Ramalan Articles, - Ramadan Contest!

The season of glad tidings, whichbrings the greatest joy to the hearts
of the believers is near. It brings the universal competition that
starts with the first night in the month of Ramadan and ends with its
last night. Get ready for the greatest opportunity and the most
blessed season in the whole year.
It is the great competition that was proclaimed by Allaah The Exalted
in the Noble Quran when He Says )what means(: }Race toward forgiveness
from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the
heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allaah and His
messengers.{ ]Quran 57:21[
Bear in mind that the prize in thiscontest is the greatest prize
ever.It is Paradise, whose width is equal to that of the heavens and
the earth. It is Paradise, which abounds in bliss and pleasures which
the self desires and the eye enjoys. These heavenly, spiritual and
physical pleasures are beyond words – the eye has not seen, the ear
has not heard and no human heart has ever perceived such bounties!
Is there any better prize than Paradise? Is there a greater aspiration
or objective for the seekers of spiritual ranks and human perfection,
other than gaining the pleasure of Allaah The Exalted and looking at
His Face?
Description of the competition:
Let us describe the competition to you so that you can join it with
proper understanding of the nature of the competition.
The competition takes place in the holy month of Ramadan, when all the
gates of Paradise are opened.
The conditions of the competition:
First: the competitor should give up all forbidden acts and sins that
he used to commit before joining the competition. He should give back
people their duerights, evade prohibitions, falsehood and evil, in
every form. He should also shun listening to songs and music and
disallow them in his house, shop or workplace.
The contestant should also abstain from playing cards, and stay away
from idle gatherings. He should avoid saying, or even listening to
backbiting, gossip, lies and falsehood. He should purify his tongue
from words of obscenity and vulgarity, and avoid listening to such
immoral actions. He should purify his mouth and his gatherings from
such mood altering substances such as tobacco, hookah and the like.
Second: the competitor should show determination and persistence in
carrying out the following:
A – Declaring his repentance to Allaah The Exalted, saying, "O Lord! I
am seeking Your Forgiveness for all my sins and I repent to You from
any ill belief, word, or deed that does not please You. O Allaah The
Exalted; forgive me and accept my repentance; for You are the
All-Forgiving."
B – Carrying out the following good deeds:
1 – Performing the five daily prayers in congregation without missing a Rak'ah.
2 – Reciting the Noble Quran day and night throughout the monthof Ramadan.
3 – Carrying out many voluntary prayers night and day throughout the
month of Ramadan.
4 – Giving money, food, drink andclothing in charity, according to
one's abilities and what one can afford.
5 – Supplicating Allaah The Exalted a lot and seeking His forgiveness,
especially during Sahar )the time before dawn( every night.
Would you like to be awarded with the Hoor )celestial maidens(? Would
you like to add new life to yours? Would you like to add abundant
rewards to yourrecords? Would you like to earn the rewards of a
thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months? Would you like to expiate
all your sins and erase all your misdeeds? All these benefitscan be
gained by participating in this competition faithfully and with
devotion.
In order to earn all this, safeguard your ears from listening to songs
and music, backbiting, obscenity and vulgarity. Guard your hands from
touching what is impermissible and your legs from walking to what is
forbidden. Evade backbiting, gossip, lying, falsehood, obscenity and
vulgarity. Do not preoccupy your heart with what does not avail you
and with thinking what is not necessary.
Offer your money in charity; for it is the optimal time for giving in
charity. Observe I'tikaaf in the mosque, hoping for the rewards of
Allaah The Exalted and fearing His punishment. Strive in worshipin the
House of Allaah The Exaltedso that you would earn His forgiveness and
have your repentance accepted. Your place is in the first rows in
congregational prayers; you should strive not to miss the opening
Takbeerah )Allaahu Akbar( of every prayer. Do not forget the Noble
Quran. You should recite it during the holy month of Ramadan, ponder
over its meanings with an attentive heart, tearful eyes and a
yearningheart.
May Allaah The Exalted render you among the forerunners uponwhom He
bestows His peace and the blessed winners in the great contest!