Ramadan Virtues, Blessings & Essential Elements (PART 2) It is reported from some of the Salaf (Muslims of the first three centuries of Islam that the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, praised in the well known famous hadith) that they used to pray to Allah during the six months before Ramadan to extend their lives so that they can fast Ramadan, and in the 6 months after Ramadan they would ask Allah to accept their fasting of Ramadan. Therefore, we have to be thankful to Allah that He allowed us to witness this Ramadan, so let us please Him during this month. Why do we fast? It is from the nature of humans to ask and to wonder why they do things. Muslims do things to please Allah, and they can please Allah only by obeying Him and practicing His religion. Thus, in answer to this question Why do we fast? we respond that it is a commandment and a clear order from Allah upon us and we have no other choice but to obey Allah and please Him out of Love and Fear at the same time. Allah says what means : O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for people before you so that you will (learn how to) attain Taqwa (Quran, al-Baqarah, 2:183) Ibn Umar reports that Allahs Messenger said: Islam is based on (the following) five (principles): * 1. To testify that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and Muhammad is Allahs Messenger. * 2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly. * 3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity) * 4. To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca) * 5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan. [Bukhari] Abu Hurairah narrates that one day while Allahs Messenger was sitting with the people, a man came to him walking and said, O Allahs Messenger. What is Belief? The Prophet said, Belief is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Apostles, and the meeting with Him, and to believe in the Resurrection. The man asked, O Allahs Apostle, What is Islam? The Prophet replied, Islam is to worship Allah and not worship anything besides Him, to offer prayers perfectly, to pay the (compulsory) charity (i.e. Zakat) and to fast the month of Ramadan. [The narration of Muslim has Hajj as well]. The man again asked, O Allahs Apostle What is Ihsan (i.e. perfection or benevolence)? The Prophet said, Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah sees you. Then the man left. The Prophet said, Call him back to me. They went to call him back but could not see him. The Prophet said, That was Jibreel (Gabriel) who came to teach the people their religion. [Bukhari]. Since Islam means submission to Allah, we have no other choice but to submit ourselves to Allah and obey His commandments. It is from the mercy of Allah towards us that while He prescribed on us fasting, He also showed us the greatness of fasting in this world and in the hereafter to make it beloved to us. Abu Umaamah (r.a.a.) said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, tell me of an action by which I may enter Paradise. He said: Take to Fasting, there is nothing like it. [An-Nasaaee, Ibn Hibbaan, Al-Haakim, Saheeh] In this hadeeth, the Prophet (s.a.w.) singled out fasting when asked about a deed that leads its doer to the best of rewards, Paradise. This fact alone is sufficient for us to understand the greatness of fasting. Mere knowledge of the importance and superiority of fasting, however, is not enough for a Muslim to attain Allahs pleasure and then, in shaa Allah, His great reward. Indeed, the Prophet (s.a.w.) has said: Perhaps a person fasting will receive nothing from his fasting except hunger and thirst. [Ibn Maajah, Ad-Daarimee, Ahmad, al-Baihaqee, Saheeh] This hadeeth should raise our concern about fasting and increase our desire to perform this act of worship with the best intention and in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w.). The first step is for a Muslim to realize that Allah has prescribed fasting as a means of gaining Taqwa. Allah (swt) has also informed us that it is taqwa that distinguishes people in His sight. Allah says: The most honoured by Allah amongst you are those best in taqwaa. [49:13] Ali ibn Abi Taalib was asked about the definition of taqwa, to which he answered: [It is] Fear of the All-Mighty, acting upon the revelation, preparation for the day of travel [when we meet Allah], and contentment with a small amount. C. Virtues of Fasting as mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah * The reward for fasting is immense, as mentioned in the following Hadeeth: Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, each good deed receiving ten times its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah the Most High said, Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it, he leaves off his desires and his food for Me. for the fasting person there are two times of joy;... WILL CONTINUE LATER IN SHA ALLAH...
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 13:28:03 +0000
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