The Month of Fasting
Epilogue
The Month of Fasting : Praise be to Allah (SWT) for the blessings of faith, and may His peace and blessing be upon the seal of the Prophets, Mu-hammad Bin Abdullah, his family and companions until the end of time.
The believer should be cognizant of the fact that the month of Ramadan is nearing are end and its departure is imminent.
Ramadan may be a witness for or against you. Who-ever is blessed to fill it with faith and good deeds should thank #Allah for the honor, and must be assured of reward in the Hereafter.
For Allah (SWT) will never deny a soul his or her just and complete reward. Whoever fills it with unseemly acts should return to Allah in repentance, which He has promised to accept.
Allah (SWT) has mandated acts of worship at the end of Ramadan in order to assist us in our desire to express our love for Allah, to strengthen our faith and increase the weight of our deeds.
He mandated fast breaking alms {Zakatul Fitr); legis-lated glorification and exaltation of Allah, (Takbeer) on the eve of ‘Eid beginning from sunset until the time of ‘Eid. He (SWT) stated:
“He wants you to complete the prescribed pe-riod and to glorify Him in that He has guided you and perchance you shall be grateful”
(Al-Qur’an, 2: 187)
The takbeer goes like this:
“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, laa ilaaha illallah, wallahu Akbar Allahu Akbar wa lillahil hamd. ”
Men will say this Takbeer aloud in Masaajid, market places, and in homes affirming Allah’s glory and publicizing His mercy upon them. #Women will express their Takbeer silently
as they are commanded to conceal their voices. Allah (SWT) legislated “Eid prayer. It culminates in the remembrance of Al-lah (SWT).
The #Messenger of Allah (saas) commanded his fol-lowers, men and women, to fulfil this Fbadah and His com-mands must be obeyed by all, as Allah (SWT) said:
“O ye who believe, obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and make not vain your deeds.”
(Al Qur’an, 47: 33)
He commanded women to leave their homes and attend ‘Eid, whereas their praying at home is at other times more preferable and better.
In a Hadith related by Umm ” Atiyah, she said,
“The Messenger of Allah commanded us to leave our homes for Eidul Fiir and Eidul-Adha #prayers, includ-ing mature, menstruating women and virgins.
As for the menstruating women, they should keep away from the place of worship but should participate in good deeds and dua. “Umm “Atiyah interrupted:
‘O Messenger of Allah, some of us do not have the outer garment (Jal-bab)V He replied: ‘She may borrow it from her friend.'”
(Muslim and Bukhari)
It is recommended to eat a few dates in odd numbers before leaving for “Eid in Fidul Fitr, in accordance with the report from Anas Bin Malik (raa), who said:
“The Messenger of Allah (saas) will not leave for Eidul Fitr until he eats some dates in odd numbers.” (Ahmed / Bukhari)
It is recommended to go to the “Eid site walking instead of rid-ing unless the place is far or the person is unable to walk due to age or illness. Men should wear their best clothes, but shouldavoid silk and gold.
Women should wear modest and decent long dresses, and avoid flashy or immodest outfits and per-207 fumes in their outing for ^Eid.
^Eid prayer should be observed in the most humble and devoted manner.
One should praise Allah often and seek His mercy and should remember the ultimate gathering in the Hereafter (Al Maqamul aAzam).
He should be cognizant of the fact that there is ine-quality and disparity among the ranks of the believers on “Eid day as there will be disparity in ranks among the believers in the Hereafter. Allah (SWT) stated:
“See how We have bestowed more on some than on others, but verily the Hereafter is more in rank and gradation and more in excellence.”
(Al-Qur’an, 17:21)
One should be jubilant that he or she is blessed to fast during #Ramadan and has been able to observe prayers, recitation of Al-Qur’an and giving of Zakaat.
These acts are better for us than this world. Allah (SWT) says:
“Say in the bounty of Allah and in His mercy, in that let them rejoice; that is better than the wealth they hoard.”
