Important Lessons from Ramadhan

Allah -The Most High - said: "The month of Ramadhan in which the
Qur'aan was revealed, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the
guidance of the Criterionbetween right and wrong. So whosoever of you
sights the crescent for the month of Ramadhan, he must fast that
month." [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:185].
Allah's Messenger ( sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam ) said:
"Islaam is built upon five: Testifying that none has the right to be
worshippedexcept Allah and the Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,
establishing the Prayer, giving the Zakaah performing Hajj to the
House, and lasting in Ramadhan ." [1]
He ( sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam ) also said:
"There has come to you Ramadhan , a blessed month, in which Allah has
made it obligatory to fast. During it the gates of Paradise are opened
and the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the rebellious devils are
chained. In it is anight ( Laylatul-Qadr ) which is better than a
thousand months. He who is deprived of its good has truly been
deprived."[2]
From the many important lessons to be learnt from fasting are:
[1]: GAINING TAQWAA
Fasting has been legislatedin order that we may gain taqwaa as Allah -
the Most High - said: "O you who believe! fasting is prescribed for
you, as it was prescribed upon those before you in order that you may
attain taqwaa." [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:183].
Talq ibn Habeeb (d.100H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"When fitnah (trial and tribulation) appears then extinguish it with
taqwaa ." So he was asked as to what taqwaa was, so he replied: "
Taqwaa is to act in obedience to Allah, upon a light (i.e. eemaan ,
faith) from Allah, hoping inthe Mercy of Allah. And taqwaa is leaving
acts of disobedience to Allah, upon a light from Allah, due to the
fear of Allah."[3]
"This is one of the best definitions of taqwaa . For every action must
have both a stating point and a goal. And an action will not be
considered as an act of obedience, or newness to Allah unless it sluts
from pure eemaan (faith in Allah). Thus, it is pure eemaan - and not
habits, desires, nor seekingpraise or fame, nor its flee - that should
be what initiates an action. And thepreparation showed, to earn the
reward of Allah and to seek His good pleasure."[4] So Fasting is a
means of attaining taqwaa , since it helps prevent a person from many
sins that one is prone to. Due to this, the Prophet ( sallAllahu
'alayhi wa sallam ) said: "Fasting is a shield with which the servant
protects himself from the Fire."[5] So we should ask ourselves, after
each day of fasting: Has this lasting made us more fearful and
obedient to Allah? Has it aided us in distancing ourselves from sins
and disobedience?
[2]: SEEKING NEARNESS TOAllah
The Prophet ( sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam ) said:
"Allah said: Whosoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I shall be at
war with him. My servant does not draw near to me with anything more
beloved to me than the obligatory duties that I have placed upon him.
My servant continues to draw nearer to Me with optional deeds so that
I shall love him."[6]
The Prophet ( sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam ) said:
"Whosoever reaches the month of Ramadhan and does not have his sins
forgiven, and so enters theFire, then may Allah distance him."[7]
So drawing closer to Allah - the Most Perfect - in this blessed month,
can be achieved by fulfilling one's obligatory duties; and
alsoreciting the Qur'aan and reflecting upon its meanings, increasing
in kindness and in giving charity, in making du'aa (supplication) to
Allah, attending the Taraaweeh Prayer, seeking out Laylatul-Qadr (the
Night of Power and Pre-Decree), a night which is better than a
thousand months, attending gatherings of knowledge, and striving
inthose actions that will cause the heart to draw closer to its lard
and to gain His forgiveness. Our level of striving in this blessed
month should be greater than our striving to worship Allah in any
other month, due to the excellence and rewards that Allah has placed
in it. Likewise from the great means of seeking nearnessto Allah in
this month is making I'tikaaf (seclusion in the mosque in order to
worship Allah) - for whoever is able.

