The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "An Umrah during
Ramadhan is like a Hajj with me." (Related by al-Hakim).
Offering Iftar (meal) to those who fasted. The Prophet sallallahu
alayhe wa sallam said: "Whoever feeds a fasting person has the same
reward as him, except that the reward of the fasting person will not
be diminished." (Related by Ahmad).
Reading and completing the Qur'an: The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa
sallam said: "Fasting and [reading] Qur'an will intercede for the
person: fasting will say: O Lord I forbade him eating and drinking so
let me intercede for him, and the Qur'an will say: I deprived him from
his night sleep so let me intercede for him," he then said: "So they
will intercede." (Related by Ahmad). The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa
sallam used to recite the whole Qur'an to Angel Jibreel each Ramadhan.
Giving in charity: Ibn Abbas radhiallahu anhu said: "The Prophet
sallallahu alayhe wa sallam was the most generous among people, and he
was more generous during the month of Ramadhan." (Related by Muslim).
I`tikaaf: which is to confine oneself in the masjid for prayer and
invocation leaving the worldly activities. Ibn Abbas radhiallahu anhu
said: "The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam used to perforrn
I'tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadhan." (Related by Muslim). It
is surprising that many people have abandoned I'tikaf though the
Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam never abandoned itfrom the time he
arrived to Madinah until he died.
Supplication: In the versesdealing with fasting, Allah said: "And when
My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then answer them, I am
indeed near to them. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant
when he calls on Me." (Al-Baqarah 2: 186). This is an encouragement
for the fasting person to increase his invocation. The Prophet
sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "Three invocations will be answered:
The invocation of the fasting person, the invocation of the oppressed,
and the invocation of the traveler."(Related by Muslim).
Repentance: Ramadhan is the time of repentance and return to Allah,
for it isa time when the devils arechained, and when many people are
saved from hellfire every night by the grace of Allah.
Applying oneself in all good deeds in the last ten days of Ramadhan:
Aysha radhiallabu anha said: "When the last ten days come, he
sallallahu alayhe wa sallam would pray most of the night andwake his
family, and applyhimself, and tighten up hisloincloth.", and she also
said: "The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe wa sallam used to
strive in thelast days of Ramadhan more than he did during the other
days." (Related by Muslim).
Abstaining from vain talk: Sins decrease the reward of fasting
althoughthey do not annul it. The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam
said: "Fasting is not [only] abstaining from eating and drinking, but
abstaining from vain and obscene talk, so if someone insulted you or
wronged you say: I am fasting." (Related by al-Hakim) and he also
said:'Whoever does not abandon lying, then Allah does not need him to
abandon his food and drink." (Related by al-Bukhari).
Common errors made during Ramadhan
Excessive spending: Ramadhan should be a time to avoid being wasteful,
and learning to be prepared in facing harder times by distinguishing
the needs from the luxuries. Unfortunately, many people go beyond
their limits to spend during Ramadhan. Whether in thevarieties of food
that they savor each night, or by theother types of spending.
Staying awake during the night and sleeping during the day: Some
people sleep during most of the day when they are fasting. Ramadhan is
not a time of being lazy, and thisdo not allow the full benefit from
the experience of fasting. It is as if they have only inverted their
nights into days and vice versa. In addition, some may spend a great
portion of the night indulging in eating and drinking and socializing
Spending more time in socializing: Because people invite each other
more often during Ramadhan they do tend tospend more time socializing
with friends, and relatives. While it is a good deed to feed the
fasting person, this should not result in precious time lost in vain
talk. Use the occasion for remembering Allah and offering additional
prayers, and for the Da'wah to Allah.
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