By Alhaj Muhammed Abdul Qaiyum
I learnt Islam from my father Muhammed Khasim Saheb. He was the role model for our entire family. Our house was opposite the Jamia Masjid. Every time my father got respite from his official duties, he would perform Nafil Salaath in our house. He would also recite the Quran with Thafseer from a huge book weighing more than a kilo and a half. This was the best inspiration I received in life. One of my father’s famous sayings was “The three holiest months for Muslims are Rajjab, Shaaban and Ramadhan. Whoever dedicates these to Salaath, Savm, and Zakaath attains eminence, and is granted countless blessings from ALLAH and the glory of being the Muslim approved and loved by the messenger of ALLAH.
Islam confers immeasurable blessings
upon those who prime themselves to True Faith. Islam is a lifestyle best suited to the modern human personality.
Ramadan celebrates Allah’s free bequest of the Holy Qur’an to humanity in 611 C.E. The Holy Qur’an is, in truth, the latest and final version of the Eternal Message that Allah, the One, the God Almighty of Abraham and Moses and Jesus and Muhammed S.A.W.S., designed, perfected and endowed to humanity, all by Himself. It is the repository of all the best and truest of sciences. As a Guide, it is the indispensable “how-to” manual that invites everyone to be dynamic and aim at a triumphal life of success and high achievement. . For humanity today the Qur’ani inspiration is to forgive and forget the past and greet the brave new world and its promise of good times to all. Allah wants everyone of us to be a real blessing to the entire world: an ideal citizen, a righteous person, a caring son/daughter, a loving spouse, a devoted parent, and a sincere, true and dutiful servant of Allah. Allah loves to pardon us and grant us good fortune.
The Glory of Sav’m (Fasting) in Ramadan
The Prophet of Islam S.A.W.S. said,
"Paradise has eight gates and one of them is named Ar Raiya’n.
No one will enter through it except those who observe Fasting".
(Narrated by Companion Sahi bin Sa'd R.A.A.
and reported by Imam Bukhari)
Years back, on a Friday, I was returning to Jeddah after performing Umrah and the Salaathul Juma’a in the Holy Masjid al Haram at Makkathul Mukarramah. It was extremely hot and we were sweating profusely. It was Ramadan and we were on saw'm, the fast.
In the taxi, beside me and the driver, were two other passengers. They were visitors from an African country. Their robes and caps proclaimed it. They were holding iced soft drink cans in their hands and were drinking from them. As travelers, perhaps, they thought it fit to avail the exemption from fasting allowed to musafireen, travellers.
But they became overly generous and offered the driver an unopened can from their stock. Inspite of his refusal to take it, they persisted.
It was so hot. On both sides of the Highway was the sprawling desert. Its sand dunes and the bare mountains behind them radiated intense heat. The driver was under such intense strain that he must have been tempted to accept the offer. But he remained steadfast and continued his saw'm.
It is this, the pre-eminence of the Ramadan fast. It is endowed such honor in our faith that, according to a Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah R.A.A.,
“Anyone who intentionally breaks it (the Fast) without permission from Allah, remains uncovered for that day even if he observes continuous fast all through his life (to compensate for it).”
Our Saudi brother remembered the penalty Allah has prescribed for deliberate contravention of the laws governing fasting. His Eimaan, his staunch faith, was sorely tested. He triumphed.
Fasting is an intensely personal contract we make with Allah. No one but Allah knows how true we are to Him.
It may be suspected by those who do not know the depth of our faith that, in the privacy of the home or an office cubicle, a fasting person could treat himself to some food or drink unseen by anyone. But no Muslim does so.
We are so conscious of Allah's presence and our nearness to Him that the idea of causing even the slightest displeasure to the Lord and Master is repudiated by our conscience. And Allah loves us for being so.
I have witnessed in West Africa the dynamism of the Muslim fast. After every Ramadan, Islam gains the adherence of a higher and higher number of the people of the region.