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Explaining Ramadhan to People Belonging to Other Faiths

Who Must Fast?
Fasting is compulsory for those who are mentally and physically fit,
past the age of puberty, in a settledsituation (not traveling), and
are sure fasting is unlikely to cause real physical or mental injury.
Exemptions from Fasting(some exemptions are optional)
*. Children under the age ofpuberty (Young children are encouraged to
fast asmuch as they are able.)
*. People who are mentallyincapacitated or not responsible for their actions
*. The elderly
*. The sick
*. Travelers who are on journeys of more than about fifty miles
*. Pregnant women and nursing mothers
*. Women who are menstruating
*. Those who are temporarily unable to fast must make up the missed
days at another time or feed the poor.
Special Events
*. Special prayers, called taraweeh, are performedafter the daily
nighttime prayer.
*. Lailat ul-Qadr ("Night of Power" or "Night of Destiny") marks the
anniversary of the night on which the Prophet Muhammad first began
receiving revelations from God, through the angel Gabriel. Muslims
believe Lailat ul-Qadr is one of the last odd-numbered nights of
Ramadhan.
Traditional Practices
*. Breaking the daily fast with a drink of water and dates
*. Reading the entire Quranduring Ramadhan
*. Social visits are encouraged.
Eid ul-Fitr ("Festival of Fast-Breaking") Prayers at the End of Ramadhan
*. Eid begins with special morning prayers on the first day of
Shawwal, the month following Ramadhan on the Islamiclunar calendar.
*. It is forbidden to performan optional fast during Eid because it is
a time for relaxation.
*. During Eid Muslims greet each other with the phrase "taqabbalallah
ta'atakum," or "may God accept your deeds" and"Eid Mubarak"
(eed-moo-bar-ak), meaning"blessed Eid."
Ramadhan Questionsand Answers
Q: How did the fast during Ramadhan become obligatory for Muslims?
The revelations from God to the Prophet Muhammadthat would eventually
be compiled as the Quran began during Ramadhan in the year 610, but
the fast of Ramadhan did not become a religious obligation for Muslims
until the year 624. The obligation to fast is explained in the second
chapter of the Quran: "O yewho believe! Fasting is prescribed to you
as it wasprescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn)
self-restraint...Ramadhan isthe (month) in which was sent down the
Quran, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and
judgment (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present
(at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting..."
(Chapter 2, verses183 and 185)
Q: What do Muslims believe they gain from fasting?
One of the main benefits of Ramadhan are an increased compassion for
those in need of the necessities of life, a sense of self-purification
and reflection and a renewed focus on spirituality. Muslims also
appreciate the feeling of togethernessshared by family and friends
throughout the month. Perhaps the greatest practical benefit isthe
yearly lesson in self-restraint and disciplinethat can carry forward
to other aspects of a Muslim'slife such as work and education.
Q: Why does Ramadhan begin on a different day each year?
Because Ramadhan is a lunar month, it begins about eleven days earlier
each year. Throughout a Muslim's lifetime, Ramadhan will fall both
during winter months, when the days are short, and summer months, when
the days are long and the fast is more difficult. In this way, the
difficulty of the fast is evenly distributed between Muslims living in
the northern and southernhemispheres.
Q: What is Lailat ul-Qadr?
Lailat ul-Qadr ("Night of Power") marks the anniversary of the night
on which the Prophet Muhammad first began receiving revelations from
God, through the angel Gabriel. An entire chapter in the Quran deals
with this night: "We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night
of Power: and what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is?
The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down
the angels and the Spirit by God's permission, on everyerrand.
Peace!...This until the rise of morn." (Chapter 97) Muslims believe
Lailat ul-Qadr is one of the last odd-numbered nights of Ramadhan.
Q: Is it difficult to perform the fast in America?
In many ways, fasting in American society is easier than fasting in
areas where the climate is extremely hot. This year atleast, the
number of daylight hours will be less than when Ramadhan occurs during
the spring orsummer. In Muslim countries, most people are observing
the fast, so there are fewer temptations such as luncheon meetings,
daytime celebrations and offers of food from friends.....

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Will a person (a believer) be rewarded if he listens to the Qur’aan

