Ramadhan: the Month of Qur'an

The first part of this is based on an extract from Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali's Lata'if al-Ma'arif (pp. 179-182), quoted by Fahd bin Sulaiman in Kayf Nastafeed min Ramadan (pp. 48-50).
Ramadan has a special relationship with the Qur'an, of course:
"The month of Ramadan isthe one in which the Qur'an was sent down, a guidance for mankind, clear proofs for the guidance, the Criterion; so whoever amongst you witnesses this month, let him fast it." (cf. Surah al-Baqarah 2:185)
The word 'so' (fa) in this ayah leads to the following paraphrase of one aspect of its meaning:
"Fast this month because itis the one in which the Qur'an was sent down."
Ibn 'Abbas narrates that"the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was the most generous person, and he would be at his most generous in Ramadan because Jibril would come to him every night and he would rehearse the Qur'an with him." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Eng. trans. 6/486)
This hadith contains recommendation of the following:
*. Studying the Qur'an in Ramadan;
*. Coming together for this purpose;
*. Checking (one's memory/knowledge of) the Qur'an with someonewho has preserved it better;
*. Increasing recitation of the Qur'an in Ramadan;
*. That the night time is thebest time to recite, whenother preoccupations decrease and it is easier to concentrate, as in Surah al-Muzzammil 73:6.
Further, Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated from her father (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), who toldher that Jibril would rehearse the Qur'an with him (in Ramadan) once every year, and he did so twice in the year of his death. (Bukhari 6/485)
After mentioning the above aspects of the Sunnah, Ibn Rajab talks about the situation of the Salaf (the early Muslims) during Ramadan:
"... Some of the Salaf would complete reciting the whole Qur'an during the night prayer ofRamadan every 3 days, others every 7 days e.g. Qataadah, others in 10 days e.g. Abu Rajaa' al-Atardi. The Salaf would recite Qur'an in Ramadan in Prayer as well as outside it. Al-Aswad would finish the Qur'an every 2 nights in Ramadan; Ibrahim an-Nakh would do likewise in thelast 10 nights specifically, & every 3 nights during the rest of the month. Qataadah would regularlyfinish the Qur'an in 7 days, but in 3 days during Ramadan, when hewould study the Qur'an especially, and every night duringits last 10 days. Al-Zuhri would say when Ramadan began, 'It is recitation of the Qur'an and feeding of people.'
When Ramadan began, Imam Malik would cease narrating Hadith and sitting with the people of knowledge, and stick toreciting the Qur'an from its pages, while Sufyan al-Thawri would leave other acts of worship and stick to reciting the Qur'an. 'Aishah would recite fromthe pages of the Qur'an at the beginning of the day in Ramadan(i.e. after Dawn), until when the sun had risen, she would sleep. Zayd al-Yaami would bring copiesof the Qur'an when Ramadan began and gather his companions around him. ..."
Ibn Rajab later continues,
"The forbiddance of completing recitation of the Qur'an in less than 3 days applies to this being made a regular practice, but as for favoured times such as Ramadan, esp. the nights in which Laylat al-Qadr is sought, or favoured places such as Makkah for the visitor, it is recommended to increase reciting the Qur'an to avail the time and place. This is the view of Ahmad, Ishaq and other Imams, and the practice of others indicates this too."
The purpose here is not to discuss whether or not thelatter view is correct or not, since that is purely academic for most of us, aswe do not get anywhere near reciting the whole Qur'an in three days! However, the practice of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), his Companions, and those who followed their path, should be clear enough. As a further example, Bukhari (3/79) quotes from the noble Companion Zaid bin Thabitwho answered the question, "How much timewas there between the pre-dawn meal and the Dawn Prayer?" by saying,"Enough time to recite fiftyayat." Since the practice of the Arabs was to measure time in terms of everyday actions, this shows that the Sahabah were preoccupied with the Qur'an, especially in Ramadan./ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en

