Welcome Ramadan 1444 AH / 2023

Ramadan is important because of the Qur’an. The Qur’an was revealed in this month. On one of the odd nights of the last ten days.

We read the Qur’an. Most of us don’t understand when we read it.

The Qur’an has been revealed to be understood. To be followed. Not to be just read and put in a high shelf. What are the chances the we follow the Qur’an if we don’t even understand what the message is?

“O you, who believe. Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious). (Fasting) for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (i.e. an old man, etc.), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person (for every day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast, it is better for you if only you know.” (Qur’an, 2:183-84)

Prophet PBUH said, “When the month of Ramadan begins, the gates of the heaven are opened; the gates of Hell-fire are closed, and the devils are chained.”

“Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. Whoever prays during the nights in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. And he who passes Lailat Al-Qadr in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.”

“Every deed of man will receive ten to 700 times reward, except Siyam (fasting), for it is for Me and I shall reward it (as I like). There are two occasions of joy for one who fasts: one when he breaks the fast and the other when he will meet his Lord”

“If anyone omits his fast even for one day in Ramadan without a concession or without being ill, then if he were to fast for the rest of his life he could not make up for it.”

RAMADAN IS AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE:

• This may be the last Ramadan of our lives. So, take advantage. Be serious about life. Now.
• One night equals a thousand nights. Sura Qadr. Our fate is written on this day. Whether you will be alive next year or not. Whether you will make Hajj next year or not.
• This is the month that Du’a accepted. “”And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.”Sura Baqara.
• This is the month of victory for Muslims.
• Allah can take our life anytime. This has happened to many and you and I are no exception. Doctors can tell the cause of death, not the purpose. The purpose of life and death is to test us
• When death comes our lives is taken by force.. its not that anyone wants to die. All of us will be in one of three categories – right, left or forefront. Are we working to be amongst the ones in the forefront?
• Take a step forward. We can move today. With death, we will lose our freedom.
• Slowly but surely, we are moving from full strength to ultimate helplessness. We won’t be able move our limbs, our feet, our eyes, our ears. That is the time the breath will be taken away from us. That is the time we shall return to the Creator. And our opportunity for doing deeds will be no more. We may say,  “until, when death comes to one of them, he says, “My Lord, send me back. That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind.” No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected.” Sura Muminoon

WHAT IS TAQWA? HOW IS TAQWA RELATED TO RAMADAN?

TAQWA is not fear of Allah — — what we do as a result of the fear is TAQWA. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani has defined TAQWA as “to create a barrier between yourself and the punishment of Allah SWT by obeying ALL His commands and abstaining from ALL His prohibitions”

• the person who has TAQWA will be the one who will be given safety from hellfire and admitted into Jannah. Sura Naba
• the Prophet PBUH was asked what is it that will take people to Jannah? He replied Taqwallah and Husnul Khuluq (good character and conduct). These two will enter us into Jannah by the Mercy of Allah SWT. Relationship with Allah, relationship with people.
• Every aspect of our life should be guided by the consciousness of our Creator
• it’s not that everyone who fasts will gain TAQWA . Fasting is a means.. only if we do it right.
• when we obey Allah’s command while fasting and do not listen to the demands of our body (everyone feels hungry and thirsty when the day is long!) … every time we do this, we’re developing a consciousness of Allah. Why is this exercise important? Reason is – we will have a much easier time dealing with the obedience of Allah outside of the fasting. This is the training.

Ramadan is a time for self-reflection – has Ramadan changed me at all? Has there been any change in me from last year Ramadan to this year? From ten years ago to this year?

Am I just filling space in this world? We didn’t come to this world to buy cars and houses… no matter what worldly possession we have it’s going to be left behind one day. We love what is in front of our eyes… forgetting that which is surely coming when we close our eyes. “But you prefer the worldly life, While the Hereafter is better and more enduring.” Sura Al A’la

A loser is the one who spends all his time and effort preparing for this worldly life and does not make any effort in preparing for the life to come…and when we actually see it … it is going to be too late! A loser is the one who comes to this world and does not find Allah SWT.

SOME QUESTIONS AND THOUGHTS YOU MAY HAVE…

• I don’t understand the Qur’an when I read … I don’t know Arabic
  • Make an effort and start now. Life is short. Nothing happens without an effort.
• I am not a religious person so it’s okay if I don’t fast
  • Don’t disobey your Creator who created you from nothing, and you were not even known to anyone 1 day before your birth.
• Religion is a personal thing – its important to be a good person
  • The Qur’an is THE book of guidance. Follow the Qur’an – equals success. Don’t follow the Qur’an equals destruction. In the life and the Hereafter.
• I am answerable .. I can do what I like
  • You will be standing on a Day in front of Allah, the length of which is 50,000 years.
• Fasting, Ramadan, taraveeh — this is lot of work, I am a busy person and have a tight schedule
  • All schedule will end when one fine morning you can’t get up because you can’t move.
• I am still young. I will get more serious when I grow older
  • You never know when time is up!
• Fasting and taraveeh have nothing to do with my everyday life, my religion is different from my day to day life
  • Allah created you and I so that we may worship Him.
• I have doubts about life after death, Jannah, Jahannam – does it really exist? Will we be raised up again?
  • Doubts will kill Iman. This is all what the test is about. If Allah was seen with our clear eyes, there would be no test. Look around you and you will signs of THE CREATOR.
• I am not dying anytime soon –.. let me enjoy life.. there’s so much to do!
  • Death has nothing to do with being old but with how much time you have been allocated in this world!
• Lessons from the Qur’an is applicable to the people of seventh century and hardly applies in this day and age of technological advancement
  • Throughout the ages people have tried to find fault with the Qur’an. Without success. This is the Book, the way of life.
• I don’t fast – what’s wrong with that?
  • You are preparing yourself for the fire of Jahannam by disobeying your Creator.  He created you from nothing and after birth you had no clue whether you were male or female. Neither did your parents when you were in the belly of your mom. You had no choice with regards to your date of birth, place of birth, family of birth, skin color, height, weight, color of your hair.
• I fast but I do not pray..
  • [And asking them], “What put you into Saqar?”
    They will say, “We were not of those who prayed,
    Nor did we used to feed the poor.
    And we used to enter into vain discourse with those who engaged [in it],
    
    The above applies to you if you miss salah. Part time namazis are also bound for the fire of Hell.
    Everyone will be walking over the fire of Hell. Sura Maryam. The people of taqwa will be saved.

SOME DEEDS WE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY THIS RAMADAN:

1. Try to read the Qur’an cover to cover more than once
2. Try to reflect on the meaning of the Qur’an even if it is one verse. These are the words of the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth and each
3. Do self reflection. Have you changed from last Ramadan to this Ramadan?
4. Donate more than you normally would on the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan
5. Memorize one new du’a
6. Increase your salah more than you normally would, even by two rakah

“Whoever refuses to humble himself before Allah or to spend his money in the way of His pleasure or to tire his spirit and his body in His obedience, it is inevitable that he will be made humble to something else and he will spend his money toward it, and he will tire his spirit and body in its obedience as a punishment for him.” Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah.

May Allah make this Ramadan the best of our lives in terms of getting closer to our Creator.

Allah knows best.

Related Links:

• Preparing for Ramadan – Dr. Roubiya Mohamed challenges myths about Diet and Nutrition
• HOW TO PREPARE FOR RAMADAN BEFORE IT STARTS – Mufti Menk