The Month of Ramadaan
01-09-2008
The ninth month of the
Islamic calendar is called Ramadhaan and it is the most meritorious month of the
whole year. Since there are many specific rules peculiar to this month, we would
like to deal with it's characteristics in a rather detailed manner under
different section.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF RAMADHAAN
The glorious Qur'aan has explicitly mentioned that the basic objective for which
man is created by Allah is that he 'worships' Him: "And
I did not create Jinn and human beings except that they should worship Me."
(Glorious Qur'aan 51:56)
The word used by the glorious Qur'aan for worship is 'Ibaadah, which has a much
wider sense than worship. In English, the word worship indicates some specific
acts or rituals meant exclusively to show one's reverence to his Creator. But
the word 'ibaadah is not restricted to such acts or rituals, rather, it embodies
any act done in submission to Allah's Commands and to seek His Pleasures.
Therefore, many acts which seem to be mundane in nature are included in the word
'ibaadah, like earning one's livelihood through Halaal (permissible) means and
in order to fulfil one's obligations towards his dependants.
However, 'ibaadah is of two kinds. One consists of acts that are meant
exclusively to worship Allah, having no worldly objective, like Salaah, Fasting,
etc. These are direct acts of 'ibaadah, while the other kind of 'ibaadah
includes acts which are primarily mundane, but are converted into 'ibaadah when
performed in full conformity with Sharee'ah and with an intention to discharge
one's obligations. Therefore, these acts are treated as 'ibaadah in an indirect
manner. It is obvious that the direct acts of 'ibaadah should be superior to the
indirect ones.
Now, while prescribing very few acts of direct 'ibaadah in one's daily life,
like the Salaah which is performed five times a day, Islaam has left its
followers mostly with the indirect acts of 'ibaadah like eating, drinking,
earning livelihood and association with one's wife, children, parents,
relatives, friends and other human beings. But the primary nature of these acts
being mundane, one becomes so absorbed in their worldly pleasures that their
material aspects prevail their spiritual ones. Therefore, these acts have less
spiritual strength than the direct acts of worship.
Since the direct acts of 'ibaadah are very few in one's daily life as compared
to the indirect ones, his spiritual progress becomes slow vis-A-vis his material
progress. The month of Ramadhaan has been designed to maintain a balance between
material and spiritual aspects of the human life. This month is meant to
maximise the direct acts of 'ibaadah and to minimise the pure mundane
activities, so that one may accelerate his spiritual progress to make up the
distance and to repair the spiritual loss one may have suffered through his deep
involvement in the mundane activities during the year. The days of Ramadhaan are
designed for fasting, which is an act of 'ibaadah for the whole day, and
depriving oneself from food for many hours. This lessens the undesirable
spiritual effects of the material pleasures. The nights of Ramadhaan, on the
other hand, are spent in offering Taraaweeh, Tahajjud and Suhoor, thereby
reducing one's sleep much less than normal days. Moreover, apart from the
prescribed acts of worship, one is supposed to offer as much optional (nafl) 'ibaadah
in this month as he can. In this way the level of one's spiritual activities in
this month is raised up much higher than in other days of the year.
This philosophy of Ramadhaan makes it clear that this month should be devoted to
the direct acts of worship as far as possible. That is why the rewards of the
virtuous acts in this month have been multiplied. This is to encourage the
Muslims to carry out maximum possible acts of 'ibaadah.
HOW TO SPEND RAMADHAAN
The month of Ramadhaan is the season of Divine Blessings. It is the month of
purification and meant for annual renovation of the inner spiritual qualities.
It is a golden opportunity for every Muslim to strengthen his Imaan, purify his
heart and soul and remove the evil effects of the sins committed. This month
invites a Muslim to minimise his mundane involvements and maximise the acts of
worship. One should plan his schedule for this month beforehand, so as to spare
maximum time for 'ibaadah.
