Ramadhaan Q&A Session

Ramadhaan Q&A Session by Shaykh Abdullaah Al-Ghudyaan حفظه الله Delivered on Saturday 30th August, 2008 http://albaseerah.org/forum/ showthread.php?t=4430 Shaykh al-Ghudyaan خفظه الله began with the basmallaah and by sending salaah and salaam on the most noble of Prophets, our Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, his family and all his Companions. He then extended salaams to everyone and began. THE LEGISLATION OF FASTING AND THE GREATNESS OF THIS BLESSED MONTH The Shaykh حفظه الله began by quoting the statement of Allaah جل وعلا: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ {O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious).} [Al-Baqarah 2:183] And Allaah جل وعلا says: شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ {The month of Ramadhaan in which was revealed the Qur'aan...} [Al-Baqarah 2:185] And He سبحانه وتعالى also says: إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ {Indeed we sent it down in the night of power.} [al-Qadr 97:1] And there are other adillah (evidences) which indicate the virtues of this month of Ramadhaan. SELF-ASSESSMENT AT THE START OF RAMADHAAN Upon greeting the month of Ramadhaan an individual must return to his own self and search it for what it has sent forth concerning abiding by what Allaah سبحانه وتعالى has obligated and staying away from the prohibitions. If his condition was good such that he was abiding by what Allaah سبحانه وتعالى ordained and abstaining from what Allaah سبحانه وتعالى prohibited, then he praises Allaah سبحانه وتعالى and shows gratitude to his Rabb (Lord) for this tawfeeq (granting him this success). If however, he had some shortcomings (تقصير – taqseer) such that he left off a waajib (obligation) or did what Allaah سبحانه وتعالى prohibited him from, then he must return to Allaah سبحانه وتعالى in repentance. He must make tawbah (seek forgiveness from Allaah سبحانه وتعالى) for what he did in the past and he must abandon the sin and have firm conviction that he will not return to that sin, and he must regret what he did concerning that sin; this is if the sin was related to the rights of Allaah جل وعلا. However, if the sins were related to the rights of mankind, then If he is able to return the right to its owner he should do so. If he is unable to, then he should seek his companion's forgiveness so that he forgives him for the sin. If it is with respect to a monetary right and he is unable to return the wealth to its owner, then he should give that wealth in sadaqah with the intention that he is doing this using the wealth of the owner (i.e. he gives sadaqah on the owner's behalf). If he had spoken about the reputation of someone by criticizing him, then he should also give in sadaqah on his behalf and supplicate for him. HOW SHOULD ONE GREET AND LIVE THIS BLESSED MONTH It is required that an individual greets Ramadhaan and does in it what is related to it from siyaam (fasting), qiyaam (the night prayer) and recitation of the Qur'aan; for indeed an obligation in Ramadhaan is equal to seventy (70) obligations (in reward) in other than Ramadhaan. It is upon the individual to turn to his Lord with his heart as well as his limbs. If he is able to give from his wealth in sadaqah (charity) for himself then let him do this, and if he can give in charity on behalf of his Muslim relatives who have passed away, e.g. his father, his mother, his brother, his sister or other than them from his relatives etc. then he should do so. AVOID THE PROHIBITIONS During this month one should also shun all the munkaraaat (المنكرات – evil things) and he should preserve all the obligations which Allaah (جل وعلا) has obligated upon him. If the individual were to be the cause of insults occurring between him and another person, he should reply to him by saying "إني صائم" – "Indeed I am fasting." When one fasts his hearing should fast from listening to the things which are prohibited (i.e. he should not listen to the things which Allaah سبحانه وتعالى has prohibited) and his sight should fast from looking at the prohibited things and his private parts should fast from anything which Allaah سبحانه وتعالى has prohibited, even with his wife (until he breaks his fast). Indeed sexual relations during Ramadhaan (whilst fasting) necessitates that one frees a slave and if he cannot do so then he is required to fast two consecutive months and if he is unable to do so then he must feed sixty (60) poor people. His stomach should fast from eating whatever is prohibited by Allaah سبحانه وتعالى whether the prohibition was from its basis or because of a certain characteristic which it contains and it is upon him to be truthful to Allaah جل وعلا in this blessed month. PRESERVE THE NIGHT PRAYER Likewise, it is upon the individual to preserve the qiyaam (the night prayer) as the angel Jibreel عليه السلام came to the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and said to him: "Destroyed indeed is he who witnessed the month of Ramadhaan and was not forgiven, say Aameen; so I said Aameen"[1] A Muslim should be keen and eager to do that which leads one to attain the Pleasure of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى in order that he may be forgiven on the last night of Ramadhaan. RECITE AND REFLECT UPON THE QUR'AAN He should also be eager to recite the Qur'aan and if it is easy upon him he should also ponder over the meanings of the Qur'aan (during recitation) for indeed this is only an increase upon the goodness which one will attain as Allaah سبحانه وتعالى says: أَفَلاَ يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ {Do they not ponder over the Qur'aan} [An-Nisaa' 4:82] If he is able to do so, he should recite with tarteel (ترتيل – proper recitation and intonation) for indeed observing tarteel aids one in reflecting and contemplating on the meanings of the Qur'aan. INCREASE THE NAWAAFIL Likewise he should be keen on practicing a lot of the nawaafil (نوافل – supererogatory actions) such as praying the salaatudh-Dhuhaa and similarly, if he is able to, praying between salaatudh-Dhuhr and salaatul-`Asr and praying between salaatul-Maghrib and the `Ishaa prayer while being consistent upon praying Taraaweeh as well as praying Tahajjud in the last ten days of Ramadhaan. SEEK LAYLATUL-QADR This month (of Ramadhaan) contains a night which is better than a thousand (1,000) months i.e. an act of worship in this month is better than the same act of worship done over a period of a thousand months. This night is in the last ten (10) nights of Ramadhaan and it is in the odd nights (الأوتار) of Ramadhaan i.e. the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th night of Ramadhaan. The person must be eager to search for this night and to perform a lot of worship and a lot of righteous deeds in it; he should be keen on doing abundant good deeds. These brief words are a concise reminder and now we would take questions. (The Shaykh then gave salaams closing off the session dealing with the naseehah on welcoming Ramadhaan.) -- Masjid Ahlul-Quraan wa As-Sunnah of New york http://www.seekknowledge.org http://www.albaseerah.org