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RAMAZAAN

Allaah has blessed the month of Ramazaan with numerous advantages and virtues over other months. This is the month in which the Qur'an was revealed. In one of the odd nights of the last ten days of this month is the Night of Decree, in which worshipping Allaah is better than worshipping Him for a thousand months. When Ramazaan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, and the gates of Hell are closed. At the end of every night of Ramazaan, Allaah will forgive all the sins of those who really observed fasting in a proper manner, and avoided every act of disobedience.

 

MONTH OF QURAN

This is the month in which the Qur'an was revealed. In one of the odd nights of the last ten days of this month is the Night of Decree, in which worshipping Allaah is better than worshipping Him for a thousand months. When Ramazaan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, and the gates of Hell are closed. At the end of every night of Ramazaan, Allaah will forgive all the sins of those who really observed fasting in a proper manner, and avoided every act of disobedience.

 

FASTING

Sawm (fasting) is the one of the main pillars of Islam. It is mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an and Sunnah. Fasting (siyyam or sawm) is an act of worship which involves abstaining from all food, drink, sexual activity and anything which is bound to break the fast from dawn (the time of calling to the Fajr prayer) till sunset (the time of calling to the Maghrib prayer).

 

RAMAZAAN AND CHILDREN

Children are a important part of your family system. They have rights with regard to education and upbringing, the Messenger of Allaah ﷺsaid: "Each of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. The ruler who is in charge of people is a shepherd and is responsible for them. The man is the shepherd of his household and is responsible for them. The woman is the shepherd of her husband's house and child and is responsible for them. The slave is the shepherd of his master's wealth and is responsible for it. Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock." Sahih al-Bukhari, 2416; Muslim, 1829 (shepherd here means a ruler, parents etc)

 

RAMAZAAN AND WOMEN

As the beautiful month of Ramazaan approaches this year, there are several things Muslim women can do to prepare themselves spiritually and physically for the month-long period of fasting which is obligatory upon all able-bodied Muslims who have reached the age of maturity. So Spiritual preparation is also something that needs to be done before Ramazaan comes around

 

I'TIKAF

I'tikaf is a spiritual retreat to a masjid (mosque), usually during the last 10 days of Ramadhan. A person going to do i'tikaf will spend the evening and night in a mosque, devoting their time for worship like reading the Quran, supplications, Dhikr etc.

 

LAYLATUL QADR

Qadr means fate or predestination of all events, of which except Allah (Glory be to Him) no one knows. And Laylatul Qadr means the Night of Power which is the crowning glory of the month of Ramadhan. It is associated with the sending down of the Qur'an, the last Book from Allah revealed on His last Prophet i.e., Prophet Muhammad (May Allah honor Him and grant Him peace), for the guidance of mankind.

 

ZAKAAT UL FITR

Zakaat ul-fitr or sadqat ul-fitr means "the purifying charity of breaking the fast". It is a prescribed amount of food given by the Muslims during the last few days of Ramadaan or on the morning of `Eed prior to the prayer.

 

SCHOLARS VIEW ON RAMAZAAN

When Ramazaan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, and the gates of Hell are closed. At the end of every night of Ramazaan, Allaah will forgive all the sins of those who really observed fasting in a proper manner, and avoided every act of disobedience.

 

MEDICAL ISSUES IN RAMAZAAN

And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)' [al-Baqarah 2:185 – interpretation of the meaning]

 

COMMON RAMAZAAN TERMINOLOGIES

he ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is very important month in the Islamic world. (1.) It is month of fasting, during which all adults Muslims who are in good helath fast from the first light of dawn until sunset each day. During the first third of the fast you taste Allah's mercy; during the second third you taste Allah's forgiveness; and during the last third you taste freedom from the Fire. See Holy Qur'an, Al-Baqara (2):185. (2.) It is the month in which the revelation of the Holy Qur'an to our Holy Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commenced. (3.) The Lailatul Qadr (see Qadr, Lailatul) occurs in this month. (4.) The famous Battle of Badr was fought and won in this month. (5.) The Conquest of Makka by Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, took place in this month.

 

FASTING VIRTUES AND ITS WISDOM

It was the month in which the greatest and most exalted of all divine books, the Holy Qur'an, was revealed: "It was in the month of Ramazaan that the Qur'an was revealed, with clear signs of guidance and a criterion of right and wrong. Therefore, those of you who are resident for the month must fast it." (Soorat Al-Baqarah, 2:185)

 

RAMAZAAN AND THE RIGHTEOUS PREDECESSORS

Early Muslims realized the value of Ramazaan and so they considered it a chance to do as much good as they can. Below we will give some examples as to how they spent Ramazaan.

