2. The Meaning of Ramadan It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Fasting during Ramadan was ordained during the second year of Hijrah. Ramadan is the most important month of the year. It is the month that the believers await with eagerness. the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, used to supplicate thus: “O Allah! Bless us during Rajab and Sha’ban, and let us reach Ramadan (in good health).”
3. Continued… “Anyone who fasts during this month with purity of belief and with expectation of a good reward (from his Creator), will have his previous sins forgiven,” said Prophet Muhammad ﷺ “There are those who get nothing from their fast but hunger and thirst. There are those who get nothing from their nightly prayers but loss of sleep.”
4. Continued… The first category consists of direct Ibada, acts that are required for their own sake. The second category consists of indirect Ibada — worldly acts that become Ibada through proper intention and observation of Shariah. Islam does not approve of monasticism.
5. This spirit is captured in I’tikaf, a unique Ibada associated with Ramadan, in which a person gives up all his normal activities and enters a mosque for a specific period. “charge our batteries”
6. The Purpose of Ramadan Its purpose is to rid man of those habits which he has accumulated throughout the rest of the year. The Prophet of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم has clearly stated:مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ حَاجَةٌ فِي أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ “Whoever does not give up lying and evil actions, then Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink” [Saheeh al-Bukhari]
7. Continued… For those who can relate, we can look at the month of Ramadhan like a mock test. May Allah Ta’ala make us successful in this test, for the one who is unsuccessful in this test may not be given an opportunity for a re-test. “Jibreel came to me and said, ‘Whoever reaches the month of Ramadan and does not have his sins forgiven and so enters the Fire, then may Allah distance him, say Ameen.” So I said “Ameen” [Mustadrak al-Haakim]
8. Continued… As a reminder, please commit the following Du’a to memory and make a habit of reciting it daily until the day of Ramdhan. اللهم بارك لنا في رجب وشعبان وبلغنا رمضان “O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha’ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadhan.” [Musnad-e-Ahmed]
9. Preparing for Ramadan Increase in recitation of the Quran. Try and perform 4 rakah (units) of tahajjud before partaking in Suhoor. Learn a, or many prophetic duas in Arabic. Try and utilize the month to give up smoking. I pray Allah gives, first of all me, and all Muslims the ability to utilize the month of Ramadan and safeguard ourselves from the punishment hereafter, Ameen.
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11. 25 Advices for Ramadan 1. Fast Ramadhan with belief and truly seeking the reward of Allah the Most High so that He may forgive you your past sins. 2. Beware of breaking your fast during the days of Ramadhan without a valid Islamic excuse, for it is from the greatest of sins. 3. Pray Salatut-Taraweeh and the night prayer during the nights of Ramadhan – especially on Layatul-Qadr – based on belief and truly seeking the reward of Allah, so that Allah may forgive you your past sins.
12. Continued… 4. Make sure that your food, your drink and your clothing are from halal means, in order that your actions be accepted, and your supplications answered. Beware of refraining from the halal while fasting and breaking your fast with the haram. 5. Give food to some fasting people to gain a reward similar to theirs. 6. Perform your five prayers on time in congregation to gain the reward and Allah's protection.
13. Continued… 7. Give a lot of charity for the best charity is that of Ramadhan. 8. Beware of spending your time without performing righteous deeds, for you will be responsible and reckoned for it and will be rewarded for all you do during your time. 9. Perform `umrah in Ramadhan for `Umrah in Ramadhan is equal to Hajj.
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15. Continued… 10. Seek help for fasting during the day by eating the sahoor meal in the last part of the night before the appearance of Fajr. 11. Hasten breaking your fast after the sun has truly set in order to gain the love of Allah. 12. Perform ghusl before fajr if you need to purify yourself from the state of major impurity so that you are able to do acts of worship in a state of purity and cleanliness.
16. Continued… 13. Cease the opportunity of being in Ramadhan and spend it with the good that has been revealed in it – by reciting the noble Quran and pondering and reflection of its meanings so that it be a proof for you with your Lord and an intercessor for you on the Day of Reckoning. 14. Preserve your tongue from lying, cursing, backbiting and slander for it decreases the reward of fasting. 15. Do not let fasting cause you cross your boundaries by getting upset due to the slightest of reasons. Rather, fating should be a cause of peacefulness and tranquility of your soul.
