Ramzan

The Lord of Ramadān is the Lord of all the months

 

Bidding farewell to Ramadān does not mean worship of Allāh, and obedience to Him stops and ceases. The only time worship of Allāh تعالى ceases is when we depart from this world. The Lord of Ramadān is the Lord of all the months. From the signs that a good deed has been accepted is that it is followed up by another good deed. Don’t spoil your efforts of Ramadān by following it with disobedience and neglect.

 

Allāh سبحانه وتعالى says,

سَلَـٰمٌ هِىَ حَتَّىٰ مَطۡلَعِ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ

“(It is a night of) peace until the break of dawn.”

(Qur’ān 97:5)

‘Ataa رحمه الله said,

“Peace upon the friends and allies of Allāh and upon the people who are upon His obedience.”

Ash-Sh’abee رحمه الله said,

“It is the salutations of the angels on Laylatul-Qadr upon the people of the masājid (mosques), from sunset until the break of dawn.”

[Tafseer al-Baghawee, vol.4, pg.659, Dār Taybah print, 2nd edition]

Allāh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said,

“Indeed, during that night (Laylatul-Qadr), the angels on earth are more than the number of pebbles.”

[Reported by Musnad At-Tayālasī , Ahmad, Ibn Khuzaymah, Silsilah al-Ahadeeth as-Saheehah no.2205]

 

Al-‘Allāmah Muhammad ibn Sālih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله mentioned,

The statement of Allāh,

فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ 

“In the night of Al-Qadr”,

 

al-Qadr means honour and nobility, because this night has great honour and nobility. Al-Qadr also means decree, because in this night Allāh decrees what will happen during the year, such as births, deaths, apportioning of provisions, and other than that, as Allāh, the Most High said,

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ 

“Verily We sent it down (this Qur’ān) during a blessed night (the night of al-Qadr). Verily, We are ever warning. On that night is decreed every matter of ordainments.” 

(Qur’ān 44:3-4)

[Tafseer Juz ‘Amma pg.274]

 

Al-‘Allāmah Muhammad ibn Sālih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله mentioned,

In this noble Sūrah (Sūrah Al-Qadr) there are many virtues for the Night of Decree:

1) That Allāh revealed the Qur’ān in this night, as a guidance for mankind, and for their happiness in this life and in the Hereafter.

2) That Allāh’s statement “And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is?” indicates how great and glorious this night is.

3) That it is better than a thousand months.

4) That angels descend during this night, and they only descend with good, mercy and blessings.

5) That it is peaceful, because during this night, the servant of Allāh is safe and secure from torment and punishment due to his obedience to Allāh, the Mighty and Majestic.

6) That Allāh revealed in relation to its virtue and excellence a whole Sūrah that will be recited until the Day of Resurrection.

And from the virtues of Laylatul Qadr is that which was reported by Bukharī and Muslim from the hadeeth of Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said,

“Whoever performs the night Prayer on Laylatul Qadr out of faith (believeing in its virtue) and hoping for the reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.”

[Tafseer Juz ‘Amma, pg.274]

Imām S’aeed ibn al-Musayyib (d.94AH) رحمه الله mentioned,

“Whoever prays Maghrib and ‘Ishā in congregation has indeed taken his share of Laylatul-Qadr.”

[Tafseer al-Baghawī, Sūrah al-Qadr, vol.4, pg.658, Dār Taybah print, 2nd edition]

Al-‘Allāmah Muhammad ibn Sālih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله mentioned,

 “Allāh, the Mighty and Majestic, has kept knowledge of Laylatul-Qadr’s occurence​ hidden for two great reasons:

To distinguish the truthful one in seeking it from the lazy one, because the truthful one in his seeking of it does not mind striving for ten nights in order to attain it, whereas the lazy one is lazy to stand in (Prayer) for ten nights for the sake of attaining one single night.

So that the Muslims can attain more reward by doing more good deeds, the more good deeds they do,the more the reward.”

[Tafseer Juz ‘Amma pg.273]

Abū Umāmah رضي الله عنه narrates, 

I said,

“O Messenger of Allāh, guide me to a deed by way of which I may enter Paradise?” 

He صلى الله عليه وسلم said,

“Take to Fasting, for verily there is nothing like it.” 

[Saheeh Ibn Hibbān, Saheeh at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb no.986]

As-Sindee رحمه الله in his explanation of the hadeeth mentioned,

“Meaning, there is nothing like Fasting in the (way) it breaks down the whims and desires, and repels the soul which commands with evil and the Shaytān.

[Notes to the explanation of Sunan an-Nasāee, vol.3, pg.474, Dār al-M’arifah print, Beirut]

 

Al-‘Allāmah ‘Abdur Rahmān as-S’adī (d.1376AH) رحمه الله mentioned,

“From the characterstics of taqwa (piety and righteousness) is that when the rich person experiences the pain of hunger it will cause him to have empathy and compassion for the poor and destitute. This is from the characterstics of taqwa.”

