RAMADAN SPECIAL

Virtues of Ramadan
by Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kaandhawi

Salman (RA) reports that " On the last day of Shabaan, Rasulullah (SAW) addressed us and said, 'O people there comes over to you a great month, a most blessed month in which lies a night more greater in virtue than a 1000 months. It is a month in which Allah has made fating compulsory by day. And has made sunnah the Taraaweeh (Nafilo as in Mandika) by night. Whosoever intends drawing near to Allah by performing any virtuous deed, for such person shall be the reward like the one who had perform fardh in any other time. And whoever performs a fardh shall be blessed with the reward of 70 faraa-idh in any other time.

This is indeed the month of patience, and the reward for true patience is paradise. It is the month of sympathy with one's fellowmen. It is the month wherein a true believer's sustenance is increased. Whosoever feeds another who fasted, in order to break the fast (at sunset), for the feeder there shall be forgiveness of sins and emancipation from the fire of hell, and for such feeder shall be the same reward as the one who who fasted (who he fed) without that person's reward being decreased in the least."

Thereupon we said, "O Messenger of Allah, not all of us possess the means whereby we can give a fasting person to break his fast." Rasulullah (SAW) replied, "Allah grants the same reward to one who gives a fasting person to break the fast a mere date, or drink of water or a sip of milk."

"This is a month, the first of which brings Allah's mercy, the middle of which brings His forgiveness and the last of which brings emancipation from the fire of hell. Whosoever lessens the burden of his servants in this month, Allah will forgive him and free him from the fire of hell. And in this month, four things you should continue to perform in great number, two of which shall be to please your Lord, while the other two shall be those without which you cannot do. Those which shall be to please your Lord, are that you should in great quantity bear witness that there is no diety to worship except Allah (i.e. recite the Kalimah Laa Ilaaha Illallah) and make must Istighfaar (beg Allah's forgiveness with Astaghfirulaah). And as for those without which you cannot do, you should beg of Allah enterance into paradise and ask refuge in Him from hell."

"And whoever gave a person who fasted water to drink, Allah shall grant that giver to drink from My fountain, such a drink whereafter that person shall never again feel thirsty until he enters paradise."

Abu Hurayrah (RA) relates that Rasulullah (SAW) said "My ummah were given five things for Ramadan which were not given to anyone except them. For them the smell from the mouth of a fasting person is more sweater to Allah than the fragrant smell of musk. On their behalf, the fish in the sea seek forgiveness for the fasting persons until the break their fast. Allah prepares and decorates a special garden in paradise everyday and then says (to it), "The time is near when the faithful servants shall cast aside the great trials of the world and come to you." In this month (for them) evil-minded Shaytaan is chained so as not to reach unto those evils to which they normally reach during other months besides Ramadan. On the last night of Ramadan they are forgiven."

The Sahaabah (RA) thereupon enquired, "O messenger of Allah, is that last night Laylatul Qadr? Rasulullah (SAW) replied, "No. But it is only right that a servant should be given his reward on having complete his service."

Ubaadah bin Saamit (RA) reported that Rasulullah (SAW) one day said when Ramadan had drawn near, "Ramadan, the month of blessing has come to you, wherein Allah turns towards you and sends down to you His special mercy, forgives faults, accept prayers, looks at your competitions for the greatest good and boasts to His angels about you. So show Allah your righteousness from yourselves. For verily the most pitable and unfortunate one is the one who is deprived of Allah's mercy in this month."

Abu Saed Khudri relates that Rasulullah (SAW) said, "Everyday and night in Ramadan Allah sets free a great number of souls from hell. And every Muslim during everyday abd night there is a time when duaa is certainly accepted.

To be continued