Benefits obtained in conditioning oneself to fast after Ramadhan

 

  

A few excerpts from the wonderful work (Lataa'if al Maa'rif) of Al Hafith ibn Rajab رحمه الله.

      ** Fasting the six days of Shawwal completes the reward for fasting a full year.

   ** Fasting these six days and previously fasting in the month of Shabaan (prior to Ramadhan) is similar to the sunan ar-rawaatib (voluntary prayers associated to each obligatory prayer). These prayers proceed and succeed the obligatory prayers, and correct the deficiency and insufficiency present within them. Indeed voluntary prayers strengthen and perfect any deficiency present within obligatory prayers as has been mentioned by the Messenger صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم in several narrations. Most people possess fault and defect in their obligatory prayers, and because of this the Messenger  صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم forbade a person from saying: I have fasted and stood (in prayer) the full month of Ramadhan. (Abu Dawud, Nisa'ee) A companion upon hearing this hadith said: I don't know if this forbiddance was due to dislike of praise or due to defect present in the act of worship.

Reflecting upon the patience of Yoosuf ( عليه السلام)

Ibnul-Qayyim رحمه الله said: I heard Sheikh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله say: 

((The patience of Yoosuf عليه السلام against compliance to the wife of Al-‘Azeez in her matter was more complete than his patience over his being thrown into the well by his brothers and his being sold off as well as their separating him from his father. For these affairs passed him whilst he had no choice in them, he was not secure from them; the servant is in no position in them except to have patience. As for his patience from committing sin; then that was practicing a patience of choice and waging a war upon the Nafs (inner-self/soul). 

The Doors of Success - Ibnul-Qayyim رحمه الله

“The doors of success have been closed upon the creation because of six things:

Their busying themselves with the blessings of Allaah instead of thanking Allaah for them, their desire for knowledge while they abandon actions, the hastiness to sin and delaying repentance, the deception of having righteous companions and not taking them as examples, the turning away of the dunya from them while they chase it, and the approach of the afterlife towards them while they turn away from it.”

Source: Al Fawaai’d by Ibnul Qayyim: Pg. 161

The example of the believer who recites the Qur’âan...

In the two Authentic Books on the authority of Abu Musa from the Prophet (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم): 

مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الأُتْرُجَّة طَعْمُها طَيِّبٌ وَ رِيْحُها طَيِّبٌ ، وَ مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الَّذِي لَا يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ التَّمْرَةِ طَعْمُها طَيِّبٌ وَ  لَا رِيْحَ لَهَا، وَ مَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الرَّيْحَانَة رِيْحُها طَيِّبٌ وَ لَا طَعْمَ لَهَا، وَمَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ الَّذِي لَا يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الْحَنْظَلَةِ طَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ وَ لَا رِيْحَ لَهَا

“The example of the believer who recites the Qur’âan is like the example of a citron, its taste and smell is good. The example of the believer who doesn't recite the Qur’âan  is like the example of a date-fruit; its taste is good without having any smell to it. The example of the hypocrite who recites the Qur’âan  is like the example of sweet basil, it smells good and its taste is bitter. The example of the hypocrite who doesn’t recite the Qur’âan is like the example of colocynth, its taste is bitter with no smell to it.” 

(Bukhâri & Muslim)

Humility a strange thing...

 

 

ادْعُواْ رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ

“Invoke your Lord with humility & in secret. He likes not the aggressors.”

(Al-A'raf 7:55)

وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا

"And the slaves of the Most Beneficent (Allâh) are those who walk on the earth in humility & sedateness, & when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with mild words of gentleness."

(Al-Furqan 25:63)

The Mannerisms & Characteristics of those who uphold the Qur'aan - 5

... contd..

From the negative descriptions that a person should be free from is that they should not display arrogance and arrogant behaviour towards anyone. They should not be overbearing, presumptuous, boastful, haughty and treating others unjustly. All these traits negates humbleness.

Anas رضي اللّه عنـه  narrated that the Messenger of Allaahصلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم  said:

'Humble yourselves so that you won't boast. The one who boasts will be a party against another nor should he display arrogant behaviour to someone else.'

