Tips for Ramadan

I received a text from a sister (jazaahAllahu khayran) with some tips for Ramadaan:

Seek Allah's pleasure and mercy
Read Qur'an
Listen to Qur'an
Keep yourself in a state of wudu
Evaluate yourself everyday
Seek forgiveness and repent / Make taubah
Increase your dhikr
Give sadaqah
Seek knowledge
Make time for others
Increase your sunnahs and nawaafil
Aquire patience and strong will
Strive fore ihsan and avoid showing off
Control your anger
Feed others
Make itikaaf
Don't eat too much at iftar and suhoor
Sleep early
Get up a little early for suhoor and pray tahajjud
Make dua for yourself and others
Don't waste time socialising too much
Pay zakatul fitr early
Set a goal of memorising some Quran and duaa
Watch your tongue

I tweaked them a bit, added the Arabic translation and wrote it on some big sheets of coloured paper, decorated with glitter glue and hung them up, alhamdu lillah:

I didn't nap today and neither did the kids. Which is a bit surprising because we didn't sleep particularly early yesterday either. The boys went to the café after taraweeh prayers, and it seems they've gone there today again... hmmm, not very smart. Me and the girls are staying at home during taraweeh prayers so far, it's a bit too late for us, and our car is really too small to hold us all, anyway. Alhamdu lillah, my time will come later in the month, in shaa Allah.

Today we read the tafseer bit that I decided on yesterday (in Arabic), watched another episode of the stories of the Prophets (as). Iftar preparation got a bit delayed today as we didn't have all ingredients. Hubby also decided to make fish tagine, so food preparation took longer than hoped for. A brought the sahaabah books downstairs (he knew all along where they were! I wonder where he had forgotten his hearing yesterday as we were talking and searching for them all day!) The boys read from them on their own whilst I read my bit of Qur'an.

Hubby made a big, yummy fruit salad for us whilst we were reading and took up his Mushaf when I warmed up the soup and popped the bureks under the grill (we don't deep-fry as we've had problems with fungi because of it!)

In the morning I'll read this bit of tafseer, in shaa Allah:

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِى أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ 2:185 The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan, i.e., is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasting) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasting) must be made up) from other days. يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah (i.e., to say Takbir (Allahu Akbar: Allah is the Most Great)) for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him. Top

The Virtue of Ramadan and the Revelation of the Qur'an in it

Allah says;

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ ...

The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an,

Allah praised the month of Ramadan out of the other months by choosing it to send down the Glorious Qur'an, just as He did for all of the Divine Books He revealed to the Prophets.

Imam Ahmad reported Wathilah bin Al-Asqa that Allah's Messenger said:

أُنْزِلَتْ صُحُفُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي أَوَّلِ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، وَأُنْزِلَتِ التَّوْرَاةُ لِسِتَ مَضَيْنَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، وَالْإِنْجِيلُ لِثَلاثَ عَشَرةَ خَلَتْ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، وَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ الْقُرْآنَ لأَرْبَعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ خَلَتْ مِنْ رَمَضَان

The Suhuf (Pages) of Ibrahim were revealed during the first night of Ramadan. The Torah was revealed during the sixth night of Ramadan. The Injil was revealed during the thirteenth night of Ramadan. Allah revealed the Qur'an on the twenty-fourth night of Ramadan.

The Virtues of the Qur'an

Allah said:

... هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ ...

...a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).

Here Allah praised the Qur'an, which He revealed as guidance for the hearts of those who believe in it and adhere to its commands.

Allah said: وَبَيِّنَاتٍ (and clear proofs) meaning, as clear and unambiguous signs and unequivocal proof for those who understand them.

These proofs testify to the truth of the Qur'an, its guidance, the opposite of misguidance, and how it guides to the straight path, the opposite of the wrong path, and the distinction between the truth and falsehood, and the permissible and the prohibited.

The Obligation of Fasting Ramadan

Allah said:

... فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ...

So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan, i.e., is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasting) that month.

This Ayah requires the healthy persons who witness the beginning of the month, while residing in their land, to fast the month.

This Ayah abrogated the Ayah that allows a choice of fasting or paying the Fidyah. When Allah ordered fasting, He again mentioned the permission for the ill person and the traveler to break the fast and to fast other days instead as compensation.

Allah said:

... وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ...

...and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasting) must be made up) from other days.

This Ayah indicates that ill persons who are unable to fast or fear harm by fasting, and the traveler, are all allowed to break the fast. When one does not fast in this case, he is obliged to fast other days instead.

Allah said:

... يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ ...

Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you.

This Ayah indicates that Allah allowed such persons, out of His mercy and to make matters easy for them, to break the fast when they are ill or traveling, while the fast is still obligatory on the healthy persons who are not traveling.

Several Rulings concerning the Fast

The authentic Sunnah states that;

Allah's Messenger traveled during the month of Ramadan for the battle for Makkah. The Prophet marched until he reached the area of Kadid and then broke his fast and ordered those who were with him to do likewise.

This was recorded in the Two Sahihs.

Breaking the fast mentioned in this Hadith was not required, for the Companions used to go out with Allah's Messenger during the month of Ramadan, then, some of them would fast while some of them would not fast and neither category would criticize the others. If the command mentioned in the Hadith required breaking the fast, the Prophet would have criticized those who fasted. Allah's Messenger himself sometimes fasted while traveling.