Below is a brief list of the acts which should be carried out in Ramadhaan with
due care:
1. To offer every prayer with congregation in the Musjid.
2. To rise up a little
earlier than the exact time of suhoor and to offer the Salaah of Tahajjud. There
is no prescribed number of the Tahajjud prayer, yet, it is better to pray 8
rak'ats.
3. To offer the nafl
(optional) prayers of Ishraaq (two rak'ats after sunrise), Dhuhaa (Four rak'ats
which may be performed at anytime after Ishraaq before noon) and Awwaabeen (six
rak'ats after Maghrib).
4. The recitation of
the glorious Qur'aan. No specific limit is prescribed, but one should recite as
much of it as he can.
5. To remember Allah
frequently through different prophetic recitations, such as the following:
Subhaana Allaah wa bihamdihi subhaana Allaahu al-Adheem, Laa hawla walaa quwwata
illaa bi-llaahi al-aliyy al-adheem, subhaana Allaahu wa alhamdulillaah wa laa
ilaaha illa Allaahu wa Allaahu Akbar, Astaghfiru-llaah lladhee laa ilaaha illaa
huwa al-hayy al-qayyoom wa atoobu ilayhi, Allaahumma salli alaa muhammadin al-nabiyy
al-ummiy wa-alaa aalihi wa-sallim tasleeman.
Apart from reciting these phrases, one hundred times each, at a particular time,
they may also be continued frequently throughout the day, even if one is engaged
in some light work, when walking and when in bed.
6. Prayers and
supplications (du'aa): No particular prayer is prescribed. One can pray for
everything he needs both in this world and in the Hereafter. However, the
supplications of the noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam are so
comprehensive that they encompass all that a Muslim can need in his life and
after his death. It is therefore, much advisable to pray to Allah Almighty in
words used by our noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam.
There are several books wherein these prophetic supplications have been
compiled. Below are the names of two books which should be kept by every Muslim
in his home and be used for praying daily: Al-Hisnul Haseen by Allaamah Al-Jazri
and Munaajaat-e-Maqbool by Maulana Ashraf Ali Thaanvi
7. Giving Sadaqah (charity): Apart from paying Zakaat, which is obligatory, one
should also spend optionally in Ramadhaan to the best of his ability. It is
reported in authentic Ahaadeeth that the noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi
wasallam used to pay special attention in Ramadhaan to look after the poor and
help them financially. Therefore, a Muslim should give as much money in Sadaqah
as he can afford.
WHAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN RAMADHAAN
All sinful acts should be avoided completely during the month of Ramadhaan.
Although the sinful acts are totally prohibited in the Sharee'ah, whether in
Ramadhaan or at any other time, but their prohibition becomes more severe in
this month. It is evident that every Muslim avoids certain lawful acts, like
eating and drinking during the fasts. If he continues to commit sins, it will be
a mockery to avoid lawful things and yet be engaged in unlawful acts that were
never allowed in the Sharee'ah. Thus, the abstinence from sins becomes all the
more necessary in this month.
The following acts in particular, should be avoided totally:
1. Telling a lie.
2. Backbiting.
3. Quarrelling. The
noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam has particularly forbidden from
quarrelling during the fast. He has directed us that, if someone wants to
quarrel in Ramadhaan, we should tell him that we are fasting, hence we are not
prepared to indulge in any quarrel.
4. Eating unlawful
things.
5. Earning through unlawful means.
6. Any act which may harm a person.
7. Burdening one's servants or employees with a toilsome job that is beyond
their ability, without providing them facilities to carry it out.
In short, one should try his best to refrain from all kinds of sins and protect
his eyes, ears, tongue, and all other organs from indulging in any unlawful
activity.
Once a Muslim spends the month of Ramadhaan in this way, he will insha'allah,
find himself equipped with spiritual strength which will facilitate for him to
conduct a good Islamic life in accordance with the Pleasure of Allah throughout
the year.
Justice Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani
Submitted by a Mujahid