The Blessed Month of Ramadan: The Best Means of Attaining Piety

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu

 

🌟 Ramadan Al Mubarak 🌟

The month of Ramadan Al Mubarak is a great blessing from Allah Almighty. In this month, a flood of blessings and lights comes from Allah, and His mercies rain down like a torrential downpour. However, we are not aware of the value and importance of this blessed month because all our thoughts and efforts are for materialism and worldly affairs. Those who value this blessed month are those whose thoughts are for the Hereafter and whose focus is on the afterlife. You must have heard this Hadith Sharif, narrated by Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the month of Rajab came, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to pray: "Allahumma Barik Lana Fi Rajaba Wa Sha'bana Wa Ballighna Ramadan" (Shu'ab al-Iman 3/375, Takhsis Shahr Rajab bil-Zikr). Translation: O Allah, bless us in the months of Rajab and Sha'ban and let us reach the month of Ramadan, i.e., prolong our lives so that we may be blessed with the month of Ramadan.

Consider that two months before the arrival of Ramadan Al Mubarak, there is anticipation and longing for Ramadan, and prayers are being made to attain it. Only a person who has the true value of Ramadan in his heart can do this.

Meaning of Ramadan

"Ramadan" is an Arabic word, which means "scorching". This month was named so because when it first came in Islam, it came in the severe and scorching heat. However, some scholars say that in this month, Allah Almighty, with His special mercy, scorches and forgives the sins of the fasting servants, so this month is called "Ramadan". (Sharh Abi Dawood Lil-Aini 5/273)

Ramadan: A Special Month of Mercy

Allah Almighty has bestowed this blessed month so that for eleven months, man remains engrossed in the affairs of the world, which causes negligence in the hearts, and there is a decrease in spirituality and closeness to Allah Almighty. So, in Ramadan Al Mubarak, a person can remove this deficiency by worshiping Allah, and can eliminate the negligence and rust of the hearts, so that a new era of life begins by attaining closeness to Allah Almighty, just as a machine needs to be serviced and cleaned after being used for some time. Similarly, Allah Almighty has appointed this blessed month for the purification and service of man.

The Purpose of Fasting

The special purpose and subject of the discipline of fasting is also that through it, the animality and bestiality of man should be made accustomed to obeying the commands of Allah Almighty and following the demands of faith and spirituality, and to suppress the desires of the self and the demands of the stomach and lusts in comparison to the commands of Allah. And since this is one of the special purposes of prophethood and Sharia, the command of fasting has been in all the previous Sharias as well, although there were some differences in the duration of fasting and some other detailed rules according to the special circumstances and needs of those nations. In the Holy Quran, while commanding this Ummah to fast, it is stated: "Ya Ayyuhallazina Amanu Kutiba Alaikumus Siyamu Kama Kutiba Alallazina Min Qablikum La'allakum Tattaqun." (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 183) Translation: O you who believe! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain Taqwa (piety).

Because it is certain that the human soul involves man in sin, disobedience, and animalistic desires only when it is full and satisfied. In contrast, if it is hungry, it remains weak and does not think of disobedience. The purpose of fasting is to keep the soul hungry and prevent it from bringing material and sensual desires into action so that the motive and passion to commit sin become weak, and this is "Taqwa".

It can also be said that the pure creatures of the upper world (angels) neither eat nor drink nor have wives, while fasting (from dawn to sunset) is the name of abstaining from these three things (eating, drinking, and intercourse). So, Allah Almighty, by commanding His servants to fast, has stated that O My servants! If you avoid these three things and adopt the resemblance of Our pure creatures, then the pure quality of Our pure creatures will also be created within you, and that quality is: "La Ya'sun Allaha Ma Amarahum Wa Yaf'aluna Ma Yu'marun." (Surah At-Tahrim) Translation: They (angels) do not disobey Allah in what He commands them, and they do whatever they are commanded. (Bayan-ul-Quran) And its result is "Taqwa".

Almost the same thing has been stated in this Hadith Sharif which is narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) in Ibn Majah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Likulli Shai'in Zakatun Wa Zakatul Jasadi As-Saum." (Ibn Majah p.125) There is a means of cleanliness for everything, and the means of cleanliness for the body is "fasting".

