Day 6: Hope for His Rewards

The mercy of Allah is abundant in our life. Let us consider the mercy in His rewards. “Surely those who have believed, emigrated, and struggled in the Way of God - they can hope for God’s mercy. And God is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an 2:218) “…And God multiplies (the reward even more) to whoever He wills. For God is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.” (Qur’an 2:261)

Our Merciful Lord and the source of All -Mercy rewards every good deed of ours in manifold – from 10 to 700 rewards depending on our sincerity. We don’t just get one rewards for one good deed. We get more. That is His mercy. However, in Ramadan, the reward is even more, it is limitless; Allah’s mercy is extensive. Our Prophet (pbuh) said, “Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, each good deed receiving ten times its’ like, up to seven hundred times. Allah, the Most High said: ‘Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it, he leaves off his desires and his food for Me.’ For the fasting person, there are two times of joy; a time when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he meets his Lord, and the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allah than the smell of musk.”

Whenever you feel the thirst from fasting, remember the rewards is Paradise where you shall be thirsty no more because you were thirsty on earth for the sake of Allah. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Indeed there is a gate of Paradise called Ar-Rayyaan. On the day of Resurrection, those who fast will enter through it; no one enters it except for them…, and whoever enters it drinks, and whoever drinks never becomes thirsty.” (Ibn Khuzaimah)

You should know about the rewards of fasting and while you dedicate yourself to Allah, you should also be hopeful of the rewards you will get. As our beloved Messenger of Allah said: 'He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeks his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeks his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Lailat al- Qadr in prayer with faith and seeks his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.' (Bukhari and Muslim) Once your sins are forgiven in Ramadan, you start life afresh, pure and spiritually nearer to Allah than before.

The believers strive day and night for Nearness to God and for His Pleasure. They hope for Allah’s rewards and His mercies. They neither lose hope, nor despair whatever their condition is. Despair of His rewards undermine our faith and trust in Allah. Such hopelessness implies that we do not trust Allah to be able to rectify our situation and protect us. That is no faith. Fasting Ramadan means we have Faith and Hope. Alhamdulillah.

So, let us not limit the extent of Allah’s reward or undermine our hope with doubts. Life may delve you a dirty blow, or give you plenty stupendously, our lives are in Allah’s hands. We must seek Allah regardless of the attractions or distractions. Our success, failure or life’s vicissitude are all ordained by Allah, but the final measure, judgement and rewards are in the Hereafter. Allah is the Owner of that Day, so let’s fast and hope in Allah’s rewards. “Do not falter or grieve, for you will have the upper hand, if you are (true) believers.” (Qur’an 3:139)

- Contributed by Shamsideen AbuSuad, UK. 2021

Email: MuslimMessage@gmail.com

Online: https://ramadanmessage.blogspot.com/

Day 5: Realities Of Ramadan

The first reality of Ramadan is that in its early days, many people would mistakenly eat during the day. If you eat or drink forgetfully or accidentally, your fast is still intact. Stop the food or drink without any additional swallow, clean up and continue your fast. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If one of you eats and drinks out of forgetfulness, let him complete his fast for it was indeed Allah who gave him the food and drink." (Bukhari) This is how simple and unburdening Islam is. This is how beautiful and delicious it tastes to practice Islam with Knowledge and Wisdom.

Further, some people allege that a fasting Muslim is not allowed a warm or cold bath. Not true, a bath is harmless to your fast. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to pour water over his head while fasting due to the thirst or the heat. (Ahmad) Ibn Umar (RA) soaked a garment in water and put it over himself while fasting. (Bukhari)

When the fasting Muslim feel sick, he is allowed to make up for it another day after Ramadan. Do not force yourself to continue the fast. “But whoever is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramaḍân˺. God intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of God for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful.” (Qur'an 2:185)

Particularly, if you are in charge of cooking, you are allowed to taste food on your tongue if your job or duty requires it as long as it does not go down your throat. Ibn Abbas said: "There is no harm for a person to taste vinegar or anything while he is fasting, as long as it does not enter his throat." (Baihaqi)

Bloodletting does not affect your fasting, particularly if it is from wounds, accidents, cupping, or sample for testing. "The Prophet was cupped while he was fasting." (Bukhari) However, if it would make the fasting person to be dizzy or weak, then it would be deemed as a sickness, and thus discouraged. "Anas bin Malik was asked whether they disliked the cupping for a fasting person. He replied in the negative and said, "Only if it causes weakness." (Bukhari)

