Thirty Lessons for Those Who Fast

Lesson 16

Faith increases in Ramadan

Faith increases and decreases according to one’s deeds. It increases with obedience and decreases with disobedience. It increases with prayers and uprightness and decreases with corruption and deviance. ‘As for those who are [willing to be] guided, He increases their [ability to follow His] guidance and causes them to grow in God-consciousness’ (47:17).

Allah Almighty also says:

 ‘It is He who from on high has bestowed inner peace upon the hearts of the believers, so that - seeing that God’s are all the forces of the heavens and the earth, and that God is all-knowing, truly wise - they might grow yet more firm in their faith’ (48:4).

In Ramadan faith increases, conviction grows and monotheism becomes resplendent because of the closeness of the servant to his Lord. Fasting is one of the most righteous deeds and it brings about closeness to Allah.

Moreover, it nurtures a special relationship with Allah that distances the Muslim from the fire and from disobedience as well. The standing in Ramadan entails closeness, love, obedience and a yearning to expel hypocrisy from within the Muslim.

It also nourishes the tree of faith until it becomes firm and entrenched, producing its fruits all the time with the permission of its Lord. Here are some of the things that will increase your faith and strengthen your conviction: the performance of congregational prayer with reverence, humility, reflection and attentiveness. ‘Verily, for all believers prayer is indeed a sacred duty linked to particular times [of day]’ (4:103).

Congregational prayer dispels hypocrisy and cultivates piety. Still besides, it prevents indecency and wrong-doing.

Allah says in the Quran:

‘Prayer restrains man from loathsome deeds and from all that runs counter to reason; and remembrance of God is indeed the greatest [good]. And God knows all that you do’ (29:45).

The reading of the Quran, reflection upon its verses, living in its shade, breathing its fresh air and following its guidance all serve to increase faith. ‘[All this We have expounded in this] blessed divine writ which We have revealed unto thee, [O Muhammad,] so that men may ponder over its messages, and so that those who are endowed with insight may take them to heart’ (38:29).

The fervent and constant remembrance of Allah with the heart, tongue and limbs, with praise and exaltation, all help to increase faith. Remember Him and he will remember you. Call upon Him in the early hours of the morning and seek earnestly His forgiveness.

 Seek useful knowledge and understanding of your religion. ‘Always say: “O my Sustainer, cause me to grow in knowledge!”’ (20:114).

Question the people of knowledge. ‘And if you have not yet realized this, ask the followers of [earlier] revelation’ (16:44).

Attend the sittings of remembrance. No one is irritated from sitting with such people. Surely the seeking of knowledge increases faith and reinforces the roots of monotheism. ‘Know, then, [O man,] that there is no deity save God, and [while there is yet time,] ask forgiveness for thy sins’ (47:19).

Note, dear reader, that Allah begins this directive here with knowledge before words and deeds. Charity is yet another factor that increases faith.

Although this was discussed in a separate lesson it is important to recognize here that giving and sacrificing raises the station of the servant and purifies him. It disciplines his character and straightens his crooked ways. Contemplation of the signs of Allah, the Creator, also increases faith.

 Every Muslim should examine His skilful creation of the universe. The Quran affirms that in the creation and the succession of night and day there are messages for people of insight, those ‘who remember God when they stand, and when they sit, and when they lie down to sleep, and [thus] reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth: “O our Sustainer! Thou hast not created [aught of] this without meaning and purpose.

 Limitless art Thou in Thy glory! Keep us safe, then, from suffering through fire!”’ (3:191).

Ramadan is a time of purification for the reflective mind and illumination of its thoughts. It is a period when discerning hearts are also lighted. It is, therefore, befitting that people of faith should use this occasion to meditate upon the excellent work of the Creator; blessed be His names.

For faith decreases, suffers ill health and can, indeed, die. Faith decreases when people abandon the Quran and Sunnah and seek thereafter satisfaction in the junk that

comes from human minds. It vanishes when they become obsessed with the mental produce of weak and helpless creatures. Thus if a servant adopts this course he does, in effect, exchange what is good with that which is nearer. By so doing he would have completed his loss and confirmed his destruction.

Satan would most certainly overwhelm him. ‘Such as these are Satan’s partisans: oh, verily, it is they, the partisans of Satan, who will truly be the losers!’ (58:19).

Amusement, play and association with the people of falsehood similarly cause a decrease of faith. This is usually the fate of those who reject the divine Shari’ah laws and instead choose to wallow in the mire of vice and sensual delights.

Allah Almighty warns:

‘And pay no heed to any whose heart We have rendered heedless of all remembrance of Us because he had always followed [only] his own desires, abandoning all that is good and true’ (18:28).

Other common acts that similarly diminish faith include setting free the limbs in acts of disobedience, defiling parts of the body with misdeeds and blackening the heart with sin. Here, the eye gazes at the unlawful, the ear listens to obscenity, the heart grazes in the fields of carnal desires, the hand oppresses, the sexual organs engage in perversion and the stomach is filled with sin.

O Allah! We seek your compassion and mercy. O you who fast and have chastened your limbs from indecency, rejoice with the pleasure of God.

Mercy, forgiveness and an abode in Paradise to be inhabited by those who entered through the al Rayan gate.

Those who fast must, therefore, ask themselves whether their faith was increased or decreased during Ramadan. Did their conviction become stronger or weaker? For it is only then that they will distinguish between progress and regression and gain from loss. O Allah! Increase us in faith, conviction, understanding and success.

Lesson 17
The love of Allah becomes greater in Ramadan
Compliance with Allah’s command to fast in the month of Ramadan increases the love of Allah in the heart of the one who fasts. The friends of Allah love Him immensely (He loves them and they love Him). There is nothing strange about Allah’s expres​sion(they love Him). What is remarkable, however, is His affirmation that [He loves them].

He created them, sustained them, pardoned them and then he loves them. There are ten signs that indicate love for Allah.

Whoever does them has loved Him in deed and not only in word.
1.    To love the word that he speaks with and which He revealed to His Prophet To yearn to recite this word and reflect upon its meaning and enjoy closeness to it. To reform the heart with its teachings, let the eyes roam in its gardens, stay awake in the darkness of night with it, act according to its dictates, and govern with it in every affair of life.

2.    To love the Prophet Muhammad ■(Peace be upon him), follow him and send much praise and blessings upon him. Belief in the Prophet’s goodness and acceptance of him as a model.

‘Verily, in the Apostle of God you have a good example for everyone who looks forward [with hope and awe] to God and the Last Day, and remembers God unceasingly’ (33:21).

Acting in accord with his traditions without any reservation, fear or wavering is yet another way of demonstrating one’s love for Allah.

‘But nay, by they Sustainer! They do not [really] believe unless they make thee [O Prophet] a judge of all on which they disagree among themselves, and then find in their hearts no bar to an acceptance of thy decision and give themselves up [to it] in utter self-surrender’ (4:65).

3.    To jealously guard the limits set down by Allah. And to deter any attempt of transgression against the boundaries of Allah. To feel angry when any of the rites of Islam are dishonoured. To feel pain and anguish because of the condition of this religion among the people of innovation. To strive with heart, tongue and hand as much as possible to uplift Allah’s law and establish His religion on earth.

4.    To recognize the honour of being a friend of Allah and to strive earnestly to attain that friendship.

Allah describes His friends thus:
‘O, verily, they who are close to God - no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve: They who have attained to faith and have always been conscious of Him.’ (10:62)

And:
 ‘Behold, your only helper shall be God, and His Apostle, and those who have attained to faith - those that are constant in prayer, and render the purifying dues, and bo.w down [before God]: for, all who ally themselves with God and His Apostle and those who have attained to faith - behold, it is they, the partisans of God, who shall be victorious!’ (5:55-6).

5.    To enjoin the right and forbid the wrong and make every valuable sacrifice toward this end. It is the pivot of Islam, its fortification and shield by which it is protected. ‘That there might grow out of you a community [of people] who invite unto all that is good, and enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong: and it is they, they who shall attain to a happy state!’ (3:104).

This feature is increased in brilliance during the month of Ramadan. The truthful fasters expend their energies in giving advice and calling the servants of Allah. As a result, they gain a great reward from their Lord Most High.

