Such is the Qur’aan

One who reads the Qur’aan, and ponders and reflects over its aayaat, finds within it such knowledge and learning, which strengthens, increases and develops his eemaan.

This is because he will come across within the discourse of the Qur’aan, a King, who possesses all dominion, for whom alone, is all praise. The reign of all affairs are in His Hand alone, they emanate from Him and return to Him. He has ascended above His throne and not a single secret in the regions of His dominion escapes Him.

He is aware of what is in the souls of His slaves, fully cognizant of their hidden and public deeds. Solely, He disposes of the affairs of the Kingdom.

He hears and sees, gives and withholds, rewards and punishes, and honours and abases. He creates and sustains, and gives life and causes death. He decrees, executes and disposes.

He invites His servants and directs them towards what constitutes their happiness and success. He entices them towards this, and warns them of what will cause their ruin.

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Making the Most of Shawwaal

“Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime”

(Reported by Muslim, no. 1984)

Related Posts:

• Fasting the 6 Days of Shawwaal [Q&A]
• Fasting Shawwaal While Still Having to Make Up Fasts?

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Continue Striving

If a Muslim lived through Ramadaaan and spent its days in fasting and its nights in prayer, and in that month he accustomed himself to doing acts of good, then he must continue to remain upon this obedience to Allaah at all times (after that). This is the true state of the servant (‘abd), for indeed, the Lord of the months is One and He is ever watchful and witnessing His servants at all times.

Indeed, steadfastness after Ramadaan and the rectification of one’s statements and actions are the greatest signs that one has gained benefit from the month of Ramadaan and that he struggled in obedience. They are tokens of acceptance and signs of success.

Furthermore, the deeds of a servant do not come to an end with the end of a month and the beginning of another. Rather they continue and extend until one reaches death, for Allaah says: “And worship your Lord until the certainty (i.e., death) comes to you.”

Complete Article

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The Goodness Remains

If the fasting of Ramadaan comes to an end, then indeed the voluntary fasting is still prescribed throughout the entire year, and all praise is due to Allaah.

If standing in prayer at night during Ramadaan comes to an end, then indeed, the entire year is a time for performing the night prayer.

And if the Zakaat-ul-Fitr comes to an end, then there is still the Zakaah that is obligatory as well as the voluntary charity that lasts the whole year.

This goes the same for reciting the Qur’aan and pondering over its meaning as well as every other righteous deed that is desirable, for they can be done at all times.

From the many bounties that Allaah has bestowed upon His servants is that He has placed for them many different types of acts of worship and He provided many means for doing good deeds. Therefore, the enthusiasm and the zeal of the Muslim must be constant and he must continue to remain in the service of his Master.

Full Article: Remaining Steadfast After Ramadhaan

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Fasting Shawwaal While Still Having to Make Up Fasts?

Question: If a person fasts six days of Shawwaal after Ramadaan when he has not yet completed the Ramadaan fast because he did not fast ten days of Ramadaan for a legitimate reason will he have the same reward as a person who fasted all of Ramadaan and followed it with six days of Shawwaal, i.e. will he be like a person who fasted for a lifetime? Please explain to us, may Allaah reward you with good.

Answer: Praise be to Allaah.

The precise rewards for the deeds which people do for the sake of Allaah is something which is known only to Allaah. If a person seeks the reward from Allaah and strives to obey Him, his reward will not be lost, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“We shall not make the reward of anyone who does his (righteous) deeds in the most perfect manner to be lost.” [al-Kahf 18:30]. If someone has missed some of the days of Ramadaan, he should fast them first, then fast six days of Shawwaal, because he cannot follow the fast of Ramadaan with six days of Shawwaal unless he has completed his Ramadaan fast.

And Allaah is the source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, and grant them peace.

