Ramadhan A Month of Forgiveness

Ramadhan is the month of  Forgiveness

 Banu Salleh

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and Thanks are due to Allāh, the Lord of the al-ā’lamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam, is His Messenger.

There are various Prophetic sayings which state that the various types of worship in Ramadhan are a means to seek forgiveness from Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. The Fasting, the Solatul Tarawih (Qiyam of Ramadhan) , and praying the Tahajjud in the Honored Night with faith  are all the means of seeking Allah’s forgiveness.

“Whoever fasts the month of Ramadhan, believing in God and hoping for His reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven?” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

“Whoever stands the night in prayer in Ramadhan believing in God and seeking His reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

“Whoever stood in prayer in the Honored Night, believing in God and hoping for His reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

Ramadhan in general is a month of savior from the Fire:“God chooses who will be saved from the Fire (in Ramadhan), and that is every night.” (Al-Tirmidzi)

[srikandeh]

Some Virtues Of The Ramadhan

Some Virtues of the Ramadhan

Abdullah Ibn Salih Al-Fawzan

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and Thanks are due to Allāh, the Lord of the al-ā’lamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam, is His Messenger.

A Hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah (radiallāhu`anhu) that the Messenger of Allāh (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

 "Every deed of the Son of Adam will be rewarded ten to seven hundred times its worth. Allāh, Mighty and Sublime, said: 'Except for the fast, for indeed it is for Me, and I will reward it. He leaves off his desires and his food for My sake. There are two times of joy for the one fasting. The time of joy when he breaks his fast and the time of joy when he meets His lord. And the scent coming from the mouth of the one fasting is more pleasant in the sight of Allāh than the smell of musk.'"

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Four Virtues.

This Hadith substantiate the virtue of fasting and the great position it possesses in the sight of Allāh. Four of its many virtues occur in this hadith, and they are:

1. Reward in full without any reckoning.

Those who fast well will receive their reward in full without any reckoning; for every good deed is rewarded ten to seven hundred times it’s like in worth, except for the fast. Indeed, its reward is not limited to this number, but rather Allāh will reward it with manifold its likes in worth. This is because the fast is from (the forms of) patience and Allāh has stated:

"Verily, the patient ones will be given their reward in full without any reckoning."

 [Surah Az-Zumar: 15]

2. Indeed Allāh connected the fast to himself in conjunctive form, above all other types of deeds.

This conjunction is enough to show its noble status. Allāh knows best, it is due its state of encompassing the entirety of the day. One find that the individual fasting has neglected his desires, while his soul constantly yearns after them. Along with its length of the duration is not found in anything else besides the fast, especially in the days of summer due to their length and severity in heat. The individual's abandonment of the things he desires is an act of worship, which will be rewarded. The fast is something a secret kept between the servant and his Lord. No one knows of it except Allāh, the most High. It is an inward action, which cannot be seen by the creation, thus riya' (showing off) cannot enter into it.

3. When the one who fasts meets his Lord, he will be delighted by his fast due to what he will see in it from its abundance, good standing and his reward by having his fast accepted, which Allāh granted him in the first place.

As for his joy at the time when he breaks the fast, then it is due to the completion of the act of worship and its being free from evil and those things that have been forbidden in it. This is from the praiseworthy types of joy since it is a joy that emanates from the obedience to Allāh and the completion of the fast, due to which great reward has been promised. This is as Allāh says: "Say: By the grace and mercy of Allāh, and by that, then rejoice."

 [Surah Yunus: 85]

4. The breath coming from the mouth of the one fasting is more pleasant in the sight of Allāh than the scent of musk.

This beautiful smell will be for the Day of Judgment for that is the day when the rewards for deeds will be manifested. This is based on one narration of the hadith: "…more pleasant in the sight of Allāh on the Day of Judgment…"

 [Muslim]

"And the scent coming from the mouth of the one fasting when he breaths out from the food (he ate previously) is more pleasant in the sight of Allāh than the smell of musk"

 [Ibn Hibban and Ahmad]

This scent, although disliked by the people who smell it in this world will, however, be more pleasant in smell in the sight of Allāh than the scent of musk. This is because it is something that originates from the obedience to Allāh.

