Many of us have been counting the days remaining up to the holy month of Ramadan. Five days, four, three, two and the next thing you know here it is. For a believer the name of this month “Ramadan” gives the thought of joy, rewards and a feeling of Allah’s mercy. Truly, this is a season that should be awaited for. Anticipations and emotions for this month are not sufficient. This holy month requires action and activity. It is about altering our timetables and schedules; it demands us to train ourselves to attain Taqwa (fear of Allah or devotion to Him) which in turn, is the element to carry us successfully through the ongoing journey towards the hereafter (akhirah).

But let us ask ourselves have we really prepared for this month? Are we ready to dedicate more time for our spiritual revival? During the month of Ramadan the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) would stay awake in the nights worshipping Allah, awaken his household and increase in worship. (Bukhari, Muslim). Even though we may have experienced many a Ramadans but every Ramadan must be treated as a once in a lifetime opportunity since we have no idea whether we will live till the next Ramadan. Let us look at a few ahadith concerning this holy period.

Increased Rewards & Forgiveness
What are the rewards of good deeds in the month of Ramadan? The reward of every Fardh (compulsory) act is multiplied seventy times while every Nafl (optional) act earns the reward of one Fardh out of Ramadan. (Ibn Khuzaymah). It is important to understand the latter aspect in its proper perspective. Tahajjud (Nafl Salah in the last third of the night) is an extremely great ibadah (worship). Great virtues have been narrated for this Salah. However, a lifetime of tahajjud cannot equal one Fardh of Fajr Salah! Yet in the month of Ramadan Almighty Allah grants us the reward of a Fardh action for every Nafl performed.

The fish in the sea seek forgiveness for those fasting until they break their fast. Allah decorates His Jannah (Paradise) every day and then says, “The time is near when My pious servants shall cast aside the great trials and come to me.” (Musnad Ahmed)

When Ramadan arrives, the gates of Paradise are flung open, the doors of the Hellfire are closed and the Shayateen are imprisoned. (Bukhari)

Fasting
All good deeds are for the one who renders them, but fasting. Fasting is exclusively for me (Allah). (Bukhari)
The odour of the mouth of a fasting person is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk.(Bukhari)
Fasting is a shield, as long as the fasting person does not tear it up (by disobedience) (Nasaee).

Iftar
Not a single prayer made by a fasting person at the time of breaking the fast is rejected. (Ibn Majah)

The Nights of Ramadan
Whoever stands in prayer and worship in (the nights of) Ramadan, with Iman and with sincere hope of gaining reward, all his previous sins are forgiven. (Bukhari, Muslim)

Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power)
Whoever stands in prayer and worship in the night of power with Iman and with sincere hope of gaining reward , all his previous sins are forgiven. (Muslim)

Look for the night of power among the odd numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadan. (Mishkat)

I’etikaf
The Prophet (S.A.W.) observed I’etikaf for ten days every year in the month of Ramadan. In the year he passed away he observed it for twenty days. (Bukhari)

The Last Night Of Ramadan
On the last night of Ramadan the fasting Muslims are forgiven. (Musnad Ahmed)

Conclusion

It can be well comprehended from the above that during this month of Ramadan, Almighty Allah makes it easy for us to acquire His blessings, mercy and forgiveness. There can be no better time to attain this than this blessed month. All that is required on our part is to create in our hearts the desire, ambition, devotion, zeal; eagerness and that we exert increased efforts to acquire the pleasure of Almighty Allah.

While one should engage to the maximum in good deeds, the purpose of Ramadan must be kept foremost in mind, which is to acquire Taqwa. Thus together with the maximum amount of righteous actions one must totally refrain from all sins. We should ensure that no act of disobedience is committed. This abstinence in itself is a worship. One month of strictly conducting oneself in this manner will Insha-Allah have the effect of enabling one to live the next eleven months in a similar manner in the complete obedience of Allah. Thus, can we afford to waste this time? Can we still have time for “loafing?” Is it possible for a person who values Ramadan to spend hours eating? Or loitering around after taraweeh feasts and gatherings? Or have time for any other idle pursuits? Whereas that time could have been used to at least recite the Holy Quran or send Durood upon our beloved Prophet (S.A.W)? And entertainment? How can it be possible? The last thing that any Muslim who values Ramadan should be bothered about is who somewhere in the world is whacking a little red ball all over a field or who is kicking a ball between two posts! Let alone comedy or other shows!
Let us really make this Ramadan a profitable one that brings change in our life.

