*Ramadan Day 20*
*What have
you learnt?*
Alhamdulilah! Alhamdulilah!! Alhamdulilah!!!
We thank Almighty Allah to spare our lives to witness this
miraculous month (Ramadan). Brothers and sisters in Islam.
*I just want to remind myself and yours about ‘’ How should we observe Laylat al-Qadr and when is it?*
Question
How should we
observe Laylat al-Qadr? Is it by praying, or by reading Qur’aan and the
Prophet’s Seerah, listening to lectures and lessons and by celebrating it in
the mosque?.
Answer
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
The Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to strive hard in
worship during the last ten days of Ramadaan as he never did at any other time,
praying, reading Qur’aan and making du’aa’. Al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrated
from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that when the last ten days of
Ramadaan came, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would
stay up at night and would wake his family up, and would abstain from marital
relations. Ahmad and Muslim narrated that he used to used to strive hard in
worship during the last ten days of Ramadaan as he never did at any other
time.
Secondly:
The Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) enjoined staying up and praying on Laylat
al-Qadr out of faith and in the hope of reward. It was narrated from Abu
Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever stays up and prays on Laylat
al-Qadr out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be
forgiven.” Agreed upon. This hadeeth indicates that it is prescribed to observe
Laylat al-Qadr by spending the night in prayer.
Thirdly:
One of the best
du’aa’s that may be recited on Laylat al-Qadr is that which the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught to ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased
with her). Al-Tirmidhi narrated, and classed the report as saheeh, that
‘Aa’ishah said: “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, if I know which night is
Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say on that night?’ He said, ‘Say: Allaahumma
innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibb al-‘afwa fa’affu ‘anni (O Allaah, You are forgiving and
You love forgiveness, so forgive me).”
Fourthly:
With regard to
specifying which night of Ramadaan is Laylat al-Qadr, this needs specific
evidence, but the odd-numbered nights during the last ten nights are more
likely than others, and the night of the twenty-seventh is the most likely to
be Laylat al-Qadr, because that is mentioned in the ahaadeeth.
Fifthly:
With regard to
innovations, they are not permissible during Ramadaan or at other times. It was
proven that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “Whoever innovates anything in this matter of ours that is not part of it
will have it rejected.” According to another report, “Whoever does any action
that is not part of this matter of ours will have it rejected.”
We know of no basis
for the celebrations that are held during some nights of Ramadaan. The best of
guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) and the worst of matters are those which are innovated (bid’ah).
And Allaah is the
Source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet
Muhammad and his family and companions.
Source: Standing
Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas, 10/413 [Islam Q&A, 36832]
The Night Above All
Nights
“We have indeed revealed this
(Message) in the night of Power:
And what will explain to thee
what the Night of Power is?
The Night of Power is better
than a thousand Months.
The angels and the Spirit
descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees.
(That night is) Peace until the
rising of the dawn.” [Qur'an 97:1-5]
An effort as little as
performing ablution could be rewarded continually rewarded for the next 83
years, how’s that? That is the result of performing an act of worship during
the night of Laylat-ul-Qadr. How much more the opportunity of making tilawah
(recitation of the Qur'an), nawafil (non-obligatory salaah), dhikr
(Glorification of Allah) and du’aa (requesting our needs from Allah) during
that night. Then our sins are forgiven as if we are born anew. And if we are
able to witness this Night of Power every year for 13 years we will be in the
rank of those who have spent a thousand years in pure worship of Allah.
Abu Hurayrah reported that the
Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The blessed month has come to you.
Allah has made fasting during it obligatory upon you…. There is a night [during
this month] which is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its
good is really deprived [of something great]." (Ahmad & Nasa'i)
Indeed, the Night of Qadr (Power) is the most virtuous night of the year. It is
the night of Allah extended benevolence, "What will tell you what the
night of power is? It is better than a thousand months." (Qur'an 97 verses
2-3)
This is the night the Qur'an was
revealed; it is indeed that night (once every year) when important issues are
decreed. Allah says: “We sent it down during a blessed night: for We (ever)
wish to warn (against Evil). In that (night) is made distinct every affair of
wisdom, by command from Our presence. For We (ever) send (revelations) as a
Mercy from thy Lord: for He hears and knows (all things).” (Qur'an 44 verses
3-6) That nights sins of previous years, big or small, known or hidden, will be
forgiven. The Prophet (peace be upon him) promised, "Whoever stands in
(Prayer) in Laylatul-Qadr out of Iman and seeking reward then his previous sins
are forgiven." (Bukhari)
When is this glorious night? The
early Muslims asked the same question. The Prophet (peace be upon him)
encouraged them to do I’tikaf (seclusion in the mosque away from all worldly
thoughts, deeds and concerns) in the last ten days. 'Aisha (the Prophet’s wife,
may Allah be pleased with her) said: “Allah's Messenger used to practice
I’tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, ‘Look for the Night
of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan’.” (Bukhari)
How do you know you have
witnessed that wonderful night? The Prophet (peace be upon him) gave us a few
signs. He (peace be upon him) said: "On the morning following
Laylatul-Qadr the sun rises not having any rays, as if it were a brass dish,
until it rises up." (Muslim) He also said, "Laylatul-Qadr is calm and
pleasant, neither hot nor cold, the sun arises on its morning being feeble and
red." (Ibn Khuzaimah & al-Bazzar)
And what do you pray for if you
are able to witness this superior night? Aishah asked the Prophet the same
question, what to say if she knew which night it was, and he told her to say,
“O Allah, You are the One Who Pardons greatly, and You love to Pardon, so
Pardon me." [Allahumma innaka affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’ af anna] (Ahmad)
THE BENEFITING WITHDRAWAL
"Celebrate the praises of Allah during the
Appointed Days but if anyone hastens to leave in two days there is no blame on
him and if anyone stays on there is no blame on him if his aim is to do right.