6.    To sit with the righteous, love them and enjoy the pleasure of their company. Of the friends of Allah, to listen to their conversations and long to meet and visit them; to say prayers for them and protect their honour; to mention their good qualities and benefit as much as possible from them. For Allah says: ‘All believers are but brethren’ (49:10).

‘And hold fast, all together, unto the bond with God, and do not draw apart from one another’ (3:103).

7. To draw closer to Allah with voluntary acts of worship in order to gain the pleasure of Allah. This can be done through righteous acts like, prayers, fasting, charity, pilgrimage (greater and lesser), recitation, remembrance and other similar acts. Allah says: ‘[And,] verily, they would vie with one another in doing good works, and would call unto Us in yearning and awe; and they were always humble before Us’ (21:90).

He also says in a badith Qudsi:
‘My servant continues to draw near to Me with voluntary works so that I shall love him.’

7.    To prefer the eternity of the Hereafter to the transience of this world. And, to prepare for the inevitable departure from this world and meeting with Allah Almighty. Prepare for what is inevitable, as death is destined for the servants. Will you be pleased to be the companion of a people who have provisions and you have none?

8.    Sincere repentance and abandonment of disobedience and infractions. Avoid the frivolous and playful from among the people of deviance and immorality. Sitting in their company always causes outbursts of anger, deadly poisoning and persistent disease. Allah says: ‘On that day, [erstwhile] friends will be foes unto one another - [all] save the Godconscious’ (43:67).

In this same regard Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:

‘People will be raised on the Day of Judgement with those that they love.’

9.    To aspire to martyrdom in the way of Allah and look forward to that day when the soul will be presented solely for the sake of Allah; when the self, wealth and sons would all be sold without seeking from this great sale any profitable arrangement.

‘Behold, God has bought of the believers their lives and their possessions, promising them Paradise in return, [and so] they fight in God’s cause, and slay, and are slain’ (9:111).

O Allah! Increase us in love for you, in desire for what is with You and in resort to You in repentance. Surely You have power over all things.

Lesson 18
How do we train our children during Ramadan and at other times?
In Ramadan, truthful training becomes manifest. So too does wise guidance in supervising the children. For they are a trust and a charge. The righteous forebears used to train their children to fast and help them to become accustomed to standing in prayer at night. O you who fast and desire that your young ones should succeed with you, here are some matters that would help you to make good the training of your children.

First:
Be, O father, an example in your character, behaviour and in your life. Remember that your children look upon you as a father, teacher, guide and model. Allah Almighty says concerning the Prophet Zakariya: ‘ And so We responded unto him, and bestowed upon him the gift of John, having made his wife fit to bear him a child: [and,] verily, these [three] would vie with one another in doing good works, and would call unto Us in yearning and awe; and they were always humble before Us’ (21:90).

Second:
Whatever children see or hear at home has a tremendous impact upon their lives and future. The presence of faith, the Quran and Prophetic traditions in the home, together with much remembrance and enjoining of Allah’s commands and avoidance of His prohibitions, all will help in making the child upright and steadfast. The introduction of amusements, enticements, instruments of fun and negligence of Allah’s law, all render your child ineffectual, playful and marginal.

Third:
Bond the child to Allah’s book through memorization and recitation according to its rules of intonation. This is the period of memorization and reception. If the child loses this golden opportunity by wasting it aimlessly in television and relaxation, he will certainly regret it immensely in the future. He will deeply regret the wasting of those precious hours.

Fourth:
The companionships of your child during his early years and youth are extremely important. They should be prevented from associating with the vile, corrupt and debased people. They are more harmful to your children than scabies. They can do more damage than any enemy. Only Allah, the God besides whom there is none, knows how many good children these miscreant characters corrupted; how many times has the company they keep affected children. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: ‘A person is in the religion of his close companion. So each one should look to whom he takes as a close friend.’

Don’t ask about a person, but ask about his close friends, because every friend follows his companion.

Fifth:
Nurture the child to seek success and maturity. Create in his heart a love for sublime aspirations. Ignite hatred for all that is indecent. The Prophet Muhammad ^ said: ‘Verily Allah loves the most noble of affairs and He despises the most trivial of them.’ Do not incline the child or leave him to imitate women and the decadent. For this will become his greatest regret and disgrace.

Sixth:
Observe the child in his dress and appearance. That he should observe the mores of the Muhammadan way completely and not imitate the enemies of Allah. The Prophet ^ pointed out: ‘Whoever imitates a people, he is from among them.’ Accordingly, Muslim men should avoid the wearing of gold and silk, or dragging their garments on the ground. They should shun instability and despair in their conversations as well as excessive laughter, merriment, fickleness, haste, feeble-mindedness, time-wasting and other such faults and defects.

Seventh:
 Exalt the affairs of Allah and all that relates to His religion in the heart of the child. The parent should also sanctify Allah’s names, qualities and actions. He should recognize Him as free of all defects and display this to his child, instilling in him the greatness of Allah, His Quran, and noble Messenger.

Eighth:
 Encourage the child to seek useful knowledge. The parent should help him to be serious and sincere in this undertaking. And, likewise, to sacrifice, preserve and repeat it. Make the child feel that the fruits of ripe knowledge and its alluring results are good enough reason to rise upon from slumber and negligence.

Ninth:
 To pray for him to be successful in every prayer and desire from Allah, that He should reform and guide him by the hand. To implore in the early hours of the morning and at the times when prayers are granted that Allah should write faith in his heart and help him with his angels.

Allah Almighty says:
‘And those who pray: “O Our Sustainer! Grant that our spouses and our offspring be a joy to our eyes, and cause us to be foremost among those who are conscious of Thee!’” (25:74).

Tenth:

Show kindness and mercy to children. Bestow upon them gentle emotions by playing with them, kissing them and entering into their hearts’ happiness. Do not be harsh and dispassionate with them. Neither should you hurt or embarrass them in front of people. Every Muslim should treat his children the way the Prophet Muhammad &£ did. For those who show mercy Allah will show mercy upon them. O Allah! Bless us wherever we are. Grant that our spouses and our offspring be a joy to our eyes, and cause us to be foremost among those who are conscious of Thee.

Lesson 19
The occurrence of waste during Ramadan
Waste is one of the sins and wrong-doing that the deviant nations have fallen into. Allah Almighty has forbidden and condemned it. ‘And do not waste [God’s bounties]: verily, He does not love the wasteful!’ (6:141).

Waste is a custom of people who do not revere Allah. They do not respect His bounties. In spite of His warning: ‘But do not squander [thy substance] senselessly. Behold, the squanderers are, indeed, of the ilk of the satans - in as much as Satan has indeed proved most ungrateful to his Sustainer’ (17:26-7).

Many people waste a great deal in Ramadan.
Among the various forms of squander is the preparation of excessive food above natural needs. Some people are accustomed to many kinds of food and drink. In Ramadan they load their dining tables in the early morning and evening with everything that is delicious and good. Most of it is left to spoil and is thereafter thrown away. O you who fast! Be aware of extravagance and waste! There are poor and needy people among the Muslims. Give, therefore, whatever you have in excess to the indigent servants of Allah, perhaps this would be registered for you with Allah Almighty.

 He says of His servants:

‘Who gives food - however great be their own want of it - unto the needy, and the orphan, and the captive, [saying, in their hearts] “We feed you for the sake of God alone: we desire no recompense from you, nor thanks: Behold, we stand in awe of our Sustainer’s judgement on a distressful, fateful day!”’ (76:8-10).

The Prophet Muhammad says in an authentic hadith that:

on the Day of Judgement Allah Almighty will say: ‘O son of man! I was hungry and you fed me not.’ The servant will reply: ‘How could I have fed You and You are Lord of all the worlds?’ Allah will say: ‘Did you not know that my servant, so and so, was hungry and did not feed him? If you fed him, you would have found that with Me.’ Among the various forms of extravagance is that of excessive sleep way above normal needs, especially in the day. Many people who fast turn their days into spells of deep slumber and negligence. And, strange as it may seem, they spend many hours staying up at night pursuing matters all too much to account for.

They waste their nights in gossip and trivialities. Others spend their nights engaged in things that are totally unlawful and abominable, thereby provoking the anger of Allah Almighty. Another kind of extravagance that is often witnessed is the time and money spent in preparing for Eid al Fitr - the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast.