In any case, the purpose of fasting is Taqwa. For the attainment of this Taqwa, fasting for one month in a year has been made obligatory on this last Ummah, and the time of fasting has been kept from the rising of dawn to the setting of the sun, and this period is perfectly appropriate and very moderate for the purpose of discipline and training according to the conditions of the common people of this era. Then the month for it was fixed in which the Holy Quran was revealed and in which there is a night of countless blessings and mercies (Shab-e-Qadr). Obviously, this blessed month could have been the most suitable and appropriate time for it. Along with this, in this month, a general and collective system of special worship is established at night in addition to the fasts of the day, which is called "Taraweeh", which further increases the luminosity and effect of this blessed month, and many virtues have been mentioned in the Hadith Sharif for both these acts of worship. Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Man Saama Ramadana Imanan Wa Ihtisaban Ghufira Lahu Ma Taqaddama Min Zanbih Wa Man Qaama Ramadana Imanan Wa Ihtisaban Ghufira Lahu Ma Taqaddama Min Zanbih." (Sahih Bukhari 1/270, Sahih Muslim 1/259) Translation: Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan with faith and hoping for reward, his past sins will be forgiven, and whoever stands in the month of Ramadan, i.e., offers voluntary prayers (Taraweeh and Tahajjud etc.) with faith and hoping for reward, his past sins will also be forgiven.

Things that Help in Achieving Taqwa

But the matter does not end only with fasting and offering Taraweeh, but the real purpose of this month is to remove the veils of negligence from the heart, to return to the original purpose of creation, to have the sins committed in the past eleven months forgiven, and to create in the heart a motive and passion not to commit sins in the next eleven months with the awareness of Allah Almighty's greatness and the feeling of accountability in the Hereafter, which is called "Taqwa". In this way, the true spirit of Ramadan Al Mubarak and its blessings and lights will be obtained, otherwise, Ramadan Al Mubarak will come and go, and we will not be able to benefit from it properly, but we will remain as empty as we were before. Therefore, a few things are pointed out on which by acting, we will achieve the purpose of fasting (Taqwa) and the blessings and lights of Ramadan Al Mubarak, Insha Allah Almighty.

(1) Increase in the Amount of Worship

To obtain the blessings of Ramadan Al Mubarak, one has to increase the amount of worship. Try to offer those voluntary prayers in this blessed month which one does not get the opportunity to offer in other days, for example: after Maghrib, offer six (6) Rak'ats of Awwabin separately from the Sunnah or at least with the Sunnah. (While our condition is that Awwabin is sacrificed for Iftar) Come a few minutes before the Isha prayer and offer four Rak'ats or two Rak'ats of Nafl. Since one has to get up to eat Sehri, get up a few minutes earlier and offer at least four Rak'ats of Tahajjud. Similarly, offer the Ishraq prayer, and if sleep dominates at the time of Ishraq, then offer a few Rak'ats of Chasht. After Zuhr, offer two Rak'ats of Nafl with two Sunnahs and four Rak'ats of Nafl before Asr. Because the characteristic of prayer is that it connects man's relationship with Allah Almighty and establishes a relationship with Him, as a result of which man attains closeness to Allah Almighty at all times, as it is in the Hadith Sharif narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him): "Aqrabu Ma Yakunul Abdu Min Rabbihi Wa Huwa Sajidun" (Muslim Sharif Hadith 1111, Bab Ma Yuqal Fi Ruku'i Was Sujud) i.e., the servant is closest to his Lord in the state of prostration, so Allah Almighty has given us a great gift in the form of prayer. May Allah Almighty grant us the ability, Ameen!

(2) Abundance of Recitation of the Holy Quran

The second thing is to take special care in reciting the Holy Quran, because the month of Ramadan Al Mubarak has a special relationship and connection with the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran was revealed in this month. The blessed saying is: "Shahru Ramadan Allazi Unzila Fihil Quran" (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 185) The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) himself used to revise the Holy Quran with Hazrat Jibreel (peace be upon him) in Ramadan Al Mubarak. (Bukhari Sharif 1/3, Hadith 6) In the lives of all the great religious scholars, there is a lot of engagement in the Holy Quran, but as soon as the month of Ramadan Al Mubarak comes, there is an extraordinary increase in the routine of recitation. Hazrat Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) used to complete one Holy Quran in the day, one at night, and one in Taraweeh in this blessed month, thus completing sixty-one (61) Holy Qurans. All our elders of the past (Hazrat Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki, Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotvi, Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, Maulana Shah Abdul Rahim Raipuri, Sheikh Al-Hind Maulana Mahmood Hasan Deobandi, Maulana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri, Hakeem-ul-Ummat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi, Sheikh-ul-Islam Maulana Syed Hussain Ahmad Madani, Maulana Yahya Kandhlawi, Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Kandhlawi, Shah Abdul Qadir Raipuri, Sheikh-ul-Hadith Maulana Zakariya Muhajir Madani, Faqih-ul-Ummat Maulana Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi, Maulana Qari Syed Siddique Ahmad Bandvi, Maulana Shah Abrar-ul-Haq Hardoi, Fidae Millat Maulana Syed Asad Madani etc.) The routine of reciting the Holy Quran in Ramadan Al Mubarak was worth seeing. Therefore, we should also increase the amount of recitation in this blessed month compared to ordinary days. An ordinary person should also read at least three Paras daily, so that at least three Holy Qurans are completed in the whole month.

