Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahe Wabarakatuhu
I hope that you find this email in best of health and Eemaan. Also, I
hope you realize the fact that how fast the month of Sha'ban is
progressing and we are moving closer to the month of Rahmat, the month
of Maghfirat, the month of the Qur'an, The Holy Ramadan.
We also need to appreciate that how fast every Ramadan goes and each
year how we feel bad once it leaves us. It’s time for us now to decide
our programme for this Ramadan.
Fasting, Taraweeh, Qayamul-Layl, E'tekaaf!! These all happened in the
past years also. So, what else should be done? I mean this has to be
followed but did this bring any change?
our Day and Night. The change in our dealings. The change in our
character. Ramadan comes every year to inculcate the attitude of change
towards excellence in self and change towards a step ahead to Jannah.
Ramadan doesn't merely come to put us under hardships or exercises.
As the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam) has said:
Narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah(Radhiyallaahu Anhu), "Whoever does not
give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and
uttering bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting)
leaving his food and drink." (Bukhari)
So, the point is clear that Ramadan demands a change which should be
condition less, complete and immediate otherwise the fasting becomes
void. Allah says in the Holy Qur'an:
"Surely Allah does not change the condition of a people until they
change their own condition". (Al-Ra'd:11)
So, my dear brother, it is important that we plan this Ramadan
effectively to bring a positive change in ourselves. And the source and
the driver of this change is the Holy Qur'an. And since Ramadan is the
month in which the revelation of the Qur'an started, it is the best
time to make our relationship stronger with the Qur'an
.
· Make a target to recite the Qur'an completely atleast once in
this month.
· Also, try to read the Qur'an completely with meaning.
Brothers who are yet to start reading Qur'an with meaning, this is the
best time to do so.
· Understanding the message of the Qur'an and acting upon it is
of the utmost importance. Ponder over the meaning and different themes
which Qur'an talks about and try to figure out how Qur'an gives
guidance for the problems a person as self is facing and also for the
problems the mankind is facing. Qur'an should act as a mirror in one's
life, which shows the image of self when one ponders over it.
· It is desirable and beneficial if small study groups in your
area can be formed where a group study and discussion on the Qur'an
takes place. Many knots get untied when people sit together and try to
understand the message.
· Also plan to memorize few Surahs from the Qur'an. Fix a
number of Ayaat on daily basis and memorize and revise them.
Qur'an is the spiritual driving force which leads a Mo'min towards the
accomplishment of his goal of being a "Witness unto Mankind" or in
simple words a Da'ee whose responsibility is disseminating the Word of
Allah to the mankind.
So, even after studying the Qur'an, if a person is still not able to
realize his goal and doesn't start his journey towards it or halts his
journey in between, then he needs to rethink at the way he is
approaching the Qur'an. Is it with the intention of improving his
knowledge or is it with the intention of gaining Hidayah (Guidance)?
Thus, the duty is pretty clear. And the next task on priority is
disseminating the Word of Allah to our fellow human beings which is
valid for both our Muslim and Non-Muslim brothers. Ramadan provides an
opportunity to fulfill this task.
· Try to initiate informal discussions with your fellow
students, room-mates, colleagues and tell them about Ramadan, Fasting
etc. and reason behind all the Ibadah.
· Invite them to Iftar get-together in your area where you just
not share food for your body but also share food for your soul and
mind. These programmes can be on individual level or your unit level.
· It is desirable if you invite your Non-Muslim friends, whom
you are close to, individually to your house/room/hostel for a Iftar
get-together as per your capacity. Small and mutually close groups
paves the way for healthy discussions and more attention can be given
to an individual in these kinds of get-togethers which is generally not
possible in bigger gatherings.
In Ramadan, Allah increases the reward for the good deeds manifold. So,
why not utilize this month in way where each second is of good deeds.
Allah has put another responsibility on our shoulders which is to help
His servants who are needy, poor and destitute. We should acknowledge
the fact that the hunger pangs which we face in our fasts, these people
suffer those pangs across the year and they go to bed without filling
their belly on many occasions.
· Please plan to donate generously in Allah's way. Remember
that Allah consider your Sadaqah or Charity as a loan which He will
return after multiplying it manifold. So, plan to give charity to your
relatives who are in need, poor, destitute and orphans and also for
propagating the message of Islam.
· Remember this charity is different from Zakaah which is a
Fard (obligatory) and not paying it will lead to chastisement from
Allah. The Qur'an calls those people righteous and God-fearing who not
only pay the obligatory Zakaah but also gives charity generously in the
way of Allah.
Finally, Ramadan has a night, which Allah says, is better than one
thousand nights. This is the Laylatul Qadr. Plan to search for Laylatul
Qadr on all odd nights of the last 10 days of this Holy month. Ask
Allah's mercy and forgiveness for yourself, your parents, your family
members, your fellow brothers and for the complete Muslim Ummah in
these nights. This night is much more worthy than few hours of sleep.
So, my dear brother, plan to sacrifice your sleep and spend it in
shedding tears in hope of Allah's forgiveness and mercy.
Not to mention, remain vigilant towards Taraweeh prayers. Although they
aren’t Fard but they carry great importance with the fact that complete
Qur’an is recited in these prayers. If you want to realize the benefit
of Taraweeh prayers, try to read the jist of the portion which is
supposed to be recited before standing for the Taraweeh.
This is a brief plan which I can recommend for you. Since, every deed
of a Mo'min is Ibadah if it is done in accordance to the will of Allah,
I couldn't enumerate everything. I hope you are learned and mature
enough to acknowledge that and can plan your Ramadan in a much more
effective way.
Lastly, I would like to say that there are many faces which we could
not see around us but were there with us in the last Ramadan. Their
duration of examination completed and they have left for their Heavenly
Abode. And we are not sure how many will remain in the next Ramadan?
So, my dear brother, consider this Ramadan as your last and pray to
Allah for his mercy and forgiveness for yourself and for all of us.
O Allah! Bless us with Ramadan in the best state of our health and
Eemaan.
"Allahuma Barik lana fi Rajaba wa Sha'bana wa ballighna Ramadan."
Remember me in your duas
Wassalam
Your brother,
"Mohammed Umair Siddiqui"