Welcoming Ramadan

All thanks and glorifications belong to our Owner and Creator, Allahu tabaraka wa ta'ala, by right. He originated creation when it was not and sustained existence without the slightest stress. Every atom in existence proclaims His glory, acknowledging His perfection and His pure sublimity.

We thank Allahu subhanahu wa ta'ala specially for the greatest fortune of Iman and for the great grace of witnessing another blessed and sublime month of Ramadan. The sacred month of Ramadan is an opportunity, a rare and very unique favour from our most Gracious Lord, and every opportunity is an invaluable gem which a believer must never allow to be wasted at all.

The Prophet of mercy, our beloved Nabiyy, Rasulu-Karim Sayyidina Muhammad Mustafa (alaihi 's-salam) mentioned that only the aged ones know the value and bliss in youthfulness, only the bed-ridden and terribly sick know the value of health, and only the dead ones can truly perceive the value of life. So, those who can sincerely comprehend the blessing of witnessing this noble month of Ramadan are those who were around the last Ramadan but are now in the grave. They longingly hope to see another of this great month, the kings of all months, but fate, in its very strange ways has sent them to the cemetery. The living in reality are not very far from the dead, we are fortunate to see another month of grace and excuse from Allahu ta'ala, we need to struggle to maximize its gains to escape regrets when Qiyama (resurrection) comes.

TO EVERY BUSINESS A SEASON

Every business has its season and every season also has its peak. The farmers give up rest when rains come, the tailors are ever awake as Eids (Festival) approach and the politicians become restless as elections get near. The month of Ramadan is the season of believers, the true people of Iman who desires Allahu ta'ala’s forgiveness, love and pleasure, and who crave the higher stations in Jannat. Such true believers would put aside all plays, amusements and distractions, reduce their worldly businesses to the minimum and focus ibadats and services to Allahu ta'ala's creation and giving up sins throughout the auspicious month of Ramadan. The saintly elders, past and present, see this as the ultimate sign of success. If we miss the other months out we have only lost something, but if we play with Ramadan sharif, we have lost everything. May Allahu ta'ala, barkat of Rasulullah (alaihi 's-salam), save us from temporal and eternal misfortunes, amin.

RAMADAN, THE MONTH SPECIALLY FOR THE BELIEVERS

It comes in a Hadith ash-Sharif that Rajab is the month of Allahu ta'ala, shaaban is the month of the Prophet and Ramadan is the month of the mumin, the believers. This is one unique month that Allahu subhanahu wa ta'ala, in His infinite wisdom and All-encompassing mercy, has set aside for His chosen friends, the fortunate slaves honoured with Iman. It is the month of their spiritual renewal, the month of their forgiveness, the month of their emancipation from the Fire, and a month of turning their misfortunes to bliss and transforming their sins, slips and foibles to blessed deeds due to the over flowing mercy of Allahu ta'ala. This great mercy of Allahu ta'ala is so superfluous and abundant that our beloved Nabiyy (alaihi 's-salam) declared that none witnessed the blessed month of Ramadan and remains deprived except the truly unfortunate, the eternally wretched.

He whose basket of destiny is woven in black
Even the zamzam will not turn it white
He who is not good for goodness sake
Will not get even a drop from a month long rains

As a matter of fact, the Arch-Angel Jibril (alaihi 's-salam) placed a curse on the one who witnesses the month of Ramadan and fails to get his ticket to Jannat, while the Sayyed of Prophets and the cause of Allah's creation said 'amin, to this Angelic pronouncement. This underline the great opportunities opened to believers in this great month.

