Salam, Dr. Saidy! Once again may Allah bless this contribution of yours! Akere D. Achu, MCSE >From: Madiba Saidy <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: THE TENETS OF ISLAM (20) >Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1999 00:36:12 -0800 > > In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. > >RAMADAN FASTING (2) > >All praise is due to Allah, the Lord and the Cherisher of the Universe. >May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the holy prophet, Muhammad >(PBUH), his household, companions and the followers of the right guidance >till the Day of Judgment. Allah, the Exalted, says in the Qur'an: > >"Be ye foremost (in seeking) forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden (of >Bliss) the width whereof is as the width of heaven and earth prepared for >those who believe in Allah and His apostles: that is the Grace of Allah >which He bestows on whom He pleases: and Allah is the Lord of Grace >abounding." Q57:21. > >"O ye who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance: in the hope that >your Lord will remove from you your ills and admit you to Gardens beneath >which Rivers flow the Day that Allah will not permit to be humiliated the >Prophet and those who believe with him. Their Light will run forward >before them and by their right hands while they say "Our Lord! Perfect our >Light for us and grant us Forgiveness; for Thou has power over all >things." Q66:8 > >Abu Huraira narrated that Allah's Apostle (PBUH) said, "Whoever observes >fast during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to >attain Allah's rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven." (Bukhari >Hadith 1.37) > >Some good deeds that are recommended and those actions to be avoided >during Ramadan include the following: > >1. Supplications while breaking the fast >Ibn Majah related from 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'Aas that the Prophet, >upon whom be peace, said: "A fasting person, upon breaking his fast, has a >supplication that will not be rejected. When 'Abdullah broke his fast he >would say: "O Allah, I ask of You, by Your mercy that encompasses >everything, to forgive me." >It is confirmed that the Prophet would say, before breaking his fast: "O >Allah, for You I have fasted and with Your provisions do I break my fast. > >Tirmidhi (hadith 2248) recorded, that the Prophet said: "Three people >will not have their supplications rejected: a fasting person until he >breaks his fast, a just ruler, and an oppressed person." > >2. Being generous and studying the Qur'an >Being generous and studying the Qur'an is recommended during any time, but >it is especially stressed during the month of Ramadan. Al-Bukhari recorded >that Ibn 'Abbas said: "The Prophet was the most generous of people, but he >would be his most generous during Ramadan when he would meet with [the >angel] Gabriel. He would meet with him every night and recite the Qur'an. >When Gabriel met him, he used to be more generous than a fast wind." > >The Qur'an is revealed in the month of Ramadan. It is recommended that >Muslims should read the whole Qur'an, at least one time, during Ramadan. >It is not enough to read only the Arabic text, we should try to read the >translation of the Qur'an in a language we understand very well. The >essence is to get familiar with its teachings and follow them. >Zaid bin Khalid Juhaini narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: >"Whoever provides food to a person fasting, to break the fast, his reward >will be equivalent to the reward of the person who is fasting without any >decrease in the reward for goodness of the person who is fasting." (Al >-Tirmidhi). > >Those that cannot fast due to old age or permanent sickness are expected >to feed the fasting Muslims as a ransom if they can afford it. "As for >those who can fast with difficulty, they have (a choice either to fast or) >feed a poor person. But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better >for him. And that you fast is better for if only you know." Q2:184. > >3. Performance of Taraawih and Tahajjud. >Tarawih and Tahajjud are supererogatory salat observed after Ishai prayers >and in during the late night respectively. > >Al-Bukhari and Muslim record from 'Aishah that during the last ten days of >Ramadan, the Messenger of Allah would wake his wives up during the night >and then remain apart from them (that is, being busy in acts of worship). >A version in Muslim states: "He would strive [to do acts of worship] >during the last ten days of Ramadan more than he would at any other time." > >4. Avoidance of immoral acts and lies >Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said, "Whoever does not give >up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad >words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food >and drink." (Bukhari 8.83) > >Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah's Apostle (PBUH) said, "Fasting is a >shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should >avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and >impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell >him twice, 'I am fasting." (Bukhari 3.118). > >5. Performance of Umra >Ata narrated that he heard Ibn 'Abbas saying, "Allah's Apostle asked an >Ansari woman 'What prevented you from performing Hajj with us?' She >replied, 'We have a camel and the father of so-and-so and his son (i.e. >her husband and her son) rode it and left one camel for us to use for >irrigation.' He said (to her), 'Perform 'Umra when Ramadan comes, for >'Umra in Ramadan is equal to Hajj (in reward),' or said something >similar." (Bukhari 3.10) > >6. I'tikaf and seeking the night of Qadr. >I'tikaf means to confine oneself in a mosque for prayers and praise of >Allah, leaving worldly things and be devoted in religious duties during >the last ten days of Ramadan to seek the night of majesty about which >Allah, the Exalted, says: > >"We have indeed revealed this (Qur'an) in the night of