● The blessed month of Ramadan is full of divine blessings and blessings. It is the best of months and it contains the best of nights, the Night of Decree, in which the Qur’an was revealed. So we must seize its virtuous days, its full nights, and its unlimited reward, as:
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Allah the Exalted and Majestic said: ‘Every act of the son of Adam is for him, except As-Siyam (the fasting) which is (exclusively) for Me, and I will reward him for it.’ Fasting is a shield. When anyone of you is observing fast, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise his voice; and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him, he should say: ‘I am fasting.’ By Him in Whose Hand the soul of Muhammad is, the breath of one observing Saum is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk. The one who fasts, experiences two joys: he feels pleasure when he breaks the fast. He is joyful by virtue of his fast when he meets his Rubb.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
● How do we receive Ramadan and what do we do during it?
* 1- Hastening in good deeds: where there is competition in everything that is good… such as tolerance and reconciliation between people, compassion, solidarity, affection, and being generous to the poor and needy.
– The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was the most generous of people, and he was the most generous in Ramadan.
– Abu Malik al-Ash‘ari reported God’s Messenger as saying, “In paradise there are rooms the outside of which can be seen from within and the inside from without which God has prepared for those who speak gently, provide food, observe frequent fasting, and pray during the night when people are asleep.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu’ab al-iman and Tirmidhi transmitted something similar from ‘Ali. In his version it says “for those who speak pleasantly.”
* 2- Performing acts of worship and performing many acts of obedience: such as reciting the Holley Qur’an and contemplating its meanings; and maintaining prayer in congregation and praying qiyaam (Tarawih), where:
– Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Lailat al-qadr [Night of Decree] in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven.”
* 3- Good following the Sunnah of our Master, the Messenger of God, may God bless him: in terms of:
– Hastening the breaking of the fast and delaying the suhoor:
Sahl bin Sa’d (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “People will always be fine (on the right path, or following the Sunnah) as long as they hasten to break their fast (in Ramadan).” (Agreed upon).
– Do not waste food and drink as:
Allah Almighty says: {O Children of Adam! Take your adornment to every Masjid, and eat and drink, but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not the wasteful}.
Miqdam bin Ma’dikarib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I heard Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “No man fills a container worse than his stomach. A few morsels that keep his back upright are sufficient for him. If he has to, then he should keep one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for his breathing.”
* 4- Family ties (Kinship):
The month of Ramadan is an opportunity for family ties (Kinship), as:
– Allah Almighty says:{.. and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you}.
– Anas reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying : Anyone who is pleased that his sustenance is expanded and his age extended should do kindness to his near relatives.
*5- Work, not laziness.
Ramadan is not a month for laziness and indolence, but rather it is a month of work and diligence, and fasting is not an excuse for laziness and laziness. Throughout the history of the nation, most of the victories were in the month of Ramadan, such as the Battle of Badr and the war of Ain Jalut.
By the end, in Ramadan, we have to ultimately obtain the benefit of fasting, which is piety, as God Almighty says: {O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous}.
Piety, as Imam Ali, may God bless him, defined it, is fear of the sublime, contentment with little, acting upon the Revelation, and preparation for the day of leaving this donia.
Oh God, let us reach Ramadan, and grant us success in doing good deeds that please you with us.
Prof. Dr. Khaleal