17. Continued… 16. Upon completion of fasting, be in a state of taqwa of Allah the Most High, being aware of Allah watching you in secret and in public, in thankfulness for His favors, and steadfastness upon obedience of Allah by doing all what He has ordered and shunning all that He has prohibited. 17. Increase in remembrance of Allah, seeking of forgiveness, asking for Paradise and protection against the Fire, especially when fasting, while breaking the fast and during suhoor, for these actions are among greatest causes of attaining Allahs forgiveness.
18. Continued… 18. Increase in supplication for yourself, your parents, your children and Muslims, for Allah has ordered making of supplications and has guaranteed acceptance. 19. Repent to Allah with a sincere repentance in all times by leaving sins, regretting those that you have done before and firmly deciding not to return to them in the future, for Allah accepts repentance of those who repent. 20. Fast six days of Shawwal, for whoever fasts Ramadhan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasts all the time.
19. Continued… 21. Fast on the Day of `Arafah, the 9th of DhulHijjah, to attain success by being forgiven your sins of the last year and the coming year. 22. Fast on the day of `Aashuraa, the 10th of Muharram, along with the 9th, to attain success by being forgiven your sins of the past year. 23. Continue being in a state of iman and taqwa and perform righteous actions after the month of Ramadhan, until you die. And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (i.e. death). [Quran 15:99]
20. Continued… 24. Ensure that you attain the positive effects of your acts of worship such as prayer, fasting, zakat and hajj, sincere repentance and leaving of customs that are in variance with the Sharee`ah. 25. Invoke a lot of salawat and salam upon the Messenger of Allah, may Allahs blessings and peace be upon him, his Companions and all those who follow them until the Day of Judgment.
21. Do these Easy-to-Reap-Reward Actions Ask Allah to forgive your brothers and sisters. “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ[ said: ‘Whoever says subhan Allah wa bi hamdih (praise and glory be to Allah) 100 times, morning and evening, his sins will be erased even if they are like the foam on the sea.” [Bukhari, Muslim] If a person says, “Subhan Allah (glory be to Allah),” 100 times, a thousand good deeds are recorded for him and a thousand bad deeds are wiped away. [Muslim 2073]
22. Continued… Remember Allah (swt) when you go shopping. “Whoever enters a market and says: “Laailahaillallahwahdahu la shareekalah, lahulmulkuwalahulhamduyuhyiwayumeetuwahuwahayyunlaayamoot, bi yadihilkhair, wahuwa ‘alakullishayinqadeer.” [There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, alone without partner, to Him belongs dominion and praise; He causes life and death and He is the Living and does not die; in His Hand is all the good, and He is over all things competent] Allah will write for them a million good deeds and erase a million bad deeds and raise him a million levels.” [at-Tirmidhi, classed as hasan by al-Albani]
23. DUAS O Allah make us and all Muslims of those who fast and stand in prayer during the month of Ramadhan based on belief and truly seeking Your reward so that we are forgiven our past and future sins. O Allah make us of those who fasted the month, attained full reward, witnessed Layatul-Qadr and attained success by permission of the Lord, Blessed and Most High. O Allah, verily you are Forgiver, like to forgive, so forgive us.
24. Continued… O Lord, accept from us, verily you are the All-Hearing, all-Seeing, O Living, O Independent, O Owner of all majesty and honor. And may Allahs blessings and peace be upon Muhammad, his family and his Companions.
25. For sisters Women should also know the times that they are prohibited from fasting, such as when they are menstruating or bleeding after childbirth. Pregnant and breastfeeding women have special permission not to fast during Ramadan. Of course women who are ill or must take medications
26. Continued… Whether a woman misses days of fasting due to menstruation, childbirth, pregnancy, breastfeeding or illness, these missed days should be made up before the next Ramadan comes. Making up the fast may be as simple as fasting one day for each day missed during Ramadan, or it may require that she feeds one poor person each day either in addition to, or in place of, fasting herself.