Many Muslims incur expenses far above their ability to pay. They squander huge sums of money on clothes, games and other forms of preparations. Indeed, it is quite common to find people who spend thousands upon thousands upon these vanities when, in reality, they are the meanest of persons when it comes to giving charity and other acts of righteousness. O you whom Allah has blessed with wealth! Know that in society there are orphans and poor people. Will you not feed the hungry and clothe the naked? 

Will you not build a mosque? Will you not contact someone with whom your relationship was broken? Will you not relieve the distress from one who is afflicted? Still another form of waste is the indulgence by those who fast in numerous visits without any gain or benefit. Similarly, they engage in mixing repeatedly with people for no specific reason or interest. In this way, their time is wasted, their age is frittered away and their days are lost. The Quran forewarns that on the Day of Judgement such people will cry: ‘Alas for us, that we disregarded it!’ (8:31).

Further waste is witnessed in the addiction to entertainment and recreation. Hence the obsession with games such as football, physical exercises, picnics and other activities that consume valuable time that could have otherwise been devoted to worship, remembrance of Allah, recitation of the Quran, acquisition of knowledge, propagation, and enjoining good and forbidding wrong. In this light, it is evident that many people squander their time in the strangest ways; yet, tomorrow when the graves throw up what they contain and the hearts reveal what they bear, all these people will see the results of their actions.

On the whole, the various forms of extravagance can be summarized as follows:
People who waste their time in disobedience and sin. Their extravagance is the most dangerous and worst kind.

People who waste their time by aimlessly strewing it in all directions. They will be most regretful on the Day of the Great Exhibition.

People who waste time and money on food, drink and clothes which do not increase them except in dejection and anxiety.

People who waste their time in the permissible games, amusement and picnics. They have, in reality, cheated their age.

We ask Allah for success, steadfastness, guidance and strict economy.

Lesson 20
Ramadan: the month of righteousness and contact
Fasting brings about a softening of the heart and a humbling of self. It increases the individual in mercy and compassion. The people most deserving of the mercy and goodness of those who fast are his relatives and family members. Ramadan reminds the Muslim of his relatives, in-laws and offspring. Thus he visits them, contacts them, and shows love to them. Allah says: ‘[Ask them:] “Would you, perchance, after having turned away [from God’s commandment, prefer to revert to your old ways, and] spread corruption on earth, and [once again] cut asunder your ties of kinship?” (47:22).

To cut asunder ties of kinship is, therefore, a major sin. It is one of the most detestable mistakes and calamities. Maintaining contact with one’s relatives is one of the best deeds and greatest demonstrations of righteousness.

One wise man of old said:
Surely, that which is between me and my father’s relatives and between myself and my uncle’s relatives is quite different.

If they violate my honour, I will protect their honour.

If they destroy my reputation, I will build their reputation.

And I will never bear any old grudge for them, For the patron of a people never bears ill will.

Also in this regard the noble Prophet said:

‘No one who cuts asunder the ties of kinship will enter Paradise.’ And how will such a person enter Paradise after they have cut what Allah ordered them to maintain.

Again the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

‘When Allah created the womb it hung unto the throne and said: “This is the station of the one who seeks refuge in You from being cut off.” Allah said: “Do you not wish that I shall reach out to whomsoever reaches out to you and cut off whomsoever severs ties with you?” The womb said: “Yes.” Then Allah said: “That shall be granted to you.”’

Prophet Muhammad also said:
‘The one who maintairis relations is not he who reciprocates but it is he who contacts those who sever ties with him.’ Likewise a man once said to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) : ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have relatives whom I contact but they sever ties with me. I do well to them but they treat me unkindly.’

The Prophet said:
‘If the matter is the way you narrate it, then it is like if you fed them with hot ashes and you still have support from Allah.’ With the exception of a few, the majority of the Prophet’s M relatives were among his most implacable enemies.

They expelled him from his home, pursued him, denied him of his rights, punished him and waged war against him. Yet, when Allah granted him victory over them, he granted them a pardon that was unparalleled at the time. Maintaining contact with relatives increases one’s age, elevates it, purifies it and multiplies its rewards abundantly. It is, moreover, a sign of complete faith, awe of A1 Rahman - the Most Gracious - and implementation of the Quran.

In the same manner, preserving kindred ties acts as a shield for the individual in the battles against evil and disgrace in this world and in the Hereafter. It was narrated in one tradition: ‘Verily Allah ordered me to contact whomsoever severs ties with me and give to whomsoever denies me.’ The greatest relationship and most exalted closeness is that of righteousness, generosity and devotion to parents. It involves prayers for them and obedience in matters that do' not lead to disobedience of Allah. ‘For thy Sustainer has ordained that you shall worship none but Him.

And do good unto [thy] parents. Should one of them or both, attain to old age in thy care, never say “Ugh” to them or scold, but [always] speak unto them with reverent speech, and spread over them humbly the wings of thy tenderness, and say: “O my Sustainer! Bestow Thy grace upon them, even as they cherished and reared me when I was a child!” (17:24).

A man once came to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and asked:

‘O Messenger of Allah, who is most deserving of my companionship?’ The Prophet said: ‘Your mother.’ The man said: ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: ‘Your mother.’ The man again asked: ‘Then who?’ And the Prophet repeated: ‘Your mother.’ Finally the man asked: ‘Then who?’ And the Prophet replied: ‘Your father.’ An ungrateful son once did wrong to his father, insulted him and denied the good that he had done for him.

The father wept and moaned saying:
I looked after your health as a babe and held hopes for you in adolescence, as you busied yourself with all that befell you.

If the night tormented you with illness I never slept, but remained restless and suffering because of your illness.

As if I were the afflicted and not you, though it was you and not me my eyes cried profusely.

And when you became of age and fulfilled the ambition for which you strove and I hoped.

You made my reward hostility and harshness, as if you are the Bestower of all good and favour.

Fasting is perhaps the greatest school for learning righteousness and preserving contact with relatives. It is a spring from which good character flows, a tributary of mercy and a rope of kindness. Fasting amends and purifies the souls of those who fast.

Their feelings and entire beings are improved and mobilized. Let us, therefore, return to our relatives in this month and embrace them with visits, overwhelm them with affection, prayers and togetherness. And surely Allah will not cause us to lose the reward of those who do good. O Allah! Grant us understanding of our religion and plant us firm in the traditions of the leader the God-fearing and guide us to the one and only correct path.

Lesson 21
Ramadan: the month of mercy to Muslims
Mercy is a favour from Allah which He places in the hearts of whomsoever He wills. Verily, Allah will have mercy on His servants who are merciful. Allah is the Most Compassionate the Most Merciful. He loves the merciful and calls to mercy. He orders His servants to enjoin patience and mercy. A person may lack mercy for any number of reasons, among them, an abundance of sins and disobedience. They stain their hearts so much so that they ultimately blind them until their hearts become harder than stones. Allah says of the Children of Israel: ‘And yet, after all this, your hearts hardened and became like rocks, or even harder’ (2:74).

Allah also says about them when they opposed and rebelled against the divine law: ‘Then, for having broken their solemn pledge, We rejected them and caused their hearts to harden’ (5:13).

Among the things that cause a loss of mercy is arrogance with wealth and pride with riches. Allah says: ‘Nay, verily, man becomes grossly overweening whenever he believes himself to be self-sufficient’ (96:6-7).

The day the heart is disciplined with faith and good deeds it fills with mercy and kindness. Another reason for the weakness of mercy is an abundance of gluttony and saturation. They give rise to contempt and recklessness. Hence the month of fasting was prescribed to crush this unruliness and ill discipline. The fasting person is naturally among the most merciful people. That is because he has tasted hunger, experienced thirst and endured hardship.

 His soul is, therefore, enveloped with mercy, care and gentleness for Muslims. Mercy is something which every Muslim is required to render to his brother Muslim. It is a requirement from every responsible custodian toward those under his care. He should feel sorry for them and be lenient toward them.

Prophet Muhammad. said:
 ‘O Allah! Whoever was entrusted with authority over any affair of the Muslims and made it difficult for them, please make it difficult for him. And whoever was entrusted over any affair of the Muslims and was kind toward them, then be kind toward him.’
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In a related hadith Allah’s Messenger also said:
‘Whoever oversees an affair for my nation and disappeared or abandoned them without fulfilling their needs while impoverishing them, Allah will debar him from his needs and impoverish him on the Day of Judgement.’ Mercy demands that the scholar and teacher should be gentle toward his students and lead them to the easiest and best ways to love him and benefit from his teachings.

