His other  servants and He shall let it run [i.e. their
wealth] as long as they are  persistent [in benefiting others with it].
If they cease to do so then He  shall take it away from them and
redirect it to others.' (At-Tabaraanee/Al-Awsat, 5295,As-Silsilah
As-Saheehah, 1692)

We should be most active in spending our wealth to help those less
fortunate.This Ramadaan, let us remember too,  the saying of 'Ubaid Ibn
'Umair, rahimahu Allaah, 'On the Day of Judgement people will be
gathered as  hungry as they have ever been and as thirsty as they have
ever been and as  naked as they have ever been. Then, he who has fed
[others] for the sake of  Allaah, 'azza wajalla,Allaah will feed him
till he is full. He who has given  to water to others, for the sake of
Allaah, 'azza wajalla, Allaah will give  him water and he who has
clothed others for the sake of Allaah, 'azza  wajalla, Allaah will
clothe him.'

Ash-Sha'bee, once said, 'He who does not consider himself in greater
need of  the reward for giving sadaqah,as compared to the need of the
destitute for  that sadaqah, will have corrupted his act of charity and
have it flung in his face [on the  Day of Judgement].'

Brothers and sisters! We shouldn't shy away from performing even the
smallest  of good deeds, for Allaah the Most Merciful's  rewards can be
greater than  Mount Uhud in size! Let us not forget that, 'The Messenger
of Allaah, was the  most generous of people and he used to be most
generous in  Ramadaan'(Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

The next time we come across a call to help our needy fellow Muslims,
let us  respond with vigour and joy! Maybe this act could be the one
through which  Allaah bestows His pardon and everlasting bliss!
NS
Re: The Salaf in Ramadan
Merimda
11/11/01 at 08:59:13
salam,

[quote]'Abdullaah ibn 'Umar, for example, would prefer to eat his iftaar meal
with  the poor. Whenever he broke his fast at home, he never ate his
fill, so that if a needy  person visited, 'Abdullaah could give him his
iftaar meal. Thus he would end  up virtually "fasting" that whole night
too! He used to give away sweets in  charity saying, 'I am aware of
Allaah's saying; "you shall not attain piety until you spend  out of
that which is beloved to you" [Ali 'Imraan: 92] and Allaah knows that  I
love sweets.'

Once when Al-Imaam Ahmad had prepared some bread for iftaar, a needy
person  called on him. Without hesitating he gave away all his bread,
and went  hungry.Ibn-ul Mubaarak used to prepare sweets for his
brothers, despite the  fact that he was fasting.[/quote]


JAK for sharing..we sometimes forget that iftar is supposed to be simple affair not a feast..unfortunately, some mothers spend most of their Ramadan in the kitchen.

[quote]Al-Imaam Ash-Shaafi'ee, once said, 'It is beloved to me to see one
increasing  his acts of generosity during the month of Ramadaan,
following the example of  Allaah's Messenger, and for one's own good.
There are many who become  over-occupied with fasting and Prayers,
forgetting the other benefits of the  month of Ramadaan [i.e. forgetting
about the benefits and rewards for being  generous towards others].'
(Lataa'if-ul Maaarif)[/quote]

That's true too..

JAK for the reminder.

salam,
merimda


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