For instance, it is reported in the Two Sahihs that Abu Ad-Darda said,

"We once went with Allah's Messenger during Ramadan while the heat was intense. One of us would place his hand on his head because of the intense heat. Only Allah's Messenger and Abdullah bin Rawahah were fasting at that time.''

We should state that observing the permission to break the fast while traveling is better, as Allah's Messenger said about fasting while traveling:

مَنْ أَفْطَرَ فَحَسَنٌ، وَمَنْ صَامَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْه

Those who did not fast have done good, and there is no harm for those who fasted.

In another Hadith, the Prophet said:

عَلَيْكُمْ بِرُخْصَةِ اللهِ الَّتِي رُخِّصَ لَكُم

Hold to Allah's permission that He has granted you.

Some scholars say that the two actions are the same, as Aishah narrated that;

Hamzah bin Amr Al-Aslami said, "O Messenger of Allah! I fast a lot, should I fast while traveling?''

The Prophet said:

إِنْ شِئْتَ فَصُمْ، وَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَفْطِر

Fast if you wish or do not fast if you wish.

This Hadith is in the Two Sahihs.

It was reported that;

if the fast becomes difficult (while traveling), then breaking the fast is better.

Jabir said that;

Allah's Messenger saw a man who was being shaded (by other people while traveling). The Prophet asked about him and he was told that man was fasting.

The Prophet said:

لَيْسَ مِنَ الْبِرِّ الصِّيَامُ فِي السَّفَر

It is not a part of Birr (piety) to fast while traveling.

This was recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

As for those who ignore the Sunnah and believe in their hearts that breaking the fast while traveling is disliked, they are required to break the fast and are not allowed to fast.

As for making up for missed fasting days, it is not required to be consecutive. One may do so consecutively or not consecutively. There are ample proofs to this fact.

We should mention that fasting consecutive days is only required exclusively during Ramadan. After the month of Ramadan, what is required then is to merely make up for missed days. This is why Allah said: فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ (...the same number (should be made up) from other day).

Ease and not Hardship

Allah then said:

... يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ ...

Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you.

Imam Ahmad recorded Anas bin Malik saying that Allah's Messenger said:

يَسِّرُوا وَلَا تُعَسِّرُوا وَسَكِّنُوا وَلَا تُنَفِّرُوا

Treat the people with ease and don't be hard on them; give them glad tidings and don't fill them with aversion.

This Hadith was also collected in the Two Sahihs.

It is reported in the Sahihayn that Allah's Messenger said to Mu`adh and Abu Musa when he sent them to Yemen:

بَشِّرَا وَلَا تُنَفِّرَا، وَيَسِّرَا وَلَا تُعَسِّرَا، وَتَطَاوَعَا وَلَا تَخْتَلِفَا

Treat the people with ease and don't be hard on them; give them glad tidings and don't fill them with aversion; and love each other, and don't differ.

The Sunan and the Musnad compilers recorded that Allah's Messenger said:

بُعِثْتُ بِالْحَنِيفِيَّةِ السَّمْحَة

I was sent with the easy Hanifiyyah (Islamic Monotheism).

Allah's statement:

... يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ ...

Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days),

means: You were allowed to break the fast while ill, while traveling, and so forth, because Allah wanted to make matters easy for you. He only commanded you to make up for missed days so that you complete the days of one month.

Remembering Allah upon performing the Acts of Worship

Allah's statement:

... وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ ...

...and that you must magnify Allah (i.e., to say Takbir (Allahu Akbar: Allah is the Most Great)) for having guided you,

means: So that you remember Allah upon finishing the act of worship.

This is similar to Allah's statement:

فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُم مَّنَـسِكَكُمْ فَاذْكُرُواْ اللَّهَ كَذِكْرِكُمْ ءَابَآءَكُمْ أَوْ أَشَدَّ ذِكْرًا

So when you have accomplished your Manasik, (rituals) remember Allah as you remember your forefathers or with far more remembrance. (2:200)

and,

فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَوةُ فَانتَشِرُواْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَابْتَغُواْ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُواْ اللَّهَ كَثِيراً لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

...Then when the (Jumuah) Salah (prayer) is ended, you may disperse through the land, and seek the bounty of Allah (by working), and remember Allah much, that you may be successful. (62:10)

and,

فَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ

وَمِنَ الَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَأَدْبَـرَ السُّجُودِ

...and glorify the praises of your Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting. And during a part of the night, glorify His praises, and after the prayers. (50:39-40)

This is why the Sunnah encouraged;

• Tasbih saying, Subhan Allah, i.e., all praise is due to Allah,

• Tahmid saying Al-Hamdu Lillah, i.e., all the thanks are due to Allah, and

• Takbir saying Allahu Akbar, i.e., Allah is the Most Great.

after the compulsory prayers.

Ibn Abbas said,

"We used to know that Allah's Messenger has finished the prayer by the Takbir.''

Similarly, several scholars have stated that;

reciting Takbir the during Id-ul-Fitr was specified by the Ayah that states:

وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ

(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah (i.e., to say Takbir (Allahu Akbar: Allah is the Most Great)) for having guided you...

Allah's statement:

... وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٨٥﴾

...so that you may be grateful to Him.

means: If you adhere to what Allah commanded you, obeying Him by performing the obligations, abandoning the prohibitions and abiding by the set limits, then perhaps you will be among the grateful.