14 Gifts to Those Who Fast

At this stage I cannot find a better gift or greater masterpiece than to present to those who fast gifts from the Prophet of guidance sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam. They are those practical hadiths that have been mentioned in connection with rewards and blessings. Behold! They are the hadiths that lead to the doors of happiness and the paths ofgoodness in this world andthe Hereafter.
O you who fast! Record these hadiths and implement them:
1. The Prophet sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam said: "Whoever says at daybreak: 'There is no God save Allah alone, He has nopartner, to Him belongs the dominion and the praise and He has power over all things;'... ten good deeds will be written for him, ten misdeeds will be erased, and he will be elevated ten levels. He willbe protected from Satan until evening, and if he says it in the evening, he would have the same rewards until morning." (Ahmad, Abu Daud, Ibn Majah - sahih).
2. The Prophet sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam also said: "Whoever says in the morning or in the evening:'O Allah! You are my Lord. There is no God beside You. You created me and I am Your slave and I have taken a covenant to You and promised You what I am able to do. I seek refuge with You from the evil of what I have done, I acknowledge Your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin. Forgive me because none forgives sins except You.' Ifa servant died during the day or night after having said this prayer, he will enter Paradise." (Ahmad, Abu Daud, Al Nisa'e, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban, Al Hakim - sahih; Al Bukhari transmits another version of this hadith).
3. Again the Prophet sallallahu `alaihi wa sallamsaid: "Whoever says at morning or evening: 'Gloryand praise be Allah the Great' one hundred times, no one will come forward on the Day of Judgement with better than he; except if someone said thesame as him and added to it." (Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Daud, Al Tirmidhi).
4. "Whoever said: 'Glory and praise be to Allah the Great', a date tree will be planted for him in the Paradise." (Al Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban, Al Hakim - sahih).
5. "Whoever says: "Glory and praise be to Allah" onehundred times in a single day his sins would be erased even if they were like the waves of the sea." (Bukhari and Muslim).
6. "Whoever implements ten verses of the Quran will not be included among the negligent. Whoever implements one hundred verses will be considered among the obedient. And, whoever implements one thousand verses will be among he extremely rich." (Abu Daud,Ibn Hibban - sahih).
7. "Whoever says in the evening: 'In the name of Allah with whose name there can be no harm in the earth or in the heavensand He is the Hearer the Knower,' three times, he will not be afflicted with a sudden calamity before morning. And whoever says it in the morning three times will not be afflicted with a sudden calamity before evening." (Abu Daud, Ibn Hibban, Al Hakim - sahih).
8. "Whoever says: 'I seek refuge with the perfect words of Allah from the evil that He created' three times in the evening will not be harmed by the bite of a serpent during that night." (Al Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban, Al Hakim - sahih).
9. "Whoever says upon leaving his house: 'In the name of Allah, I trust in Allah, there is no movement and no power except with Allah', it would be said to him: 'Youhave been contented and you took precaution,' and Satan will turn away from him." (Al Tirmidhi, Abu Daud, Ibn Hibban, Ibn al Sunni - sahih).
10. "Whoever says when he hears the caller to prayer: 'And I bear witnessthat there is no God save Allah, He is alone and has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad isHis servant and messenger. I am pleased with Allah as Lord, Muhammad as Prophet and Islam as religion,' all his sins will be forgiven." (Muslim and the other five).
11. "Whoever recites the Surah al Ikhlas ten times, Allah will build for him a house in the Paradise." (Ahmad - sahih).
12. "Whoever recites the Surah al Kahf on a Friday, alight will be created for him until the next Friday." (Al Hakim and Al Bayhaqi -sahih).
13. "Whoever recites Aayat al-Kursi (the Verse ofthe Throne) after every compulsory prayer will notbe forbidden entrance to Paradise." (Ibn Hibban and Al Nisa'e - sahih).
14. "Whoever recites Surah al Ikhlas it is as if he read one-third of the Quran." (Ahmad, Al Nisa'e, Al Tirmidhi - sahih).
This bouquet from Muhammad sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam we grantto all those who fast.
O Allah! Help us to remember You, thank You and worship You in the best way. Ameen./ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en

Important Lessons from Ramadhan

Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim (d.751H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"Allah also prescribed i’tikaaf for them, the objective being that the heart becomes fully preoccupied with Allah - the Most High - concentrated upon Him alone, and cut-off from being preoccupied with the creation. Rather, the heart is only engrossed with Allah - the Most Perfect - such that loving Him, remembering Him, and turning to Him takes the place of all the heart's anxieties and worries, so that he is able to overcome them. Thus all his concerns are for Allah, and his thoughts are all directed towards remembering Him and thinking of how to attain His Pleasure and what will cause nearness to him which leads him to feel contented with Allah instead of people. This, in turn prepares him for being at peace with Allah alone, on the day of loneliness in the grave, when there will be no one else to give comfort, nor anyone to grant solace, except Him. So this is the greater goal of I‘tikaaf ." [8]
[3]: ACQUIRING PATIENCE
Imaam Ahmad (d.241H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"Allah has mentioned sabr (patience) in over ninety places in His Book." [9]
The Prophet ( sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam ) said:
"The month of Patience, and the three days of every month, are times forfasting." [10]
Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr (d.464H) - rahimahullaah - said:
"What is meant by the month of Patience is the month of Ramadhan ... So fasting is called patience because it restrains the soul from eating, drinking, conjugal relations and sexual desires." [11]
He ( sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam ) said:
"O youths! Whoever amongst you is able to marry then let him do so; for it restrains the eyes and protects the private parts. But whoever is unable, then let him fast, because it will be a shield for him." [12]
So fasting is a means of learning self-restraint and patience. With patience weare able to strengthen our resolve to worship Allah alone, with sincerity, and also cope with life's ups and downs. So - for example - with patience we are able to perform ourPrayers calmly and correctly, without being hasty, and without merely pecking the ground several times! With patience we are able to restrain our souls from greed and stinginess and thus give part of our surplus wealth in Zakaah (obligatory charity). With patience we are able to subdue the soul's ill temperament, and thus endure the ordeal and hardships of Hajj , without losing tempers and behaving badly. Likewise, with patience we are able to stand firm and fight Jihaad against the disbeliveers, hypocrites and heretics - withstanding their constant onslaught, without wavering and buckling, without despairing or being complacent and without becoming hasty and impatient at the first signs of hardship. Allah - the Most High - said:
"O Prophet, urge the Believers to fight ... So if there are one hundred who are patient, they shall overcome two hundred; and if there be one thousand, they shall overcome two thousand,by the permission of Allah. And Allah is with the patient ones." [Soorah al-Anfaal 8:65-66].
Thus, without knowledge and patience, nothing remains, except zeal and uncontrolled emotions, shouts and hollow slogans,speech that does not strengthen, but rather weakens, and actions that do not build, but rather destroy! So in this month, we should strive to develop a firm resolve for doing acts of obedience, and to adorn ourselves with patience - having certainty in the saying of our Messenger ( sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam ): "And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and case with hardship." [13]
[4]: CULTIVATING GOOD MANNERS
The Prophet ( sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam ) said:
"Whosoever does not abandon falsehood in speech and action, then Allah the Mighty and Majestic has no need that he should leave his food and drink." [14]
He ( sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam ) also said:
"Fasting is not merely abstaining from eating and drinking. Rather, it is also abstaining from ignorant and indecent speech. So if anyone abuses or behaves ignorantly with you, then say: I am fasting, I am fasting." [15]/ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en

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./ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en