ramadhan is coming~

Examples of the diligence of the righteous predecessors:

These are some bright examples that highlight the diligence of the righteous predecessors in worshipping and obeying Allaah The Exalted. Perhaps pondering over them would raise our morale and motivate us to perform extra acts of worship.

1 – The Prophet, , used to pray at night until his feet were swollen. When he was asked about it [although his past and future sins were forgiven], he, , said: “Should I not be a thankful slave?” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

2 - Abu Bakr  used to weep profusely, especially in prayer and when reciting the Noble Quran.

3 – ‘Umar  had two dark lines etched on his cheeks because of his frequent weeping.

4 – ‘Uthmaan  used to recite the Noble Quran in full in one Rak‘ah (unit of prayer).

5 – ‘Ali  used to cry in his private room for prayer until his beard became wet with tears. He used to say, “O world! Go and beguile somebody else. I have divorced you thrice, an irrevocable divorce.”

6 – Qataadah  used to recite the Noble Quran in full in seven days, and in Ramadhaan in three days, and once on each night of the last ten nights of Ramadhaan.

7 – Sufyaan Ath-Thawri  used to cry tears of blood out of his fear of Allaah The Almighty.

8 – Sa‘eed ibn Al-Musayyib  used to go to the mosque regularly. He did not miss a prayer in congregation for forty years!

The traders of this world spare no effort in seizing any opportunity and doing whatever it takes to gain huge profits. Why do you not trade with Allaah The Exalted? Why do you not compete in performing acts of worship and righteous deeds in order to earn the abundant profits and great rewards from Allaah The Almighty?

Ramadhaan is one of the greatest opportunities that should be seized and fully utilized. It is a great season of rewards for which one should prepare himself. Observant  people should not lose sight of such a great opportunity. Ramadhaan is the month of forgiveness, the month of winning Paradise, and the month of salvation from Hellfire. It is the optimal season for those who have sound and pure hearts, righteous faculties [that abstain from doing what is forbidden], and who do not waste their time in doing harmful or useless actions.

hoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadhaan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain The rewards of Allaah, then all his past sins will be forgiven.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

This means that one should fast Ramadhaan out of his faith in Allaah The Exalted and in His rewards for fasting. He should aspire to gain these rewards and not out of showing off or ostentation, or to gain money or prestige.

2 - Ramadhaan is a blessing and one should be grateful for it:

Think of those who have died before Ramadhaan. They can no longer carry out righteous deeds and their records of deeds have been closed for good. They cannot earn any reward or carry out a good deed, as simple as it might be.

Unlike them, Allaah The Exalted extended your life until you witnessed Ramadhaan and He granted you the opportunity to earn all these abundant rewards. Indeed, this is a blessing that entails showing thankfulness and praise to Allaah The Exalted.

3 - Sleeping and Staying up:

If you spend the days in Ramadhaan sleeping and waste its nights in frivolity, you would have deprived yourself of the rewards of fasting and night prayer. You may come out of the month empty-handed. Indeed, it is only a few days and memorable nights and the blessed month of Ramadhaan will end in an instant. Hence, one should strive in worship and devote his time to carry out acts of worship and good deeds in order to earn pleasure and bliss in the Hereafter. Beware of spending the month ofRamadhaan in heedlessness. The Prophet, , said: “Let the nose of that person be smeared with dust who has the opportunity to witness the month of Ramadhaan and it ends without being forgiven.” [At-Tirmithi and Al-Haakim] [Al-Albaani: Saheeh]

4 - Recitation of the Noble Quran:

Ramadhaan is the month of the Quran. The righteous predecessors used to strive in reciting the Noble Quran inRamadhaan and gave it precedence over any other act of worship. Some of them used to recite the Noble Quran in full every night! So do your best in reciting the Quran during the blessed month of Ramadhaan, observing the due obligations of the recitation and rules of Tajweed to the best of your abilities.

