Welcoming the month of Ramadan

By sheikh Saoud Al sharim

All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, his household and companions.
Fellow Muslims! I implore myself and you all to fear Allaah; this honours the soul and brings it close to its Lord. No God-fearing person will ever fail and anyone who disregards the importance of piety will never be successful.

Dear Muslims! Whoever observes the condition of people in light of the current trials, tribulations and calamities that are occurring all over the world will see that the Muslims are in dire need of a generous guest that brings with it relief and progress. They are in need of this grand guest with whom they hope to be strengthened after a series of indescribable calamities and weakening incidents; hence their need for this great month of tranquillity and spiritual development. It is the month of self-examination, conscience reawakening and freedom from selfishness and lustful desires. Allaah says that which translates as: “O you who have believed! Decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you, that you may become righteous." (Al-Baqarah: 183).

Fellow Muslims! The month of Ramadaan is the month of the Qur’aan; a Book whose light will never fade and which is a path that never leads one astray. The Glorious Qur’aan is to man as the soul is to the body; it is a light for guidance. Whoever does not read the Qur’aan or put its injunctions into practice is dead, despite the fact that they may speak and move. Whoever does not put it into practice has gone far astray even if they are apparently successful in all areas of life.

Allaah says that which translates as: “Is one who is dead and We gave him life and made for him light by which to walk among the people like one who is in darkness, never to emerge therefrom?" (Al-An’aam: 122).

A human being without the guidance of the Qur’aan is like any living being without air or water; all their endeavours will end up in bankruptcy. Allaah says that which translates as: “Say: ‘It is for those who believe, a guidance and a cure’ And those who do not believe – in their ears is deafness, and it (i.e. the Qur’aan) is upon them blindness. Those are being called from a distant place." (Fussilat: 44).

Fellow Muslims! There is no doubt that the relationship of many Muslims with the Qur’aan is one of abandonment of either its recitation or implementation of its injunctions. It is no exaggeration to say that the diseases of past nations have affected the Muslims, while they are unaware of this. Allaah says that which translates as: “And there are among them unlettered people who do not know not the Scripture except (indulgement in) wishful thinking, but they are only assuming." (Al Baqarah: 78). The scholars of Tafseer say about this verse: ‘It means: they know nothing about the Book except for its recitation, for it never passed their lungs and throats. This is because of the fact that there was a spiritual absence in their recitation and therefore, they were unable to ponder over its meanings’.

Among the causes of the absence of reflection on the meanings of the Qur’aan is the failure to explore and understand the laws of Allaah in relation to human-beings and natural phenomena. Also to blame is the sanctification of erroneous concepts and wrong interpretations of life that have become widespread among people and which are caused by unrestrained love for this world and the hatred of death. Ziyaad Ibn Labeed Al-Ansaari, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam mentioned something and then said: ‘….and that is when there will be no more knowledge.’ We said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! How will knowledge disappear while we have the Qur’aan with us and we teach it to our children and while they will also teach it to theirs?’ The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam retorted: ‘I thought you were one of the most knowledgeable of the people of Madeenah! Are there not Jews and Christians who have their scriptures with them and yet they take no benefit from what is inside them?’ (At-Tirmidhi and others).
One is stricken with grief and shock when they see the stance that many Muslims have adopted with regard to the Book of their Lord. They have been covered by darkness and wander aimlessly; the foreign systems and ideologies that they have embraced have done nothing for them. How can it be that we have the light and yet follow the paths of other nations?

The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam lived for sixty-three years; we are used to believing that old age and the vicissitudes of life cause hair to turn grey. What then will you think of a man who attributed grey hair to some verses of the glorious Qur’aan that he used to recite? Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, asked the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam about what caused some of his beard to become grey, he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam replied: ‘It was caused by Soorah Hood, Soorah Al-Waaqi’ah, Soorah An-Naba’ and Soorah At-Takweer." (At-Tirmidhi)

Brothers in faith! The blessed month of Ramadaan should be regarded as a wonderful opportunity for every Muslim to save himself from destruction and to purify their soul in preparation for the Qur’aanic guidance that is inherent in night prayer. Allaah says that which translates as: “Indeed, the hours of the night (i.e. the rising for Tahajjud prayer) are more effective for concurrence (of heart and tongue) and more suitable for words (i.e. for recitation of the Qur’aan and for hearing and understanding it)." (Al-Muzzammil: 6).