The example of their own African brothers and sisters demonstrating such self-discipline inspires in them also an unshakable faith in Islam.
They see how it is possible to defy all odds and overcome adversity by sheer devotion to the Creator and to His Command. They conquer the pangs of hunger and deprivation with their love of Allah. This drama of African awakening to Islam is just true and constant and amazing to one and all.
They do not have large and spacious Masajid. But they have large hearts filled with the love of Allah and His Rasool S.A.W.S.. It is a region with the world's highest rainfall. The downpour lasts all six months. They come, the devout Muslim men, women and children and fill the Masaajid they have. Those who find no space within, stand in pouring rain outside these structures and perform Salaah in Jama’ath.
And in the farm they spread a jute sack on the ground and pray to Allah in the shade of a palm tree. They endure economic deprivation with patience. With true faith, they look forward to a better and brighter future that Allah's grace will certainly bring them before long.
Every religion has prescribed some kind of fasting as an affirmation of faith. But only Islam has perfected the form and observance of this duty and accorded it the highest eminence and magnificent rewards.
Ramadan is the ninth month of Hijri, the calendar Muslims follow.
In this month the Holy Qur'an was first revealed to humanity.
The entire month is earmarked for self-purification through fasting.
Every day, the Muslim fasts from a little before sunrise to sunset.
Not a morsel of food nor a sip of water nor even a smoke is to be had during those hours.
It was the ennobling custom of the Holy Prophet S.A.W.S. that he was always the first to bring the happy news of the arrival of Ramadan to his companions.
He has informed us: “Ramadan has come to you, a blessed month prescribed by Allah for fasting. Throughout this month, the gates of heaven are opened wide and the gates of hell closed shut. The devils are shackled (without exception). It has one night of eminence that is equal to a thousand months. Whoever misses the opportunity of earning blessings from Allah on that night will be a real loser indeed!”
We can imagine Allah watching us with satisfaction, as the entire Muslim world stands up for Salaah, facing His Blessed House in Makkah and making Saj’dah, prostration to Him, in rows after rows, relayed from one masjid to another, all across the globe, five times each day.
In the same way, every Muslim community presents itself before the Glorious Creator, observing and breaking the Ramadan fast in relays from one country to another and celebrating also the Eidul Fith’r on completion of the month of fasting, all at the same time.
The international unity of Islam is for real. Its incomparable grandeur sustains our devotion to Our One and Only Lord, Allahu Sub’hanahu va tha Aalaa.
Even angels would envy us the honors Allah has granted us for the triumphal Sav’m (Fast) the Ummah (Commonwealth) of Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S. S.A.W.S. has contnued to perform.through every Ramadan month over the last 1420 years.
All praise to Allah for His Constant Support that has boosted the zeal and glory of our eimaan and enabled us to defy and defeat Shai’ythaan and his powerful coterie and uphold everywhere the standard of Islam.
To the body, food is the vital and essential source of energy.
It is also the most delectable of all the luxuries that we human beings are enamoured of.
To forego voluntarily the joy and savour of it is a great sacrifice indeed.
Yet we do it for full thirty days every year. The pangs of hunger we endure with patience. We are truly disciplining ourselves as we deny ourselves food and drink through the prescribed hours. No smoking, not a whiff of snuff, no sexual contact, no bad thoughts nor scandalous speech!
Of all our good deeds, therefore, our fasting is dearest to Allah. We fast for Allah’s sake. We gain His grace.
As we cope with the fast’s challenge to our tenacity, we remind ourselves of a fact of life. There are millions of human beings, the indigent worldwide, who go without food most days because they have no money to buy it. To them, undernourishment and even starvation are the most constant companions. Their clothes are in tatters, their homes cold and unlit.
And this brings us to the fourth most important duty of a Muslim. We go to the aid of the needy. Rather than shed tears for them and stay philosophic about the socio-economic woes of the world, we sit down and honestly work out the Zakaah that Allah has comanded us to give away.