Then fear Allah and know that you will surely be gathered unto Him."
[Qur'an 2:203]
I’tikaf (seclusion in the
mosque) in the last ten days of Ramadan is the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be
upon him). It was the practice of the Prophet to perform I’tikaf till he passed
away. I’tikaf helps to enhance one's spiritual growth and to strive hard to
worship Allah better as there is nothing to distract one's attention from this
noble pursuit. I’tikaf can only be observed in the mosque preferably a Jumah
Mosque. I’tikaf is of two types the Sunnah and obligatory. The Sunnah I’tikaf
is that which the Muslim performs to get closer to Allah by following the
actions of the Prophet (peace be upon him), especially during the last ten days
of Ramadan. The obligatory I'tikaf is that which the person makes obligatory
upon himself. This may be done, for example, by an oath “By Allah! I must make
I'tikaf” or by a conditional oath “If Allah cures me, I shall make I'tikaf...”
In a hadith it is reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever
makes an oath to obey Allah should be obedient to Him.” 'Umar (RA) said “O
Messenger of Allah, I made an oath to perform I'tikaf one night in the mosque
at Makkah.” The Prophet (peace be upon him), said: "Fulfil your
oath." (Bukhari)
The person who performs I'tikaf
must be a Muslim adult, a discerning child who is free of sexual defilement, or
an adolescent who is free of menstrual or childbirth bleeding. I'tikaf is not
acceptable from an unbeliever, a non-discerning child, a sexually defiled
person, and a menstruating woman with post-childbirth bleeding. It is preferred
for the one who is making I'tikaf to perform many supererogatory acts of
worship and to occupy himself with prayers, reciting the Qur'an, glorifying and
praising Allah, extolling His oneness and His greatness, asking His
forgiveness, sending salutations on the Prophet (peace be upon him), and
supplicating to Allah. Included among these actions is studying and reading
books of tafseer and Hadith.
It is disliked for one to engage
in affairs that do not concern him. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said,
“Part of a man's good observance of Islam is that he leave alone that which
does not concern him.” It is, however, disliked for a person to think that he
can draw closer to Allah by not speaking, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was
delivering a speech, he saw a man standing and asked about him. The people
said, “He is Abu Israel. He has vowed to stand and not to sit, and not to
speak, and to fast.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Order him to speak,
go to the shade, to sit, and to complete his fast.” It was also reported that
the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There is no orphan-hood after one has
passed the age of maturity, and there is no non-speaking for a day until the
nightfall.” (Bukhari, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud)
Certain acts are not permitted
when one is performing I'tikaf, these act if done would nullify the I'tikaf.
Intentionally leaving the mosque without any need to do so nullifies the
I’tikaf, even if it is for just a short time. In such a case, one would not be
staying in the mosque, which is one of the principles of I'tikaf. Abandoning
belief in Islam, as this would nullify all acts of worship. Whoever ascribes
partner to Allah, his deeds are lost and he will be among the losers. Losing
one's reasoning due to insanity or drunkenness, or the onset of menstruation or
post-childbirth bleeding, Sexual intercourse, etc all disqualifies a person for
I’tikaf. Allah says, “But touch them not (that is, your wives) and be at your
devotions in the mosque.”
Also when in I’tikaf, it is
recommended that the voice should not be raised such that it disturbs others, once
the Prophet (peace be upon him) was in I’tikaf in the mosque and he heard the
people reciting aloud. He removed the covering and said, “Verily, each of you
is in a private conversation with his Lord so you should not disturb each
other. And you are not to raise your voices against each other in the
recitation.” (Bukhari)
Although it is agreed that the
one who performs I’tikaf may leave the mosque in order to answer the call of
nature, for this is something that he personally must perform, and he cannot do
it in the mosque. Also, if he needs to eat or drink and there is no one to
bring him his food, he may leave to get it. If one needs to vomit, he may leave
the mosque to do so. For anything that he must do but cannot do in the mosque,
he can leave it, and such acts will not void his I’tikaf, even if they take a
long time.