"The sign that will mark the believer on the Day of Judgment is the brightness (of their faces) due to their ablution (wudu') in this world, causing a distinction between them and the rest of the nations. And their mark on the Day of Judgment due to their fasting will be pleasant smelling breath, more pleasant in the sight of Allāh than the scent of musk. This is in order that they may be known amidst that group for that deed. We ask Allāh to grant us blessing on that day."

 [Ibn Hibban]

And from the merits of Ramadhan is that Allāh has distinguished those who fast with a specific door from the doors of Paradise. No one more righteous than them will enter through it.

Sahal Ibn Sa'ad (radiallāhu`anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "Verily, there is a door in Paradise, which is known as Ar-Rayyan. On the Day of Judgment, the ones who fasted will enter in through it; no one other than them will enter in through it. And when they have entered, it will close, so no one will enter through it (after them)."

 [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

"And whosoever enters will be given to drink. And whosoever drinks will never feel thirsty again."

 [Sahih of Ibn Khuzaimah no. 1903]

The Qualification of the Virtues

However, these merits will not be attained except by the one who fasts with sincerity by abstaining from food, drink, intercourse, abstaining from hearing the unlawful, looking towards the prohibited and earning from unlawful means. Thus his body limbs must fast and abstain from sinful acts. His tongue must fast and abstain from lying, foul speech and false swearing. This is the obligatory for the fast, the result of which will be great reward.

Abu Hurayrah (radiallāhu`anhu) said that the Messenger (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) of Allāh Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala said:

"Whoever does not avoid false speech and acting on it, Allāh Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala does not have any need for him to leave his food and drink".

 [Al-Bukhari]

The Messenger of Allāh (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

 "Perhaps, that entire one who fasts will get from his fast is hunger and thirst. And perhaps that entire one who stands at night in prayer will get from his standing is sleeplessness."

 [Ahmad, Ibn Hibban, Ibn Majah, Darami].

[Excerpt from Hadith As-Siyam: Ahkam wa Adab]

[Via Allahuakbar]

Requirements for Fasting to Be Valid

Requirements for Fasting to Be Valid

 Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and Thanks are due to Allāh, the Lord of the al-ā’lamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam, is His Messenger.

There are basically two main components of fasting.

1. The intention (niyyat) for fasting. One should make a sincere intention to fast for the sake of Allāh every day before dawn. The intention need not be in words, but must be with the sincerity of the heart and mind. Some jurists are of the opinion that the intention can be made once only for the whole month and does not have to be repeated every day. It is; however, better to make intention every day to take full benefit of fasting.

2. Abstaining from dawn to dusk from everything that invalidates fasting. This point has been explained in detail in the preceding sections such as:

2.1· Restraining the stomach and the private parts from the breach of the fast - food and drink

2.2· Restraining the jawarih, the other body parts, which may render the fast worthless despite the main factors of hunger and thirst; so the tongue, for instance, must avoid backbiting, slander, and lies; the eyes should avoid looking into things considered by the Lawgiver as unlawful; the ears must stop from listening to conversations, words, songs, and lyrics that spoil the spirit of fasting; and

2.3· Restraining of the heart and mind from indulging themselves in other things besides dzikir of Allāh (the remembrance of Allāh).

Allāh Subhānahu Wa Ta’ala said "Fasting is prescribed on you as it was prescribed upon those before you so that you may achieve Taqwa.” [Al-Baqarah 2:187]

The Taqwa can only be achieved by the person who abstains from all evils no matter how small.

Abu Hurairah (radiallāhu`anhu)   narrated that the Allāh Messenger (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam)  of Allāh Subhānahu Wa Ta’ala said: "Whoever does not avoid false speech and acting on it, Allāh Subhānahu Wa Ta’ala does not have any need for him to leave his food and drink". [Al-Bukhari].