If he does this Allah will decree for him the most excellent and abounding reward. Listen to the manner in which Allah praises His Prophet ‘And it was by God’s grace that thou [O Prophet] didst deal gently with thy followers: for if thou hadst been harsh and hard of heart, they would indeed have broken away from thee’ (3:159).

Mercy further requires from the imam that he should not make worship difficult for his followers or cause them harm. On the contrary, he should be merciful, kind and wise.

The Prophet said:
‘Whoever from you leads the people in prayer must make it easy because among them are the old, the sick, the young and the needy.’ It was narrated that when Mu’adh once extended the prayer the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said to him: ‘Are you a troublemaker O Mu’adh? Are you a troublemaker O M u’adh? Are you a troublemaker O Mu’adh?’ In the same manner, when Uthman ibn Abi al As al Thaqafi requested: ‘O Messenger of Allah, make me an imam of my people.’

The Prophet said:
‘You are their imam so lead the prayer according to the weakest of them and take a caller to prayer who would seek no payment for doing so.’ Mercy dictates that the one who calls to Islam must advise those whom he is inviting with tenderness. That he should, moreover, clarify issues to them with concern. He should not hurt, defame people or even revile the disobedient in public. Allah advised Moses and Aaron to employ the following methods in their call to the tyrant Pharaoh: ‘But speak unto him in a mild manner, so that he might bethink himself or fat least] be filled with apprehension’ (20:44).

He also says:
‘Call thou [all mankind] unto thy Sustainer’s path with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in the most kindly manner’ (16:125).

The eminent jurist and Islamic scholar, Imam al Shafe’e wrote:
Support me with your advice in private, and avoid advising me in public.

Surely giving advice among the people is a kind of reproach, which I would rather not listen to.

If you disobey and ignore my wish, don’t be saddened if you are not obeyed.

Mercy is required from a father to his children. This matter was previously discussed in the lesson (No. 18) on how we train our children. The mercy of the father or mother toward her children has the greatest effect on their integrity, well-being and obedience.

Self-praise and harshness only open the door to despair. The Prophet said: ‘Kindness was never bestowed upon something except that it beautified it, and it was never removed from that thing except that it made it ugly.’ O you who fast and cause hunger to your stomach, there are thousands of stomachs more awaiting a meal. Will there not arise from among you those who would feed them? O you who fast and cause thirst to your liver, there are thousands more who await a mouthful of water.

Will there not arise from among you those who would quench their thirst? O you who fast and wear the finest garments, there are naked people out there awaiting only a piece of cloth to cover their bodies. Will there not then come forth from among you those who would clothe them? O Allah! We implore your extended mercy that will forgive our sins and erase our misdeeds and errors.

Lesson 22
How can we revive the traditions in Ramadan?
The leader and model of the Islamic nation is Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) . There is no happiness except through following him. No prosperity can be achieved except by following in his footsteps. Allah Almighty says: ‘Those who shall follow the [last] Apostle, the unlettered Prophet whom they shall find described in the Torah that is with them, and [later on] in the Gospel: [the Prophet] who will enjoin upon them the doing of what is right and forbid them the doing of what is wrong, and make lawful to them the good things of life and forbid them the bad things’ (7:157).

After his coming, no one will enter Paradise except by following his way. His Sunnah (way) is like the ship of Noah. Whoever boards it will be saved. Whomsoever turns his back on it will be destroyed. Allah says: ‘Verily, in the Apostle of God you have a good example for everyone who looks forward [with hope and awe] to God and the Last Day, and remembers God unceasingly’ (33:21).

In a moving sermon that brought tears to the eyes of his companions, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: ‘You must keep to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs - cling to them stubbornly. Beware of newly invented matters, for every invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a going astray.’ He also said: ‘Whomsoever desires other than my way is not from me.’ And: ‘He who does an act with which our matter is not [in agreement] will have it rejected.’ Still on the importance of following His Messenger, Allah Almighty says: ‘Now whenever God and His Apostle have decided a matter, it is not for a believing man or a believing woman to claim freedom of choice insofar as they themselves are concerned’ (33:36).

In another chapter of the Noble Quran Allah prohibited the presentation of oneself before Himself and the Prophet: ‘O you who have attained to faith! Do not put yourselves forward in the presence of [what] God and His Apostle [may have ordained]’ (49:1).

The month of Ramadan is a blessed season in which to revive the pure traditions within the self, home and society. Concerning the general traditions which the fasting Muslim must effect and uphold at all times, they include what was authenticated by Imam Muslim and the other five imams in their collections (Sahih Bukhari, Sunan ibn Majah, Sunan Abu Daud, Jam’e al Tirmidhi, and Sunan al Nisa’e) that the Prophet said: ‘Ten things are from natural disposition. Cutting the moustache, allowing the beard to grow, inhaling water, cutting the finger and toe nails, washing the knuckles, clipping the hairs of the armpit, shaving the pubic hairs, and being prudent in the use of water.’ It was also confirmed that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) prohibited the dragging of one’s lower garments on the ground.

According to this directive in the collection of Imam Muslim, Allah’s Messenger said: ‘Allah will not look at the one who drags his garment on the ground out of vanity.’ In a related badith he further warned: ‘What is below the ankle is in the fire.’ The authentic books of badith also establish that the Prophet M prohibited many things. According to a badith narrated by Anas in the collections of Muslim, Abu Daud, and Al Tirmidhi, he forbade: ‘That a man should stand and drink.’ Likewise, in another badith narrated by Ibn Umar and collected by Bukhari, the Prophet M forbade: ‘That a man should stand and then sit in his seat’ (to greet or show respect to someone else). Also, in a badith narrated by Jabir in the collection of Al Nisa’e he prohibited: ‘The male from touching his penis with his right hand, from walking in the shoe of a female, wearing a garment turned upside down, sitting with one’s legs drawn up and wrapped in one’s garment without anything covering one’s private parts.’

Furthermore, Ahmad transmitted on the authority of Abu Sa’eed that the Prophet (Peace be upon him): ‘Forbade that a man should walk in the shoe or slippers of a female.’ Sahal ibn Sa’eed narrated that Allah’s Messenger: ‘Prohibited blowing into a drink’ (A1 Tabarani). Anas again narrated (A1 Nisa’e) that Prophet Muhammad Ufa: ‘Forbade eating and drinking from gold and silver wares.’ Both Imams Ahmad and A1 Nisa’e transmitted an authentic badith in which the Prophet: ‘Forbade men from wearing gold and silk; but allowed them for women.’ On matters relating to worship, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) forbade the performance of prayer between al Fajr - the morning prayer and the rising of the sun; and between al Asr the mid-afternoon prayer and the setting of the sun (Bukhari and Muslim). Anas narrated that he also forbade the offering of prayers to graves (Ibn Hibban - sahib) He prohibited sleep before al Esha - the night prayer.

He forbade:
loud wailing (Abu Daud - badith sahib)
plucking off the gray hair (Al Tirmidhi, Al Nisa’e, Ibn Majah - sahib)
fasting on Friday - (Yaum ul Jumu’ah) by itself (Bukhari and Muslim)
the selling of surplus water (Muslim).
tattooing (Ahmad - sahib)

Among the established traditions is that the Prophet used a small stick (siwak) to clean and polish his teeth. He said: ‘If I did not want to make it difficult for my nation I would have ordered them to clean their teeth [do siwak] during every ablution.’ In other hadiths it says at the performance of every prayer.

The Prophet also said:
‘Cleaning the teeth with siwak purifies the mouth and earns the pleasure of the Lord.’ Other notable traditions include the offering of two units (raka’atyn) in prayer of salutation to the mosque before sitting in it. One should enter the mosque with the right foot and leave with the left. He should wear his right shoe first and take of the left side first.

A visitor must seek permission to enter by knocking or greeting three times. If permission is not granted the visitor should go away. This was confirmed in a sahib hadith. Altogether these ahadith point to practical and daily traditions. O Allah! Help us to follow the way of the Prophet effect, and preserve them.

