The mindset, preparation and practices of The Salaf during Ramadan

 

Our Shaykh Abu Bilaal Al-Hadhramy- may Allah preserve him- was asked the following question on 30^th Sha'baan 1441 ( 23^rd April 2020):

Question: How did The Salaf prepare for the month of Ramadan?

Answer: First of all, they would be overjoyed by its arrival and rejoice at it. 

(1. Supplication)

They would spend six months asking Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالى) to allow them to reach Ramadan and if they fasted Ramadan; they would spend (the next) six months asking Allah to accept it from them.

It has indeed been reported that Yahya ibn Abee Kathir (may Allah have mercy upon him) used to say: 

"اللهم سلِّمنا لرمضان وسلِّم رمضان لنا"

"Oh Allah; deliver us to Ramadan and deliver Ramadan to us."

It is a month of sweet scented blessings, a month of forgiveness of sins and a month of goodness - all of it.

(2. Recitation of The Qur’ān)

So there is no doubt that it is a bringer of joy and the Salaf were certainly overjoyed with it. From their over enjoyment, they would recite the book of Allaah more in it than outside of it. 

In fact; it was mentioned regarding Sufyān At-Thawree  (may Allah have mercy upon him - that when Ramadan entered he would leave all actions and devote his (complete) attention to The Qur’ān.

Similarly, it was also reported that Imam Malik - may Allah have mercy upon him) despite his deep love for narrating hadith and hadith in general; once Ramadan had entered he devoted his (complete) attention to The Qur’ān and stopped narrating hadith, this was his preparation. 

(3. Sitting in the Masjid)

Ramadhan - Benefits & Rulings (1)

Ramadhan - Benefits & Rulings (1)

~Umm Hyatt حفظها الله

 

  Allaah سبحانه و تعالى says in Surah Al- Baqarah, (2:183): 

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ 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-Muttaqun.

(Al-Baqarah, 2:183)

From this verse, we benefit that fasting is not specific for the ummah of Muhammad (ﷺ) alone. Rather, He made it obligatory for those nations before Muhammad (ﷺ). 

 From the benefits of fasting is that:

There is no specific reward (not a particular number) for the fasting person; rather, the reward is with Allaah (عزّوجلّ). There is no limit to the reward given to fasting. It does not have a specific amount of reward. Allaah (عزّوجلّ) has mentioned that the reward is upon Him and He rewards without any limitations.  

The hadith of Abi Hurairah in Bukhari & Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said,

"(Allaah said), 'Every good deed of Aadam's son is for him except fasting; it is for Me. and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it.'

حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ، إِلاَّ الصَّوْمَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي، وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ....

Because of the greatness and importance of fasting and the love for this particular worship, He (عزّوجلّ) has made it specifically for Him.

There is no limit of reward He bestows on the fasting person. 

Continue to read / download pdf

Purifying Our Souls Before Ramadhan

 

By: Abuu 'Atiyyah Mahmoud Ibn Muhammad

Click to listen to the audio: 

Purifying our souls before Ramadhan

Actions Specific to the Last Ten Days of Ramadhan

The Messenger - صلى الله عليه وسلم - used to specify the last ten days of Ramadhan with specific actions that he wouldn’t practice during the rest of the month.

Amongst them: Staying up at night, it is possible that what is meant is that he would stay up the whole night, in the Hadeeth of ‘Aa-ishah: 

“The Messenger used to combine between sleep and prayer during the first twenty days, when that last ten came in, he would role up his sleeves and tighten his Izaar.”

[Narrated by Ahmad]

It is also possible that what is meant is that he used to stay up the majority of the night, this opinion is supported by a Hadeeth collected by Muslim on the authority of ‘Aa-ishah: 

“I do not know that he ever stayed up until the morning for even one night.”

What should one preoccupy his time with in Ramadhan

Sheikh Saleh al-Fawzaan حفظه الله 

** (Edited for the blog)

All praise be to Allaah for His blessings and generosity. He has blessed us by allowing us to reach the month of Ramadhan and enabling us to do good deeds by which we can draw nearer to Him. And may the peace and blessings be on our Prophet Muhammad – who was the first to hasten to do good deeds – as well as upon his family and Companions – those who believed in him, supported him and followed the light that was revealed to him. They are the successful ones.