Our saw'm has been subjected to thorough scrutiny from every angle and has passed every test, spiritual, economic and scientific.
The glory of Islam has become more manifest, more real and soul stirring to every unbiased observer from year to year, because of this, the miracle of saw'm.
The social scientist notes that fasting affords affluent people an opportunity to feel through thirty days the pangs of hunger that the poor endure throughout the year.
The rich are inspired in this way to be more charitable to the not-so-rich and show them more consideration and sympathy in the coming months. It is also the best inducement for them to come up with Zakaah and Fith’r for the less fortunate in this holy month of devotion and charity. Invariably, it inspires them to be philanthropic through life.
The religious thinkers find in sav'm an excellent course in self-discipline.
There is nothing to prevent a person from food, drink and indulgence. But the Muslim voluntarily foregoes all these, from a little before dawn right upto sunset, just to gain the approval of his Maker, Allahu Sub’hanahu va tha Aalaa.
Throughout these long hours, he cultivates piety of the highest order, abjures falsehood and sham, recites the Holy Qur'an, prays to Allah with true devotion and helps those in need.
As a result, his character shines forth in excellence and there is a unique radiance in his heart. And peace and harmony prevail in his home and in the community around him.
Every single act of our devotion in the month of Ramadan brings us seventy times more reward from Allah than in the other months.
In the Sahih al Bukhari collection of Hadith, the Prophet of Islam S.A.W.S. says: “Every good deed of man is granted by Allah ten to seven hundred (times its actual) rewards.
“But Allah says, ‘The fast is an exception. It is entirely for me (and me) alone. And I reward it (far more, and) as high as I like.’”
The Prophet of Islam S.A.W.S. has confirmed that Allah forgives the sins of the person who fasts for Allah through the month of Ramadan.
Also, the fasting person's breath is more fragrant to Allah than even musk.
The Niy’yath, expression of intent, is important in the Fast also. It would suffice if the intent is made in our heart even.
But it is best to state it either after Salaathuth Tharavaeh or immediately after completing Suhoor, our last meal of the night, prior to commencing the fast.
The Arabi Niy’yath for the Ramadan fast is: NAVAIY'THU SAV’MA GHADIN FAR’DI RAMADANI HAAZIHIL SINATHI LILLAHI THA AALAA. (I state my intent to observe the Far’d Fast of Ramadan tomorrow for Allah).
Just before breaking the fast, we say:
ALLAHUMMA LAKA SAM'THU VA BIKA AAMANTHU VA ALAI'KA THAWAK’KALTHU VA AALAA RIZ’QIKA AFTHAR’THU FATHAQABBAL MINNEE INNAKA ANTHAS SAMEEYUL ALEEM.
Fasting in Ramadan is Far’d, obligatory, on every indiviDuaal. Only the sick and those who are travelling and the women who are in their periods, are exempted.
The sick pay Fidiya to a designated person who will fast both for him/herself and the donor. This is explained in detail at the end of the chapter.
The traveller and the menstruating woman observe the defaulted fasts later on. Nobody cheats.
The uninformed would expect a community entering a whole month of rigorous fasting and self discipline to look rather famished, subdued or desolate. The truth is otherwise.
The month of Ramadan is welcomed as the harbinger of good times and happiness. The doors of every Muslim home are opened wide to prosperity and good fortune for the entire year of Islami devotion that Ramadan inaugurates.
In Saudi Arabia, it is virtually New Year's Day. The greeting everywhere is KULLU AAM VA ANTHUM BI KHAIR! "May the year commencing now be a year of peace and good fortune to you!"
The whole community is united in observing this fast.And people young and old and the boisterous kids just enjoy every minute of it.
A festival atmosphere permeates. Muslims are outgoing in their regard for, and assistance to, each other. No one is left alone with his problems. Brotherly love pervades and all difficulties are easily overcome.