Lesson 23
Letter to Muslim woman on the occasion of Ramadan.
Allah Almighty has praised believing Muslim women who are patient and humble. He describes them as women who guard the intimacy which He ordained to be guarded. When He mentions the qualities of the righteous men He says: ‘And thus does their Sustainer answer their prayer: I shall not lose sight of the labour of any of you who labours [in My way], be it man or woman; each of you is an issue of the other’ (3:195).

On this occasion of Ramadan I bring glad tidings to you young women of Islam. Salutations to you nation of Allah with the onset of this month. May Allah make it a month of forgiveness and sincere repentance for all of us.

Please accept from us on this occasion, dear sister, a bouquet of advice that has sprouted from ten roses:
First:
 he Muslim woman believes in Allah as her Lord, Muhammad (Peace be upon him) as Prophet, and Islam as her religion and way of life. She manifests the impact of faith upon her in speech, deeds and beliefs. She is ever cautious not to provoke the anger of Allah, fears His painful punishment and the consequences of going against His commands.

Second:
the Muslim woman performs her five daily prayers with ablutions and with humility at the prescribed times. No preoccupation or amusement distracts her from prayers. The effects of prayer are thus clearly manifested in her personality. For prayers prevent the conduct of indecency and wrong-doing; it is the great fortress standing in the way of disobedience.

Third:
the Muslim woman maintains her covering and is honoured to commit herself to it. She does not go out except being fully covered and yet seeking the cover of Allah. She thanks Him for favouring her with this cover that has both protected and purified her. Allah says: ‘O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters, as well as all [other] believing women, that they should draw over themselves some of their outer garments [when in public]’ (33:59).

Fourth:
the Muslim woman is vigilant in obedience of her husband. She is tender and merciful toward him; invites him to goodness, advises him and ensures that he is always comfortable. She does not raise her voice to him and neither does she ever display harshness in her speech toward her husband. The Prophet M said: ‘If a woman prays her five prayers, fasts in the month of Ramadan and obeys her husband, she will enter the Paradise of her Lord.’

Fifth:
 the Muslim woman raises her children in obedience to Allah. She nurtures them with the milk of correct doctrine. She implants in their hearts the love of Allah Most High and His Prophet (Peace be upon him) . Additionally, the Muslim mother helps her children to avoid the ways of disobedience and indecent behaviour. Allah Almighty says: ‘O you who have attained to faith! Ward off from yourselves and those who are close to you that fire [of the hereafter] whose fuel is human beings and stones: [lording] over it are angelic powers awesome [and] severe, who do not disobey God in whatever He has commanded them, but [always] do what they are bidden to do’ (66:6).

Sixth:
the Muslim woman does not allow herself to be alone in any situation with a strange man. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: ‘A woman does not find herself alone with a (marriageable) man except that Satan is the third party of their company.’ Accordingly, the Muslim woman does not travel without the company of an unmarriageable person. She does not roam the markets and public places without necessity. And when she does so, she remains fully covered and modest.

Seventh:
the Muslim woman does not imitate a man in things that are specific and peculiar to him. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: ‘Allah has cursed the men who imitate women and the women who imitate men.’ She does not imitate the unbelieving women in their dress, fashions and appearances. As the Prophet said: ‘Whoever imitates a people he is from among them.’

Eighth:
the Muslim woman calls to Allah within the ranks of her women-folk with good words, visits her neighbours and contacts her sisters through telephone calls or with Islamic booklets and cassettes. She practises what she preaches and tries earnestly to save herself and her sisters form the punishment of Allah. The Prophet M observed: ‘That Allah should guide to Islam one person through your effort is better than a caravan of wealth.’

Ninth:
the Muslim woman protects her heart from doubtful matters and desires, as well as her eyes from unlawful things. Likewise, she protects her ears from music and indecency and all her limbs from wrong-doing. She knows that this is piety. As the Prophet M advised: ‘Be modest and have a sense of shame before Allah as best as you can. Whoever is truly modest before Allah will safeguard his head with all that it knows and the stomach with what it contains. And, whomsoever remembers the trials of life would leave the delights of this world.’

Tenth:
the Muslim woman does not waste her time; neither does she cause her days and nights to be shredded apart. She does not allow herself to become a backbiter, slanderer or castigator indulging in negligence. Allah says: ‘And leave to themselves all those who, beguiled by the life of this world, have made play and passing delights their religion’ (6:70).
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He also says, concerning the people who wasted their lives, that they will ultimately say: ‘Alas for us, that we disregarded it’ (6:31).

O Allah! Guide the young women of Islam to that which You love and are pleased with and beautify their hearts with faith.

Lesson 24
Concerns of the Islamic scholar during month of Ramadan
Allah Almighty declares in the Quran: ‘Verily, [O you who believe in Me,] this community of yours is one single community, since I am the Sustainer of you all: worship, then, Me [alone]’ (21:92).

He further explains: ‘All believers are but brethren’ (49:10).

As for the Prophet he clarified the nature of the relationship between Muslims in this famous hadith: ‘The example of the Muslims in their love and mercy for each other is like the body. If one part is afflicted, all the other parts rally to its aid with fever and sleeplessness.’

Today Muslims pass this month of Ramadan in transgression and crises. Capitalism is rife with greed. It directs its hostility against the Islamic world with intellectual onslaughts. The foremost means toward this is through women, wine and other enticements, distractions, luxuries and unlawful amusements. Secularism calls for the separation between the religion and worldly affairs.

It seeks to oust Islam from life’s stage on the pretext that religion distinguishes between people. In effect, secularism is an atheist ideology that disregards all religions and, therefore, excludes Islam in its entirety from playing any role in human life. Freemasonry, the Jewish creation, has come to destroy religions including Islam. On the surface it appears to be calling for the unity of all people. It has its own means, taboos, emblems and cliques. It operates in secret, has world-wide influence and springs from Zionist origins.

Hence today the Islamic nation suffers from intense wounds:
Palestine has been stolen from it, A1 Aqsa mosque remains a hostage while old men, women and children are slaughtered morning and evening. Yet, Palestine will never be returned to the Muslim lands except by an Islam with the rage of Umar ibn al Khattab, the boldness of Salah al Din and the sincerity of Ibn Taymiya.

The Muslim woman is fought against because of her covering, modesty, purity and religion.

Our young men are seduced by destructive means, satanic enticements and sensual delights.

Evangelism is penetrating the Islamic world from all four directions. Divisions and schisms are widespread among Muslims except those whom Allah has shielded.

In the circumstances, what is required is that the Muslim should live for these great issues with his sentiments, wealth and prayers. He should strive to increase awareness among his Muslim brothers of these dangers. The Muslim should work relentlessly to bring about unity within the ranks of his own community. More importantly, the Islamic nation must avoid disputes and internal wrangling that only cause failure; particularly when the news of these calamities which afflict the Islamic world are exposed and become the issues of the day.

As a result, no Muslim should despise himself because in every Muslim there is good. Indeed, every Muslim is expected to struggle if he or she is able and to stop making excuses. They must strive with their persons and their wealth. If not, with their wealth and the support of others who spend of their wealth to advance the cause of Islam. They should, at the end of each prayer, in the early hours of the morning, and other times when prayers are answered, implore Allah to establish and grant victory to the Muslims. We must, moreover, all call upon Allah to increase us in piety and God-consciousness because the disasters and calamities that have befallen us are all on account of our sins and shortcomings. ‘And do you, now that a calamity has befallen you after you had inflicted twice as much [on your foes], ask yourselves, “How has this come about?” Say: “It has come from your own selves’” (3:165).

In the past the Islamic nation was accustomed to victories and conquests in Ramadan. But, after, it reneged on its mission and became engrossed in worldly delights. Ramadan became in recent years a time of anxiety, sadness, killing, dispersal and genocide. Of course if we return to Allah we shall be victorious. ‘O you who have attained to faith! If you help [the cause of ] God, He will help you, and will make firm your steps’ (47:7).

‘No succour can come from any save God, the Almighty, the Truly Wise’ (3:126).

‘If God succours you, none can ever overcome you’ (3:160).

Allah! We implore of You the help that You have promised us. O Our Lord! Plant our feet firmly and grant us victory over the unbelieving people.