Another reality is that we usually would need to cleanse our teeth while fasting. Narrated 'Amir bin Rabi'a, "I saw the Prophet cleaning his teeth with Siwak (chewing stick used to clean the teeth and mouth) while he was fasting so many times as I can't count." Abu Huraira also said, "The Prophet said, 'But for my fear that it would be hard for my followers, I would have ordered them to clean their teeth with Siwak on every performance of ablution’." The Prophet did not differentiate between a fasting and a non-fasting person regarding the Siwak. 'Aisha said, "The Prophet said, 'It (i.e. Siwak) is a purification for the mouth and it is a way of seeking Allah's pleasures.' " Ata' and Qatada said, "There is no harm in swallowing the resultant saliva." (Bukhari, Vol. 3 #154)

If anyone is forced to eat or drink during Ramadan, he should still go ahead with his fast. The Prophet said, "Allah has excused for my ummah (community) mistakes, forgetfulness and what they are forced to do." (Al-Hakim & Daraqutni)

The Kuhl (antimony) is the black sustenance usually applied to the eyelids for beautification and medication. Sometimes it is felt in the throat or seen in the saliva. Imam Ibn Taymiyah (as well as majority of the scholars) opined that it is permissible to apply it during the day of fasting. This ruling also applies to eye drops and eardrops, as well as similar objects.

Drips are generally allowed except if it is used as a nourishment or supplement. If it is only for treatment (medicinal) a fasting person may take it, the principle is that treatments are allowed for a fasting person except that which nourishes him. But if the fasting person feels hunger or thirst and takes drip to feel better than the fasting purpose is defeated. However, medicinal drips are for the sick, if you are too sick to require drips, you will be in one of the exempted categories already.

It is allowed to start the fast in a state of impurity, which could be sexual, menstrual or from wet dreams etc, in case you are unable to have your ghuslu bath before fasting start. Aisha narrated that, "The Prophet would sometimes be in a state of janaba (sexual impurity) from his wives and fajr salaah would come upon him, then he would bathe and still be fasting." (Bukhari)

 - Contributed by Shamsideen AbuSuad, UK. 2021

Email: MuslimMessage@gmail.com

Online: https://ramadanmessage.blogspot.com/

Day 4: Shielding Days

 

Ramadan is transformative; hence it is obligatory. It's a purposeful tool. Those who accomplish its goal are successful and are specially rewarded by Allah Himself.  

 Fasting is a means of cleansing our body and purifying our soul. The body and soul go through a process of sanitation and discipline. These protects us from harm and from being susceptible to the whips of the Shaytan. It is very good for us, but out of Allah’s mercy, he has restricted this sanitisation to only a month.  “(Fasting is for a) prescribed number of days” (Qur’an 2:184) The fixed days of 29 or 30 days are adequate to help develop positive habits and not to weakening our resolve and endurance.

 Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "Fasting is a shield. So the fasting person should avoid obscene speech and should not behave foolishly and ignorantly, and if somebody fights with him or insults him, he should tell him twice, ‘I am fasting.’ By the One in Whose hand is my soul, the smell that comes from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the scent of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person), ‘He has given up his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me and I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times’.” (Bukhari)

According to the scholar, Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawzi:

Fasting has an amazing effect in

1.     preserving our outer limbs and inner capacities

2.     protecting the soul from being overtaken by destructive components

3.     it has a remarkable effect in emptying out all the harmful things that prevent the soul from being healthy

4.     it guards and protects the health of the person’s heart and body limbs

5.     it returns to the soul what the hands of the desires has taken from it

So fasting is from the greatest ways of improving one’s Taqwaa.

 

- Contributed by AbdulGhaniy Arije. 2021

Email: MuslimMessage@gmail.com

Online: https://ramadanmessage.blogspot.com/

Day 3: The Test of Obedience

 

The instruction manual is often set by manufacturers, for they know best the nature and limits of their products. In the case of our existence, Allah, Our Lord and Creator, sets our practices, goals and limits. He has thus prescribed annual compulsory fast for us and He knows best the value impact of this act of worship on the human body, spirit and soul.

 Acts of worship for which we expect rewards must be ordained from above. Therefore, Muslims adhere strictly to the call to fast in the month of Ramadan, whatever the difficulty of the time. Be it a pandemic, social interaction restrictions, severe weather condition, come rain, come shine, be it cold winter or dry summer, whatever is our personal circumstance, we obey the command of Allah and emulate the practical examples from His Special Envoy, Muhammad (peace be upon him).