As for what follows, then:

I advise you and myself to fear Allaah during this blessed month as well as in any other month. However, this month has a special merit by which Allaahسبحانه و تعالى has distinguished it, since it is a unique occasion for performing good deeds. 

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) would also give his Companions the glad tidings of its arrival and explain to them its many virtues, saying to them:

“O people! A great and blessed month has come upon you.”

The Door in Paradise for those who fast

It was narrated from Sahl bin Sa’d رضي الله عنه that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said:

“In Paradise there is a gate called ar-Rayyan. On the Day of Resurrection the call will be made saying:

‘Where are those who used to fast?’

Whoever is among those who used to fast will enter it, and whoever enters it will never be thirsty again.”

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 7, Hadith 1709)

Audios on how to benefit from the Month of Ramadhan.

Abu Huraira رضي اللّه عنـه reported: The Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم ascended the pulpit and he said, “Aameen, Aameen, Aameen.” It was said, “O' Messenger of Allaah, you ascended the pulpit and said Aameen, Aameen, Aameen.” The Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said, “Verily, Jibreel came to me and he said: Whoever reaches the month of Ramadhan and he is not forgiven, then he will enter Hell-fire and Allaah will cast him far away, so say Aameen. I said Aameen. Whoever sees his parents in their old age, one or both of them, and he does not honor them and he dies, then he will enter Hell-fire and Allaah will cast him far away, so say Aameen. I said Aameen. Whoever has your name mentioned in his presence and he does not send blessings upon you and he dies, then he will enter Hell-fire and Allaah will cast him far away, so say Aameen. I said Aameen.”

(Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 915)

For audios on how to benefit from the Month of Ramadhan, please click the link below. 

Click for audios on Ramadhan

Menses at the time of Laylatul Qadr.. what can the sisters do??

by Dr. Saleh As-Saleh (رحمه الله) - (Transcribed)

 Sisters who have their natural blood on these days should NOT give up!!

The woman in her menses in her last ten days of Ramadhan is still beneficial for her to get up in the last third of the night to make du'aa as she cannot make salaah, of course. It is beneficial to make du'aa in the third of the night and this is open for the one who is in a state of ritual purity or ritual impurity. So there is nothing wrong with that. And the woman in menses also could recite Qur’aan and could make remembrances. All of that, and we can refer you to the book, Natural Blood of Woman by our Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen رحمه الله.  

If a sister on her menses during the last ten nights, is she allowed to do prayer on these nights?

No. She can do anything except the prayers and fasting. She can invoke Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى). She can invoke Allaah with this du'aa. She can give charity. She can do all good actions of worship except for praying and fasting. And by the way, a comment on this answer, for all the sisters: a woman who gets her menses during this time – this is a matter prescribed by Allaah. They should NOT feel in anyway, saddened at all. Why should they feel sad? Even a little bit, when Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) prescribed this matter upon them? This is a very important matter. They shouldn’t have any kind of objection what so ever. They are NOT going to be deprived of anything that Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) bestowed of his favors because of this. 

Ramadhan Reminder ..

Now that Ramadhan is so close & many different types of food will be prepared, remember this:

It is from the Sunnah of our Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم to allow the food to cool before eating it: It has been authentically reported from Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that he said:

 “One should not eat the food until its steam goes away.”
  [Sunan al-Baihaqee] and graded as “Saheeh”

by Sheikh Nasirudeen al-Albaanee (رحمه الله تعالى) in al-Saheehah (1/748)

Rulings pertaining to Fasting & Ramadhan

Abridged by Abu Abdullah Musa al-Burcaawi        

From the works of Sheikh Muhammed Hizaam           

An excellent concise read !!

Click to Read & Download

New Ramadhan Audios

*  Live Ramadhan Talk Series* 

Click on the titles to listen to the new Audios:

"Last 10 Nights of Ramadhaan and The Night of Decree” : By Nawwas Al-Hindi

Soorah Al-Ghaafir: By Abdur Rahman Ash-Shameeri

“The Night Prayer” : By Abu Dahdaa Al-Hajoori

Tune into Ahsan Qawl Islaamic Internet Radio on Speaker & iHeart

:Links for Live Listening

Spreaker Radio

IHeart Radio