Lesson 25
Ramadan calls for the preservation of time
Allah describes the discourse between Himself and the reckless and negligent on the Day of Judgement: ‘[And] He will ask [the doomed]: “What number of years have you spent on earth?” They will answer: “We have spent there a day, or part of a day; but ask those who [are able to] count time... .[Whereupon] He will say: “You have spent there but a short while: had you but known [how short it was to be]! Did you then think that We created you in mere idle play, and that you not have to return to Us? [Know,] then, [that] God is sublimely exalted, the Ultimate Sovereign, the Ultimate Truth: there is no deity save Him, the Sustainer, in bountiful almightiness enthroned!’” (23:112-16).

One of the righteous predecessors noted:
life is short, do not shorten it with negligence. This is, certainly, true. Negligence shortens the hours and consumes the night. Hence the Prophet M said: ‘Two favours that many people are deceived by: health and spare time.’ The lesson being that many people are healthy and have a lot of time on their hands yet their lives pass by quickly before them without their using them or benefiting anyone.

He also warned:
‘The foot of a believer will not move on the Day of Judgement until he is asked about four things and mention his life span and how he utilized it.’ Life is, undoubtedly, a treasure, whomsoever spends it in obedience to Allah will find his treasure on the Day when wealth and sons will be of no avail but instead only those who returned to Allah with clean hearts.

Thus, those who spent their lives in negligence, disobedience and play will on that Day regret in such a manner that will never be equalled thereafter. They will say: ‘Alas for us, that we disregarded our lives.’ In effect, both the night and day are like riding animals that transport man to either eternal happiness or loss. Our righteous forbears used to take every initiative to preserve their time. There are strange stories about them concerning this matter.

There were among them those who used to read the Quran and they were on the threshold of death. Such an example was Junaid ibn Muhammad. His sons said to him, ‘You are exhausting yourself.’ He replied, ‘And should there be among the people one who exerts himself more than me?’ A1 Aswad ibn Yazid used to stand in prayer for most of the night. Some of his friends advised him to relax at least for a small portion of the night.

He told them it is this very relaxation he is in search of; meaning in the Hereafter. Sufiyan al Thowri once sat in the Sacred Mosque speaking to some people. Then suddenly he arose terrified and said; we are sitting here and the day is doing its work. There were among our forbears those who used to divide their days and nights into hours. Hence they allocated specific hours for prayers, recitation, remembrance, meditation, acquisition of knowledge, work and sleep.

They ascribed no time for merriment. As for their successors, they have been afflicted by the calamity of time-wasting. Except, of course, those to whom Allah has shown mercy. They indulge in excessive sleep, idleness, aimless wandering, spending on amusements and sittings in which there is no benefit; or in meetings which, if they do not involve disobedience, are definitely the cause of disobedience. Among the greatest things that organize time and work are the five daily prayers.

Allah the Sublime and Most Excellent Speaker affirms in the Quran: ‘Verily, for all believers prayer is indeed a sacred duty linked to particular times [of day]’ (4:104).

The month of Ramadan is a school in which the Muslim’s time is organized and invested in matters that lead to closeness to Allah. Notwithstanding, some people do not know the meaning of fasting.

They engage in ample negligence and deep slumber. They spend their days sleeping and their nights in wasted wakefulness. O Allah! Preserve for us our lives. Plant our feet firmly on Your path, and make us obey You always. O Lord of all the worlds.

Lesson 26
Images of love and brotherhood are manifested in Ramadan
The Muslims constitute one hand, one heart and one unit. They are like the Prophet (Peace be upon him) described them, as a single body. Only Islam can gather their disparate elements. And, only Islam can create brotherhood between them. ‘If thou hadst expended all that is on earth, thou couldst not have brought their hearts together [by thyself]: but God did bring them together. Verily, He is Almighty, wise’ (8:63).

Significantly, the Muslims are not united in language, blood, colour, race or country; they possess, however, unity of religion. For they are all brought together under the umbrella of ‘There is no God save Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’ M uslims distinguish themselves by their God consciousness and gain precedence because of their knowledge.

‘O men! Behold, We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, God is all-knowing, all-aware’ (49:13).

When the Prophet (Peace be upon him) called to Islam, the caller to prayer came from Ethiopia saying, ‘Here I am O Lord, I have answered your call.’ Likewise, the Prophet himself came forth and proclaimed concerning Salman the Persian: ‘Salman is from my household.’ And, there was Shuaib the Roman, calling, ‘God is the greatest, God is the greatest.’

Meanwhile, the people of segregation and racism, A1 Walid ibn Mughira, Abu Jahl and Abu Lahab all regressed.

Thus it was reported that the Prophet used to say:

‘O children of Hashim, a people would come on the Day of Judgement with their deeds and you would come with your family trees.’

In another hadith he warned:
‘Whoever was slowed down by his deeds would not be hastened by his lineage.’ In reality, the Muslims constitute a large brotherhood in which every righteous and guided believer gains membership. Islam does not belong to one particular people or race. It belongs to the Arabs, Indians, Turks, Pakistanis and Africans; indeed all mankind. Abu Bakr al Siddiq was a Qurayshi, Bilal an Ethiopian, Shuaib a Roman, Salman a Persian and Muhammad the Conqueror was a Turk. Iqbal the great poet was an Indian and Salah al Din al Ayubi was a Kurd. They were all bonded by the same doctrine; that there is no God save Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

This great oneness manifests itself in Ramadan. The month is one and the same, the fasting is one, the direction of prayers is one, and the methodology is also one. We all pray behind one imam. Allah says: ‘And bow down in prayer with all who thus bow down’ (2:43).

And:

‘Stand before God in devout obedience’ (2:238).

Addressing those who fast, Allah Almighty says:

‘O you who have attained to faith! Fasting is ordained for you as it was orGmed for those before you, so that you might remain con*, .ous of God’ (2:183).

In the same manner, our pilgrimage is one, its timing is one, and its venue is one. ‘And when you surge downward in multitudes from Arafat, remember God at the holy place, and remember Him as the One who guided you after you had indeed been lost on your way’ (2:198).

Allah further calls upon the Muslims to maintain His bond and not to be divided: ‘And hold fast, all together, unto the bond with God, and do not draw apart from one another. And remember the blessings which God has bestowed upon you: how, when you were enemies, He brought your hearts together, so that through His blessing you became brethren’ (3:103).

In forbidding divisions, Allah says:

‘And be not like those who have drawn apart from one another and have taken to conflicting views after all evidence of the truth has come unto them: for these it is for whom tremendous suffering is in store’ (3:105).

One practical measure that must be adopted as a means of preventing divisions is contained in the Prophet’s saying: ‘Allah has revealed to me that you should be humble so that no one will oppress another and no one will display arrogance toward another.’ In another haditb Allah’s Messenger said: ‘The believers are like bricks in a wall; they support each other.’ He also said: ‘A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim: he neither oppresses him nor does he fail him, he neither lies to him nor does he hold him in contempt. It is evil enough for a man to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. The whole of a Muslim for another is inviolable: his blood, his property, and his honour.’ Among the duties of this brotherhood is that one should inquire about the well-being of his brother and visit him for the sake of Allah.

He should, moreover, visit and console him if he is sick, greet him whenever he meets him with a bright smile on his face, pray for him when he sneezes, accept his invitation, help him if he is oppressed, and advise and direct him. There are, of course, other rights and duties. Every Muslim on the face of the earth is, therefore, your brother in faith and according to the Quranic law. Allah Almighty has originated this covenant which Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) brought. O Allah! Attune our hearts, bring us together, and unite our ranks. O You who are the most generous to those who show kindness.

Lesson 27
Ramadan is a blessed month for the Islamic call
The propagation of Islam was the mission of all the prophets and messengers of Allah. There was never a prophet who was not a preacher and teacher. All of them preached the same message: ‘Worship Allah, you have no other god but Him.’ They all called to their people saying: ‘I do not seek any reward from you for this work.’ Allah Almighty says: ‘Call thou [all mankind] unto thy Sustainer’s path with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in the most kindly manner’ (16:125).

He ordered His Messenger:
‘Say [O Prophet]: “This is my way: resting upon conscious insight accessible to reason, I am calling [you all] unto God - I and they who follow me.” And [say] “Limitless is God in His glory; and I am not one of those who ascribe divinity to aught beside Him!”’ (12:108).

Having ordered his servants to employ useful knowledge and good deeds, Allah confirms: ‘And who could be better of speech than he who calls [his fellow-men] unto God, and does what is just and right, and says, “Verily, I am of those who have surrendered themselves to God?’ (41:33).

