Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said: "On the first night of Ramadân, the Shayateen (devils) and the rebellious jinnat are imprisoned. All the doors of Jahannam (hell) are closed and all the doors of Jannah are opened. A caller calls out, "O seeker of good, advance and O seeker of evil, refrain (from evil). Many people are emancipated from Jahannam by Allah Ta’ala and this takes place every night." (Tirmizi, Ibn Majah)
Similarly Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam has stated: "The person that keeps fast with conviction and hope of reward, all his past sins are forgiven and the person that makes qiyâm (remains awake for ibâdat) on the Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr) with firm conviction and hope of reward will have all his past sins forgiven." (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam also mentioned that Allah says: "The reward for good deeds of the son of Adam (alaihis salâm) are multiplied between ten and seven hundred times besides fasting, as fasting is for Me, and I will grant its recompense (in accordance to My status). The fasting person discards his passions and eating for My sake. The fasting person experiences two occasions of happiness – one at the time of iftâr (terminating the fast) and the second at the time of meeting Allah Ta’ala, and the smell that emerges from the mouth of a fasting person is more precious in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of musk. Fasting is a shield. When a person is fasting, he should not utter any obscene utterance nor should he quarrel. If anyone does quarrel or initiate an argument then say: "I am fasting." (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam has also mentioned: "This is the month of blessings. In it lies the Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr) which is more virtuous than a thousand months. Allah has made it's (the month of Ramadân’s) fasting fard and the qiyâm (standing) of the night (i.e. tarâwîh) nafl (i.e. a practise of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam). In this month the reward of a nafl (optional) action equals that of a fard (obligatory practise) and one fard action equals seventy fard actions in reward. In this month a believer’s rizq (sustenance) is increased. A person that feeds a fasting person, his sins will be forgiven and he will be freed from Jahannum and he will receive the same reward as that of the fasting person. This reward is attained by merely giving a sip of milk or water or one piece of date. Whoever fed a fasting person, Allah shall grant the giver to drink from my haud (fountain), a drink after which that person shall never feel thirsty again until he enters jannah." (Mishkât)
Masa'il (Rules)
It is sunnah to partake of Sehri. Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said: "Eat sehri, as in it lies great blessings." (Sahih Bukhari)
Nabi (S.A.W) said The difference in our fasting and that of the Ahlul Kitab (Jews and Christians) lies in the partaking of food at the time of sehri. (Sahih Muslim)
This sunnah may also be achieved by merely eating one or two morsels or having something to drink. The sunnah time for sehri is the last portion of the night, whereas to hasten with iftâr is sunnah. When a person clearly comes to know of the setting of the sun, he should commence with his iftâr. He should not delay. It is preferable to break ones fast with dates, otherwise with water as this is also a cleanser. The dua at the time of iftâr is:
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْتُ وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ
"O Allah, for You have I fasted and upon Your sustenance I break my fast." (Sunan Abi Dawood)
To make an intention is a pre-requisite for fasting. To make this intention from the night is preferable. However, the fast of Ramadan will be valid even if a person made his intention before the passing of half the day.
Abstaining from Sin
Whilst fasting, special importance should be given to abstain from sin. It is stated in a hadith that "the person who does not abstain from evil acts and speaking lies, Allah is not in need of his fast. (Sahih Bukhari)
Backbiting, slandering, arguments, not guarding one’s eyes from looking at evil, bad thoughts, shaving or trimming of the beard and allowing one’s trouser or garments to cover the ankles. One should abstain from all these types of sins especially in the month of Ramadan. If a person gives due importance to refrain from these sins in the month of Ramadan, then it is hoped that it will become easy for him to refrain from them throughout the year. The objective of fasting is to inculcate the quality of taqwa (piety) as Allah mentions in the Quran:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
"So that you attain piety." A person refrains from eating and drinking for the sake of Allah for a stipulated time, but how foolish will it not be to refrain from those things which are always harâm (forbidden).
Tarâwîh
The tarâwîh salâh of twenty raka’ât is sunnat-e-muakkadah for both males and females. For men to perform it in the masjid with jamâ’ah is Sunnah-alal-kifâyah. This means that it is sunnah for some people to perform the salâh with jamâ’ah (congregation) in the masjid. Thus if some others perform their Esha salâh with jamâ’ah in the masjid and perform their tarâwîh salâh at home with jamâ’ah or individually, it is permissible.
Itikâf
To remain in itikâf for the last ten days of Ramadan is Sunnah-alal-kifâyah. If even one person from the locality performs itikâf, this sunnah is fulfilled. A very easy and practical way of finding Laylatul Qadr is to sit for itikâf. If a person only performs itikâf during the nights of the last ten days, then also he will acquire this virtue. If this is also not possible, then at least the odd nights should be given importance. This is also a great fortune. A person sleeping whilst in itikâf will be regarded as if he is performing ibâdat (worship). A person may engage in permissible speech whilst in itikâf. However he should refrain from obscene and vain talk.
Tahajjud
There is great reward for the performance of tahajjud salâh (nightly vigil). It is the practice of the pious. By virtue of it, sins are forgiven. To refrain from sins also becomes easy. The reward of Tahajjud will be achieved by performing two raka’ât also. A person should perform two to four raka’ât of tahajjud at least when waking up for sehri. The time of tahajjud and sehri remains till subah sâdiq (true-dawn).
By Moulana Fadlur Rahman Sahib
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