❞ كتاب How Do We Receive Ramadan ❝ ⏤ محمد الهاشمى مصطفى

The State of Salaf 1
in Ramadan

Fasting is a way of worshipping Allah 2

by abstaining from food, drink:, sexual inter-
course (with one's spouse) and smoking, from dawn

till sunset during the whole month of Ramadan.
Fasting is Fardh 3 , as the Almighty Allah said:
"0 you who believe, fasting is prescribed to those
before you, that you may (learn) self -restraint." 4
Fasting is a fundamental ordinance of Islam.
Muhammad, the Prophet (salla AIlahu alaihi':ualImt ), 5
said: "Islam is based on five pillars: testifying
that there is no God (worthy of worship) but Allah,
and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,
performing prayers, paying Zakah 6 , fasting
during the month of Ramadan, and
1 "Salaf' are the Muslim ancestors who set good
examples in the application of Islam.
2."Allah" is God Who Alone deserves to be worshipped.
3. "Fardh" is an obligatory religious duty. 4. Qur'an 1:183.
5. Salla Allahu Alaihi wa Sallam, i.e. Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him; henceforth
( lalla AIlahu alaihi waaallam)
6. Zakah is obligatory charity.

making Hajj (pilgrimage)to the House in Makkah. 1
"
Following are the VIRTUES of fasting during
the auspicious month of Ramadan:
A. The odour of the mouth of a fasting person is
more pleasant to Allah than the aroma of musk.

B. Angels ask Allah's forgiveness for the fast-
ing people till they break their fast.

C. There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayaan,
and none except the fasting people will enter
through it. "
D. In Ramadan, devils are shackled.
E. In it, there is the Night of Decree

(Lailatul Qadr) which is better than a thousand mo-
nths.

F. Those who fast are forgiven for their sins in
the last night of Ramadan.
G. In every night of Ramadan, Allah releases a
number of people from Hell.
1 - Transmitted by Bukhari and Muslim.

H. Every day , Allah, having decorated His Para-
dise, says, "0 Paradise! My good worshippers are

about to throw off the burden (of life) and the hann done to them and then get to you! "
After knowing the aforementioned advantages of Ramadan, how should we get ready to receive it?
A true believer should receive Ramadan with
true repentance and a strong will to avail himself of
Allah's special mercy and kindness bestowed on him during this holy month. He should spend his time doing what is good and useful.
Here are the Good Deeds that are done in Ram- adan.
1. Fastini:.
The Prophet (u1Ia AI1ahu alaihi wuan.m) said: "The reward of every good deed is multiplied by ten to seven hundred folds depending on one's intention and sin- cerity, but with respect to the reward of fasting, Allah proclaims : "Fasting is for me and I myself shall

bestow the reward. Whoever fasts foregoing his de-
sires of eating and drinking for My sake will be en- titled for two occasions ofjoy : one when he breaks his fast, and the other when he meets his Rubb "1

1- Rubb means, among other things,the Creator, the Owner, the Sustainer,the Provider, and the One in
whose hand is the disposal of all affairs.

5

There is no doubt that the great reward will not
be given to those who only go without food and
drink. The Prophet (Salla Allahu alaihi wasallam) said,
"He who does not refrain from telling lies, Allah

does not need him to refraim from eating and drink-
ing.:" 1

Concerning the behavior of a fasting person, the
Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wuallam) said: "Fast is a shield;

therefore, whoever is fasting should not resort to ob-
scene language and immoral behaviour. If

someone abuses or quarrels with a fasting per-
son, the latter should say, "0 brother! I am fast-
ing (Le. I cannot reply to you)".2

Thus when you fast, you should refrain from
doing any evil, and in your actions, you should
differentiate between an ordinary day and a day of
fasting. '
2 . Observing the Supererogatory night
prayer COiyam).
The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alaihi wuallam) said:
"Whoever, with faith and the intention to earn the
reward, observes the fast of Ramadan and spends
1- Transmitted by Bukhari.
2- Transmitted by Bukhari.
6

some part of the night in remembrance of Allah, is
forgiven for alIthe sins he has committed so far." 1

The Prophet (.alla AIlahu a1aihi ...ual1am) and his compan-
ions were in the habit of practising Qiyam at night.

Aisha, (may Allah be pleased with her ), said:
"Do not miss the Qiyam, for the Prophet (lalla Al1ahu
alaihi wual1am) had never missed it. Even when he was

sick or tired, he would pray at night in a sitting posi-
tion."

