Ramadan Articles - Gateways of Goodness in Ramadan-I

Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}The month of Ramadan]is that[
in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear
proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights ]the new moon of[
the month, let him fast it.{]Quran 2:185[
Very soon, we are expecting a great month in which Allaah The Almighty
opens the gates of goodness, wherein the reward for good deeds and
mercy are doubled, the gates of Paradise are open, and the gates of
Hell are closed. It is worth making extra efforts to excel in this
month because it passes by in the flicker of an eye. Allaah The
Almighty Says )what means(:}]Fasting is for[a limited number of
days.{]Quran 2:184[
Thus, we should invest our best efforts in these limited days by
approaching the gateways of goodness. For instance:
1-Supplicating Allaah The Almighty upon seeing the new moon. The
Prophet,, said upon seeing it:"Allaahumma ahillahu 'alayna bil-yumn
wal-imaan was-salaamah wal-islam. Rabbi wa rabbuk Allaah )O Allaah,
Let this new moon come to us with goodness and faith, safety and
Islam. My Lord and your Lord Is Allaah(."
2-Breaking one's fast promptly: The Prophet,, said:"People will
continue to adhere to good as long as they hasten to break the
fast."]Al-Bukhaari[
3-Supplicating Allaah The Almighty upon breaking the fast. The
Prophet,, said:"The fasting person has an answered supplication upon
breaking his fast."The Prophet,, used to say:"Thahab ath-thama'
wabtallat al-'urooq wa thabat al-ajr in shaa' Allaah )The thirst has
been quenched, the veins have been moistened, and the reward is
confirmed – Allaah willing(."]Abu Daawood, Ad-Daaraqutni, and
Al-Haakim[
4-Praising Allaah The Almighty after eating and drinking. The
Prophet,, said:"Allaah is pleased with the slave who praises Him after
eating and drinking."]Muslim[
5-ObservingTaraaweehprayer)voluntary night prayers performed
duringRamadan( regularly. The Prophet,said:"The best prayer, after the
obligatory ones, is the voluntary night prayers."]Muslim[
6-Performing voluntary night prayer with faith and hoping for reward.
The Prophet,, said:"Whoever performs voluntary prayers in the nights
of Ramadanwith faith and hoping for reward from Allaah, his past sins
will be forgiven."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
7-Keenness on havingSuhoor)pre-dawn meal(. The Prophet,, said:"Have a
pre-dawn meal; it is a blessing."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
8-Walking to the Masjid. The Prophet,, said:"Whoever goes to the
Masjid at dawn or dusk )for prayer(, Allaah preparesa hospitable abode
for him in Paradise every time he does this."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
9-Providing food for the fasting person. The Prophet,, said:"Whoever
provides a fasting person with food to break his fast will receive a
reward similar to that of the fasting person without affecting the
latter's reward."]At-Tirmithi:Hasan Saheeh[ Encourage your
acquaintances to contribute to providing food for fasting people.
10-Supplications in general. The Prophet,, said quoting his Lord:"I am
as My slave expects ofMe, and I am with him when he calls upon
Me."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
11-Supplicating for a Muslim in his absence. The Prophet,, said:"No
slave supplicates for a Muslim in his absence but the angel will say,
'May the same be for you too.'"]Muslim[
12-Feeling the seriousness and danger of sin and believing that you
cannot bear the punishment allocated for it. This will help you hasten
to give up sin and renew your repentance to Allaah The Almighty in
order to change your bad deeds into good ones. AllaahThe Almighty Says
)what means(:}Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous
work. For them Allaah will replace their evil deeds with good. And
ever is Allaah Forgiving and Merciful.{]Quran 25:70[
13-Seeking forgiveness of Allaah The Almighty. The Prophet,, said:"If
anyone constantly seeks forgiveness from Allaah, He will appoint for
him a way out of every distress and relief from every anxiety, and
will provide sustenance for him from where he does not expect."]Abu
Daawood and An-Nasaa'i[
14-Supplicating and asking forgiveness for Muslims. Allaah The
Almighty Says )what means(:}And ]there is a share for[ those who came
after them, saying,"Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded
us in faith and put not in our hearts]any[ resentment toward those who
have believed. Our Lord, indeed, You Are Kind and Merciful."{]Quran
59:10[
15-Constantly remembering Allaah The Almighty. The Prophet,,
said:"Shall I not inform you of the best of your actions which are the
purest to your Lord, that exalt you to the high ranks, are more
efficacious than spending gold and silver )in charity(, and are better
for you than you should encounter your enemies whose necks you will
smite and they will smite your necks?''Theysaid, "Certainly.'' The
Prophetsaid:"Remembrance of Allaah The Almighty."
16-Supplication betweenAthaan)call to prayer( andIqaamah)second call
to prayer(. The Prophet,, said:"Supplication between the Athaan and
Iqaamah is surely answerable."]Al-Bukhaari[
17-Performing'Umrah)minor pilgrimage( inRamadanwhen possible. The
Prophet,, said:"'Umrah in Ramadan equals ]the reward of[ Hajj or Hajj
with me."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
18-Reading the Quran frequently and reflecting upon it. The Prophet,,
said:"Read the Quran; it will intercede on behalf of those who read it
on the Day of Resurrection."]Muslim[
19-Observing the obligatory prayers regularly on time. The Prophet,,
said:"When the time for a prescribed prayer is due and a Muslim
performs ablution properly, observes devotion during it and
completesits acts of bowing, this prayer will be an expiation for his
past sins, so long as he does not commit major sins, and this applies
for ever."]Muslim[ Once the Prophet,, was asked what the best deed
was, and he said:"Performing prayer at its due time."]Al-Bukhaari and
Muslim[
20-ObservingFajr)morning( and'Asr)late-afternoon( Prayer regularly.
The Prophet,, said:"Whoever performs Fajr and 'Asr Prayers )regularly(
will enter Paradise."]Al-Bukhaari[
21-Keenness on joining the first row in prayer. The Prophet,,
said:"Were people to know the blessing of pronouncing Athaan and the
standing in the first row,they would even draw lots to secure these
privileges."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
22-PerformingDhuha)mid-morning( Prayer regularly. The Prophet,,
said:"When you get up in the morning, charity is due from every one of
your joints. There is charity in every ascription of glory to Allaah;
there is charity in every utterance of praise of Him; there is charity
in every declaration that He is the only true God)worthy of worship(;
there is charity in every declaration of His Greatness; there is
charity in enjoining good; and there is charity in forbidding evil.
Offeringtwo Rak'ahs )units( of Dhuha Prayer is equal to all this in
reward."]Muslim[
23-Performing the confirmed voluntary prayers regularly. The Prophet,,
said:"A house will be built in Paradise for every Muslim who offers
twelve Rak'aatof voluntary prayers other than the obligatory ones
every day."]Muslim[
24-Performing voluntary prayers at home. The Prophet,, said:"Perform
part of your)voluntary( prayers at your homes and do not turn them
into graves."]Al-Bukhaari[
25-Offering long prostrations. The Prophet,, said:"A slave becomes
nearest to his Lord when he is in prostration. So increase
supplications while prostrating."]Muslim[