Good Deeds in Ramadan
Fasting in Ramadan
Allah, the Exalted, made fasting in Ramadan a reason for forgiveness.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet – Pbuh – said: “He who observes fasting during the month of Ramadan with Faith while seeking its reward from Allah, will have his past sins forgiven.”
Real Fasting to Get the Reward
To get this great reward, one must observe a real fast. Fasting is not merely abstaining from food, drink, and lust. Instead, the true fasting person is the one whose limbs fast from sins.
So yes fast from looking at what is forbidden. Ears fast from hearing what is prohibited, such as lies, backbiting, gossip and falsehood. Hands fast from oppression, and feet fast from walking to what is forbidden. Tongue fast from lying, backbiting, obscenity and false speech.
Qiyam or Tahajud (night prayer)
The Prophet – Pbuh – urged to pray the night prayer in Ramadan and explained that it is a reason for forgiveness. It is permissible for a Muslim to pray it as many rak’ahs as he wants, and the honorable companions were keen to perform night prayer in Ramadan. For example, Omar Ibn Al-Khattab – may Allah be pleased with him – used to pray until midnight.
Women are not to be prevented from attending the Qiyam prayer in the mosque as long as she adheres to the legal regulations and etiquette they must follow. That includes the commitment to the legal Hijab and avoiding perfume and adornment.
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Reading Quran in Ramadan
The month of Ramadan is highly related to the Quran, not like the rest of the months. That is because the Quran was revealed in it. Allah Almighty said: {The month of Ramaḍān [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’ān, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.}
Ibn Abbas reported that “the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was the most generous of the men; and he was the most generous during the month of Ramadan when Jibril visited him every night and recited the Qur’an to him. During this period, the generosity of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) waxed faster than the rain bearing wind.”
This hadith proves the recommendation of reciting and studying the Quran in Ramadan, especially at night. For the night is when concerns dismiss, and determination is stronger to contemplate the word of Allah, the Almighty.
Allah says: {Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue]1 and more suitable for words.} [Muzzamel: 6]
The righteous, may Allah have mercy on them, had amazing diligence in reciting the Qur’an in Ramadan. Rather, they used not to engage in anything else. Some of them complete reciting the Qur’an in prayer during Ramadan every three nights, some of them do it every seven days, and some of them every ten.
Charity in Ramadan
The Prophet – PBUH – was keen in Ramadan to give a lot of charity. Ibn Abbas reported that “the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was the most generous of the men; and he was the most generous during the month of Ramadan.”
Al-Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, said: I like for a man to increase his generosity during the month of Ramadan, following the example of the Messenger of Allah – Pbuh. Moreover, fulfilling the people’s needs during Ramadan, for many of them are preoccupied with fasting and prayer over their earnings.
One kind of generosity in Ramadan is giving food to a fasting person to break his fast.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “He who provides a fasting person something with which to break his fast, will earn the same reward as the one who was observing the fast, without diminishing in any way the reward of the latter.“
Making Duaa in Ramadan
The month of Ramadan is highly related to making Du’aa.
In the middle of the verses, Allah says about fasting: {And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided}
Abu Hurairah reported that Allah’s Messenger said: “There are three whose supplications are not turned back: A just ruler, and a fasting person until he breaks his fast. And, the supplication of one who has been wronged is raised by Allah up to the clouds on the Day of Resurrection, and the gates of heaven are opened for it, and Allah says, ‘By My Might I will help you (against the wrongdoer) even if it is after a while.“
The Last 10 Days of Ramadan
The Prophet – Pbuh – used to venerate these ten days and strive hard.
Lady Aisha tells us about the activity of the Messenger of Allah in these ten days, saying: ” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to strive more in worship during Ramadan than he strove in any other time of the year; and he would devote himself more (in the worship of Allah) in the last ten nights of Ramadan than he strove in earlier part of the month.” [Narrated by Muslim]
She also said: “When the last ten nights began Allah’s messenger prepared himself for religious exercises, stayed awake at night and wakened his family.”
I’tikaf in the Last ten Days of Ramadan
I’tikaaf is staying in the mosque for worshipping Allah in a specific manner, whether that is by a man or a woman. I’tikaaf is recommended at any time. It is highly recommended in Ramadan, especially at the last days of searching for Laylat al-Qadr.