(Al-Qur’an, 10: 58)
Indeed, if the ^Ebadah of this Ramadan is finished and the ‘Eid prayer is completed the ^Ebadah of the believer will not finish until death. Allah (SWT) states:
“O ye who believe, fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a sate of Islam”
(Al-Qur’an, 3:102)
Also,
“And serve thy Lord until there comes unto thee the Hour that is certain.”
(Al-Qur’an, 15: 99).
The Messenger of Allah said:
“When the servant of Allah dies, his deeds are cut off.”
So the service to Allah is continuous until the end of life.
The end of Ramadan does not mean the end of fasting. There is the highly recommended fasting of six days in Shawwal, and three days sunnah fasting in every month, as well as on Mondays and Thursdays, and fasting most of Shaban and Muharram.
If Ramadan is over, night prayers are not. Praise be to Allah, this remains a sunnah of the Messenger (saas) every night of the year forever. In a #Hadith by Mughirah bin Shu’bah (raa) he said:
“The Messenger of Allah (saas) regularly prayed at night until his feet swelled’. He was asked, ‘Why (this hardship)?’ He responded: ‘Why shouldn’t I be a ser-vant who expresses his gratitude this way.'” (Bukhari)
In another Hadith related by Abdullah bin Salaam (raa), the Messenger said:
“O people if you disseminate salutations (salaam) among your ranks, feed those who need to be fed and maintain the family ties and pray at night while people sleep, you will enter paradise with peace.” (Tirmidhi)
The Sunnah prayers (Rawatib) before or after the five daily prayers are 12 raka’aat: four before Zuhr (Noon prayer), and two after; two raka’aat after Maghrib (Evening prayer); two raka’aat after Ishah (Night prayer), and two raka’aat before Fajr (Morning prayer).
In a Hadith related by Umm Habeebah (raa), she say:
“I heard the Messenger of Allah (saas) said: ‘Every ser-vant who observes twelve raka’aat of supererogatory prayers other than the obligatory prayers, Allah (SWT) will build for him a house in paradise.’ ”
In another version:
“Whoever prayed twelve raka’aat (of supererogatory prayers), day and night, Allah (SWT) will build with them a house for him in paradise.” (Muslim)
Remember the remembrance of Allah after Salaat. Allah (SWT) sates:
“When ye pass (congregational) prayer cele-brate Allah’s praises standing, sitting down, or lying down on your side…”
(Al-Qur’an, 4: 103)
The Messenger sought forgiveness three times after salutations (salaam) following Salaat. He prayed:
“Allahumma antas Salaam wa minkas salaam tabaraktayaa dhaljalaal wal ikraam. ”
He (saas) is reported as saying:
“Whoever glorifies Allah at the end of every Salaat 33 times (subhanallah), and praises Allah 33 times (Al-hamdulillah), and utters the word of Greatness 33 times,
(Allahu Akbar) that is ninety nine, then completes it with one hundred, saying:
‘Laa ilaha illallah wahdahu laa sharika lahuu lahulMulk wa lahul hamd wa huwa ^alaa k ulli shay in qadeer, ‘
his shortcomings will be forgiven, even if it is as large as the froth of the sea.” (Muslim)
Dear believer, strive in the path of Allah and obey His Messen-ger’s commands. Avoid disregarding His commands so that you will deserve a good life in this life and the life after. Allah (SWT) stated:
“Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, verily to him will We give a new life, a life that is good and pure, and We will be-
stow on such their reward according to the best of their actions.”
(Al-Qur’an, 16: 97)
O Allah, keep us firm in our faith and good deeds and bless us with a good life, and make us join the ranks of the righteous people; and praise be to Allah (SWT), the Lord of the worlds, and may His blessings and peace be upon Muhammad, his family and companions. Amin.
This humble work was completed on Thursday, 1 8th of Rabi’ul Awwal 1412 AH, (September 26, 1991 AD) by His humble servant, Tajuddin Bin Shu’aib.
Praise be to Allah in the begin-ning and in the end.
End of book : The Month of Fasting