Abu Hurairah (radiallāhu`anhu)  also narrated that the Allāh Messenger (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "Fasting is not (merely) to leave off eating and drinking, but it is to abstain from vain talk and obscene behavior". Therefore, if anyone insults you or behaves foolishly towards you, then say: "I am fasting! I am fasting!" [Al-Bukhari]

It is for this reason there has reached us strong reprimand from the Messenger (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) for anyone who involves in these types of evil behaviors.

The Messenger of Allāh (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "Perhaps, that entire one who fasts will get from his fast is hunger and thirst. And perhaps that entire one who stands at night in prayer will get from his standing is sleeplessness." [Ahmad, Ibn Hibban, Ibn Majah, Darami].

[Via Islam Online]

Acts Do Not Invalidate Fasting

Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi

During fast, the following things are permissible:

1. Taking a bath or shower. If water is swallowed involuntarily it will not invalidate the fast. According to most of the jurists, swimming is also allowed in fasting, but one should avoid diving, because that will cause the water to go from the mouth or nose into the stomach.

2. Using perfumes, wearing contact lenses or using eye drops.

3. Taking injections or having a blood test.

4. Using miswak (tooth-stick) or toothbrush (even with tooth paste) and rinsing the mouth or nostrils with water, provided it is not overdone (so as to avoid swallowing water).

5. Eating, drinking or smoking unintentionally, i.e., forgetting that one was fasting. But one must stop as soon as one remembers and should continue one’s fast.

6. Sleeping during the daytime and having a wet-dream does not break one’s fast. Also, if one has intercourse during the night and was not able to make ghusl (bathe) before dawn, he or she can begin fast and make ghusl later. Women whose menstruation stops during the night may begin fasting even if they have not made ghusl yet. In all these cases, bathing (ghusl) is necessary but fast is valid even without bathing.

7. Kissing between husband and wife is allowed in fasting, but one should try to avoid it so that one may not do anything further that is forbidden during the fast.

©IslamOnline

Acts That Invalidate The Fast

Acts That Invalidate The Fasting

 Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and Thanks are due to Allāh, the Lord of the al-ā’lamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam, is His Messenger.

One must avoid doing anything that may render the fast invalid. Things that invalidate the fast and require a qada’ (making up for these days) are the following:

1. Eating, drinking or smoking deliberately, including taking any non-nourishing items by mouth, nose or anus. According to Imam Abu Hanifah(rahimahullāh), eating and or drinking deliberately during fast also entail the same qadha’ and kaffarah.

2. Deliberately causing yourself to vomit.

3. The beginning of menstrual or post-childbirth bleeding even in the last moment before sunset.

4. Sexual intercourse or other sexual contact (or masturbation) that results in ejaculation (in men) or vaginal secretions (orgasm) in women.

5. Eating, drinking, smoking or having sexual intercourse after Fajar (dawn) on the mistaken assumption that it is not Fajar yet. Similarly, engaging in these acts before Maghrib (sunset) on the mistaken assumption that it is already the time of Maghrib.

The sexual intercourse during fasting is forbidden and is a great sin. Those who engage in it must perform both, a qada’ (make up the fasts)it and as well as a kaffarah (expiation by fasting for 60 days after Ramadhan or by feeding 60 poor people for each day of fast broken in this way).

This is in pursuance of a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (radiallāhu`anhu) that a person came to see the Apostle of Allah (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) and said:

“O Messenger of Allah, I am undone. The Holy Prophet (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) asked him: What has brought about your ruin? The man said: I have had intercourse with my wife during the month of Ramadhan. Upon this the Prophet (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: Can you find a slave to set him free? He said: No. Then Prophet (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: Can you observe fast for two consecutive months? He said: No.The Prophet (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) then said: Can you provide food to sixty poor people? He said: No. He then sat down and (in the meanwhile) it was brought to the Apostle of Allah (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) a basket which contained dates.The Prophet  (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) finally said: Give these (dates) in charity. The man said: Am I to give to one who is poorer than me? There is no family poorer than mine between the two lava plains of Madinah. The Apostle of Allah (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) broke into laughter that his molar teeth became visible and said: Go and give it to your family to eat.” [Muslim].

 [IslamOnline]