Power (Qadr): And >what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power >is better than a thousand Months. Therein come down the angels and the >Spirit (angel Gabriel) by Allah's permission on every Decree: Peace!... >This until the rise of Morn!" Suratul -Qadr, 97:1-5 > >Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said, "Whoever established >prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward >from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts >in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from >Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven." (Bukhari 3.125). > >As to the supplication during the night of qadr, Aisha asked Allah's >Messenger (peace be upon him) to tell her what prayers to say on Laylat >al-Qadr (night of power) if she knew which night it was, and he told her >to say, "O Allah, Thou art forgiving and loves forgiveness, so forgive >me." (Tirmidhi 2091. Also by Ahmad and Ibn Majah) > >Those of us who cannot do I'tikaf for one reason or the order can seek the >night of qadr in our various homes by engaging is supererogatory prayers >and supplications during the last ten nights of Ramadan. It is unfortunate >that some Muslim organizations have turned the night of Power into a night >of social gathering and collection of money and donation instead of a >night of religious devotion. > >7. Zakat al-fitr (Ramadan charity) >Zakat ul-fitr is a type of charity which must be paid by every Muslim, >young and old, male and female, free and slave, at the end of the month of >fasting (Ramadan). > >Ibn 'Umar narrated that: "Allah's Apostle enjoined the payment of one Sa' >of dates or one Sa' of barley as Zakat-ul-Fitr on every Muslim slave or >free, male or female, young or old, and he ordered that it be paid before >the people went out to offer the 'Id prayer. (One Sa' = 3 Kilograms >approx.) (Bukhari 2.579). > >In another hadith reported by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and ad-Daraqutni from >Ibn 'Abbas. The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, enjoined zakat >ul-fitr on the one who fasts to shield one's self from any indecent act or >speech and for the purpose of providing food for the needy. It is accepted >as zakah for the person pays it before the 'id salat, and it is sadaqah >for the one who pays it after the salat. > >Every free Muslim must pay zakat ul-fitr for himself, his wife, children, >and servants whether they, his dependants, participated in Ramadan fasting >or not. Some scholars agree that zakat ul fitr could be done with money, >the equivalent cost of 3kg. of grain (rice, beans, corn, barley, etc ) >that is consumed locally. The reason they gave is that one of the reasons >for this zakat is to make the poor happy on the day of festival and that >providing them with money to buy what they like will equally serve the >purpose. Other scholars maintained that grain should be used since this >was used during the time of the prophet (PBUH) and that the poor can sell >the grain if he/she needs money. > >8. The Forbidden Days to Fast, the days of 'id (Islamic festivals) >All scholars agree that such a fast is prohibited. It does not matter if >the fast is obligatory or voluntary. 'Umar testifies: "The Messenger of >Allah has forbidden fasting on these two days. Concerning the 'id of >breaking the fast, it is for you to break your fast [of Ramadan]. On the >'id of sacrifice, you should eat from what you sacrifice." This is related >by Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, atTirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah. > >It is not permissible to fast during the three days following the 'Id >al-Adha. Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be >peace, sent 'Abdullah ibn Hudhaqah to announce at Mina: "You are not to >fast these days. They are days of eating and drinking and remembering >Allah." This is related by Ahmad. > >It is unfortunate that some Muslims fall into an error of fasting on >Ramadan festival day. In some countries, people are divided on the day to >start and end Ramadan fasting, some will decide when to start and end >fasting regardless of the time the moon is seen. This set of people is >following their personal desires and not Islamic teachings. Every Muslim >is expected to begin Ramadan fasting whenever he/she hears that the moon >has been seen regardless of the place and the person provided a Muslim >that saw the moon. Some Muslims have allowed rivalry and self-pride in >their life. The prophet (PBUH) said that fast should begin and end when >the moon is seen but if the moon could not be seen due to cloud, then fast >should begin and end after 30 days of the month. And that people who >started Ramadan fasting late because they did not hear about the moon >MUST not fast on the 'id al-fitr day (Ramadan festival). They should make >up the lost days of fasting latter. We should be careful of the warning of >Allah, the Exalted. >"It is not fitting for a Believer man or woman when a matter has been >decided by Allah and His Apostle to have any option about their decision: >if anyone disobeys Allah and His Apostle he is indeed on a clearly wrong >Path." Q33:36 >"then let those beware who oppose the Apostle's order (sunnah) lest some >trial befall them or a grievous Penalty be inflicted on them." Q24:63. > >One of the reasons Allah prescribed fasting is for us to learn >self-restraint so that we can be pious. We should have this in mind as we >prepare for Ramadan. If we could do away with some of our bad habits for >29 or 30 days, we should able to completely do away with them in our life. >This is the teaching we should understand and imbibe. > >May Allah accept our acts of worship, have mercy on us, count us among >those that will witness the coming Ramadan and help the oppressed and poor >people of the world. > >Peace be on you. > >Surajudeen. >KFUPM, Dhahran, KSA. > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L >Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------