As in the days of the First Commonwealth of Islam in Madinah in the 7th century C.E., the Ramadan tradition continues to this day, of all Muslims developing rapport among themselves and helping and supporting one another, in reality, as one great family.
The special charm of Ramadan is that the rites of fasting are observed, at the appointed hour, by one and all, in every land.
As the world rothates and the hours advance from east to west, the blessings of saw'm are relayed onwards clockwise from one country to another.
The entire humanity is honoring wholeheartedly the Ramadan commitment of man to God.
We gather as one community, to view the first crescent heralding the arrival of Ramadan. If clouds bar our view, we get the news from our brothers over phone or the radio and TV.
The Qazi, the Muslim leader of the city, makes the announcement.
When the new moon is sighted, we feel we have grantted the greatest of good fortune. It is auspicious now to recite the Surath al Fath’ha (INNAA FATHAH’NA LAKA FATH’HAM MUBEENAN…) from the Holy Qur'an three times and pray to Allah for the fulfillment of our highest aims.
We go to the Masjid that night for the first of the Salaath al Tharavaeh.
We join the Muslims of our neigbourhood and celebrate the Glory of Allah in this Salaah.
It feels great to be granted by Allah the privilege to fast for His sake.
In the last quarter of the same night, the entire city wakes up for Suhoor. In our early years we joined people going round the neigborhood, singing the praise of Allah and His Chosen Rasool S.A.W.S..
We helped the people in this way, awakening them to partake of the last meal before Sav'm.
The Suhoor is indeed a neymath, reward, from Allah. It is preferable, acccording to Hadith, to have Suhoor rather late in the night, but well before the deadline.
However, in exceptional circumstances, if we were unable to wake up in time, we can eat and drink right upto the first note of Aza'n of the Salaathul Faj'r.
If we are far from a Masjid and have no means knowing the hour, the Holy Qur’an informs us that we will know that the deadline has arrived "when the white thread becomes distinguishable from a black one in the dark of the night.”
Those who wake up in time are fortunate. They can perform the Salaathuth Thahajjud before or after the Suhoor. We ensure ourselves limitless blessings from Allah by this. However, if we feel too tired, there is no harm if we go back to sleep.
An hour or so later we find ourselves in the Masjid again, joining other Muslims in the Salaathul Faj'r. We come back, rest awhile and go on to perform as many good deeds as we can and offer charity and help to others.
We also make sure that our duties as a breadearner of the family or as a student in the school or university and so on are fully and conscientiously discharged by us.
The sav'm allows a person all the rest he/she needs. A fasting person could be overpowered by fatigue or ennui and go to sleep. His sleep is not frowned upon. It is also counted as worthy of reward. But this concession is seldom availed of.
Muslims who have accustomed themselves to hard work and an active life present sav'm in its full glory. The Muslim fast is honored by them and never made an excuse for a shoddy or lacklustre performance in any field.
In my boyhood days, I was most inspired by a soccer star who was Muslim. He played center forward and won for his team the championship in a state level tournament. It was Ramadan. The games were played in late evenings, when the pangs of hunger took the heaviest toll of the fasting person and his endurance.
The champion was on fast but he displayed no trace of fatigue or exhaustion. An ideal Muslim, he equalled and even excelled other players in stamina and speed. He was superb in tackling and would maneuver the ball to the opponents' goal within seconds. He netted most of the time and won every match.
The spectators were thrilled. They were mostly non-Muslims and did not know till then what sav'm meant.
They were amazed to learn of its rigors. They were deeply impressed by the faith of a person who could go hungry and still play such an exacting soccer!
Ramadan brings out the best in every Muslim.
Does anyone feel the pangs of hunger during the day? No. We are just feeling great! We are one with our family, with our neigbours and with our Muslim brothers and sisters around the world.
It is as though we are in a Devotion Workshop and the euphoria does not just disappear at the end of Ramadan.
It stays with us through the following eleven months and makes us excellent Muslims. All praise to Allah for the wonderful gift of Ramadan.