There are five premises to the Islamic call, it has five approaches, and its results are also five.

The five premises:
First:
sincerity and truthfulness with Allah, and to seek His favour. Allah says: ‘And withal, they were not enjoined aught but that they should worship God, sincere in their faith to Him alone’ (98:5).

The holy Prophet foretold that the first with whom the fire of hell will be lit are three; among them a scholar who acquired knowledge so that people would say he is learned. And it was indeed said of him.

Second:
to practise what one preaches. Actually it is a scandal and disgrace that a person’s actions should contradict his words. Allah derides such people in His Quran: ‘Do you bid other people to be pious, the while you forget your own selves - and yet you recite the divine writ? Will you not, then, use your reason?’ (2:44).

Third:
gentleness in presenting the message. Allah advised Moses and Aaron to adopt this measure with Pharaoh, the greatest tyrant of his time: ‘But speak unto him in a mild manner, so that he might bethink himself or [at least] be filled with apprehension’ (20:44).

And to Muhammad, He also cautioned: ‘And it was by God’s grace that thou [O Prophet] didst deal gently with thy followers: for if thou hadst been harsh and hard of heart, they would indeed have broken away from thee’ (3:159).

Hence it was on this basis the Prophet M declared: ‘Make matters easy and do not make them difficult. Give glad tidings and do not drive people away.’

Fourth:
adopt a gradual approach to propagation. Do as Prophet Muhammad & did in his mission by beginning with the most important matters; then follow them up in order of priority.

This was clearly demonstrated in the advice he gave to Mu’adh before he sent him to Yemen. ‘You will come upon a People of the Book (Jews and Christians), the first thing you should invite them to is to bear witness that there is no God save Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah.

If they respond positively to this, then inform them that Allah had ordained for them five prayers each day and night.’

Fifth:
address every people with what is suited for them and their needs. There is a special approach to the people of the cities and another approach to villagers. Similarly, there is a special approach to the bedouin. The intellectual has his position and the ignorant also has his position. So too, there is a style for the argumentative and an entirely different one for the submissive. ‘And whoever is granted wisdom has indeed been granted wealth abundant’ (2:269).

The five means of propagation:
First:
 the individual method; that is, to invite the person individually if the matter pertains to him specifically.

Second:
public or mass propagation such as in lectures or exhortations that benefit the generality of people. 

Third:
private lessons to students each in his speciality. This is the task of the scholars who specialize in their disciplines.

Fourth:
propagation through writing, correspondence and authorship with guidance and benefit for those who are called.

Fifth:
propagation using modern means of communication to advance the cause of truth.

The five results:
First:
to attain the position of inheritors of the prophets, for they were the first callers and beacons of light in the field of propagation.

Second:
 to obtain prayers for your forgiveness from the creation for having taught the people goodness. Even the whale in the ocean will pray for the caller to truth.

Third:
to gain great rewards equivalent to that of those who are invited. The Prophet said: ‘Whoever calls to a good tradition will have the reward as the one who followed it without reducing from their reward.’

Fourth:
 the development of the caller from being one who is called to one who calls. He influences others and is not influenced by others who call to evil.

Fifth:
the caller will become a leader among his people and they will follow him. Allah Almighty describes the righteous and notes that they call upon Him saying: ‘Cause us to be foremost among those who are conscious of Thee!’ (25:74).

Surely the sentiments of the caller to Islam are awakened in Ramadan. Their tongues are put to use and their pens become unstinting. The podiums welcome them to hear their call and addresses. Are there not any other scholars who will be similarly generous with their knowledge so that Allah will cause benefit from it? O Allah! Increase us in useful Knowledge, righteous deeds and understanding of religion.

Lesson 28
The prayer of the fasting person is never refused
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) conveyed this in a well-known saying: ‘To the fasting person there is a prayer that is never refused.’ That is because the heart of the fasting person is repentant. He has subdued his stubbornness and checked his wild ambitions. Indeed, he has drawn closer to his Lord and obeyed Him. He abandoned his food and drink, fearful of the King, the Bestower. The fasting person has restrained his desires in obedience to the Lord of the heavens and the earth.

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

‘Supplication is worship.’ Thus, if you see a servant begging a lot in prayer, know that he is close to Allah and confident in His Lord. The companions once said to the Prophet: ‘O Messenger of Allah, is our Lord near so that we may confide with Him secretly or is He far that we must cry out to Him?’ Thereupon Allah Almighty revealed the following verse of the Quran: ‘And if My servants ask thee about Me – be hold, I am near; I respond to the call of him who calls, whenever he calls unto Me: let them, then, respond unto Me, and believe in Me, so that they might follow the right way’ (2:186).

In this same regard the Prophet lUE said to his companions:

‘You are not calling upon a deaf or absent God. Verily you are calling upon a hearer and seer who is closer to any of you than the neck of his cam el.’

Supplication is an extended rope and solid divine bond. Hence the Prophet & declared: ‘No one will be destroyed with supplication.’ For this reason Allah Most Merciful exhorts us to call upon Him: ‘Call upon your Sustainer humbly, and in the secrecy of your hearts. Verily, He loves not those who transgress the bounds of what is right’ (7:55).

And:

‘Call unto Me, [and] I shall respond to you! Verily, they who are too proud to worship Me will enter hell, abased!’ (40:60).

Still, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

‘Our Lord descends to the heavens of the earth in the last third of the night and says: “Is there one who asks that I may grant him his request, is there one who would call that I may answer him, and is there one who seeks forgiveness that I may forgive him?’
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Ramadan is the month of supplication, attainm ent, repentance and acceptance. O faster whose his lips have dried from fasting, whose liver craved from thirst, and whose stomach hungered; call upon your Lord in earnest and be insistent in your request. Remember Allah’s description of His righteous servants: ‘They would vie with one another in doing good works, and would call unto Us in yearning and awe; and they were always humble before Us’ (21:90).

There are certain ethics of supplication that the fasting person should know. They include: the resolve of the heart and full trust in the generosity and favour of Allah.

The Prophet said:
 ‘None of you should say, “O my Lord forgive me if You w ill.” He should instead be insistent in his asking because nothing forces Allah.’ Among these ethics also is that the servant should praise Allah and send greetings upon his noble Messenger at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of his supplication. The believer should be conscious of the times when prayers are answered such as the last third of the night, while prostrating, between the call to prayer (Azaart) and its commencement (Iqamah), at the end of the compulsory prayers, the last hour of Friday (Yaum-ul-Jum’uab), after the Asr prayer, and on the day of Arafat. The believer must avoid rhymed prose in supplication, assigning someone to do it, or excesses in it. One should be careful not to invoke sin or the cutting of kindred ties. O You who fast, know that the final hour before the setting of the sun is one of the greatest hours of the day.
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Before the breaking of the fast when hunger has become acute and your thirst most intense, make much supplication, increase your yearning and continue to ask. Note that there is also an hour before daybreak for you who fast. Therefore, be good to yourself and ask from the Ever-Living the Self- Subsisting because you are poor and He is rich, you are weak and He is strong, you will pass away and He will remain. The Prophet Abraham prayed: ‘O my Sustainer, cause me and [some] of my offspring to remain constant in prayer! And, O our Sustainer, accept this my prayer: grant Thy forgiveness unto me, and my parents, and all the believers, on the Day on which the [last] reckoning will come to pass!’ (14:40-1).

Prophet Moses prayed:

‘O my Sustainer! Open up my heart [to Thy light], and make my task easy for me’ (20:25).

Prophet Solomon called upon his Lord and asked:

‘O my Sustainer! Forgive my sins, and bestow upon me the gift of a kingdom which may not suit anyone after me: verily, Thou alone art a giver of gifts!’ (38:35).

In an authentic hadith the Prophet Muhammad prayed:

‘O my Sustainer! You are the Lord of Gabriel, Mika’il, and Israfil. You are the maker of the heavens and the earth. You judge between Your servants in what they differ. Guide me to the truth by Your permission. For You guide whomsoever You will to the straight path.’

There are four advantages of supplication:
First:
the realization of worship of Allah Almighty, humbleness towards Him and trust in Him. This is the purpose and fruit of worship.

Second:
the answering of one’s request either through the granting of good or by the prevention of harm. None other than Allah possesses this power and ability.