SOME VITAL POINTS

This great month is the month of Tawba, that is a most sacred time to turn to Allahu ta'ala in repentance. Tawba is the open pool of Allahu ta'ala where only the deprived failed to swim. He who witnesses the crescent of Ramadan and becomes happy, and makes sincere intention to fast the month solely for the pleasure of Allahu ta'ala, all his past sins are forgiven. For true success and complete benefit in Ramadan, Tawba and istighfar should mark its beginning, its middle, its every moments and its end. Tawba is the concrete pivot holding our deeds down and giving it some great weight, he who neglects Tawba has been deprived of all good.
This month is the month for learning taqwa. It holds the proof that everyone of us, saints and sinners, the cautious and the heedless, the careful and the carefree, can actually overcome our menacing desires to become friends and beloved of Allahu ta'ala. It is the month of casting away passions, of turning down desires and of intensive efforts at ibadats to attain the acceptance of Allahu ta'ala.
This noble month is the month of making up for our past deficiency and of filling up our credit accounts with valuable deeds so that our salvation may be hoped. Little ibadats done in this month is rewarded manifold, attempts to fend off the most menial sin in this month is recorded among lofty deeds leading to eternal Jannat, goodnesses done to others in this month instantly open up the gate to Allahu ta'ala's eternal mercy, even the gift of a piece of date becomes a shield against the Hell-fire for the one who gives, subhanallah.
This month is the month of lovers. Allahu subhanahu wa ta'ala in a very unique way is demonstrating His avid love for the believers in this month. This is the month in which the mercy of our Karim Lord is busy looking for excuses for believers. Iblis is tied, the gates to Hell are closed, the bliss and breeze of Jannat are felt everywhere, good deeds and piety are made so easy, yet believers are rewarded in millions multiples for the most menial efforts so that their balance with Allahu ta'ala is reversed, and their state of loss transformed forever. May our most compassionate Lord grant us the ability to work assiduously to please Him throughout this month and for the rest of our stay in the world, amin.

BASIC DUTIES OF RAMADAN

Here under are the basic duties which every believer must endeavour to do throughout the blessed month of Ramadan. We should be very firm and resolute in our determination to fulfill all these activities in Ramadan Sharif. If, however we are compelled to give up few ones, we should seek forgiveness for the misses and for our lapses.

It is rewarded to join other Muslims in their efforts to search the sky for the blessed crescent of the Ramadan month. This is started on the 29th of Shaaban. Searching for the moon even without success, is rewardable, we need to keep this Sunnah alive.

All believers must be full of joy on sighting the moon or on hearing the news of its being sighted. This happiness leads to the forgiveness of past sins.

As the blessed month of Ramadan commences, start right by repenting your past sins and mistakes. All spiritual journey start with istighfar. This becomes more binding as Ramadan commences. Please start right.

It is of the recommended ibadats to recite the Fatih Surah this first night for the pleasure of Allahu Subhanahu wa ta'ala and seeking the endless fortunes in the month.

More than any other time, we need to strictly avoid sins and mixing with sinners in this great month of barakat. This is a month valued and exalted by Allahu ta'ala, the absolute Lord of creation, and sinning in this holy month is a great (insult) on the month. Please act wisely, avoid anger, useless talks, music, useless games and viewings and past times. You are warned!
Fast throughout the month unless there is a compelling hindrance recognized in the books of fiqh. Fasting is the greatest ibadat of Ramadan. The details of the rules on the Muslims’ fast are learned in the books of fiqh of the four basic schools. Be careful not to take the laws into your own hands, do not be part of the care free interpretation of Islam, follow a madhhab.
Make a personal time table, this is the only way to proper and meaningful maximization of the valuable moments of Ramadan.

Every moment is a treasure, do not forget, and once they escape they can never return.

The five daily salats are beautiful frames to attach other valuable adhkar, use these times for recitation of Qur'an al-majid and for repeating hundreds of salawat on Rasulullah (alaihi ‘s-salam) saying La ilaha illallah, Astaghfirullah and so many others. A life without a time table is a shambled life, please act wisely.
Make all effort to observe the nafilat of tarawih every night of this month. Avoid excessive food that would weigh you down for tarawih.eat less this month, a full stomach man is a mere toy in the hands of shaytan, act right.

Recite the Holy Qur'an from the beginning to the end at least once. Ramadan sharif is the month of the Holy Qur'an and indeed all the Holy Books. The more completion you do the more your reward.

Recite the Yasin surat everyday of the Ramadan month. The Hadith says every reading gives the reward of ten completion of the Qur'an al-Majid act fast!

If you are able, try to observe the salatu tasbih ever day or night of Ramadan. This nafila is extremely valuable in the sight of our Karim Lord.

Do not miss the early morning food (sahur) even if it is taken a handful, and eat wisely and moderately too. Surely Allahu ta'ala loves to see His servant eat the shari (Hadith ash-sharif).

Do not break your fast in a hurry. Make sure the sun has truly set. Date is the best so try to break your fast with a dry date, if not salt, olive or water have also been mentioned as every beneficial.

Your eyes, tongue, ears, and other organs should fast from haram along the avoidance of food, drink and intercourse with wives. If your fast only extend to your stomach, then you have not fast in reality. A Muslim fast from head to toe. You are warned!

