The blessed month has arrived....!

by Panchamee Hewavissenti

First and foremost we at Sunday Observer like to wish our dear readers all the best for Ramadhan. May Allah accept your fast and Dua and keep it as His special reward for you as narrated in the following Hadith "All the good deeds of the son of Adam will be multiplied, a good deed will be increased tenfold.

Allah Mighty and Magnificent said 'except for the fast, for that is for Me and I will reward it for he left his desires and food for My sake'" (Muslim)

The blessed month of Ramadhan

Allah's last messenger(sal) said in a Hadith narrated by Bukhari that "When Ramadhan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are locked and devils are chained" Islamic months are reckoned on sighting the moon. Ramadhan is the ninth month in Islamic lunar calender. Ramadhan comes once each year giving every fasting Muslim a spiritual and physical improvement which lasts until the following year.

Allah the exalted informs His slaves about the month of Ramadhan in His Holy book, Quran "Ramadhan is the month in which the Quran was revealed with clear guidance and differentiation (between good and bad). Whoever of you is a witness of this month, should fast.

But if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you in any difficulties. 2:185, And eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appears to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast till the night appears. 2:187

Fasting in the month of Ramadhaan

When we talk about Ramadhan the first thing which comes to our mind is fasting. It has its greatest impact in that itself. Because we do that for our Creator, Almighty Allah.

He says in His book "O, you who have faith! Fasting is prescribed for those before you - so that hopefully you will have Taqwa". Al Baqarah 2:183 Meaning that hopefully you can safeguard yourself from the Hell fire through fasting; fasting is a means to the forgiveness of sins, and sins lead one to the fire.

Our beloved prophet(sal) said and it's narrated in sahih "Islam is built upon five: that you worship Allah and reject the worship of anything else, to establish the prayer, the giving of Zakat, performing pilgrimage to the house and fasting in the month of Ramadhaan.

What is fasting (sawm)

When you translate the Arabic words in to English, Sawm means to refrain and abstain consuming food or water from dawn till sunset and also from doing things that are forbidden in Islam.

It can be further explained by following Hadith said by Our messenger (sal) and narrated by Bukhari and Muslim.

"Fasting is protecting shield, so when it is the day when one of you are fasting, let him not behave or speak indecently; if someone tries to abuse him or fight him, let him say 'I am fasting!' By the one in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad(sal), the smell emanating from the mouth of the one fasting is better with Allah than the smell of musk.

The one fasting has two kind of joy, when he breaks his fast he is happy and when he meets his Lord he will rejoice at his fasting."

Blessings and benefits of fasting

After Imaan, Salaah and Zakaah the most important pillar of Islam is Sawm. Fasting in the month of Ramadhaan is amongst the fundamentals of Islam. There are numerous spiritual benefits of fasting.

Fasting is extremely efficient for the gain of Taqwa(piety), without which a Muslim can't get closer to Allah spiritually. The prime benefit in fasting is that suppression of the erratic desires and demands of Nafs, which is always encouraged by Shaithaan in order to spiritually and morally ruin the believer.

If a person lets his Nafs wander freely without any restrictions, then the Nafs will make the person a slave of lusts, passion and emotions and start dominating him.

Therefore it's very important to restrain Nafs. Fasting numerously helps a believer to achieve the goal in restraining Nafs. By fasting a Muslim learns to suppress his own desires.

Thus he can inculcate Taqwa in him. Further fasting purifies the soul and create gratification in worshipping Allah. The bond with Allah is strengthened. Once the messenger of Allah(sal) supplicated, "O,Lord of the universe!

When does the servant become closer to you" The Divine reply came, "When the servant is hungry and when he is in Sajadah (prostration)" Fasting lifts man above the level of animals who eat, drink and copulate at their own will, whenever the urge comes, and takes him to the parallel of the angels.

By reducing a persons worldly relations and emotional desires he moves himself towards the condition of Malaikath (angels) because Malaikaath are devoid of any kind of desires. A Muslim becomes more aware and conscious of his less fortunate brothers and their deprivations.

They become steadfast in giving charity during the month of Ramadhaan. Zakaath-ul-fitr is a charity which every Muslim must pay at the end of Ramadhaan and only then his fast is accepted by Allah. By making the Zakatul fitr compulsory Allah, The all knowing teaches his servants lesson of humanity and feeling for the needy.

Sahl Ibn Saad (ral) narrated from our prophet (sal) that he said" Verily in Jannah (heaven), there is a door called 'Ar Rayam', through which will enter the fasting people on the Day of Judgement. No one will enter through this door besides them.

Once they will enter, the door will be locked so no one can enter through it". (Bukhari-Muslim) Angels keep on asking Allahs's forgiveness for those fasting until they break their fast. Allah orders Angels to decorate Paradise each day and addresses Paradise thus "My righteous servants are about to be spread suffering and harm, then they will be sent to you".

Abu Hurairah (ral) narrates from our beloved messenger that he said "One who keeps the fast o Ramadhan with Imaan (faith) and longing for reward, all his previous sins are forgiven".

How great the virtues of fasting. One should not take fasting as a trifle at all of course we should do it for the sake of our Creator not for anyone else or expecting any other social recognition.

The fasting person should feel it from his inner heart that he is doing it only for the sake of his Creator in order to get the full reward, of course Allah the all knowing knows who is sincere to his orders and what is in the person's heart for nothing could be concealed from the exalted.

Don'ts

There are many things that a Muslim should be refrained of in this blessed month. Eating and drinking is absolutely prohibited during the time of fasting. Telling lies, backbiting which is equal to eating one's own brother's flesh.

Caroling, earning through unlawful means are highly discouraged. Sexual intercourse, kissing or any kind of sexual activities which cause ejaculation during the time of fasting is highly discouraged.

Smoking, inhaling drugs, injection of any medicine or vomiting intentionally are Haram (prohibited) In short, a person should try to refrain from all kinds of sins, protecting his ears, eyes, tongue and all other organs from indulging in unlawful activities.

When a Muslim spends his Ramadhaan in this manner then he will notice great changes in his life. Through the spiritual upliftment one will be able to conduct his life according what Allah wants His slave to live.

To be continued to next week...

[email protected]