(3) Taking Care to Read and Listen to the Holy Quran Correctly in Taraweeh

In this blessed month, it is also necessary for every believer to take care that the Holy Quran is recited correctly and clearly in Taraweeh, and to avoid reading quickly and cutting off the letters, because reading the Holy Quran in this way is against the greatness of Allah's word, and the Holy Quran itself curses the reciter. (Ihya-ul-Uloom An Anas 1/274, Fi Zamm Tilawatil Ghafilin) In this way, both the reciter and the listener are sinners. Our condition is that the Hafiz Sahib is reciting the letters very quickly and cutting them off, Surah Al-Fatiha is finished in one breath, Ruku, Sajdah, and Tashahhud are not being performed correctly, the whole prayer is finished in forty-forty-five minutes, now people are sitting in gatherings for hours and gossiping, and neither the Hafiz Sahib nor the listeners have any sense of how much we have taken part in the insult of the Holy Quran and how much misfortune and curse of the Holy Quran we have taken in the blessed hours of Ramadan? For God's sake, avoid this situation and do not close the doors of blessings and mercies on yourselves in this blessed month, and try to achieve the happiness of both worlds by taking care to read and listen to the Holy Quran clearly and correctly.

(4) Abundance of Seeking Forgiveness

The fourth thing to do is to repent of one's sins. In the famous Hadith Sharif narrated by Hazrat Ka'b bin Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him), it is mentioned that once the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said "Ameen" while placing his foot on the first, second, and third steps of the pulpit. When the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) asked about it, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that Jibreel Ameen (peace be upon him) came before me, and when I placed my foot on the first step of the pulpit, he said: "Destruction be upon the person who found the month of Ramadan Al Mubarak and still was not forgiven." I said Ameen, to the end of the Hadith (Mustadrak Hakim 4/170, Kitab Al-Birr Was-Silah, At-Targhib Wat-Tarheeb 2/56)

Obviously, there is no doubt about the destruction of the person for whom Hazrat Jibreel (peace be upon him) curses and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) says Ameen, so in this blessed month, repent and seek forgiveness from your sins with great frequency and humility.

(5) Taking Care of Dua (Supplication)

Taking care of Duas is also necessary to obtain the blessings of Ramadan Al Mubarak. In many narrations, the glad tidings of the acceptance of the fasting person's Dua have been given. Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Thalathatun La Turaddu Da'watuhum As-Saimu Hatta Yuftir, Al-Hadith." (Tirmidhi Sharif 2/200, Hadith 3598, Musnad Ahmad Hadith 9743) Translation: The Dua of three people is not rejected (it is definitely accepted): one is the fasting person at the time of Iftar, the second is the just ruler, and the third is the Dua of the oppressed. Allah Almighty raises it above the clouds and the doors of heaven are opened for it, and it is said that I will definitely help you, even if it is delayed (due to some expediency).

In any case, this is the month of asking, so as much as possible, take care of Dua, make a lot of Duas for yourself, your relatives and friends, your dependents, the country and the nation, and the Muslim world. Allah Almighty will surely accept it, Insha Allah Almighty.

(6) Abundance of Charity

In Ramadan Al Mubarak, one should also try to give as much voluntary charity as possible. In the Hadith Sharif, it is mentioned that the river of generosity of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to be flowing throughout the year, but in the month of Ramadan Al Mubarak, the generosity of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was like the blowing winds (Bukhari Sharif 1/3). Whoever came to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), he would definitely give him something. Therefore, we should also follow this Sunnah in this blessed month and give a lot of charity.