[Tayseer al-Kareem ar-Rahmān fee tafseer kalaam al-Mannān, pg.165, Dār al-Maiman print, 2nd edition]

 

 

Allāh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said,

“Whoever fasts Ramadān with faith (believing in its obligation) and hoping for reward (from Allāh), then his previous sins will be forgiven.”

[Saheeh al-Bukhārī no.37]

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Sālih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله in his explanation of the above hadeeth mentioned, 

“That a person doesn’t establish (the Fasting) because it is a habitual or customary practice, or due to his people establishing it (so he does it following them), rather he establishes it out of sincerity of faith in Allāh, The Mighty and Majestic and having (certain) faith in what He has promised of reward (for the Fasting).”

[Fath zī Al-Jalālee wal-Ikrām bi sharh Buloog al-Maram, vol.7, pg.479]

Question:

What is the ruling on someone who during his fasting he makes it apparent to others that fasting is heavy on him, such as by saying I am hungry, or I feel hungry and thirsty; does this nullify the reward of fasting? Because this is often heard from some of the fasting persons.

Answered by Shaykh Ahmad an-Najmee رحمه الله 

I have previously said that Fasting is not nullified except by breaking it (with one of the nullifiers of the Fast) and what is apparent is that the reward decreases if he means by that to complain about Fasting and (show) discontent with it, and with Allāh lies all success.

[Fath ar-Rabb al-Wudood fee fatawā wa-rasaail wa-radood 1/326, taken from the website: 

https://www.sahab.net/forums/index.php?app=forums&module=forums&controller=topic&id=122505

Question:

I have heard that when the fasting person breaks his fast that it is an obligation to break it with an odd number of dates, i.e. 5 or 7 or dates and like this, so is this an obligation?

Shaykh Muhammad bin Sālih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله answered:

“It is not an obligation nor is it a Sunnah that a person breaks his fast with three dates, or five or seven or nine except on the Day of ‘Eīd al-Fitr, for it is established that the Prophet ﷺ would not go out for the Prayer on the day of ‘Eīd al-Fitr until he ate dates and he would eat an odd number.(1) And other than that the Prophet ﷺ would not intentionally eat an odd number of dates.

(1) Al-Bukhārī no.953

[Fatawā Noor ‘alā ad-Darb vol.7, pg.284, question no.3890]

Question:

A man whilst fasting speaks much in his gathering with speech in which there is no benefit, is his fast still correct or not?

Shaykh Muhammad bin Sālih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله answered:

“His fasting is correct, however it is befitting for the fasting person that he fills his Fasting with acts of obedience from Prayer, recitation of the Qur’ān remembrance of Allāh and other than that. As for useless and futile speech then indeed it will be a loss for the person (will have wasted the opportunity to acquire good) be it if he is fasting or not fasting, due to the saying of the Prophet ﷺ,

‘Whoever believes in Allāh and the Last Day then let him say that which is good or remain silent.” (1)

Idle speech is at times accompanied with prohibited speech from backbiting, or mocking a person, or that which is similar to that. So it is a must for the intelligent person that he safeguards his tongue from everything in which there is no benefit, whether he is fasting or not fasting.”

(1) Al-Bukhārī no.6475

[Fatawā Noor ‘alā ad-Darb, vol.7, pg.182, question no.3771]

A man came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and said,

“O Messenger of Allāh, do you see that if I testify that none has the right to be worshipped in truth except Allāh alone, and (I testify) that you are indeed the Messenger of Allāh. And I pray the five (obligatory) Prayers, give the Zakāt, fast (the month of) Ramadān and stand (in Prayer) during it, then who will I be amongst?”

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said,

“From among the truthful and martyrs.”

[Al-Bazzār, Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah, Saheeh Ibn Hibbān, Saheeh at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb no.1003]

Allāh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said,

“It may be that the one who fasts attains nothing from his fasting except hunger and thirst. And it may be that the one who stands during the night Prayer receives nothing from his standing except a sleepless night (tiredness).” 

[Ibn Mājah, An-Nasāee, and others, Saheeh At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb no.1083] 

At-Teebee رحمه الله mentioned,

“If the fasting person does not fast out of hoping for the reward of Allāh, or does not keep away from evil deeds from indecent speech, lying, backbiting or that which is similar to it from the prohibited affairs, then he does not attain (from his fasting) except hunger and thirst.”

((Receives nothing from his standing except tiredness))

Shaykh Muhammad ‘Alī Jānabāz رحمه الله mentioned regarding the above,

“Meaning, he has no reward due to the absence of sincerity, or due to no attentiveness and presence of mind (during his standing in the night Prayer).”

[Summarised from Injāz al-Hājah sharh Sunan ibn Mājah, vol.4, pg.491, Dār an-Noor print, Islamabad]

 

“Whoever fasts Ramadān with faith (believing in its obligation) and hoping for reward (from Allāh), then his previous sins will be forgiven.”

[Saheeh al-Bukhārī no.37]

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Sālih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله in his explanation of the above hadeeth mentioned, 

“That a person doesn’t establish (the Fasting) because it is a habitual or customary practice, or due to his people establishing it (so he does it following them), rather he establishes it out of sincerity of faith in Allāh, The Mighty and Majestic and having (certain) faith in what He has promised of reward (for the Fasting).”