Those who find this hard believe, are welcome to visit a Muslim neigborhood during Ramadan and discover the truth themselves!
We are indeed at our happiest and noblest in Ramadan and we sincerely affirm our devotion to the Lord Who grants us all that is precious and magnificent in life.
We perform the Salaah’s Zuh'r and As'r in Jama’ath. For Salaathul Maghrib we go to the Masjid taking with us our Ifthaar (dates, fruit, bread, lemonade and so on). This breakfast food is shared with our brothers assembled there.
We are counseled, in Hadith, to hasten (and not delay) the timely Ifthaar (the sunset breakfast).
We come back for a hearty meal at ho me, in which guests often join. An hour of rest and again to the Masjid for Salaah’s Ishaa and Tharavaeh.
To sum up, we quote the Holy Prophet S.A.W.S. from Sahih Bukhari: "If a person does not stop lying or living by the evil of falsehood, Allah does not require him to give up food and drink".
(This inspires in the Muslim the realization that fasting, by itself, is just not enough and we must try with equal zeal and desist from every evil, every bit of falsehood and from all acts that are abhorrent to Allah).
And: "The Fast is a Muslim's shield (protecting him/her from evil). When one is on fast, he/she must not quarrel with, or abuse, anyone. If subjected to such foul treatment, he/she must say, 'Brother, I am on fast and I will not reciprocate your bad manners'."
Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S. has assured us that our fasts, our prayers and our recitations of the Holy Qur'an will intercede with Allah for our salvation (on the Day of Judgment).
The good deeds we have performed in Ramadan will plead for the grant of pardon to us by Allah. And this on a day when the entire humanity will be trembling in fear and despairing for some good deed to show up in their life record that could save them from the wrath of Allah!
We also know from Hadith that Shaiy'thaan is shackled and rendered inoperative during the whole of Ramadan. The gates of Hell are closed shut and the doors to Heaven, to Allah's Rah’math, Allah's Compassion, are opened wide to the Muslims.
For our fast and our devotion to Allah through Ramadan, we are graced with:
Allah’s Love and His Magnificent Protection to us and to our family in this careworn world and
Eternal Bliss, Unimaginable Luxury and Everlasting Happiness in the Life to Come.
In a later chapter the special Salaah’s suggested by Muslim scholars for the very special and most auspicious Lai’ylathul Qad’r, the Night of Glory, are detailed.
Fasting is forbidden on the days of the two festivals:
Eidul Fith’r (which proclaims the grand conclusion of the Ramadan fast) and
Eid al Ad'haa (which commemorates the offer made by Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his dear son Ismail for the love of Allah).
Zakaath, the Muslim Charity
(also known as Poor Due)
Va aqeeemus salaatha va aathuz zakaatha va athee’ur rasoola
la allakum thur’hamoon
So establish regular salaah and give zakaath (the Muslim charity)
and abide by the Prophet S.A.W.S.’s teachings
that you may receive Mercy (and Bounties) from Allah.
(Holy Qur’an: Surath an Noor: verse 56)
We compute sincerely our savings and the liquid assets (gold bullion, other than jewelery worn by us, etc.) in our possession at the end of each year. A fortieth (that is, 2.5%) of all this is to be given away as our Zakaath then, to those in need.
If this command of Allah is faithfully adhered to, the world’s ills will disappear and social upheavals avoided. To give honestly and uncomplainingly is to receive from Allah rewards of everlasting value.
It is the glory of Islam. The concept of social welfare supported by taxation took centuries to gain acceptance by world governments. But it was enshrined in the five essential precepts of Islam over 1,400 years ago.
Allah has commanded Muslims to give away, of their own accord, a full 2.5 % of their net savings and of their liquid assets to the needy every year.
We are to give, with good manners and grace, for Allah's sake, and never expect thanks or gratitude from the recipients.
We ensure that the beneficiaries do not feel humiliated in any way for taking Zakaath.