I’tikaaf aims:
- Clearing the heart of all worldly relationships
- Coming close to Allah
- Turning to Allah alone
The prophet – Pbuh – used to observe I’tikaaf at the last ten days of Ramadan. Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to observe I’tikaf every year (during Ramadan) for ten days; in the year in which he passed away, he observed I’tikaf for twenty days.”
Laylatul Qadr (Night of Decree)
The Night of Power
One of the characteristics of the last ten days of Ramadan is the laylatul qadr (Night of Decree). The Night of Decree is the greatest of the year nights.
Allah says: {The Laylatul Qadr is better than a thousand months.}
Anas b. Malik told of Allah’s messenger saying when Ramadan began, “This month has come to you, and it contains a night which is better than a thousand months. He who is deprived of it is deprived of all good, but only those who are denied prosperity are deprived of it.“
Praying at the Laylatul Qadr (Night of Decree) is the reason for forgiveness.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whosoever performs Qiyam during Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), with Faith and being hopeful of Allah’s reward, will have his former sins forgiven.“
‘Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: I asked: “O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?” He (ﷺ) replied, “You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun, tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me). “
Zakat al-Fitr in ramadan
Allah ordained for us, at the end of the month of Ramadan, acts of worship that complement Ramadan and increase us in goodness. Allah ordained Zakat al-Fitr to purify fasting people from mistakes and false talking as well as to be a help for the poor.
Zakat al-Fitr shall be paid for the free, the slave, male, female, young, or old. Ibn Umar said that Allah’s Messenger (way peace be upon him) prescribed the payment of Zakat-ul-Fitr (on breaking the fast) of Ramadan for people, for every freeman, or slave, male and female among the Muslims-one sa’ of dried dates, or one sa’ of barley”
It is obligatory for a Muslim who owns food more than what he and his family needs for the night and day of Eid, to pay Zakat al-Fitr. It shall be paid on himself as well as those who is responsible for. Zakat al-Fitr shall be paid before Salat al-Eid, otherwise, it will be considered like a regular charity.
Takbeer and Eid Al Fitr prayer
It is one of the rituals of religion that Muslims remember Allah and thank him at the end of Ramadan. Allah says after mentioning the month of Ramadan: {and [Allah wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.}.
So it is recommended to say takbeer and thank Allah for his guidance and help in Ramadan.
The time for takbeer begins at sunset of the last day of Ramadan and continues until the Eid prayer.
Most Prominent Battles in Ramadan
Ramadan is the month of conquests, victories and heroism, in which great victories and brilliant conquests were achieved, and the banners of Muslims rose high.
Whoever flips the papers of history will find great Muslim victories happen during Ramadan. These battles and victories confirm that Ramadan is the month of glory, conquest and empowerment. Among the most prominent of these battles and invasions:
On the seventeenth of Ramadan of the second year of the Hijrah.
On the tenth of Ramadan of the eighth year of Hijrah.
In Ramadan in the fifteenth year of the Hijrah, led by Saad bin Abi Waqqas.
In Ramadan in the year 92 AH, led by Tariq bin Ziyad.
In the south of Spain today, it was in Ramadan in the year 479 AH.
In Ramadan 685, led by Sultan Qutuz and the military commander Baibars.
In Ramadan 584 AH, led by Salah al-Din.
In Ramadan in the year 1393 AH, the Egyptian forces defeated the Zionist forces. The Egyptian armies crossed the Suez Canal and shattered the myth of the invincible “Israeli Army”. They destroyed the Bar Lev Line, thank Allah.
Fasting the Six Days of Shawwal
When Ramadan ends, Muslims would about to start a new act of worship.
It’s fasting 6 days of Shawwal. Shawaal is a blessed month and a month of obedience. Muslims start to prepare themselves for Hajj in Shawwal.
Prophet Mohammed urged Muslim Ummah to observe fasting 6 days of Shawwal as saying: on the authority of Aub Ayyub, may Allah be pleased with him, “He who observes As-Saum (the fasts) in the month of Ramadan, and also observes As-Saum for six days in the month of Shawwal, it is as if he has observed As-Saum for the whole year.”
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