 To seek guidance elsewhere or to dismiss the manufacturer’s instruction is ingratitude and a path to failure. Our obedience is our mark of gratitude to the Almighty God who provided us with guidance to help us navigate our world, resolve our disputes, and lead us to the path of peace and harmony. "Humanity had once been one community (of believers before they lost faith). Then God raised prophets as deliverers of good news and as warners; and revealed to them the Scriptures in truth to judge among people regarding their disputes…". (Qur'an 2 Verse 213)

 Whether you see the benefit of the instruction to fast or you do not, your duty is to harken to God’s commands, to believe and be submissive to the best of your ability. His commands may stop us from enjoying our desires or it may require us to do things we find difficult or undesirable. Our duty is to obey and comply.

 Allah is merciful towards us. He has permitted us the enjoyment of most things on earth; but to test our obedience, he instructs us on a very little number of things. Our predecessors Adam and Hawwa (may God be pleased with them) were tested in The Garden to enjoy all but one tree, one in a million. Ramadan is just 1 in twelve (12) months. The five daily Salaah/Prayer-Worships take just approximately an hour in the whole 24 hours. As for Zakaah, its only for those who have savings that reaches a particular limit (nisab) and its only 2.5% (1 in 40 portions) of the savings to give as charity for the poor and needy. Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) is for those who can physically and financially afford the journey, but it is even once in a life time requirement. Life’s all a test; take the test with your utmost sincerity and effort.

“Blessed is the One in Whose Hands rests all authority. And He is Most Capable of everything. (He is the One) Who created death and life in order to test which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Almighty, All-Forgiving” (Qur’an 67:1-2)

 The Prophet (pbuh) said: “The greatest reward comes with the greatest trials. When Allah loves a people, He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure, but whoever is discontent with that, earns His wrath.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

- Contributed by Shamsideen AbuSuad, UK. 2021

Email: MuslimMessage@gmail.com

Online: https://ramadanmessage.blogspot.com/

Day 2: Prescription for All Believers

 

Fasting is a prescription for universal, historical, and human ailment. It is prescribed for the believers of today as it was prescribed for the believers of old.

In making fasting obligatory upon us, Allah mentions that this was also the case for the people who preceded us in faith. All humans suffer from the disease of greed and weakness of faith. Fasting strengthens our faiths and curbs our excesses. It worked for them; it will work for us. We are not alone in this trial; the obligation is not peculiar to us alone.

 Allah ties us to the community before us. We are a continuity in the chain of believers. Similar acts of worship were instituted for the earlier communities of the past prophets. This should serve as a motivation for us. People before us fasted, perhaps their fasts were even more stringent.

 The reference to other communities should provide psychological comfort to the Muslims. Whatever is performed by a large multitude would appear common, normal, and bearable. So, we are a part of a bigger picture, from Adam to Jesus (peace be upon them all), all the prophets and their faithful followers fasted, we are proud to be part of the institution.

 Although our fast is not exactly identical with the fast of the previous generations, there are differences in the number of fasting days and the timings of the fasts etc., the impact in attaining the fasting objective is the same – to attain taqwah, often translated as piety or God consciousness or God mindfulness.

 So, fast but bear in mind that you are following an age-old practice of all our fathers in faith. You are undertaking the practice of Adam, Ibrahim, Nuh, Musa, Dawud, Isa, Muhammad, etc peacebe upon them all and upon you too as you follow in their footsteps.

- Contributed by Shamsideen AbuSuad, UK. 2021

Email: MuslimMessage@gmail.com

Online: https://ramadanmessage.blogspot.com/

Day 1: CALL TO ARISE AND SERVE

 

Welcome Ramadan, welcome the month of fasting. This is the month of service, wherein God calls us to embark on a special duty, a special project.

 

Allah calls upon us all, “O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you —so perhaps you will become mindful of God” (Qur’an 2: 183).

Mindfulness of God in the days and night of Ramadan, in our deeds and during our leisure, we are commanded to arise and serve. Sincere devotion ONLY for Him and only Him can quantify our dedication, only Him can truly reward us.

When Allah addresses us as: “O Believer”, it is similar to saying: “O you whom Allah has favoured and enriched with His bounties... O you whom Allah graced with this occasion, this time and this life... O you upon whom Allah has conferred honour, reasoning and kindness.” Will you not harken to Your Lord? Arise and serve with your utmost.

