Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem

The blessed month of Ramadan is upon us al-Hamdulillah.

Our Prophet, peace be upon him, gave us the glad tidings, "Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan with faith and hoping for its reward shall have all of his previous sins forgiven for him (Bukhari and Muslim)." We come into this month hoping to gain Allah's forgiveness and to increase in taqwa as Allah said in Sura Baqara ayah 183 "Oh you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you in order for you to attain taqwa." What better time to focus on improving our taqwa than in the month of Ramadhan in which we spend our day in constant worship.

The Muslim gives up food and drink during the day, a usual daily routine and habit, out of submission to Allah and to draw closer to Him. Indeed, fasting is an act that is special to Allah and He rewards it in a special way. The Prophet peace be upon him said,

"Allah azza wa jall said, 'All acts of worship a man does belong to him, except for fasting which is for Me and I will reward it.' " (Muslim).

Every muslim hopes and prays for a pleasing meeting with Allah. We should know that fasting is one of the means in which we can attain such a meeting as the Prophet peace be upon him said, "And for the fasting person is two times of happiness, a time of happiness when he breaks his fast and a time of happiness when he meets his Lord (Musim)." Every person who has fasted can bear witness to the joy they feel once the fast of the day is broken. It is an unbridled joy that almost always fills the individual with excitement as salat al maghrib approaches. The happiness that we are awaiting and praying for the most is the happiness when we meet Allah. We hope that Allah envelopes us in His mercy and enters us into the gate of janna for those who fast, Ar Rayyaan.

It is evident that in this month Allah gives us mercy and gives us many chances to be forgiven for our shortcomings for in this month, as the Prophet peace be upon him stated, "When the month of Ramadan comes the gates of janna are opened and the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained (Muslim)." This month we have the opportunity to do what we need to do to enter janna. This month we can leave the bad habits that we know eat away at the good deeds we do. In this blessed month of Ramadan we should take advantage by fasting with enthusiasm and sincerity, approaching the prayer in an eager manner and performing it with precision. We should approach the charity with a loose hand. Put the money that Allah has blessed us with in our right hands and make that hand loose for Allah's sake. This is the time to perfect our ibaada and take extra steps in it. Go into this Ramadan like it is the last one you will ever have and make the intention everyday to improve.

Alhamdulillah Ramadan has reached us yet again, may Allah make us of those who see many more.

Ramadan Advice

Few introductory and complementary notes by the translator:

1. Ramadan is an auspicious opportunity for believers to renew their commitment to their Creator and the Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.  This commitment must be both outward and inward, so that a Muslim not only recites more Qur'an and offers more units of prayer, but that she or he does so with reflection, humility and attentiveness.
2. Muslims must ensure they are not formalists who concentrate only on the outward.  Achieving Allah's acceptance must be a believer's priority and is not easy.  "Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous [who fear him - al muttaqoon]." [Qur'an 5:27]
3. Ramadan is a wonderful opportunity for accounting of one's sins and making repentance.  If one does not repent in Ramadan, when will he or she do so?
4. Muslims should strive to worship Allah as best as they can from the beginning of the month, for that increases chances of the end of the month being good as well.
5. Muslims should consider what is it that they truly want to achieve in Ramadan, whether they want to be from the winners or from the losers, and should make sure they do not perform acts of worship simply because it is the surrounding people's custom to do so.
6. Muslims must be firmly aware that Ramadan is only a means and not an end.

Advice to Muslims in Ramadan

From the book "Khulaasatul Kalaam" by Shaykh Jaarullah.

• Fast Ramadhan with belief and truly seeking the reward of Allah the Most High so that He may forgive you your past sins.
  
• Beware of breaking your fast during the days of Ramadhan without a valid Islamic excuse, for it is from the greatest of sins.
  
• Pray Salat ut-Taraweeh and the night prayer during the nights of Ramadhan - especially on Layatul-Qadr - based on belief and truly seeking the reward of Allah, so that Allah may forgive you your past sins.
  
• Make sure that your food, your drink and your clothing are from halal means, in order that your actions be accepted, and your supplications answered.  Beware of refraining from the halal while fasting and breaking your fast with the haram.
  
• Give food to some fasting people to gain a reward similar to theirs.
  
• Perform your five prayers on time in congregation to gain the reward and Allah's protection.
  
• Give a lot of charity for the best charity is that of Ramadhan.
  
• Beware of spending your time without performing righteous deeds, for you will be responsible and reckoned for it and will be rewarded for all you do during your time.
  
• Perform `umrah in Ramadhan for `Umrah in Ramadhan is equal to Hajj.
  
• Seek help for fasting during the day by eating the sahoor meal in the last part of the night before the appearance of Fajr.
  
• Hasten breaking your fast after the sun has truly set in order to gain the love of Allah.
  
• Perform ghusl before fajr if you need to purify yourself from the state of major impurity so that you are able to do acts of worship in a state of purity and cleanliness.
  
• Cease the opportunity of being in Ramadhan and spend it with the good that has been revealed in it - by reciting the noble Qur'an and pondering and reflection of its meanings so that it be a proof for you with your Lord and an intercessor for you on the Day of Reckoning.
  
• Preserve your tongue from lying, cursing, backbiting and slander for it decreases the reward of fasting.
  
• Do not let fasting cause you cross your boundaries by getting upset due to the slightest of reasons.  Rather, fating should be a cause of peacefulness and tranquility of your soul.
  
• Upon completion of fasting, be in a state of taqwa of Allah the Most High, being aware of Allah watching you in secret and in public, in thankfulness for His favors, and steadfastness upon obedience of Allah by doing all what He has ordered and shunning all that He has prohibited.
  
• Increase in remembrance of Allah, seeking of forgiveness, asking for Paradise and protection against the Fire, especially when fasting, while breaking the fast and during suhoor, for these actions are among greatest causes of attaining Allah's forgiveness.
  
• Increase in supplication for yourself, your parents, your children and Muslims, for Allah has ordered making of supplications and has guaranteed acceptance.
  
• Repent to Allah with a sincere repentance in all times by leaving sins, regretting those that you have done before and firmly deciding not to return to them in the future, for Allah accepts repentance of those who repent.
  
• Fast six days of Shawwal, for whoever fasts Ramadhan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasts all the time.
  
• Fast on the Day of `Arafah, the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, to attain success by being forgiven your sins of the last year and the coming year.
  
• Fast on the day of `Aashuraa', the 10th of Muharram, along with the 9th, to attain success by being forgiven your sins of the past year.
  
• Continue being in a state of iman and taqwa and perform righteous actions after the month of Ramadhan, until you die.  "And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (i.e. death)". [Qur'an 15:99]
  
• Ensure that you attain the positive effects of your acts of worship such as prayer, fasting, zakat and hajj, sincere repentance and leaving of customs that are in variance with the Sharee`ah.
  
• Invoke a lot of salawat and salam upon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him, his Companions and all those who follow them until the Day of Judgment.
  
  
  
  • Ya Allah make us and all Muslims of those who fast and stand in prayer during the month of Ramadhan based on belief and truly seeking Your reward so that we are forgiven our past and future sins.
    
  • Ya Allah make us of those who fasted the month, attained full reward, witnessed Layatul-Qadr and attained success by permission of the Lord, Blessed and Most High.
    
  • Ya Allah, verily you are Forgiver, like to forgive, so forgive us.
    
  • O Lord, accept from us, verily you are the All-Hearing, all-Seeing, O Living, O Independent, O Owner of all majesty and honor.
    
  • And may Allah's blessings and peace be upon Muhammad, his family and his Companions.