CONTEMPORARY COLLECTION SERIES:
TOUCHSTONE OF FAITH
There are men who go astray in
three ways. One is to leave aside the law of God and become slave of corporal
desires. The second is to give preference to family customs and ways of life of
forefathers over the law of God. The third is to ignore the system enunciated
by God and His messenger and follow the ways of fellow-beings who either are
big personalities of their own nation or dominant nations of the world.
Real definition of a Muslim
The real definition of a Muslim
is that he should be immune from these three ailments. That person alone is a
Muslim who sincerely believes that the teaching of God and His messenger is
Absolute Truth, and that whatever is against it is false, and that whatever is
good for man in this world and in the Hereafter is all contained in the
teaching of God and His messenger. One who has complete faith in these verities
always seeks guidance at every step in his life from the relevant injunction of
God and His messenger, and on knowing the injunction submits to it. Having done
that, he will never bother if his mind felt uneasy about it, or his family
members upbraided him, or the worldly type of people opposed him, because in
each case he will clearly reply: " I am God's slave not yours; I have
affirmed faith in His messenger, not in you."
1. Servitude of ' Self’
If, contrary to this, a person
says: "May this be the injunction of God and His messenger, my mind does
not accept it because I consider it harmful. So I shall put aside the
directions of God and His messenger and act according to my own opinion".
Obviously the heart of such a person is bereft of faith. He is not a Mu’min but
a hypocrite because while he verbally asserts that he is a servant of God and a
follower of His messenger, in reality he is a slave of his own self and a
follower of his own opinion.
2. Adherence to custom
Similarly, if a person says that
whatever may be the injunctions of God and His Prophet, how can a certain
custom be given up when it is practised from his forefather's time or how can a
usage be discontinued which has been in vogue for long in his family and kith
and kin. Such a person too will be reckoned among the hypocrites, though he
might have grown on his forehead any size of knob due to profuse prostration in
endless prayers and might have made his face very religious looking because the
actual reality of Deen has not permeated his heart. Deen does not consist of
Ruku’, Sajdah, Fasting and Hajj nor is it found in the face and dress of a man.
In fact, Deen means obedience to God and His messenger. One who refuses to obey
God and His messenger in conducting his affairs, his heart is in reality devoid
of Deen. His Salaah, his fasting and his religious appearance is nothing but a
fraud.
3. Imitation of other nations
Similarly if a person, not
caring for the Book of God and His messenger's directions, urges that certain
custom be adopted because it is prevalent among Englishmen, and a particular
thing be accepted because another nation is making progress because of it, and
a certain point be conceded because a big person is advocating it, then such a
person should guard himself against losing his faith. This type of talk is
irreconcilable to Iman. If you are a Muslim and want to remain a Muslim, then
throw overboard every suggestion which is contrary to the injunctions of God
and His messenger. Should you be unable to do this, it does not behove you to
claim adherence to Islam. To assert verbally that you believe in God and His
messenger but to set aside their injunctions in the affairs of your life in
favour of other people's dictum, is neither Iman nor Islam. In fact it is downright
hypocrisy. Allah has clearly stated in the twenty-fourth chapter of the
Qur'an:- "Verily We have sent down revelations and explained them. Allah
guideth whom He will unto a straight path. And they say: We believe in Allah
and the messenger and we obey, then after that a faction of them turn away.
Such are not believers. And when they appeal unto Allah and His messenger to
judge between them. Lo! a faction of them are averse. But if right had been
with them they would have come unto him willingly. Is there in their hearts a
disease or have they doubts, or fear they lest Allah and His messenger should
wrong them in judgment. Nay, but such are evil doers. The saying of (all true)
believers, when they appeal unto Allah and His messenger to judge between them
is only that they say: We hear and we obey. And such are the fortunate. He who
obeyeth Allah and His messenger, and feareth Allah and keepeth duty (unto Him):
such indeed are the successful." (24:46-52) Ponder over the definition of
Iman set forth in the above verses. Real Iman consists in dedicating oneself to
the Book of God and directions of His messenger. Whatever order is received
from there, must be implicitly obeyed and nothing against it should be listened
to, may it come from one's own mind or from the family members or from the
worldly people. Only that person is Mu’min and Muslim who develops this state
of mind. And whoever is devoid of it is not more than a hypocrite.
[- Culled from Let Us Be Muslims –by Maududi. - Contributed by
Abu Suad, UK. ©RamadanMessage 2007]
And
Allaah knows best.
May
Allah Almighty accept our fast and blessed us
May
Almighty Allah reward us abundantly and accept our Ibadaah. Ameen
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