(Bukhari)

From the characteristics that the beholder of the Qur'aan should free himself from is that they should not have 'bad thoughts about anyone) - (soo ad-dhan) except for someone who deserves it i.e. their situation is clear. Other than that, we should have good thought of our brothers and sisters in Islaam. 

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The Forgiveness Granted on Laylatul Qadr

Contemplate, on the Mercy of Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى, that ONE night of worship 

may ERASE a lifetime of sins: 

It is reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضي اللّه عنـه, that Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) said:

‘Whoever stood in prayer on the night of Al-Qadr, in faith and hoping for a reward from Allaah, he will have ALL of his previous sins forgiven.’

(Narrated by Al-Bukhari & Muslim)

O people! Fear Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) and take advantage of the seasons of goodness and Allaah’s (سُبحانه وتعالى) favors by building up what draws you nearer to your Lord, and beware of wasting and giving up these opportunities. If you do so, you will regret every moment you waste.

O brothers! If you do not profit in this great month, then when do you plan to profit? If one does not revert to his Lord in this month, when does he intend to revert? He who is still inactive in gaining the favors and goodness of this month, when does he think he will be righteous and successful?

My brothers! Take advantage of the opportunities in this month before it is too late! Keep your souls away from its destruction and ruin. Your great month has started to diminish. The count has begun on its precious nights and days. So make up for what you have missed and take advantage of what is left before it is too late. Hurry to Allaah, the Almighty! Repent for your sins, and know that actions are but by conclusion, so conclude your actions with good deeds. Two thirds of this great month have passed. What is left of it, is only one-third, but it is the last ten days of Ramadhan, [which are the most virtuous and precious days]. Avail yourselves of these days with honest intentions, doing all what is righteous and being benevolent.

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.”

Striving is a must in the Last 10 days of Ramadhan - MUST READ

Sheikh Saleh al-Fawzan (hafidhahullaah) says in Lesson 26 “The Virtue of Laylatul Qadr and the importance of striving for it” from “Ittihaaf Ahlil-Eemaan bi Duroos Shahri Ramdhan,”  pages 63-65:

الحمد لله فضّل شهر رمضان على غيره من الشهور، وخصه بليلة القدر، التي هي خير من ألف شهر، والصلاة والسلام على نبينا محمد وآله وصحبه، أما بعد:

All praise is due to Allaah, He gave preference to the month of Ramadhan over other than it from the (other) months, and may blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Companions. Allaah the Most High said:

‘We sent it (this Qur’aan) down on a blessed night in the month of Ramadhan. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship]. Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments.’

 [Ad-Dukhaan (44):4]

And the Most High said:

‘Verily! We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the night of Al-Qadr, And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months [i.e. worshipping Allaah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months.] Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel] by Allaah’s Permission with all Decrees, Peace! (All that night, there is Peace and Goodness from Allaah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.’

[Al-Qadr (97)]

And it is in the blessed month of Ramadhan, due to the saying of the Most High:

‘The month of Ramadhan in which was revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between Truth and falsehood).’ [al-Baqarah (2):185]

The Mannerisms & Characteristics of those who uphold the Qur'aan - 4

From the characteristics of the beholders of the Qur'aan {Hamalatul Qur'aan - حَمَلَةُ القُرْان} should have is that they should NOT be known for a lot of laughter. Imaam Aajuri - آجُرِّي (رحمه الله) mentioned that he should be known for laughing a little. It has been confirmed that the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم would laugh in particular situations but he did not do this in abundance.  

Abu Huraira رضي اللّه عنـه reported: The Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said,

“Do not laugh too much. Verily, too much laughter will harden the heart.”

(Sunan Ibn Mājah 4193 - saheeh according to al-Albani)

 The next characteristic Aajuri (رحمه الله) mentioned is that the person should NOT be amazed at his capabilities. They should not praise themselves concerning that which Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى has blessed and bestowed upon him. This could be knowledge, wealth, skills, his ability to recite the Qur'aan, the quantity he has memorized. 

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