To be continued …

These are some tips that would help you to make full use of this blessed month and spend it in carrying out righteous deeds:

1 - Fasting is an act of worship and not just a custom:

The Prophet, , said:5 – Night Prayer:

Night Prayer is a confirmed Sunnah (Prophetic tradition), especially inRamadhaan.  Taraaweeh prayer is performed in congregation in the mosques on the nights of Ramadhaan. One should be keen to attend all the Taraaweehprayers until the Imaam finishes in order to gain the reward of praying the whole night. The Prophet, , said: “If a man prays with the Imaam until he finishes, it will be counted as if he had prayed the whole night.” [Abu Daawood, An-Nasaa’i, At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah] [At-Tirmithi: Hasan Saheeh]

6 - Charity:
Charity in Ramadhaan has extra virtues and merits than in other months. The Prophet, , was especially charitable in Ramadhaan; he was more generous than the fast wind that brings rain. So be keen on giving charity generously in this month.
7 – Offering fasting people meals to break their fast:

One should be keen to offer meals to fasting people and offer food to the poor and the needy. The Prophet, , said:“He who gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, will receive the same reward as him.” [Ahmad and At-Trmithi [At-Tirmithi : Saheeh]
8 – Going to the mosques frequently:

Mosques are the best places on earth. Therefore, Muslims should strive to attend all the prayers in congregation at the mosque. They should also stay at the mosques waiting for one prayer after the other. They should perform voluntary prayers; for they complete and make up for the deficiency of obligatory ones and entail earning the love of Allaah The Almighty. The Prophet, , narrated in a Hadeeth Qudsi (sacred narration): “My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawaafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him.” [Al-Bukhaari]

9 – Performing ‘Umrah in Ramadhaan:
Performing ‘Umrah in Ramadhaan has a great virtue. The Prophet, , said: “Performing ‘Umrah in Ramadhaan is equivalent to Hajj – or Hajj with me (in reward).” [Al-Bukhaari]

10 - The last ten nights of Ramadhaan:

Dear young man, you should strive in worship during the last ten nights of Ramadhaan more than the entire month. According to a narration, “With the start of the last ten days of Ramadhaan, the Prophet  used to tighten his girdle (i.e. work hard and strive in worship), and used to pray all night, and used to awaken his family for prayers.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

 11 - The Night of Al-Qadr:
Seek the Night of Al-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadhaan, especially on the odd-numbered nights. Spend those nights in worship; performing prayers, reciting the Quran, Thikr (remembrance of Allaah The Almighty), supplication and other such acts of worship. The reward of worship on that night is better than the reward of worship in a thousand months that do not have the Night of Al-Qadr within them.
12 - Lowering one’s gaze:
Lowering the gaze from looking at what is forbidden is an act of worship that only a few Muslims carry out nowadays, so why do you not revive this great act of worship?

13 - Thikr:

Recite Thikr and remember Allaah The Exalted at all times. Indeed, those who recite Thikr and remember Allaah The Exalted have often won the rewards of both this world and the Hereafter.
14 - Supplication:
Supplication is the essence of worship. It is the evidence on man’s need for his Lord and submission to Him at all times. Allaah The Exalted referred to supplication as “worship” when He Says (what means): {And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.}[Quran 40:60]

15 – I‘tikaaf:
I‘tikaaf means staying in seclusion in the mosque for the purpose of worshipping Allaah The Almighty. Do not waste your days of I‘tikaaf in idle talk or trivial deeds, otherwise, it would have been better if you did not observe I‘tikaaf in the first place!
16 - Food and Drink:
Beware of excess in eating and drinking; this incurs complacency, apathy, and laziness in worship.
17 - Evils that should be avoided:
- Abstaining from smoking during the daytime in Ramadhaan indicates the strength of your willpower. So why do you not quit smoking altogether throughout the whole day and night?
- Beware of listening to music for it corrupts the heart and fosters frivolity and lack of commendable zeal.
- Make the month of Ramadhaan an opportunity to free yourself from the captivity of watching TV serials, movies, and trivial contests and programs.
- Beware of excessive joking and laughter; as they engender hardness of the heart and negligence of remembering Allaah The Exalted.
- Do not accompany wicked and impious people, because if you accompany them, you will soon be like them.
- The most evil places on earth are the markets; so beware of going there for no need.
- Avoid staying in seclusion or mixing with marriageable women; this is one of the gravest evils that incurs corruption and collective punishments.

- Beware of the evils of the tongue, for they undermine the rewards of fasting. The Prophet, , said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and evil actions, Allaah Is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allaah will not accept his fasting.)”  [Al-Bukhaari]

 hope we get as much as as we can thawab in this ramadhan...ameen~