We leave you with a quotation of the honorable Mufti Zubair Bayat:
All the “T's” of Ramadan must be kept in mind so that when Ramadan comes, “everything is to the T!”. These “T's” are: Tilawah, Tahajjud, Taraweeh, Tasbeehat, Tadharru' (fervent Dua), Tatawwu' (Nafl Ibadah), Tasahhur (eating Sehri/Suhoor), Taubah (repentance), Tawadhu (humility) and Tafakkur (contemplation). May Almighty Allah make this Ramadan a turning point in the life of the long-suffering Ummah. Aameen.

 

Sighting the Hilal (crescent) for the Holy Month of Ramadan

FASTING FOR A DAY OR TWO DAYS AHEAD OF RAMADAN

Abu Huraira (ra) reported Allah's Messenger (s.a.w) as saying: “Do not observe fast for a day, or two days ahead of Ramadan except a person who is in the habit of observing a particular fast; he may fast on that day”. (Saheeh Muslim)

COMMENCING AND COMPLETING RAMADAN UPON ACTUAL SIGHTING

Ibn Umar (ra) reported Allah's Messenger (pbuh) as saying in connection with Ramadan: “Do not fast till you see the new moon, and do not break fast till you see it” (Saheeh Muslim)

Ibn Umar (r.a) reported that Allah's Messenger (pbuh) made a mention of Ramadan and he with the gesture of his hand said: “The month is thus and thus. (He then withdrew his thumb at the third time). He then said: Fast when you see it, and break your fast when you see it, and if the weather is cloudy calculate it (the months of Sha'ban and Shawwal) as thirty days.” (Saheeh Muslim)

Abu Huraira (r.a) reported Allah's Messenger (pbuh) as saying: “Whenever you sight the new moon (of the month of Ramadan) observe fast. And when you sight it (the new moon of Shawwal) break it, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then observe fast for thirty days.”(Saheeh Muslim)

Abu Huraira (r.a) reported Allah's Messenger (pbuh) as saying: “Observe fast on sighting it (the new moon) and break it on sighting it. But if (due to clouds) the actual position of the month is concealed from you, you should then count thirty (days).” (Saheeh Muslim)

DIFFERENT SIGHTINGS OF THE NEWMOON DURING THE TIME OF THE NOBLE SAHABA

Kuraib (r.a) reported that Umm Fadl (r.a), daughter of Harith, sent him (Fadl, i.e. her son) to Mu'awiya (r.a) in Syria. I (Fadl) arrived in Syria, and did the needful for her. It was there in Syria that the month of Ramadan commenced. I saw the new moon (of Ramadan) on Friday. I then came back to Medina at the end of the month. Abdullah ibn. 'Abbas (r.a) asked me (about the new moon of Ramadan) and said: When did you see it? I said: We saw it on the night of Friday. He said: (Did) you see it yourself?-I said: Yes and the people also saw it and they observed fast and Mu'awiya (R.A) also observed fast, whereupon he (ibn Abaas) said: But we saw it on Saturday night. So we would continue to observe fast till we complete thirty (fasts) or we see it (the new moon of Shawwal). I said: Is the sighting of the moon by Mu'awiya not valid for you? He said: No; this is how the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) has commanded us. (Saheeh Muslim)

IT IS IMMATERIAL WHETHER THE NEW MOON IS LARGE (ON ACCOUNT OF APPEARING AFTER THIRTY NIGHTS) OR SMALL (ON ACCOUNT OF APPEARING ON THE THIRTIETH NIGHT)

Abu'l-Bakhtari (r.a) reported: We saw the new moon of Ramadan as we were at Dhit-i-'Irq. We sent a man to Ibn Abbas (r.a) to ask him (whether the sighting of a small moon had something of the nature of defect in it). Upon this Ibn 'Abbas (r.a) said that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) had said: “Verily Allah deferred its sight, but if (the new moon) is hidden from you, then, complete its number (thirty).” (Saheeh Muslim)

Dua (supplication) Upon Sighting the New Moon.

Talhah bin Ubaidullah (r.a) reported: At the sight of the new moon (of the lunar month), the Prophet (S.A.W) used to supplicate:

"Allahumma ahillahu `alaina bil-amni wal-iman, was-salamati wal-Islam, Rabbi wa Rabbuk-Allah, Hilalu rushdin wa khairin (O Allah, let this moon appear on us with security and Iman; with safety and Islam. (O moon!) You’re Rubb and mine is Allah. May this moon be bringing guidance and good).'' (Tirmidhi)