In this month, be the guest of Allah and be one of those near to Him. Each breath you take glorifies him; your sleep is worship, your deeds are accepted and your supplications are answered.

So, ask Allah, your Lord, to give you a sound body and an enlightened heart; so you may be able to fast and recite his book, for only he is unhappy who is devoid of Allah's forgiveness during this great month.

- Contributed by Shamsideen AbuSuad, UK. 2021

Is it enough to give up food? (Issue 1, 2012)

“He will pay them their wages and increase them of His grace; for He is Oft-Forgiving Most Ready to appreciate (service).” Qur'an 35 verse 30

There are lots of write ups and messages being shared during this august month of Ramadan. Ramadan Message was not going to publish because it is not our intention to repeat what is already being said, or to add to the piles of resources competing for your meagre time. However, there is a lot of focus on giving up food and drinks during the long hours of the day, as if this is precisely the goal of Ramadan. Therefore we have decided to publish Ramadan Message again and ask the important question: is it enough to give up these things to fulfilling the objectives of Ramadan?

The desired objective of Ramadan is well known by all as stated in Qur'an chapter 2 verse 183 is to “achieve taqwah”. The verse reads thus: "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become muttaquun (those who have taqwah or piety)."  It is obvious that becoming pious or having piety has little to do with food. Temporarily giving up something is not the end in itself, but a means to the end. If we concentrate on the long hours of not eating and drinking, do we not run the risk of focusing on the means, at the expense of pursuing the end?

Fasting in Ramadan like all other acts of worship requires that you give up what is legally right for the sake of Allah. In a free world, we sacrifice our independent freewill and free-thoughts only to entertain the codified Iman (belief) in God’s Oneness and Supremacy. We give up our precious time to pray the Salaah five times in a day. We give up our wealth to share with others through Zakaah every year. We give up ourselves to undertake the hajj pilgrimage. We also give up our desires to consume and copulate during the day time of Ramadan. We do these only for the sake of Allah.

Yet, Ramadan demand more than that. Allah demands that we give up lewd talk and evil speech to free our tongues from flaming the ambers of Hell. Allah demands that we give up vain pursuit, envious attitude and belligerent qualities to free our soul from the shackles of Shaytan. Allah has made Ramadan an ample instrument of refining our character, reforming our heart and refraining from lowly desires.

To this end, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) cautioned, “Whoever does not give up false speech and offensive speech and behaviour, Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink.” (Bukhari) To emphasis the significance of getting the fast right, the Prophet (peace be upon him) further added, “there may be a fasting person who gets nothing more from his fast that hunger and thirst…” (Ahmad). The goal of the fast is not deprivation; it is elevation of the self from sins, from slavery to passion and from servitude to Shaytan, whose eternal purpose is to undermine our journey towards Allah and His Paradise.

The Rightly-Guided Caliph Umar echoed the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) by explaining: “Fasting does not mean abstaining from food and drink only, rather it is also abstaining from lying, falsehood and idle speech.” Similarly the Ansari Jabir ibn Abdullah explained: “When you fast, then let your hearing, sight and tongue fast from lying and sin and stop abusing servants. Be tranquil and dignified on the day of your fast, and do not let the day you do not fast and the day you fast be the same.”

As we are discouraged from following the path of sins, we are encouraged to engage in a plethora of noble deeds, including closeness to the Qur'an in our recitation and application, seeking opportunities to help the vulnerable, attaining selflessness and purifying the soul.

Therefore, far from the pains of thirst, pang of hungers and emotional paroxysm of unfulfilled passion, Allah requires that in Ramadan, we take steps to get closer to him with our deeds and in our character and we refine ourselves. Allah demands that deep in our heart, on our tongues, in our relationships and within society that we become better. Therefore the question is: are you willing to give yourself up to Allah this Ramadan? What will you do, what step will you take, what in your character will you improve and what in your attitude will you change purely and permanently for the sake of Allah this Ramadan? That is the crucial question. Once you are able to do this during Ramadan and maintain this after Ramadan, then you will have truly fasted and fasting would have truly impacted on you.

“Ramadan is the month which invites you to be the guests of Allah and invites you to be one of those near to Him.” (Baihaqi)

- Contributed by Shamsideen AbuSuad, UK. 2012  www.ramadanmessage.blogspot.com