RamadHAaN IS A SPECIAL MONTH
This month of Ramadhaan especially is such that Allah Ta'ala has saved us from another environment. It is as if Allah Ta'ala is saying, 'O My Banda! Where are you tramping around with your farming? Come hither to My door! O My Banda! Why are you rooted to your shop busy buying and selling? Come hither to My Royal Court, to the Masjid! O My Banda! Why are you busy mending shoes and sewing clothes? Come hither! Free yourself from everything and come to My door!' Haq Ta'ala has summoned us here in order to shower us with gifts. He has called us so that our sins may be forgiven. He has called us for the Islah (purification) of our hearts and states (ahwal). Rather this than to sit in our shops and factories getting involved in throwing abuse at one another, and to be involved in making gheebat, and in fault-finding.
Here there is Tilaawat of the Qur'an shareef; the name of Allah Ta'ala is here; tasbeeh is here; durood shareef is here; istighfaar is here; nawaafil ibaadat is here. What a great favour has Allah Ta'ala not bestowed on us that He has Himself invited us to Him as special guests!
Allah Ta'ala has chained up the Shayaateen. These were the ones that troubled and molested us the whole year through. They are the ones that showed us and taught us varying types of sins. Allah Ta'ala has saved us from these. And the schemes and mischief of the Shayaateen are such that to detect them is not within the capacity of every one. They cause a tremendous amount of grief and trouble but the Shayaateen are terrified of the Mashaaikh, and they flee from them.
How to Spend RamadHAaN
The month of Ramadhaan is the season of divine blessings. It is the month of purification. it is meant for annual renovation of the inner spiritual qualities. It is a golden opportunity for every Muslim to strengthen his 'Iman, to purify his heart and soul and to remove the evil effects of the sins committed by him. This month invites a Muslim to minimize his other mundane involvement and maximize the acts of worship. One should plan his schedule for this month, before-hand, so as to spare maximum time for 'ibadah. Here is a brief list of the acts which should be carried out in Ramadhan with due care:
What Should be Done in Ramadhan
1. To offer every prayer with jama'ah in a masjid.
2. To rise up a little earlier than the exact time of suhoor and to offer the salah of tahajjud. There is no prescribed number of the Tahajjud prayer.
3. To offer the nafl prayers of Ishraq (two rak'at after sunrise) Duha (Four rak'at which may be performed at anytime after Ishraq before noon) and Awwabin (six rak'at after maghrib).
4. The recitation of the Holy Qur'an. No specific limit is prescribed. But one should recite as much of it as he can.
5. Any Zikr or Tasbeeh. Apart from reciting these words, one hundred times each, at a particular time, they may also be continued frequently throughout the day, even if one is engaged in some light work, when walking and when in bed.
6. Prayers and supplications: No particular prayer is prescribed. One can pray for everything he needs both in this world and in the Hereafter. However, the supplications of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) are so comprehensive that they encompass all that a Muslim can need in his life and after his death. It is, therefore, much advisable to pray Allah Almighty in the prophetic words used by the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) .
There are several books where these prophetic supplications have been compiled. Here is the name of a book which should be kept by every Muslim in his home and be used for praying daily: (i) Al-hisnul-hasin By Allamah al-jazri
7. Sadaqah (charity): Apart from paying zakah, which is obligatory, one should also pay optional sadaqah in Ramadhan according to his best ability. It is reported in authentic ahadith that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) used to pay special attention in Ramadhan to look after the poor and to help them financially. Therefore, a Muslim Should give as much money in sadaqah as he can afford.
What Should be Avoided in Ramadhan
All sinful acts should be avoided completely during the month of Ramadhan. Although the sinful acts are totally prohibited in Shariah, whether in Ramadhan or at any other time, but their prohibition becomes more severe in this month. It is evident that every Muslim avoids certain lawful acts, like eating and drinking, during the fasts. If he continues to commit sins in Ramadhan, it will be a mockery to avoid lawful things and yet be engaged in unlawful acts never allowed in Shari'ah. Thus, the abstinence from sins be comes all the more necessary in this month. Specially the following acts should be avoided totally:
(1) Telling a lie.
(2) Gheebah or backbiting i.e. condemnation of a person in his absence.
3) Quarrelling. (The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) has particularly forbidden from it when one is in the state of fasting. He has directed us that, if someone wants to quarrel in Ramadhan, we should tell him that we are fasting, hence we are not prepared to indulge in any quarrel.
(4) Eating unlawful things.
(5) Earning through unlawful means.
(6) Any act which may harm a person without a valid cause.
(7) Burdening one's servants or employees with a toilsome job beyond their ability, without providing them facilities to carry it out.
In short, one should try his best to refrain from all kinds of sins, and protect his eyes, ears, tongue and all other organs from indulging in an unlawful activity. Once a Muslim spends the month of Ramadhan in this way, he will insha Allah, find himself equipped with a spiritual strength which will facilitate for him to conduct a good Islamic life in accordance with the pleasure of Allah.
