fasting_wisdom_en.mp3

The wisdoms behind the legislation of fasting

Ten Endeavors for a better Ramadan

بسم الله الرحمان الرحميمالحمد لله رب العالمينوالصلاة والسلام على المبعوث رحمة للعالمين The great month of Ramadan is the best chance for any Muslim to improve themselves in their Religion. It is a great opportunity for the sinners to turn to Allah عز وجل and repent and a valuable gift for the Muttaqoon (the pious) to raise their levels of piety. Those who miss this great opportunity and do not change their ways have incurred a massive loss. The following points highlight some actions that need to be enhanced during the month of Ramadan : <h3>1. Changing yourself to be a better Muslim</h3> To achieve this a Muslim should accomplish the following :<ul><li>Istiqbaal bi Tawbathun Nasuuh - For a sincere and acceptable Tawbah (repentance) the Muslim should repent purely for the sake of Allah عز وجل and completely leave off the sins for which he seeks repentance for. Even those who have not sinned should repent to Allah عز وجل , as repentance is a Mercy from Him and an opportunity to elevate one's level , as stated in the following Aayah : ".....And all of you beg Allah عز وجل to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful." [An-Nur: 31]</li><li> Alter his Ahklaaq (mannerisms/character)</li><li>To return the Haqq (rights) to those whom you oppressed.</li></ul> <h3>2. Learning and practicing the rulings &amp; Ibaadat (acts of worship) related to Ramadan</h3> This is one of the greatest ways to change oneself . Those who choose to be ignorant of the rulings of Allah عز وجل will not benefit from Ramadan and will remain as losers unless they strive to learn the rulings of the Religion. The following Aayat attests to this : .......Say : " Are those who know equal to those who know not?" It is only men of understanding who will remember (i.e. get a lesson from Allaah's Signs and Verses). [Az-Zumar: 9] . "Verily, therein (in the Signs of Allaah) is indeed a reminder for him who has a heart or gives ear while he is heedful." [Qaf: 37] Some examples of the acts of worship that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to do more in the month of Ramadan include : <ul><li>Increasing in generosity towards the people and family as in the following Hadith : Narrated Ibn 'Abbas رضي الله عنه : "The Prophet was the most generous amongst the people, and he used to be more so in the month of Ramadan when Jibreel visited him, and Jibreel used to meet him on every night of Ramadan till the end of the month. The Prophet used to recite the Holy Qur'an to Jibreel, and when Jibreel met him, he used to be more generous than a fast wind (which causes rain and welfare)".[Sahih al Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 126] </li><li>Increasing in recitation of the Qur'aan</li><li>I'tikaaf in the Masaajid </li><li>Seeking Ilm from the circles of knowledge </li><li>Giving Naseehah (Advice) to others after practicing yourself </li></ul> <h3>3. Learning how the Salaf (pious predecessors) used to worship Allah عز وجل during Ramadan </h3> The importance our Salaf رحمهم الله gave to acts of worship during Ramadan was so great that if you read any book on their biographies you would notice that there is a section or paragraph dedicated to what each individual used to do in Ramadan . The best and one of most significant examples of this is that numerous battles took place in Ramadan. The goal behind this was to greatly increase the reward by combining the rewards of Jihaad and Fasting in Ramadan together . <h3>4. Being steadfast and encouraging oneself all the time </h3> It is imperative that one reduces his times for relaxation and keep on working harder and harder as Ramadan progresses since the most important time of this month is closer to its end . This is why the highly rewarding acts of worship (such as I'tikaaf) have been prescribed towards the end of the month. <h3>5. Practical methods to encourage oneself </h3> From the best methods is to stick with individuals who are strong in their worship and are Muhsinun (good-doers) and to avoid and keep away from the people of Mubaah (conditionally permitted acts such as trading, etc.) and the ignorant people of the Dunya . Our Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم encouraged keeping good company every time as in the following Hadith on the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari رضي الله عنه , the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said : " The likeness of a righteous friend and an evil friend, is the likeness of a (musk) perfume seller and a blacksmith. As for the perfume seller, he may either bestow something on you, or you may purchase something from him, or you may benefit from his sweet smell. And as for the blacksmith, he may either burn your clothes, or you may be exposed to his awful smell ." [Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim] <h3>6. Month of the Masjid </h3> It is highly encouraged to visit and spend most of the time in the Masaajid during Ramadan , especially in the Masaajid of Ahlus Sunnah or among a group of Salafis in any Masjid . A splendid reward awaits those who attach themselves to the Masaajid as stated in this Hadith : Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said : " Seven are (the persons) whom Allah would give protection with His Shade on the Day when there would be no shade but that of Him (i.e. on the Day of Judgment, and they are): a just ruler, a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah; a person whose heart is attached to the mosques; .........." [Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim] <h3>7. Attending the circles of knowledge </h3> As seeking Knowledge of the Religion is one of the greatest of Ibaadah , it is a great opportunity for seeking increased reward during Ramadan as compared to the other months of the year. Furthermore , as there is much Barakah (blessing) during this month it is very ideal for learning , memorizing and revising the Qur'an and the books of Jurisprudence etc. <h3>8. Learning and understanding the Qur'aan</h3> Narrated Ibn 'Abbas رضي الله عنه : "...... and Jibreel used to meet him on every night of Ramadan till the end of the month. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to recite the Holy Qur'an to Jibreel ........." [Sahih al Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 126] The above Hadith shows us that reciting and studying the Qur'an during this blessed month is very important. Hence , it is best to complete the recitation of the whole Qur'an before the end of the month , as this is the Sunnah . Also studying the Tafsir (exegesis) of the Qur'an is very beneficial in order to increase one's understanding of the Words of Allah عز وجل . <h3>9. Performing I'tikaaf ( secluding oneself in the Masjid ) to the best of one's ability </h3> It is one of the main ways to make one's Ramadan blessed and fruitful . The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم placed so much emphasis on it , such that if he could not perform it in Ramadan he used to make up for it later on , as in the Hadith of 'Aisha رضي الله عنها : " The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم intended to practice 'Itikaaf and when he reached the place where he intended to perform 'Itikaaf , he saw some tents , the tents of 'Aisha, Hafsa and Zainab. So, he said, "Do you consider that they intended to do righteousness by doing this?" And then he went away and did not perform 'Itikaaf (in Ramadan) but performed it in the month of Shawwal for ten days". [Sahih al Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 33, Number 250] Some of the main objectives of I'tikaaf is to attain the Laylatul Qadr and to create brotherhood between the Mu'takifeen ( those who do I'tikaaf ) <h3>10. Increasing the Du'aa (invocations) and supplications to Allah عز وجل</h3> It is very beneficial to increase one's Duaa to Allah عز وجل in this month, seeking His forgiveness for our sins , acceptance of our deeds and asking Him to make us steadfast upon the good deeds we perform during Ramadan. So in order to succeed and be steadfast in worship after Ramadan we ought to make our intentions purely for the Lord of Ramadan and not for the month only .

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