Third:

to save the reward with. Allah if the request is not granted in this world. This is actually better and more beneficial.

Fourth:
supplication expresses sincere monotheism through the crushing of dependency on people and yearning for their favour. O our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and save us from the punishment of the fire. O our Lord! Do not cause our hearts to go astray after You have guided us and grant us mercy from Yourself. Verily You are the Donor of all Good.

Lesson 29
Gifts to those who fast
At this stage I can not find a better gift or greater masterpiece than to present to those who fast gifts from the Prophet of guidance (Peace be upon him) . They are those practical hadiths that have been mentioned in connection with rewards and blessings. Behold! They are the hadiths that lead to the doors of happiness and the paths of goodness in this world and the Hereafter. O you who fast! Record these hadiths and implement them: The Prophet said: ‘Whoever says at daybreak: “There is no God save Allah alone, He has no partner, to Him belongs the dominion and the praise and He has power over all things”; such a person will have the equivalent of a slave from the son of Ismail; ten good deeds will be written for him, ten misdeeds will be erased, and he will be elevated ten levels. He will be protected from Satan until evening, and if he says it in the evening, he would have the same rewards until morning’ (Ahmad, Abu Daud, Ibn Majah - sahih).

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) also said:
‘Whoever says in the morning or in the evening: “O Allah! You are my Lord. There is no God beside You. You created me and I am Your slave and I have taken a covenant to You and promised You what I am able to do. I seek refuge with You from the evil of what I have done, I acknowledge Your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin. Forgive me because none forgives sins except You.” If a servant died during the day or night after having said this prayer, he will enter Paradise’ (Ahmad, Abu Daud, A1 Nisa’e, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban, A1 Hakim - sahib; A1 Bukhari transmits another version of this hadith).

Again the Prophet said:
‘Whoever says at morning or evening: “Glory and praise be Allah the Great” one hundred times, no one will come forward on the Day of Judgement with better than he; except if someone said the same as him and added to it’ (Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Daud, A1 Tirmidhi). ‘Whoever said: “Glory and praise be to Allah the Great”, a date tree will be planted for him in the Paradise’ (A1 Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban, A1 Hakim - sahih). ‘Whoever says: “Glory and praise be to Allah” one hundred times in a single day his sins would be erased even if they were like the waves of the sea’ (Bukhari and Muslim). ‘Whoever implements ten verses of the Quran will not be included among the negligent. Whoever implements one hundred verses will be considered among the obedient. And, whoever implements one thousand verses will be among he extremely rich’ (Abu Daud, Ibn Hibban - sahih). ‘Whoever says in the evening: “In the name of Allah with whose name there can be no harm in the earth or in the heavens and He is the Hearer the Knower” three times, he will not be afflicted with a sudden calamity before morning. And whoever says it in the morning three times will not be afflicted with a sudden calamity before evening’ (Abu Daud, Ibn Hibban, A1 Hakim - sahih).

‘Whoever says:
 “I seek refuge with the perfect words of Allah from the evil that He created” three times in the evening will not be harmed by the bite of a serpent during that night’ (A1 Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban, A1 Hakim - sahib). ‘Whoever says upon leaving his house: “In the name of Allah, I trust in Allah, there is no movement and no power except with Allah”, it would be said to him: “You have been contented and you took precaution”, Satan will turn away from him’ (A1 Tirmidhi, Abu Daud, Ibn Hibban, Ibn al Sunni - sahih). ‘Whoever says when he hears the caller to prayer: “And I bear witness that there is no God save Allah, He is alone and has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. I am pleased with Allah as Lord, Muhammad as Prophet and Islam as religion” all his sins will be forgiven’ (Muslim and the other five). ‘Whoever recites the Surah al Ikhlas ten times, Allah will build for him a house in the Paradise’ (Ahmad - sahih). ‘Whoever recites the Surah al Khaf on a Friday, a light will be created for him until the next Friday’ (Al Hakim and Al Bayhaqi - sahih). ‘Whoever recites the verse of the throne after every compulsory prayer will not be forbidden entrance to Paradise’ (Ibn Hibban and Al Nisa’e - sahih). ‘Whoever recites Surah al Ikhlas it is as if he read one-third of the Quran’ (Ahmad, Al Nisa’e, Al Tirmidhi - sahih).

This bouquet from Muhammad iSfc we grant to all those who fast.

O Allah! Help us to remember You, thank You and worship You in the best way. Amen.

Lesson 30

Tomorrow is Eid - the festival of the breaking of the fast
Tomorrow is Eid and Eid is tomorrow. What is the meaning of Eid and how will it be? Eid is not for him who wears new clothes. Or who takes pride in his affluence. Surely Eid is for those who feared the Promised Day of Reckoning and the owner of the Majestic Throne. Eid is not rhythms and strings. It is not arbitrary amusement and wildness. Eid is rather an occasion of gratitude to the Beneficent and acknowledgement of His favour. It is a time to display His grace and advance in the convoy of believers, strengthening the religion and overcoming the enemies of Islam.

The affairs of Eid include:
One should eat something before the Eid prayer. This may take the form of dates in accord with the command of Allah as was demonstrated while fasting. Likewise, the alms for the breaking of the fast (Zakaat al Fitr) acquits the fasting person from mistakes and obscenities committed during Ramadan. It brings happiness to the poor, revives the spirit of cooperation and kindness among Muslims, purifies their souls and suppresses their tendencies toward stinginess. Wearing new clothes and perfumes is one of the practices of Eid.

It is a means of recognizing the kindness of Allah Almighty. It involves beautification because Allah is beautiful and he loves that which is beautiful. Eid is a time to display the favour of Allah as there is a hadith that says: ‘Verily Allah loves to see the effect of His favour upon His servant if He blesses him .’ It is an occasion to exchange visits, greetings, love and good wishes. It demands contact with relatives, kindness to parents, empathy for the poor and compassion for neighbours. The Muslim Eid reflects happiness that is governed by the Islamic rules and mores. It enjoins dignified fun, courteous and innocent games, caring smiles, legitimate picnics and creative stories.

This is an occasion that evokes images of the Day of the Great Exhibition. Eid gathers thousands upon thousands of rich, poor, big, small, ruler, ruled, happy and sad. Eid is a day of rewards. Whoever fasted with faith and consciousness grant him glad tidings of a great prize, a major success and a huge reward. Whosoever sinned while fasting, was careless with the command of Allah and transgressed His boundaries, he will regret it and feel deeply sorry. And what a great loss that would be. On the day of Eid there will be two groups of people returning from the prayer. One group has been rewarded and is grateful.

Allah will say to them:
‘Go you have been forgiven. You pleased Me and I have been pleased with you.’ The other group is that of the losers and despondent. They will be returning with disappointment, loss, regret, and denial. One righteous man passed by a group of people engaged in vain conversation and having fun on Eid day. He said to them: ‘If you did well in Ramadan, this is not gratitude for goodness. And, if you wronged, this is not the way of one who has erred with the most Merciful.’ Umar ibn Abdul Aziz saw some people hastening away from Arafat on their horses and camels at sunset. He said to them, ‘The one who wins not he who goes fastest on his horse or camel; but the winner is he whose sins are forgiven.’

O Muslim! Think about those with whom you prayed last Eid. They included your fathers, grandfathers, beloved ones and friends. Where are they? Where have they gone?

Tomorrow you will receive the prize. Tomorrow you will be given your full recompense in a record of your deeds. Make sure that only good is written in it. And, await your greatest Eid. The day when you would win the pleasure and forgiveness of Allah by His permission. ‘He that shall be drawn away from the fire and brought into Paradise will indeed have gained a triumph: for the life of this world is nothing but an enjoyment of self-delusion’ (3:185).

Conclusion
O you who fast! May the peace, blessings and mercy of Allah be upon you. I entrust you in God’s care, the One who does not cause to lose anything in His trust. May your fasting and standing in prayer at nights be good. Enjoy what you have striven for.

Allah Almighty says:
‘[But,] behold, as for those for whom [the decree of] ultimate good has already gone forth from Us - these will be kept far away from that [hell]: no sound thereof will they hear; and they will abide in all that their souls have ever desired’ (21:101-2).

May Allah make you and I among them, and accept from us all our deeds. Surely Allah knows best. And may His peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, his relatives and companions.
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