Awakening the Last Ten Nights of Ramadan

Question: If I want to awaken the last ten nights of Ramadhan when should I begin?

Sheikh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez ibn Baaz رحمه الله answers: “You should begin after the ‘Ishaa prayer. The Messenger of Allaahصلى الله عليه وسلم  used to awaken the last ten nights of Ramadhan, ‘Aaisha رضي الله عنها said:

“When the last ten nights of Ramadhan would begin, the Messenger of Allaahصلى الله عليه وسلم  would stay awake at night for prayer and devotion, awaken his family and prepare himself to be more diligent in worship.”

This is what is best if one is capable of doing so. However if one sleeps some of the night to strengthen himself then that is fine. As for one who Allaah granted him the power and ability to remain awake during them, then this is the sunnah and something that draws near to Allaah. (Awakening the nights) is by prayer, recitation of the Qur’aan, supplication, seeking forgiveness, etc.”

[The reader of the question says] “Can you kindly mention the dates so that perhaps she can intend to do them?

There is a gate in Paradise called "Ar-Raiyaan"

Narrated Sahl: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyaan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, ‘Where are those who used to observe fasts?’ They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it.”

Sahih Al-Bukhari :: Book# 31 :: Hadith# 120

Beware of Innovations during Ramadhan.

By: Brother Musa Millington (حفظه الله)

 

I ask Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى), the Mighty, to bless us all with a beneficial Ramadhan, a Ramadhan in which we would inculcate the noble characteristic of (taqwa) - piety.

Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) has said:

يأيها الذين امنوا كتب عليكم الصيام كما كتب على الذين من قبلكم لعلكم تتقون

"Oh ye who believe fasting has been prescribed upon you like those before you so that you may gain piety."

One of the many definitions of taqwa (piety) is to obey Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) in what he has legislated and to distance oneself from what he has prohibited wanting by this the pleasure of Allaah.

From the matters which have been forbidden in the legislation is innovation (بدعة). The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said in the Hadeeth of 'Irbaad Ibn Saariyah:

"و إياكم و محدثات الأمور فإن كل محدثة بدعة و كل بدعة ضلالة و كل ضلالة في النار"

And beware of newly invented matters in this religion, for every newly invented matter is an innovation & every innovation is misguidance & every (person of) misguidance is in the Hellfire.

Claim this month of Ramadhan!

Advice of Sheikh Saleh al-Fawzan (حفظه الله)

Since already half of Ramadhan has passed away, we should not let go of the enthusiasm and eagerness we had in the beginning of this blessed month. Every minute of this month counts, so don’t let yourself lose out on this great opportunity which Allaah has blessed you with by keeping you alive to witness this year’s Ramadhan.

This is a small piece of advice extracted from few of Sheikh Salih ibn al-Fawzaan al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah)’s answers and Khutbahs.

The Shaykh said in a Khutbah:

“O people, fear Allaah, Exalted be He, & know that you have a great month & a generous season “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind, & clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong).”

[Surah al-Baqarah 2:185]

It is a month of mercy, a month of forgiveness and the month of freedom from the Hell Fire. So make use of it before it passes away. Avail yourself from the best of its time and repent from sins. Increase in good deeds. The wretched ones are deprived of its good. Whoever Allaah has deprived of this great season (by the decree of Allaah), he is deprived. And the true deprivation is not of what he loses in the world but from what he loses in the Hereafter.

Why Fast?

By: Brother Musa Millington (حفظه الله)

Many non-Muslims may ask us why is it that we must fast from food, drink and our desires from dawn to sunset every day for thirty days. 

Now, in many instances Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) may not have clarified the wisdom in doing something. Therefore, upon us Muslims is to obey regardless of whether or not we know the wisdom behind what we are doing. As Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) has said:

" و ما اتاكم الرسول فخذوا و ما نهاكم عنه فانتهوا"

‘Whatever the Messenger gave you take it and whatever he has prohibited you from leave it.’

However, in this case, Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) has been so Merciful that the wisdom of fasting has been mentioned in His Book, the Qur'aan, & in the Sunnah of the final servant & Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

The Inner Secrets of Fasting

There are three levels of fasting, the general fast, the specific fast & the more specific fast.