Narrated by Alkama Ibn Qais, "I stayed
overnight with Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud who prayed at
night reciting the Qur'an till it was near to the end
of the night; and then he ended with "Witt" (a
single prostration).
Narrated by Al Sa'ib Ibn Zaid: The Imam
used to read hundreds of Ayaat (verses of the
Qur'an); thus we had to lean on sticks. They never
left before it was nearly dawn.
I-Transmitted by Bukhari.

Muslims have to perform "Taraweeh" prayers,
(i.e. prayers, performed at night after Al- Isha in
Ramadan) with the Imam. The Prophet (u1laAllahu
aWhi wuallam) said:
"Whoever prays at night with his Imam till the
latter leaves, will be rewarded as if he prayed the
whole night." 1
3. Sadaga -Charity.
The Messenger of Allah (lalla Allahu aWhi wuallam) was

the most generous of all men, especially in Ram-
adan. He stated: "The best charity is that which is

given away in Ramadan." 2
Ornar Ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be p1ea1ed with him)
said: "1;'he Messenger of Allah (sana AIlahu alaihi wasaUam)
ordered us to give in charity. It happened that I had
some money then, and it came to my mind that this
time I would outdo Abu Bakhar once, if ever. So
I took half of my money to the Prophet who said:

l.Narrated by Ahl Al Sunan
2.Transmitted by Tirmithi

"What have you kept for your family?' 'The
same amount,' I said. When the Messenger (sallaAllahu
alaihi wasallam) asked Abu Bakr the same question, he
answered: 'Allah and His Messenger' (meaning he
had brought with him all the money he had)". Thus,
I decided, said Omar, not to compete with Abu
Bakr again at all."

As charity in Ramadan gets higher rewards com-
pared to charity on other normal days, a Muslim

should give as much ofit as he/she can.

Following are some of the aspects of charity:
A) Providing Food
Allah, The Almighty, said:

"And they feed, for the love of Allah, the indi-
gent, the orphan, and the captive, saying, 'We feed

you for the sake of Allah alone. No reward do we
desire from you, nor thanks. We only fear a Day of
distressful wrath from the side of our Rubb.'
But Allah will deliver them from the evil of that
Day, and will shed over them a light of beauty and
blissful joy. And because they were patient and

constant, He will reward them with a garden and
garments of silk." 1
Our good Salaf were concerned with feeding
either a hungry person or a righteous brother; for
the person who is fed would not necessarily be poor.
Allah's Apostle ( salla Allahu .!aihi wua11am) said:
"If a believer feeds a hungry believer, Allah will
feed him on the fruit of Paradise; and whoever gives

water to a thirsty believer, Allah will give him Ra-
hiq makhtoum." 2

In Ramadan, Ibn Omar (may Allah be pleased

with him) did not break his fast except in the com-
pany of orphans or the poor, and whenever he

learned that his family had turned them away, he
would Qreak his fast that night with a heavy heart.
Some Salaf would serve food to their Muslim
brothers and would attend to them while they
themselves were still fasting. Feeding-a way of
worship-develops cordiality and affection among
the Muslim brothers, a feeling that would lead
them to Paradise.
1- AI-Qur'an 76:8-12.
2- Transmitted by Tirmithi.

Rahiq makhtoum is a very delicious drink in Para-
dise.

As the Prophet (lalla allahu llaihi WI..Ilam) stated: You
will never be admitted to Paradise till you believe

(in Islam) and you will never be (considered as) be-
lievers till you love each other."

Moreover, Feeding would also provide opportu-
nities to come in contact with pious people.

B. Providin~ breakfast for people who are
fasting:
The Messenger of Allah (oalla A1lahu l1Iihi WUlllam) said:

"Whoever provides breakfast for a fasting per-
son, his reward will be equivalent to that of a per-
son who is fasting without decreasing the reward of

the latter. " Then the people said: "0 Apostle of
Allah! But not all of us can find a fasting person
who can break his fast with us." The apostle (oalla Allahu

llaihi wuoIlam) replied: "Allah grants this reward to who-
ever provides a fasting person with a sip of milk, a

date, or a mouthful of water. Whoever provides a
fasting person with something to drink, Allah will
provide him with a mouthful from my basin after
which he will never be thirsty, till he is admitted to
Paradise."

 A brief book about the virtue of Ramadan and the importance of making good use of all seasons of worship. This is through getting ready to do good deeds, making faithful repentance and intending sincere intention to change one’s conditions in Ramadan and what is after it.