 

FASTING AND EXEMPT PEOPLE

Fasting in Ramazaan is one of the five pillars of Islam as the Prophet said: "Islam is built on five pillars: testifying that there is no true god except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, the establishment of the prayer, the giving of zakah, the fast of Ramazaan, and the pilgrimage to Mecca." Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol.1:8

 

PROPHET MUHAMMAD ﷺ IN RAMAZAAN

Noble Prophet Muhammadﷺ has given us the best example on how a Muslim should fast. Below is the explanation in brief some of his habits in Ramazaan such as

 

WORSHIP IN RAMAZAAN

Worship is submission to Allah with utmost humility and love of Him. Worship is obedience to Allah by complying to that which Allah has commanded upon the tongues of His Messengers. A more general definition is a comprehensive term for everything that Allah loves and is pleased with from speech and actions, outwardly and inwardly.

 

COMMON MISTAKES IN RAMAZAAN

The month of Ramazaan is the month of attentiveness in acts of worship and obedience and drawing closer to Allah Almighty with what pleases Him. That is why the believer should be in his best state therein and show Allah, the Exalted, all that is good, as much as he can. That is why out of mutual advising and cooperation in goodness, this article mentions some mistakes and innovations that take place in Ramazaan, hoping that the fasting people would avoid them in order for their deeds to be free there from in Ramazaan. These are varied: Some of them are related to beliefs and acts of worship while others are related to words and behavior. They are different in their rulings: some of them are forbidden whereas others are disliked. In his journey in life, and especially during Ramazaan, the Muslim should exert efforts to be safe from all these, whether few or many.

 

CATEGORIES OF FASTING IN ISLAM

Fasting (siyyam or sawm) is an act of worship which involves abstaining from all food, drink, sexual activity and anything which is bound to break the fast from dawn (the time of calling to the Fajr prayer) till sunset (the time of calling to the Maghrib prayer).

 

FASTING IN ISLAM AND OTHER RELIGIONS

Fasting is the 4th pillar in Islam. It is an obligatory act of worship for Muslims. Allah says: "O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous." Quran Surah Baqrah 2:183

 

BASICS OF RAMAZAAN FOR REVERTS

Fasting the lunar month of Ramazaan is such an important Pillar of Islam that Muslims believe that if one dies without having made up the missed fasts, the guardian (or heir) must make them up, for they are a debt owed to Allah. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramazaan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven." Sahih Al-Bukhari 2014

 

LAST TEN NIGHTS OF RAMAZAAN

Ramazaan is a month of fasting, reading the Quran, and extra prayers; it is the month of good deeds and generosity. The last ten nights of Ramazaan are particularly special. Prophet Muhammad would use these nights to exert himself in worship and generosity. The first of these nights occurs on the eve of the 21st day of Ramazaan. In other words, it is the night that commences after the completion of the 20th day of fasting.

 

VOLUNTARY FASTING

First thing to know is that fasting is of two types: obligatory and voluntary. Obligatory fasts are required worship. Voluntary fasts are optional - one may keep them or not. You won't incur any sin, but will get extra reward for keeping them. Muslims are required to observe a strict month-long fast once a year, that is, during the month of Ramazaan. There are also recommended fast, as long as one are able to do so, to fast on other days in order to gain more rewards

 

ZAKATH IN ISLAM

Zakah is an obligatory form of "charity" expected from every Muslim individual. This form of "charity" is an act of worship. Zakah is one the five pillars or fundamentals of Islam. The remaining pillars are the Shahadah (profession of faith), performing daily Salat (prayers), fasting and pilgrimage to Makkah. Zakah is considered an important economic tool in an Islamic State or society. It provides a religiously approved method of managing the economy and finance. Zakah has also been scrupulously prescribed in the Glorious Qur'an in many aayaath of the Qur'an and Ahadeeth.

 

EID AND END OF RAMAZAAN

The first day after the month of Ramazaan is Eid al-Fitr, the celebration of fast-breaking. Very likely, in the last few days of Ramazaan, mosque and other organization starts collecting obligatory post-Ramazaan charity due for the poor Muslims called as Zakat al-Fitr.

 

MUSLIM FESTIVALS

There are only two annual festivals in Islam. They are: (1) The Festival of Fast Breaking (‛Eed-ul-Fitr), which is celebrated on the first day of the lunar month of Shawwaal, and (2) the Festival of Sacrifice (‛Eed-ul-Adha), which is celebrated on the tenth day of the lunar month of Dhul-Hijjah.