IECRC (USA & Canada)

Nahmaduhu wa nussali Ala Rasoolihil Kareem

We are extremely grateful to Our Lord, Allah Almighty (The Most Exalted) that once again He has sent upon us the Holy month of Ramadan which brings His Mercy, Forgiveness and Blessings. In this month, Allah (The Most Exalted) Himself asks His servants, “Is there anyone who seeks desires and blessings from Me?” In this holy month, for every good deed we get the benefit of 700 times. First part of this holy month is mercy, second part is forgiveness and the last part is to escape from the punishment of hell. Our Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him and his family) said, “If only my people understood the importance of the month of Ramadan then they would wish that the whole year would be Ramadan.” Our Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him and his family ) said, “Let that person be ruined who has passed through the month of Ramadan and did not seek forgiveness from Allah Almighty (The Most Exalted).” The month of Ramadan approaches us as a guest from Allah (The Most Exalted) and if we don’t give respect and importance then it gets upset and goes back to Allah (The Most Exalted) and complains about us that it had gone to so and so person but he did not take benefit from me and did not respect me. Allah (The Most Exalted) tells us to exercise mainly four things in the Holy month of Ramadan: 1) Reciting Kalima Tayyeba, 2) reciting Astaghfaar, 3) desiring Heaven and 4) asking for escape from Hell. In this month, the one who recites Astaghfar in abundance then Allah (The Most Exalted) will increase his sustenance and he will receive his sustenance from places he could not think of.

Allah (The Most Exalted) has bestowed us with unlimited Mercy and Blessings. It is therefore our duty to pray to Allah (The Most Exalted) with love and affection. Amongst the compulsory worship which Allah has bestowed upon us, namaz (the ritual prayer) is on #1 position. Prayer is a part of religion. Prayer is the coolness of the eyes of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family). Prayer is the right way of achieving peace. So in this month we have to especially concentrate on Nawafil (optional) prayers along with Fardh (compulsory). Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) said, “In the Holy Month of Ramadan, the one who will stand (for prayer) with the intention to achieve faith and sawaab, all his sins will be forgiven.“  [Al-Minhaj-us-Sawi] Therefore it is our duty to read all 20 rakats (cycles) of Taraweeh. If we read 8 rakats (cycles) in the mosque with the Imaam, then the remaining 12 cycles are supposed to be read individually, either at the mosque or at home. In the holy month of Ramadan, we should get up especially for the Tahajjud prayers apart from Taraweeh. The convenient way of offering Tahajjud payers is before suhoor (the pre-dawn meal).

In the last part of this holy month, a night comes called Laila-tul-Qadr. In Surah Al-Qadr, Allah (The Most Exalted) says: “Khairum-min Alfi shahr”

[The Holy Quran, Chapter Al-Qadr, 97:3]

The prayer of this night has more importance than prayers of thousand months. Angel Gabriel and other angels come on earth with lots of blessings and mercy from Allah (The Most Exalted) and shake hands with those who are praying. All the prayers in this night are fulfilled.

After prayer, we have to pay special attention towards our dua (supplication). After prayer, we should not be lazy and neglect our supplication. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) said:

“Ad-dua’u Silahul Mo’min” which means “Dua is the weapon of a believer.”

“Ad-dua’u Huwal Ibaadatu”  which means “Dua itself is worship.”

“Ad-dua’u Mukh’khul ibaadatu” which means “Dua is the brain of worship.”

Dua at the time of breaking the fast is always fulfilled. Women should finish all the Iftaar (breaking of fast) preparation and sit down for supplication along with their families and pray a lot for ourselves and others as this supplication will never be rejected and we should be benefitted by this moment of blessing. When we supplicate for others, Allah (The Most Exalted) appoints an angel who does supplication for the supplicators. In Ramadan, we get a lot of sawaab (reward) for inviting others for opening the fast but it should have simplicity so that our prayers are not affected. Apart from friends and relatives we should pay more attention towards poor and needy by organizing food for their breaking of fast.

Allah (The Most Exalted) says:

“Shahru Ramadan alladhi unzila fihi Al-Qur’an”

[The Holy Quran, Chapter Al-Baqarah, 2:185]

This is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed. So, in this Holy Month we should read Qur’an in abundance and in fact we should try to understand it. Allah (The Most Exalted) says:

“Kitabun anzalnahu ilayka mubarakun liyaddabbaru aayaatihi”

[The Holy Quran, Chapter Sad, 38:29]

This is the Book which Allah has revealed so that people should pay extreme attention towards it. This is the Book which guides us in how we should spend our life. Therefore it is necessary that we understand the Quran, so that the blessing of the Holy Qur’an comes in our life. After our death, The Holy Qur’an will be settled on the chest of his reader ad protect him from the torments. At the Day of Judgment, The Holy Qur’an will request pardon from Allah for his reader. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Among you the best one is who learns and teaches Qur’an.”

Apart from the rights of Allah (The Most Exalted) we should be conscious about the right of His servant. In this holy month we should pay purifying dues of our money which is compulsory. This is the right of the poor people which Allah Almighty (The Most Exalted) kept in our money. Paying rights of the servant is the necessary part of our religion. The life of a person is not perfect unless he treats his fellow creatures well. Only the person who fulfils the rights of both Allah (The Most Exalted) and His servants can lead a peaceful life here and after death. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) said, “One glance of love and affection on our Muslim brother is not less than worship.” In this holy month we especially have to search for poor, needy and orphans and help them. If a person fulfills the needs of others, then Allah (The Most Exalted) will fulfill his needs. If a person solves the tensions, worries and sorrows of others, then Allah Almighty, (The Most Exalted) will relieve him from pains and worries on the Day of Judgment. If a person hides the secrets of others, then Allah Almighty, (The Most Exalted) hides his secrets on the Day of Judgment. A person will not reach the soul of Ramadan and fast until he services Allah’s (The Most Exalted) servants along with Allah’s (The Most Exalted) rights. Taking care of Allah’s (The Most Exalted) servant is same as exerting in the way of Allah (The Most Exalted). A good natured person gets sawaab (benefit) of five times prayers and a whole day’s fast.

It is our humble prayer to Allah (The Most Exalted) to guide us to do more good deeds during this holy month of Ramadan and make this holy month our mode of forgiveness for all our past bad deeds. Aameen.

Wa Aakhiru Dawana Anil Hamdolillahi Rabbil Aalameen

Sister Zarin R. Shaikh Qadari

Kingdom of Bahrain

Sister Zarin is an active member in her community imparting religious education. She can be reached at zarrobah@gmail.com.