Our reward is guaranteed from Allah Himself.
Zakaath means purification and development.
In most passages of the Holy Qur'an and Hadith "Salaah" and "Zakaath" are mentioned in the same breath.
They are most important to us for the perfection of our faith.
Our Zakaath purifies not only our inner selves and makes us more perfect Muslims.
It also purifies and renders auspicious the wealth and possessions that remain with us after we have given away Zakaath conscientiously.
Zakaath must be be given to, and be received by, Muslims only.
The Prophet S.A.W.S. commands us in the Abu Dawood collection: "Zakaath is the right of any Muslim who asks for it, even though he may have come to you on horseback."
It is also essential that the Zakaath giver make the Niyyath, intent, in his heart that he/she is giving such and such items to the recipient as Zakaath for Allah's sake. Otherwise the Zakaath obligation will continue to rest on him/her.
Allah commands us in the Holy Qur’an:
“It is not true piety that you just turn your faces to the East and West. The truly devout are those who believe
in Allah and the Day of Judgment,
in the Angels, the Book (of Allah) and the Prophets;
and give of their wealth, for the love of Allah, to near relatives, to orphans, to the needy, to the wayfarers and to the mendicants; and spend generously
to help human beings attain freedom from bondage;
and they perform Prayer and give Zakaath".
(Surath Al Baq'r:177)
And Allah comforts us:
"And the believers, men and women, are friends of one another;
they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong;
and they perform regular prayer and they give Zakaath
and they obey Allah and His messenger (Syedina Muhammed S.A.W.S. Sal).
Upon them will be Allah's mercy and compassion".
(Suratha ath Thaubah:71)
Nisaab is the minimum value of assets in our possession that entitles us to be Zakaath donors:
Gold 93.6 grams and above (2.5%)*
Silver 200 dirhams (or 595 grams) and above (2.5%)
On Merchandise Of the market value of 595 gms silver (2.5%)
On Livestock For each set of 5 camels: one goat
For each set of 30 cows or oxen: one yearling.
For a herd of 40 goats: a 6 month old goat
For each herd of 40 sheep, one yearling.
Farm produce 10% from dry lands.
7.5% from partially irrigated land
5% from harvested grain and fruits from
lands irrigated by pumps and other equipment.
and on Mineral 20 % of deposits from the earth
*This rate applies to currency notes, debentures and other forms of investments with cash value equalling this quantity of gold.
On grain crops and fruits, no zakaath is due when the harvested crop/produce weighs less than 800 kgs.
Zakaath is due on livestock reared in pastures where they graze freely. Other animals whose upkeep implies expense on fodder and labor, no zakaath is due.
The animals culled for zakaath must be of real value and not consist of weak or unsaleable types.
So too are exempted horses, mules and donkeys unless they are for sale.
Allahu Sub'haanahu va tha Aalaa commands us in the Holy Qur’an, "It is righteousness to spend of your wealth out of love for Him (Allah)” on:
Lil fuq’raa’yi val masaakeen: the poor and the needy,
Val aaamileena alai’yhaa: those employed to assist them from the fund,
Val muvallafathi quloobuhum: those whose hearts have been enlightened with truth and they have entered Islam;
Vafir riqaabi val ghaamireena va fee sabeelillahi: those who are in bondage or in jail and have been reduced to indebtedness for services rendered in the Cause of Allah; and for those stranded in travels undertaken to serve Islam.
Our sadaqaath are to be devoted to the above in accordance with Surath ath Thau’bah: verse 60 of the Holy Qur’an).
