BISMIHI TA`ALA
*THE ULTIMATE AIMS OF RAMADHAAN.*
Ramadhaan is derived from the noun “Ramdhoun” which means heated burning sands of the desert when the sun has gone up. So under this heat, the baby camel would sit because of its hoofs will burn due to extreme heated sands. In whole, Ramadhaan is to put us in temperature of Spending, Fasting, Taraweeh, excess reading of Quraan and Zikrullah. In brief, a non stop bearance of ibaadahs of the body, your money and your good character. That is why Ramadhaan is called month of Patience(Sabr). Swimming in patience, ibaadahs and caring for others. All these will burn up all sins and fuse to rocket your connection to Allah Ta’ala. If the heat of ibaadahs is well simmered throughout Ramadhaan, then on the day of Eid, we will have the cooked food of spiritual progress, forgiveness and a new improved life style. This is the recipe for a delicious and fruitful Ramadhaan.
It is reported on the authority of Mustadrak Hakim and Ibn Hibbaan that once the beloved Prophet Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam once ascended the pulpit. When he climbed the one step, he said ‘Ameen’. He repeated, “Ameen” when he climbed the second step. He uttered ‘Ameen’ when he climbed the third step. When the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) descended the pulpit, the companions told him that they happened to hear something new today. The beloved Prophet SAW told them. Hadrat Jibreel came to me when I ascended the first step he cursed, “WOE TO HIM WHO HAS BEEN GIFTED THE MONTH OF RAMADHAAN AND YET FAILS TO OBTAIN FORGIVENESS. I said,”Ameen”. When I climbed the second step the angel cursed him who fails tosend blessing on the Prophet after listening to his name. I said “Ameen”.When I climbed the third step the angel cursed “Woe to him who finds either one and both of his parents in old age, and yet is not able to enterHeaven”. I said “Ameen” (Ibn Hibbaan; Mustadrak Hakim)
عن كعب بن عجرة ، قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : « احضروا المنبر » فحضرنا فلما ارتقى درجة قال : « آمين » ، فلما ارتقى الدرجة الثانية قال : « آمين » فلما ارتقى الدرجة الثالثة قال : « آمين » ، فلما نزل قلنا : يا رسول الله لقد سمعنا منك اليوم شيئا ما كنا نسمعه قال : « إن جبريل عليه الصلاة والسلام عرض لي فقال : بعدا لمن أدرك رمضان فلم يغفر له قلت : آمين ، فلما رقيت الثانية قال : بعدا لمن ذكرت عنده فلم يصل عليك قلت : آمين ، فلما رقيت الثالثة قال : بعدا لمن أدرك أبواه الكبر عنده أو أحدهما فلم يدخلاه الجنة قلت : آمين » « هذا حديث صحيح الإسناد ولم يخرجاهابن حبان؛ مستدرك للحاكم
So the ultimate aim for this Ramadhaan is that we need to achieveforgiveness from Allah Ta`ala. Else we would be in danger of the curse ofthe beloved prophet Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam. The beloved prophet Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam indicated 3 actions tohave forgiveness: 1.
عن أبي سلمة عن أبي هريرة قالقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من صام رمضان إيمانا واحتسابا غفر له ما تقدممن ذنبهبخاري
Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam said: ”One who fast whole ofRamadhaan with conviction and hope of reward, then he will have all his pastsins forgiven.”(Bukhari)
The end result of fasting is Taqwa. “Fasting has been made obligatory upon you..so that you attain Taqwa(piety).”(2:183). Taqwa is to spend 24 hours of our life under the obedience of Allah Ta’ala. A sinfree life style. This is possible. Ramadhaan is wave that may take us farer in that quest. If mud like sins stain the cloth, then quickly wash it with tawbah, istighfaar, sadaqah and surplus good deeds. 2. عن حميد بن عبد الرحمن عن أبي هريرةأن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال من قام رمضان إيمانا واحتسابا غفر له ماتقدم من ذنبهبخاريRasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam said: ”One who stays standing insalaah during the nights of Ramadhaan with conviction and hope of reward,then he will have all his past sins forgiven.”(Bukhari)
3.
عن أبي سلمة عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنهعن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال من قام ليلة القدر إيمانا واحتسابا غفر له ماتقدم من ذنبهبخاريRasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam said: ”One who stays standing in salaah during the night of laylatul Qadr with conviction and hope of reward,then he will have all his past sins forgiven.”(Bukhari)
So FAST the whole month of Ramadhaan and complete 20 rakaats of TARAWEEH daily and look for LAYLATUL QADR then insha Allah we will have forgiveness.
Besides these actions, we need to read lot of Qur-aan Kareem. Because themonth of Ramdhaan is the month Qur-aan. It was revealed in Ramadhaan andalso abundantly read by the prophet Swalallahou Alaihi Wasallam and sahabas.
Also reported in Sahih Ibn Khuzeimah that we are recommended to ask a lot offorgiveness and istighfaar during the month of Ramadhaan:
وَهُوَ شَهْرٌ أَوَّلُهُ رَحْمَةٌ ، وَأَوْسَطُهُ مَغْفِرَةٌ ، وَآخِرُهُعِتْقٌ مِنَ النَّارِ ، مَنْ خَفَّفَ عَنْ مَمْلُوكِهِ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ ،وَأَعْتَقَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ ، وَاسْتَكْثِرُوا فِيهِ مِنْ أَرْبَعِ خِصَالٍ :خَصْلَتَيْنِ تُرْضُونَ بِهِمَا رَبَّكُمْ ، وَخَصْلَتَيْنِ لاَ غِنًى بِكُمْعَنْهُمَا ، فَأَمَّا الْخَصْلَتَانِ اللَّتَانِ تُرْضُونَ بِهِمَا رَبَّكُمْ :فَشَهَادَةُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ ، وَتَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُ ، وَأَمَّااللَّتَانِ لاَ غِنًى بِكُمْ عَنْهمَا : فَتُسْأَلُونَ اللَّهَ الْجَنَّةَ ،وَتَعُوذُونَ بِهِ مِنَ النَّارِصحيح ابن خزيمة
In fact, according to the above riwayah, Rasouloullah Swalallahou Alaihi Wasallam told us to read lots of these:
1. Astaghfirullah; Allahoummaghfirli.
2. Laa ilaaha illallah.3. Allahoumma inna nas aloukal Jannah(O Allah! Grant me jannah)4. wa na`ouzoubika minannaar(And save us from Hell fire).
For a complete forgiveness, we need to improve some aspect of our lifeduring this Ramadhaan. If you had no beard, then start growing one withfinal decision to keep it even after Ramadhaan. Try an interest free andharaam earning free this Ramadhaan. Be more cautious on halaal food andearnings.
If a lady was not in pardah, then great time to start veiling one`s faceduring the sacred month of Ramadhaan! Try it insha Allah, you will see thatit is very easy to make that change during these days.
Preserve our fast with lowering gaze, stay away from backbiting and keepaway from sins. Keep the TV set off and let our ears be music free.
After reading this, evaluate yourself and see where you lack from the sunnahof the beloved prophet SAW and step forward to adopt that sunnah for life.
You may inform us of your initiative.
Mufti Mackoojee
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