The Final Days of Ramadhan

The month of Ramadhan brings with it a spiritual intensity driven by the zeal of a believer. This zeal and spiritual presence is a blessing from Allah تعالى to aid every believer reach the zenith of worship through which one can taste the pleasure of Islam and the worship which one performs for the sake of Allah alone.

It is through His infinite mercy that He increases our physical strength in two folds; by relieving us from our physical strength, hence reducing our desires, and by also chaining the Shayateen (satans) during this sacred month.

The month of Ramadhan is a well known topic which is discussed by many individuals from many different angles to highlight its many attributes and significances.

At the same time, many people also highlight the importance of refraining from sin and ensuring the fast does not become void of blessings and rewards through the imperfection caused to it through sinning.

The last ten days of Ramadhan are also mentioned specifically as they carry great merit and rewards. It is during these nights that the Sunnah I’tikaah (seclusion) is performed in the Masaajids (Mosques) in order to further dedicate the short period left in the worship of Allah. It is also during this time that the majority of the scholars have stated, through references of the Ahadith, that Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power) is found.

These are great topics to discuss which I would have been honoured to write about had time allowed me to do so. However, the month of Ramadhan is now coming to an end and the weekend brings us closer to the final days of Ramadhan.

In this moment I would like to reiterate the purpose of Ramadhan and the main objective that is to be accomplished during this month:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

O You who believe! Fasting has been obligatory upon you as it was made obligatory for those before you, so that you may become God-fearing

The purpose of this month is to ensure that a person who is fortunate to be present within this month progresses spiritually to a level which is superior to that than which he started. By doing so, he should have created a bond and link with Allah that would sustain until the following Ramadhan and years to come.

A person who neglects the above purpose, despite having fasted and committing to worship, may find that his Ramadhan will not only be deemed purposeless but will also descend upon him as a curse. This is clearly proven from a lengthy Hadeeth of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم in which it is stated:

اِنَّ جِبْرَئِيْلَ عَرَضَ لِيْ فَقَالَ بَعُدَ مَنْ اَدْرَكَ رَمَضَانَ فَلَمْ يُغْفَرْ لَهُ قُلْتُ آمِيْنَ Jibraeel عليه السلام came to me and said, ‘Curse be upon him who acquired the month of Ramadhan and did not have his sins forgiven.’ To which I said ‘Aameen’

[Mustadrak al-Haakim]

It is clearly evident that a person who fails to acquire the forgiveness of Allah تعالى in this month will be deprived from the proximity of Allah and in turn Allah’s curse will be upon him and he will be distanced from Allah and His mercy.

Therefore, although the fasting has been made an obligation in this month and other prayers have been advised and encouraged; one should never fail to remember that the true purpose of Ramadhan is to better ourselves and gain Allah’s love and affection and through these gain His forgiveness.

It is never too late to acquire this affection of Allah and His forgiveness, even if the majority of this month has been wasted and spent in a manner not suitable for such a sublime month. The blessings of Ramadhan remain till the end of this month, in fact, it’s blessings increase in the last portion of this month within which the Night of Power is most likely to occur.

Therefore, whether we have spent these days of Ramadhan in concrete dedication to Allah or whether we have waivered in this month, it is essential to ensure and check and scrutinise our actions during this month and come to a conclusion as to whether Allah تعالى would be pleased with us and our actions. Whilst doing this we need to continuously seek His forgives and ask Him to pardon our shortcomings for indeed we can never do justice to His majesty.

As a final note, we should increase our recitation of the following Du’a (supplication) as it has been mentioned on the authority of Hadhrat Aisha رضي الله عنها that she asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم as to what she should recite if she was to acquire the Night of Power. Our Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم answered with the following Du’a:

اللّهُمَّ اِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُوْ عَنَّا O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me.

May Allah give us all the inclination and understanding to monitor our actions and assess as to whether we have achieved the purpose of Ramadhan. May He give us the strength to make amends to the extent of our ability and thereafter forgive our weaknesses and shortcomings through His blessings.

O Allah, save us from your curse which was conveyed through Jibraeel عليه السلام and sealed with acceptance by our Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم. Give us the courage and strength to turn towards you in a manner which you have described as توبة نصوحا. Aameen.

Source: zain121 Forum - Ramadhan Section

How Will We Be Raised?

In many Ahadeeth the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has mentioned the intense environment and atmosphere of the day of Qiyaamah. He has told us many a times that on that day people will be with whom they had love for; they will stand with the people they followed and that they will be raised as they had died.

In the previous post it was mentioned that a person shall die in accordance to how he lived his life. Therefore, the manner in which he lived his life will also affect the way in which he shall be raised on the day of Judgement.

The importance of how a person is raised cannot be emphasised enough, it is the second sign of the acceptance or rejection of man, the first being the manner in which he died. If a person died whilst reading the Kalimah (proclamation of faith) we automatically have a good thought of his acceptance. But, if a person dies whilst uttering words of disbelief and ungratefulness then there is a doubt that remains in the mind of the people as to how his Aakhirah (hereafter) shall be. Similarly, if a person is raised amongst the Awliyaa (friends of Allah Ta'ala); amongst the Anbiyaa (Prophets Alayhimus Salaam); or are amongst the ones who are under the shelter of the 'Arsh (throne) of Allah Ta'ala, then surely one can just look at their condition and position and feel that these are the people who are to acquire Jannah and mercy of Allah Ta'ala.