And Allahu Rahmaanir Raheem directs us in Surath al Baq’rah verse 177:
It is not righteousness that you turn your faces to the east or west
but it is righteousness
to believe in Allah
and the Last Day
and the Angels
and the Book
and the Messengers;
v to spend of your substance, out of love for Him (for Allah)
v for your relatives (the Prophet S.A.W.S. has said that this is both charity and
an act of kinship that brings us double sawaab, reward, according to Nisaayi and Thirmidi)
v for orphans),
v for the needy (We must locate and help first the people who endure poverty without asking for help from anyone and also the strangers who are entitled to our Islami hospitality)
v for the wayfarer (especially those who travel and convey the message of Islam far and wide)
v for those who ask (the people who are entitled to our help in any form and they ask for it and the usual indigent who live on alms);
v and for the ransom of slaves (this is not an obsolete clause but a vital duty in the present era when slavery as such is banned but is in vogue in a secret and intriguing form such as unsuspecting men, women and children sold into bondage, intellectuals roped in to serve un-Islamic causes, and talented Muslims placed in unsuitable jobs and wasting their genius)
v And give Zakaath.
v To fulfill the contracts that you have made
v and to be firm and patient in enduring pain and adversity (suffered by an individual due to illness, injury or unmerited setback or by the entire Muslim community) through all periods of panic (caused in war, violence, epidemics and misinformation spread against us):
v Such are the people of truth, those who fear Allah.”
Zakaah is a duty that devolves on the rich. If any such person cannot find the heart to give away a part of his/her own hard-earned wealth to the needy, he/she stands condemned in the eyes of Allah.
According to the Hadith, his wealth will turn into a poisonous snake on the Day of Judgment and it will keep biting him/her repeatedly.
Zakaath does not set a limit to what we have to give. And it does not imply to us that we be charitable and outgoing in Ramadan and thereafter turn the blind eye to human suffering.
It only sets for us the bare minimum that an affluent human being like you, dear reader, must part with, in joy and with enthusiasm,
v to wipe an orphan’s tears and help him/her to a good life;
v to fill a miserable dwelling with the cheer of food and clothing;
v to build hospitals to conquer disease and promote good health;
v to provide cost free or subsidised education and training to both men and women for careers in computer operations, nursing, automobile engineering, construction, mass media, social service and Da’awah provision of Islami information worldwide.
v to build masaajid and Qur’an Centers and realize, with inspiration and help from Allah, any good project that revitalizes Muslim society and brings it world esteem.
v Thaqabbal Allah! May Allah kindly accept your good deeds and bless you with still more prosperity and ney’maath by His Grace. A’meen!
v Nation building projects like these advance the Islami ideal of charity as an ongoing program fostering better and better societies. We call it Zakaath during Ramadan and sadaqa or a gif,t endowment at other times.
The joy of giving is the one that lasts longest in our lives. It fills our hearts with a unique light. With the good fortune that comes to us from Allahu Ghani, we spend openly and secretly, as He Commands, to transform and improve the lives of those who deserve help and proper guidance.
And when we comply with His Wish, Allah terms it Qard-al-Has’na, the best loan, that we, the slaves of Allah, are giving to Our Creator and Benefactor.
This is the best investment that we can make. That portion of our worldly assets which we employ in the right charity and in the service of Islam, go to build mansions for us and lay out gardens in Paradise, the eternal world of ultimate joy that we will be entering (when Allah brings to a close all earthly life).
Not just money but a part of our greatest asset – our time - must also be spent, on a daily and ongoing basis, to serve our people and safeguard their interests.
Nasrun min-Allahi va fathahun qareeb!
Allah’s help is coming to you. Yours will be the triumph very soon!
Yet another glory of Ramadan is the observance of Aethikaaf in the last ten days of the Holy Month. In the last year of his life our beloved Prophet S.A.W.S. observed Aethikaaf for twenty days in Ramadan.
Aethikaaf is the dedication to spend a considerable period of our time (in terms of hours or days) exclusively in a Masjid, in total devotion to Allah. This can also be done any time during the year. We gain innumerable blessings from Allah by observing it with sincerity and devotion.
The highest form of Aethikaaf for us, is to spend the last ten days of Ramadan in:
the Holy Masjidul Haram of Makkathul Mukarramah or
the Masjidun Nabavi S.A.W.S. in Madinatul Munawwarah or
the Masjid al Aq’sa in Baithul Muqaddas (in that order).