• Author: The Permanent Committee for Academic Research and Fatwas | Source: Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 10/392 | From: TheClearPath.Com

Related: Fasting the 6 Days of Shawwaal [Q&A]

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The Forgiveness Granted on Laylatul Qadr

Contemplate, then, the mercy of Allah ‘azza wa jall, that one night of worship may erase a lifetime of sins:

 

 

It is reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, that Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

 

‘Whoever stood in prayer on the night of Al-Qadr, in faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, he will have all of his previous sins forgiven.’

 

(Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

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Exerting Oneself During the Last Ten Days

‘Aa’ishah (radyAllahau ‘anhaa) said: “When the last ten days (of Ramadaan) would come, the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would spend his night in worship, wake his family (at night), exert himself and tighten his Izaar (waistcloth).” [1]

This hadeeth is proof that the last ten days of Ramadaan have a special virtue over any other (set of days), in which one should increase in obedience and acts of worship, such as prayer, making dhikr (remembrance) and reciting the Qur’aan.

‘Aa’ishah (radyAllahau ‘anhaa) has described our Prophet and role model, Muhammad (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), with four attributes:

1. He (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would “spend his night in worship”, meaning he would not sleep during it. Thus, he (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would remain awake throughout it in worship and he would liven his soul by spending the night in sleeplessness. This is since sleep is the brother of death. The meaning of “spend his night” is that he (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would spend all of it in the state of qiyaam (night prayer) and performing acts of worship that are done for the sake of Allaah, Lord of the worlds. We must remember that the last ten days of Ramadaan are fixed and numbered.

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Month of Food and Savory Dishes?

Ramadhaan is the month of mercy, the month of forgiveness, wherein we increase our ‘ibadaah and hope to gain a closer connection with Ar-Rahmaan. But for many, the sweetness of this month lies solely in the special, savory dishes they are served during iftaar. Ramadhaan then becomes a month wherein they may gather with family and eat special foods they do not eat for the rest of the year. And if Ramadhaan looms significant only for this aspect, how then are we to extract the many benefits of this blessed month?

If one spends his day fasting only thinking of the dishes and delicacies they will have after sunset, then they may only think of this month in black and white; that is, fasting as a time of hunger and thirst and the time after the fast as a time of food, drink and perhaps indulgence. Compare this to the one who doesn’t hold this simple mentality, but one who understands the reality of this month. For them, fasting during this month is not a time to dwell on the lack of food and anticipation for the special dishes that await, but rather a time to race towards good deeds, to increase in their Qur’aan recitation, to make fervent du’aa & istighfaar, to pray their salawaat with the utmost khushoo, and to strive to please Ar–Rahmaan. As for the time after fasting, it is a time for gratitude for the food that has touched our lips, to increase the bonds with family and friends as we break our fast with one another, to make it to the masjid to pray Ishaa and Taraweeh, and to continue with the du’aa, the Qur’aan and the salaah. SubhaanAllah, and once we realize the immense value of this month, the simplistic view of it as the month of special foods shall vanish, rather the remembrance of Allah ta’ala will loom large and be of our utmost priorities.

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Race to His Pleasure

Some of the Salaf used to say:

 

 

“Indeed Allâh, the Most High, has made the month of Ramadân as a competition for His creatures, in which they may race with one another to His pleasure, by obeying Him. Thus, one group comes first and so they prosper and another group comes last and so they fail.”

 

Latâ’if-ul-Ma’ârif of Ibn Rajab: page 246

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Abandoning Ill Speech

Q. If a person speaks forbidden words during the daylight in Ramadan, does it invalidate his fast?

 

A. If we recited the Words of Allah, the Almighty, the All-Powerful:

 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

“O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious). [1]

 

we will know the wisdom behind the obligation f fasting, which is Taqwa and the worship of Allah, the Most Glorified, the Most High. Taqwa means to abandon forbidden things, and without exception, those things include doing that which is commanded and leaving that which is forbidden. For the Prophet (salAllahu ‘alayhi wa salam) said:

“Whoever does not give up untruthful speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of him leaving his food and drink.”[2]

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