Brothers in faith! The blessed month of Ramadaan is a great opportunity for the Muslims to wake up for night prayers, seek refuge with Allaah and turn to Him for their needs, for none has the power to answer their call except Allaah alone. The Lord descends to the nearest heaven, in a way that befits his majesty, in the last third of the night and asks: “Is there anyone who seeks My forgiveness so that I can forgive him?" Do any of us ever reflect upon and appreciate this great period which is one of those in which supplications are answered? Tell me, what are the people doing in this last part of the night? Many a miserable soul missed this blessed period! Many people are in deep slumber at this time. It is saddening that some of those who are negligent of this great period are however, ready to go anywhere where they can lodge their complaints and seek solutions to their problems - from their fellow human beings, forgetting that it is only Allaah who is capable of removing sorrow and distress. He says that which translates as: “What is (the matter) with you that you do not attribute to Allaah (due) grandeur while He has created you in stages?" (Nooh: 13-14).

Imaam Tirmidhi reported that the Prophet of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: ‘There are three persons whose supplications are never rejected: The just leader, the fasting person when he breaks his fast and the oppressed when he supplicates and whose supplication is raised above the clouds and the gates of heaven are opened for it and Allaah will say, “By My Glory! I shall assist you even if it is after a while."’

Brothers in faith! There are however, some people who raise their hands in prayer and are impatient for a rapid answer; they may even feel despair if their supplications are not speedily answered. The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “Allaah will answer the supplication of any one of you as long as he is not hasty and says: ‘I called my Lord and He did not answer.’"

The delay may also be caused by sins such as the failure to uphold the rights of kinship, or perhaps it may be due to the fact that the prayer emanated only from the tongue and was not rooted in the heart. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: ‘Allaah does not accept the supplications from an inattentive heart.’ The heart is not free from turning to the desires of this life and we all know that one who always looks back does not reach his goal in time.

Therefore, I implore you O Muslims, to make plentiful supplications to Allaah, for supplication is the essence of worship. Let nobody slight their requirements however great or small they may be. Allaah says that which translates as: “And your Lord says: ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you.’ Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell (rendered) contemptible." (Ghaafir: 60).

Here is an example for those in sorrow and distress: The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam entered the mosque one day and saw an Ansaari (a resident of Madeenah) man there by the name of Abu Umaamah. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam asked him, ‘O Abu Umaamah, why are you sitting in the mosque at a time that is not a prayer time?’ He replied: ‘I was forced to do so by sorrow and debt.’ The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam then asked: ‘Shall I teach you a supplication by which Allaah will remove your sorrow and pay for you your debts?’ He answered: ‘O yes, Messenger of Allaah!’ The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam then said: ‘Say every morning and evening: Allaahumma innee a’oodhu bikka minal-hammi wal hazan, wa a’oodhu bika minal-‘ajzi wal-kasal wa a’oodhu bika minal-jubni wal-bukhul wa a’oodhu bika min ghalabatid-dayn wa qahrir-rijaal.’ (Meaning: O Allaah, I seek refuge with You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being over powered by men.) Abu Umaamah said: ‘I did that and Allaah removed my distress and paid for me my debt.’ (Abu Daawood).

Fellow Muslims! The month of Ramadaan is a month of generosity and spending in ways that are virtuous. Let every Muslim take part in the generosity of this month and not hesitate to wipe the tears off the faces of orphans, widows and the destitute. Let everyone keep away from stinginess and covetousness for these are two of the bad qualities from which the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam sought refuge with his Lord from. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was the most generous of mankind and his generosity multiplied during the month of Ramadaan. He would never say ‘no’ when he was asked of anything.
Further, the benefits of charity are not restricted to the beneficiary; the donor also has a share. An example of this is when a generous person gives in charity, their heart becomes gladdened and they become pleased with that. Therefore, this person will be encouraged to give more and gain extra rewards. As for the miser, whenever he thinks of giving in charity his heart feels constrained; he feels as if he is giving away a chunk of his life!, this in turn leads to his whole life feeling constrained. However, nothing destroys the tricks and insinuations of Satan more than giving sincerely in charity.

Allaah says that which translates as: “Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allaah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allaah is All-Encompassing and Knowing." (Al-Baqarah: 268).