What is the benefit of skipping the afternoon food only to combine two meals at night, take care.

Eat halal only in iftar and sahur and this you must do moderately too.

Ramadan sharif is the month of Dua, profuse supplication. Repent to your Lord, weep in shame, ask Him for your needs at all times. The iftar and sahur time are extra special time of Dua. Do not break your fast in negligence, make profuse Dua.

Salawat on Rasulullahh (alaihi s-salam) is one efforts that our Karim Lord would not repel. Salawat is light on our worldly paths, at the point of death, in the grave and on the bridge of sirat. Salawat becomes more valuable in the noblest month of Ramadan, make a thousand or more everyday and every night. May Allahu subhanahu wa ta'ala ease our path.

Ramadan Sharif is the month of patience, so we need to be patient with hunger and thirst. It is improper to complain of these. We need to be patient with all people, sinners or saints, and we need to be extremely cautious of sins, all sins, please.
Make Muslims happy this Ramadan, feed the needy even if a sip of water or piece of date. Reduce the assignments of those who work under you. Give them, forgive them, reply evils with good in this month of multiple gains and rewards.

This great month is the month of reconciliation, make efforts to unite the hearts of brothers and sisters and the relatives to get the best from Allahu ta'ala this month.

Observe the seclusion (ittikaf) in the Masjid covering the last ten days of Ramadan. Ittikaf is to devote oneself to ibadats avoiding or plays and trivialities. A day ittikaf takes a devotee very far from the Hellish fire. You get as much as you give, work hard.

Pray constantly for the Ummah of Rasulullah (alaihi s-salam) past, present and future. Pray for humanity, and please pray for the entire creation.

Pray and work for peace to reign in the Ummah. The ultimate goal of our beloved Prophet (alaihi 's-salam) is peace with Allahu ta'ala and all His creation. Please pray that all Muslims and non- Muslims in difficult situations get relieved. Pray that all strayed souls (non-Muslims) find the light of Iman before death. Pray, my brothers, pray very hard. This is such a month that prayers hardly passes without the acceptance of Allahu ta’ala.

Use the night of Qadr in individual ibadats. Start searching for it from the twenty first night. This is not a night for wasteful ceremonies. It is a night of acceptance. If possible, please spend the whole night in worship and Duas (supplications).
The last night of Ramadan sharif leading to the Eid day is very special too. Do your best to use it well, worshipping and supplicating. Success of all efforts and all lives is judged by its end. Be extreme careful to end the month beautifully.
Go to the eid ground early and clean, (having taking Ghusl and using non- alcoholic perfume).

Make much Zikr and Duas on the Eid ground and on the way to and from the Eid ground. This is a special day and moments of acceptance, please round off cleverly.
End the Ramadan activities in gratitude for the efforts made and turn to your Lord, Allahu subhanahu wa ta'ala in regrets and sorrow for the failures and inabilities experienced. Deeds become accepted when ended with profuse Tawba (istighfar, Repentance). This is very important, do not forget!

Meet Muslims with smiles praying for a blessed (Mubarak) eid for all. Strictly avoid celebrating the eid with music, alcohol, mixture of sexes and all excessiveness known with the non-Muslims. Our celebration is eating and drinking without forgetting Allahu ta'ala. The Eid day is for gratitude, shame in a millions on those who turn this to an opportunity to commit sins, thus destroying the acquired blessings.

Always keep in mind the fact that the blessed month of Ramadan is to learn taqwa while the following eleven months are to practice upon the lessons and drillings of Ramadan. If your post Ramadan spiritual life is not positively influenced by the whole exercises in Ramadan sharif, then you must have missed the essence of this great month. What a great loss!

Remember also that we are here to prepare for the grave, for the next world. Ramadan is a symbol of the worldly life where we live within rules and restrictions until we arrive the day of Eid. We need, therefore, to fast from harams all our lives so that at death we resume the true eid, the everlasting eid and festival in jannat. Wishing all muslims a fruitful efforts this Ramadan and a blessed Mubarak eid . May Allahu subhanahu wa ta'ala, our loving, generous and ever compassionate Lord, make this Ramadan a kaffara (expiation) for our wretched past, and honour us with a future more blessed and fruitful than our present through the barakat of Ramadan Karim and through His love for Rasulu-Karim, the rahmat on creation, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa (alaihi wa alihi wa sahabihi salawatu wataslimat attamuha wa akmaluha) amin.