By Imaam Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisee

 

Know, that in the fast (Sawm) is a special quality that is not found in anything else. And that is its close connection to Allaah, such that He says:

‘‘The Fast (Sawm) is for Me & I will reward it.’’ ^[2]

This connection is enough to show the high status of fasting. Similarly, the Ka’bah is highly dignified due to its close connection to Him, as occurs in His statement:
                        ‘‘And sanctify My House.’’ ^[3]

Indeed, the fast is only virtuous due to two significant concepts:

THE FIRST: It is a secret and hidden action, thus, no one from the creation is able to see it Therefore riyaa‘ (showing off) cannot enter into it.

THE SECOND: It is a means of subjugating the enemies of Allaah. This is because the road that the enemies (of Allaah) embark upon (in order to misguide the Son of Aadam) is that of desires. And eating and drinking strengthens the desires. There are many reports that indicate the merits of fasting, and they are well known.

Who is the fasting person?

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (رحمه الله) said:

The fasting person is the one whose limbs abstains from sins, his tongue (abstains) from lying, lewdness & false speech, his stomach (abstains) from food & drink & his private parts (abstain) from obscenity. When he speaks, he does not speak with what harms his fasting, & when he acts he does not do what corrupts his fasting. All his speech comes out useful & righteous.

Explanation of 'Fasting is for Me & I shall reward for it.'

 Shaykh Saalih ibn al-Fawzaan al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah) 

 

The Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that:

"Allaah said: ‘Fasting is for Me & I shall reward for it…’”

 [Bukhaari (1761) & Muslim (1946)]

The obvious question which comes to one's mind when he reads the above hadeeth is that, we all know that all deeds, actions & worship are for the sake of Allaah & He is the One Who rewards for them, so then what is special about fasting that Allaah has singled it out from other acts of worship by his statement "Fasting is for Me and I shall reward for it"?

This question was put forward to Shaykh Saalih ibn al-Fawzaan al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah). He was asked,

Question: In the hadith Qudsi, “All the actions by the son of Adam are for him, except fasting for verily it is for Me & I shall reward for it.” I would like an explanation to this hadith. Why is fasting singled out with this specification? Please advise me. May Allaah bless you.

The Shaykh replied,

This is a great hadith & it has been established that the Prophet, صلى الله عليه وسلم, has narrated this hadith from his Lord the Mighty & Exalted. “All the actions by the son of Adam are for him, except fasting for verily it is for Me & I shall reward for it.”

This hadith contains the great virtue of fasting, & its great merit in comparison with the other deeds & Allaah singled out fasting for Himself, from amongst the deeds of the son of Adam. The people of knowledge have answered the statement of Allaah, (“Fasting is for Me & I shall reward for it”), with a number of answers:

(1) From them is the one who said the statement of Allaah, (“Fasting is for Me & I shall reward for it”), means that a person’s good deeds may leave him pending retribution between him & the one that he oppressed; so the one that he oppressed will take retaliation from him on the Day of Judgment by taking something from his good deeds & his charity. This is as appears in the hadith that a man will come on the Day of Judgment with good deeds like a mountain. But he insulted this person & he struck this person & he consumed the wealth of this person.

Therefore they will take for this wrongdoing some of his good deeds, & for that wrongdoing some of his good deeds, until when the person does not have any good deeds left then they will have to take the sins of the ones they oppressed, so all of these sins will drop upon them & they will be flung into the fire.

Except for fasting, for verily it will NOT be taken by the creditor (meaning the one who was oppressed & is due retribution) on the Day of Judgment. But rather it shall only be preserved & saved by Allaah the Mighty & Majestic for the one who observes it & He shall reward him for it.

The Chaining of the Shayātīn during the Month of Mercy (1)

The Messenger of Allāh (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, 

“When Ramadhan begins, the gates of the Heavens are opened, and the gates of the Hell-fire are closed, and the Shayātīn (devils) are chained.”

The questioner may ask,  
“If the Shayātīn are chained up during the blessed month of Mercy, Shahr Ramaḍān, then why does evil and sin still occur?”

Wipe the dust off your Mushaf & let's start reciting!

Reading the Qur'aan during Ramadaan - (Extracts of the article)

'Abdullaah bin Saalih Al-Fawzaan 

                                                                  
   

Let's turn our attention to the Qur’aan this blessed month.

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ

“The month of Ramadhan is that in which the Qur’aan was revealed…”

Abu Umaamah (radiAllaahu 'anhu) reported that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 

"Recite the Qur'aan for indeed it will come on the Day of Judgement as an intercessor for its Ashaab (those who read, memorize & implement it)." ⁽¹⁾