Some
thought-provoking & heartfelt words on Ramadhan
by Ibn al-Jawzi (rahimahullaah)
‘… Where are those who fast & where are those who pray by night? Where are those who obey their Lord &
where are those who work righteousness? Where are those who are foremost &
where are the humble ones? Where are those who remember (their Lord) & where
are those devoted to Him? Where are the truthful & where are the patient?
Where are the charity-givers? Where are those who enjoin good, who save the
troubled ones & who forbid the wrong? Where are those who heed contemplation & who listen to good advice & life-lessons? By Allaah, they have indeed
gone with the Salihin (righteous), returned with the Mu’minin (believers),
settled with the Anbiya’ (Prophets) & taken residence with the Siddiqin
(truthful ones). But us, we remain behind with the ignorant, have settled with
the wrong-doers & have taken the heedless as our guides…
Fasting is the shield of nations, protecting from the Hellfire
And fasting is a fortress for whoever fears that fire;
Fasting is a covering for all the people of goodness,
Those who fear the burden of blame & sinfulness
And this month is the month of the Lord of the Throne
A Most Merciful Lord, Who conceals the heavy sins & burdens
So therein have fasted men who thus profited
Their reward lies with the Exalted & Forgiving One
And so they came to settle in Everlasting Gardens
Surrounded by maidens, & rivers and plantations…
So glad tidings to those who
obey the Most Merciful King in this month of Mercy, this month of Ramadhan.
They bore patience over a few days, & thus long-lasting Mercy & abundant
blessings came after them & pursued them. Every time you do good in this
month, you shall be rewarded for the rest of your life because righteousness is
a habit & evilness is mere stubbornness.
Where are you O’ fasting one,
who prays by night? Come forth to goodness & you shall triumph with
everlasting happiness! Trade with your Lord & you shall profit, work with Him & you shall be successful, apologize & He shall accept your apology, seek
His forgiveness & He shall forgive your sins, draw close to Him & He shall
alleviate your suffering, ask Him from His Bounties & He shall expand your
provisions, repent to Him & He shall increase your portion (in life).
O my dear brother, in this
month all faults & mistakes are concealed, all souls & hearts are softened,
sins & burdens are forgiven, & Allaah `azza wa jal relieves every sad &
troubled one. He says to His angels, ‘O My Angels, look at those dry tongues, how they become
moist with My Remembrance. Look at those hard eyes, how they soften & weep
out of fear of Me, & look at those delicate feet planted firmly at the
stations of prayer out of desire for Me!’
O my dear brother, whenever you give food to others in
this month for the sake of Allaah the Lord of the heavens & the earth, you
shall be raised to high ranks in the lofty grounds of Paradise, & you will be
clothed with complete goodness & stripped of all sin…’
Ibn al-Jawzi, ‘Bustan al-Wa’idhin
wa Riyadh al-Sami’in’ (pg. 185-186)
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