If this is not possible, we may retire to the Juma'a Masjid in our city (or to any Masjid in our neighborhood or locality where Salaathul Juma'a is regularly performed).
The best duration for Aethikaaf is
from the Salaathul Magh’rib of the 20th of Ramadan
to the Salaathul Magh’rib of the last day of the month
(29th or 30th as the case may be).
We must be observing the Ramadan fast during the entire period
if our Aethikaaf is to be accepted by Allah.
If no one volunteers to enter Aethikaaf in a particular Masjid, the people of that locality may not be gifted to the full extent of the Neymaath which Muslims of other Masaajid (where Aethikaaf is observed) receive from Allah in Ramadan.
May Allahu Rabbul Izzat kindly save us and our near and dear ones from any sloth in this behalf. Aameen!
v Aethikaaf commences with our expressing the intent to observe it for Allah and making the Masjid our abode for the number of days we have decided to set apart for it.
v We dedicate our stay to special prayers, over and above the Jama’ath (congregational) prayers we will be performing.
v We must also recite the Holy Qur’an and engage in Zikr-e-Ilaahi, reciting t the blessed names of Allah.
v We are allowed to converse with others on Islami issues. But we must not engage in gossip or waste our time in senseless pursuits.
v Sex is forbidden for the entire period of our Aethikaaf.
v We may have our meals brought to the Masjid and partake of them. This, however, should be done with due respect to its Masjid’s sanctity as a House of Allah. It is our duty to keep it clean and accord it the respect and veneration it deserves.
v We may go out for toilet and for bath. But we must reside (pray and sleep) only in the Masjid during the Aethikaaf.
v Aethikaaf is a unique and uplifting experience that we must avail at least a few times in our life.
v Entrusting our home and our family and our business (or office) to the Protection of Allahu Sub’hanahu va tha Aalaa, we retire to the Masjid and enter this Devotional Workshop.
v Whether other Muslims join us or not, we are here to uplift ourselves in our faith through Qur’anic recitation and a deep study of, and meditation on, Islami literature.
v If we are inspired to write, we can do so and convey to all the joy and fulfillment we have been awarded by Allah.
v And we practice with true devotion special prayers and Zik’r-e-Ilaahi (recitation of the blessed names of Allah) and send Darood as often as we can to Our Beloved Prophet S.A.W.S.
v And, as we are reminded of our family and our Muslim brothers and sisters who are outside the Masjid, in our country or abroad, we render them the best service we can:
v We pray to Allahu Rabbul Izzath to kindly pardon their sins, relieve any distress they are involved in and bless them with good health, happiness, enduring prosperity and the wealth of eemaan.
v May Allahu Rahmaanir Raheem kindly grant all of us, men and women in Islam, the good fortune to be observing Aethikaaf in the most devout manner possible year after year. A’meen!
May Our Glorious Creator grant us an abode in Jannath. A’meen!
Women also may observe Aethikaaf:
v But this must be done within the home.
v A portion of the house set apart for prayers. This will be their abode for the duration of the Aethikaaf.
v They must devote their time there entirely to prayers, recitation of Holy Qur’an and Zikr-e-Ilaahi. They must not engage in cooking and other household chores. But they can help in processing vegetables etc. if this can be done without moving from their place of Aethikaaf.
v They must terminate their Aethikaaf if they start menstruating in that state.
v If Muslim families around the world, wish to rediscover the glory of their faith, let them observe Aethikaaf in earnest and avail unlimited blessings form the Rah’math of Allahu Rabbul Izzath.
v A beginning can be made with as little as one day in Ramadan and its radiance will fill their hearts and homes and inspire them to observe Aethikaaf on more and more days in the future.
v The excellent result of this, by the Grace of Allah, will be, a glorious Muslim world of which all of us can be proud.