Will a person (a believer) be rewarded if he listens to the Qur'aan
without understanding what he is listening to,
but he knows that it is Qur'aan? Or will he not be rewarded unless he
understands what he is hearing? I
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Allah, may He be exalted, has commanded the believers to listen to the
Qur'aan attentively, in a general command. He says(interpretation of
the meaning): "So, when the Qur'aan is recited, listen to it, and be
silent that you may receive mercy" [al-A'raaf 7:204].
Shaykh al-Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
This command is general and includes everyone who hears the Book of
Allah being recited. He is enjoined to listen to it and keep quiet.
The difference between listening and keeping quiet is that keeping
quiet is done outwardly by not speakingor being distracted with
anything that would keep one from focusing on listening to it.
As for listening to it, this means that one hears it with an attentive
heart, pondering the meaning of what one is listening to. The one who
adheres to these two commands when the Book of Allah is recited will
attain a great deal of good, beneficial knowledge, ongoing and renewed
faith, increased guidance and insight into his religion. Hence Allah
connected the attainment of mercy to them, which indicates that the
one whodoes not keep quiet and listen attentively when theBook is
recited to him will be deprived of the share ofmercy and has missed
out on a great deal of good.
The most emphatic command with regard to listening to the Qur'aan
attentively has to do with prayers in which Qur'aan isrecited out loud
by the imam, in which one is enjoined to listen attentively, to such
an extent that most of the scholars say that his focusing on keeping
quiet and listening attentively takes priority over his reciting
al-Faatihah etc.
End quote from Tafseer al-Sa'di, 314
The greater aim of keepingquiet and listening attentively is so that
the listener may ponder and understand the meanings, and act upon
them. Imam al-Tabari (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Allah says to those who believe in Him and in His Book, for whom the
Qur'aan is guidance and mercy: "So, when the Qur'aan is recited", to
you, O believers; "listen to it", i.e. lend your ears so that you
might understand its verses and learn from its exhortation; "and be
silent" and listen to it attentively, so that you might understand and
ponder, and do not utter idle talk during it lest you do not
understand; "that you may receive mercy" i.e., that you might receive
the mercy of your Lord by heeding His exhortation and adhering to His
limits and to what He enjoins upon you in the verses.
End quote from Tafseer al-Tabari, 13/244
If a person manages to achieve that, i.e., keeping quiet, listening
attentively,pondering what is recited to him and understanding its
meanings, that will bring him goodness in thisworld and the Hereafter.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
By means of this listening, Allah guides His slaves andsets straight
their affairs inthis world and the Hereafter; with this the Messenger
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was sent, and he enjoined
it upon the Muhaajireen and Ansaar and those who followed them in
truth. The early generations used to gatherfor this purpose. When
theCompanions of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah
be upon him) gathered together, they would tell one of their number to
recite whilst they listened. 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be
pleased with him) would say to Abu Moosa: Remind us of our Lord, and
Abu Moosa would recite Qur'aan whilst they listened.
End quote from Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 11/626
Secondly:
As listening in the complete sense is that in which one understands
and ponders, there is no doubt that the one who does that as much is
he is able is to be commended for what he does, and he isexcused for
what he is incapable of. But what oneis incapable of should not be an
excuse for not doingwhat one is able to do of goodness. What is
possibleis not to be omitted because of what is difficult; in other
words, whatever a person is able to do of obligatory or mustahabb
actions is not waived because of what he is incapable of doing,
because Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): "So keep your duty
to Allaah and fear Him as much as you can"
[al-Taghaabun 64:16].

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Funny story of threefriends who came tothe New York City

Not long ago, three friends came to the New York city. They decided to
stay in a hotel during the visit. It so happened that their room ended
up being on the 60th floor. The policy of the hotel was that every
night after12:00 a.m. the elevators are shut down for securityreasons.
So on the next day, the three friends rented a car and went outto
explore the city. They enjoyed movies, concerts, and other things
throughout the whole day. At one point, they remembered that they have
to get back to the hotel before 12 a.m. When they arrived, it was
beyond 12 a.m. at night. The elevators were shut down. There was no
otherway to get back to their room but to take the stairs all the way
to the 60th floor. All of a sudden,one friend got an idea. He said
"For the first 20 floors, I will tell jokes to keep us going. Then
another one of us could say wisdom stories for thenext 20 floors.
Then, we will cover the other 20 floors with sad stories." So, one of
the friends started with the jokes. With laughs and joy, they reached
the 20th floor. Now, another friend started saying stories thatare
full of wisdom. So, they learned a lot while reaching the 40th floor.
Now, it was time for the sad stories. So, the third friend started
thus, "My first sad story is that I left the key for the room in the
car."
Now, what is the point of this story? This story resembles our life
cycle. For the first 20 years of our life, we spend time in joking and
enjoying whatever is out there. Then, after we reach 20, we go into
the work force, get married, have kids and this is the time when we
use our wisdom.Then, if we reach 40, we finally see the white hairs
and begin to think that my life is coming to an end.
It's better that we start our life in the very beginning by
remembering death rather than preparing for it at the end our life
whenvery few of us have the energy to obey Allah completely.

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