[Fath zī Al-Jalālee wal-Ikrām bi sharh Buloog al-Maram, vol.7, pg.479]

 

Al-‘Allāmah Muhammad ibn Sālih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله mentioned,

“The blessing (of Suhoor (pre-dawn meal)) is a clear physical blessing, for indeed when a person is not fasting he eats twice or three times a day and drinks many times, but when he takes his Suhoor and observes the Fast he does not eat or drink throughout the entire day. This is why one is amazed and says, “how is it possible that yesterday I drank six or seven times in a single day, and now I am patient upon (not drinking) water!” And the same can be said with respect to eating and this is from the blessing (of Suhoor).”

[Fath zī al-Jalālee wal-Ikrām bi sharh Buloog al-Maram, vol.7, pg.123]

“Three supplications are not rejected:

*the supplication of a father (for his child)

*the supplication of a fasting person

*the supplication of a traveller.”

[Al-Bayhaqee, Silsilah al-Ahadeeth as-Saheehah no.1797]

* the Qur’ān was revealed in it (1)

* previous scriptures were revealed in it (2)

* performing ‘Umrah in it is equivalent to Hajj [in reward] (3)

* in it there is Laylatul Qadr [The Night of Power and Decree] (4)

* in it the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell-Fire are closed and the devils are chained (5)

(1) Qur’ān 2:185

(2) Silsilah al-Ahadeeth as-Saheehah no.1575

(3) Saheeh al-Bukhārī no.1782

(4) Qur’ān 97:1

(5) Saheeh al-Bukhārī no.3277

Fasting the month of Ramadān was made obligatory in Madeenah in the month of Sh’abān in the second year after Hijrah (the Prophet’s ﷺ migration to Madeenah). The Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) fasted nine Ramadāns in total.

[See Al-Majmoo’ of Hāfiz an-Nawawee, vol.6, pg.163]

Allāh سبحانه وتعالى says,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed as an obligation upon you as it was prescribed as an obligation upon those who came before you, in order that you may become righteous (pious).”

[Sūrah al-Baqarah, verse no.183]

Imām ‘Abdur Rahmān bin Nāsir As-S’adee (رحمه الله) mentioned,

“O seeker of goodness, now is its time! O you who is waiting for noble gifts and the paths of mercy, the gifts are close. O you who is eager to repent, this is the time. O you who is eager to perform acts of obedience and wish to turn back to Allāh, now is the time. So increase in the remembrance of Allāh, in recitation of the Qur’ān, in repentance and seeking forgiveness, and fill its (i.e. Ramadān) time with obedience to the King, the Oft-Forgiving. 

For the blissful individual is one who recognises the nobility and excellence of Ramadān and takes advantage of it, and the wretched and deprived is one who neglects and wastes it.”

[Majmoo’ Mualafāt Ash-Shaykh al-‘Allāmah ‘Abdur Rahmān bin Nāsir As-S’adee, vol.23, pg.63, Dār Al-Maiman print, 2nd edition]

Question:

How do the limbs fast in Ramadān?

Answered by Shaykh Muhammad bin Sālih al-‘Uthaymeen (رحمه الله)

The limbs fast by refraining from sins, so the tongue does not speak with that which is forbidden, the hand does not touch that which is forbidden, the feet do not walk towards that which is forbidden, the ears do not listen to the prohibited matters and the eyes do not look at anything which is forbidden for it to look at. This is due to the saying of the Prophet (ﷺ),

“Whoever does not leave off evil speech and evil actions, then Allāh is not in need of him leaving off his food and drink.” [Bukhārī no.1903]

And from the fasting of the limbs is that one establishes that which Allāh has obligated from the obligations which are due to Allāh and those rights which are due to the servants of Allāh.[Fatawā Suaal ‘ala al-Haatif, vol.1, pg.746

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Sālih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله mentioned,

“And what is upon us, is to be pleased and happy with the arrival of Ramadān and rejoice with its coming. And prepare for it with diligence and strive with righteous deeds. And that we profit from this opportunity with that which will draw us closer to Allāh, the Blessed and Most High. Verily, a person does not know if he will reach the following Ramadān and what comes after it. The seasons of goodness are like commercial seasons, just as merchants prepare for the buying and selling seasons by importing many different types of goods (to be sold for a profit), likewise it is befitting for us to prepare with a complete preparation for the arrival of Ramadān with righteous deeds and keeping away from the forbidden matters.”[Fatāwā Suaal ‘ala al-Hātif, vol.1, pg.729]

 

Imām S’aeed ibn al-Musayyib (d.94AH) رحمه الله mentioned,

“Whoever prays Maghrib and ‘Ishā in congregation has indeed taken his share from Laylatul-Qadr.”

[Tafseer al-Baghawee, Surah al-Qadr, vol.4, pg.658, Dār Taybah print, 2nd edition]

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