However, if a person is raised in a state where he is shown doing a sin, what will be the thought towards that person?

Surely the pressure and anxiety of that day will be so immense that one will not be looking towards anyone else. Each and every man shall be for himself.

"Then, when there comes thesecond blowing of the Trumpet
That Day shall a man flee from his brother,
And from his mother and his father,
And from his wife and his children.
Every man, that Day, will have enough to make him careless of others."

(al-Qur'an 80:33-37)

The conclusion of this Hadeeth is that which we all understand but fail to bring in practice. It is the fact that our Aakhirah is ultimately dependant on our actions in this world. Our worldly acts are so important that it decides our final abode, so much so that even our death is dependant upon our acts during our lifetime.

How Will We Die?

As Salaamu Alaykum

"As you live, so shall you die; and as you die so shall you be raised"

During my reading, I came across the above Hadeeth; a Hadeeth which is short in words but holds immense meaning for the people who ponder and wish to understand.

It is one of the greatest concerns of every believer as to how he will die, how will he be treated in the hereafter, will he be successful or will he be disgraced? All these worries are answered in this short Hadeeth of our beloved Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam.

How Will We Die?

The first half of this Hadeeth mentions the way in which man will acquire his death. The Hadeeth mentions that a person will die in the manner in which he lived his life.

If a person, throughout his life, lived in accordance to the Shari'ah and the will of Allah Ta'ala then it will be most like that his life will end in a manner where he is following the Shari'ah and upholding the religion of Islam. To the contrary, if he lived his life displeasing Allah Ta'ala and whilst walking the path of Shaytaan then it is likely that his life comes to an end in a state where he is committing a sin and Allah Ta'ala is displeased with him.

The belief of every Muslim is that death can strike at any time. Death is something which does not come to a person at a specific time, age or during a certain act. It is the order of Allah Ta'ala and His wish that he takes the soul of any person when he wishes. Therefore, the justice of Allah Ta'ala is such that He will not sadden his true believers, those who walked upon his path during their lifetime.

As with any person, who walks on any path, a time comes when sometimes a person may trip over, stumble or fall. However, after his fall he does not remain on the floor and give up hope of moving on. Instead, he stands up as quickly as he can, at times looking around to save himself from embarrassment, and then continues on his path. The path of Islam is identical to this path. Any person walking upon it is guaranteed to fall or stumble at some time. Shaytaan will always be lurking on the path of those who follow the road to Jannah so that he can trip them over; his ultimate goal and lurking hope is that once a person falls over he will give up hope or not have enough courage to stand up.

But if we continuously pick ourselves up, seek forgiveness from Allah Ta'ala for our shortcomings whilst heading towards Him, whilst on His path, then surely the mercy of Allah Ta'ala will not let death fall upon us while we are fallen on His path. Surely He will be aware that my servant has stumbled many a times, but he has always stood up and embraced me thereafter and after knowing this surely His mercy will not let death come upon us while we are on the floor. Surely He will give us a chance to stand and embrace Him once more before He orders death to break the barrier between us and our Lord, Allah Ta'ala.

But, if a person, whilst treading on this path takes a fall and does not make the effort to stand, instead he changes his path and goes contrary to the path of Allah Ta'ala. Then is there not the possibility that Allah Ta'ala will take his soul without any consideration? Is there not a chance that the time of death will be shadowing above our heads whilst we are far from the path of Allah Ta'ala?

This is a brief explanation of the first part of the Hadeeth mentioned by our beloved Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam. Indeed, this Hadeeth is filled with pearls of knowledge and wisdom.

May Allah Ta'ala give us all the ability and inclination to walk upon His path. And may He give us courage to be able to stand after every fall so that we can once again embrace Him and make Him pleased with us. May He also give us death only when He is pleased with us and whilst we are on His path.

Aameen.

Wasalaam.

(Insha-Allah the second part of this Hadeeth will be posted some time this weekend)

Five before Five

The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has said:

"Take benefit of five before five:

Your YOUTH before your OLD AGE,

Your HEALTH before your SICKNESS,

Your WEALTH before your POVERTY,

Your FREE-TIME before you are PREOCCUPIED,

& Your LIFE before your DEATH."

Praise be to Allah who bestowed the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam with Jawaami'ul Kalim (conciseness).

Surely, this Hadeeth is few in words but holds a great meaning for those who understand and ponder.

In this narration by ibn Abbas we are asked to take the benefit of five things before the occurrence of five things.

Insha-allah each portion of this Hadeeth will be explained with detail... Starting with one that is most likely to be beneficial for us all... Our Youth before our Old Age...

May Allah give us the ability to understand the value of time and take benefit of this moment that we have before it is taken away from us. Aameen