(7) Reducing the Amount of Food

The seventh thing that helps in achieving the purpose of Ramadan Al Mubarak is "reducing the amount of food", because the purpose of fasting is to reduce the strength of lust and animality and to increase the strength of angelhood and luminosity, while this purpose is lost by eating too much. According to Sheikh-ul-Hadith Hazrat Maulana Zakariya Sahib, our condition is that at the time of Iftar, in compensation for what has been missed (that he has been hungry all day) and at the time of Sehri, in anticipation of what is to come (that he has to be hungry all day), we eat so much that we do not get the opportunity to eat that much even without Ramadan, due to which sour belching starts coming. In reality, we only change the times of eating, i.e., at Iftar, after Taraweeh, and then at Sehri, there is no reduction in anything else, but there is an increase in different types, due to which the strength of lust and animality increases instead of decreasing, and it becomes contrary to the purpose. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Ma Mala'a Adamiyyun Wi'aan Sharran Min Batin Bihasbi Ibni Adama Ukulatun Yuqimna Sulbahu Fa'in Kana La Mahala Fathuluthun Lita'amihi Wa Thuluthun Lisharabihi Wa Thuluthun Linafsihi." (Tirmidhi Sharif 2/60) i.e., Allah Almighty does not dislike filling any vessel as much as He dislikes filling the stomach. A few morsels are enough for the son of Adam to keep his back straight. If he has to eat more, then keep one-third of the stomach for food, one-third for drinking, and one-third for breathing. However, do not eat so little that it disrupts the performance of worship and other religious activities.

(8) Abstaining from Sins

It is very important to abstain from sins especially in Ramadan Al Mubarak. Every believer should decide that in this month of blessing, mercy, and forgiveness, the eyes, ears, and tongue will not be misused, and he will completely abstain from lying, backbiting, gossiping, and idle talk. What kind of fasting is it that after fasting, one opens the television and spends time watching obscene and dirty films? One has abstained from eating, drinking, and intercourse, which were lawful, but one is sitting in gatherings and backbiting about someone, gossiping, and telling false jokes. In this way, the blessings of fasting are lost.

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Man Lam Yada' Qaulaz Zuri Wal Amala Bihi Falaisa Lillahi Hajatun Fi An Yada' Ta'amahu Wa Sharabahu." (Sahih Bukhari 1/255) Translation: Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it while fasting, Allah Almighty has no need for him to give up his food and drink. i.e., it is necessary for the acceptance of fasting that in addition to giving up food and drink, one should also protect one's tongue and other organs from sins and evils. If a person fasts and continues to do sinful things and sinful deeds, then Allah Almighty does not care about his fasting. (Ma'arif-ul-Hadith 4/0000)

In another Hadith Sharif, Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Rubba Saimin Laisa Lahu Min Siyamihi Illal Ju'u Wa Rubba Qaimin Laisa Lahu Min Qiyamihi Illas Sahru." (Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1690. Sunan Nasai Hadith 3333) Translation: Many are those who fast and get nothing from their fasting except hunger, and many are those who stay up at night and get nothing from their standing (the hardship) except sleeplessness. The meaning is that if a person does not avoid sins (backbiting and hypocrisy etc.), then fasting, Taraweeh, and Tahajjud etc. are all useless.

Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "As-Saumu Junnatun Ma Lam Yakhriqha." (Nasai Sharif Hadith 2233, Musnad Ahmad Hadith 1690) Translation: Fasting is a shield for a person as long as he does not tear it. i.e., fasting is a means of protection for a person from Satan, Hell, and the punishment of Allah, as long as he does not spoil the fast by committing sins (lying and backbiting etc.).

In a Hadith Sharif narrated by Hazrat Aisha Siddiqa, it is mentioned that if someone tries to abuse or quarrel with a fasting person, then the fasting person should say that I am fasting. i.e., I do not want to be deprived of the blessings of fasting by getting involved in such nonsense. (Sahih Bukhari 1/254, Hadith 1894, Sahih Muslim Hadith 1151)

The purpose of all these Hadith Sharif is that it is very important to abstain from sins and evils for the purpose of fasting (Taqwa) and for obtaining the blessings and mercies of Ramadan Al Mubarak. Without it, one cannot enjoy the happiness of Taqwa.

May Allah Almighty grant us all the ability to act on all these things with His mercy, grant us the ability to appreciate Ramadan Al Mubarak, and grant us the ability to spend the time of this blessed month properly, Ameen Thumma Ameen Ya Rabbal Aalameen!

From the pen of Maulana Sohaib Ahmad ✍🏻✍🏻

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