Ramadan: Balancing Spiritual Goals and Daily Responsibilities

A time for spiritual nourishment and self-introspection, Ramadan heralds a classic opportunity to draw closer to Allah The Most High and to bask in the many blessings that accompany the month. Commitments ranging from the recitation and study of the Quran to increased charity to regular Taraweeh attendance are commonly made to reap the rewards of the fasting month.

To this effect, the Prophet  once said, "By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a person observing Saum (fast) is better with Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah Says about the fasting person), `He has left his food, drink and desires for My Sake. The Saum (fast) is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times."' [Al-Bukhari]

Further, with Satan chained and the gates of heaven thrown open, the race for good deeds begins in all earnest every Ramadan. Yet, as people dive into the anxiously awaited month of spiritual gains, they realize that it comes with its own set of challenges. Indeed, just as our everyday test is to practice Islam while living in the world, this annual retreat-of-sorts is all about maximizing our worship while juggling the demands of our daily lives.

So, along with the fasting and all the plans, chores need to be taken care of, work must be attended to, and children's needs have to be fulfilled. In order to avoid frustration due to neglecting one's Ramadan goals or hardship caused by abandoning certain tasks and routines, a happy medium must be strived for. Striking this balance will not always be easy since it entails rescheduled days, little sleep, and a shift in priorities.

However, the results far outweigh the struggle, a feeling of contentment that we made our very best effort to capture the true essence of Ramadan. Allah Almighy Says what means: {O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.} [Quran 2:183]

Towards Purifying Ourselves

For Rodrigo Adem who live in Madison Wisconsin, Ramadan is a time of intense focus on one's religion. He tries to spend as much time at the Mosque as possible reciting Quran and attending any study circle.

One of the things which helped him last Ramadan was to create a schedule of Dhikr (remembering Allah) based on the 99 Names of Allah Almighty. He chose three Names per day, adding on one extra Name on random days, and recited them 33 times after every obligatory prayer in order to both grasp and appreciate all the Names in the blessed month. This had a liberating effect on him, enabling him to view ordinary things in a different light.

"I felt as if I understood what Tawheed (Islamic monotheism) was in more intimate way than I had in the past. [Further reflection made me] aware why this religion is the religion of fitrah and the one chosen by our Creator Almighty," said Adem, 21. "I felt at home, powerless, and peaceful all at the same time. Like a human being who knew what he was created for, and had no doubt concerning his Lord."

"When Ramadan is with us, I [also concentrate] on not allowing the rewards of my fast to be lost," remarked Rodrigo Adem, "I realize that fasting is more than just not eating. It is also about not getting angry, saying or thinking spiteful things about others, or looking at the haraam (forbidden things). I view it as a time when I can really cleanse myself of all bad habits".

All day, although he struggles to stay patient and avoid idle talk, he tries to keep his actions the same during Ramadan as in the other months. "[I feel] that I cannot put extra worship before my earthly responsibilities. I can't use service to Allah Almighty as an excuse to slack on my duties, "opined Adem.

"However, I do feel that Allah does give his servants energy for the day as He wishes, even after they stay up all night for the Night of Decree. Allah Almighty can bestow upon you the ability to push yourself hard and achieve all your goals in Ramadan, as long as you strive for it".

Zuha Ali remembers experiencing that almost 10 years ago, calling it her "best" Ramadan. "I was very focused and almost lost in another world. I felt like I just went through the motions of my worldly life but when the time for Taraweeh or Quran came, I was rejuvenated and became a whole person again," Ali, of Sterling, Va., recalled.

After suhoor (pre-dawn meal), she would spend two hours reading a juz of the Quran along with the translation and commentary. Then, she would go to college and optimize her free time so that her evenings and nights would be spared for more worship.

"I did not sleep much that month but honestly, I did not feel the loss of sleep either. It was as if Allah were energizing me through Quran and Prayer. It was indeed a beautiful month," Ali, now 29, remarked.

With time, many changes have come to her life. "It was easier for me to devote myself that way (then) because I had no other responsibilities," she said. "Now, as I care for my husband and son, and my house as well, it is not so easy to let go of everything and do what I did before," she said.
Becoming a mother has meant that she was unable to fast regularly the last two years due to her medical condition during pregnancy and lactation. "It is important to remember that taking care of one's family is also an act of devotion, and yet it should also be remembered that Ramadan only comes once a year, so we should try to do as much as we can," Ali concluded.

Finishing the Quran and performing Taraweeh, either at home or in the Mosque, are her typical personal goals for Ramadan. "At the beginning of the month, I find myself at the peak of spiritual energy. Unfortunately, as the month progresses, I find it harder to keep up with [my] goals," Ali stated, mentioning that lagging behind in her reading of a juz causes a dip in her spiritual drive and can break her cycle. "I know that this is a test from Allah, as the end of the month definitely carries more blessings just for this reason."

In general, she makes a special effort to stay away from forbidden habits such as backbiting in Ramadan. "[I] just try to better my character during the month so that hopefully it will continue onwards in the months after Ramadan as well," she said. - islamweb.net

 The Excellence of Ramadan and Fasting

1) The Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:

((When (the month of) Ramadan enters, the doors of heavens are flung open and the doors of Hell are shut, and the Shayaateen are chained up)). 

And in a narration it mentions:

((When (the month of) Ramadan arrives, the doors of Paradise are opened)).

And in yet another narration, it mentions:

((…the doors of mercy are opened)).

[The authenticity of the above narrations has been agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

2) And in the transmission of at-Tirmidhee (it mentions):

((A caller would call out: "O you who want good, proceed, and O you who want evil, cease. Allah frees people from the fire, and this is done every night until ramadaan is over")).

[al-Albaanee has graded it as Hasan]

3) And he (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:

(((The reward for) all the actions of the son of Aadam are multiplied (from anywhere between) ten times to seven hundred times)). 

And Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said in a hadeeth qudsee :

((…except for fasting, then it is for Me and I will give reward for it; He left off his desires and his food for My sake. For the fasting person there are two pleasures: his pleasure at the time of breaking his fast and his pleasure when he meets his Lord. And the smell emanating from the mouth of the one who is fasting is better in the Sight of Allah than the smell of musk)).

[The authenticity of all the above narrations have been agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

That which is required of you in Ramadan

Know! O my Muslim Brother, that Allah has made fasting obligatory upon us so that we worship Him doing so; (therefore) so that your fast is acceptable and beneficial (to you) be aware of the following: 

1) Be wary of protecting your prayers: Many people who are fasting are slack in maintaining their prayers despite it being a pillar of the religion, and leaving it is from (the acts of) kufr;

2) Maintain good manners: Be wary of falling into kufr and cursing the religion, and ill manners towards the people, particularly whilst fasting. Fasting purifies the inner self and does not lead to ill manners, and kufr renders the Muslim outside the fold of the religion; 

3) Do not speak unnecessarily even if you are joking, as this will reduce the reward of your fast. Take note of what the Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alahe wa sallam) said:

((If any of you are fasting, then abstain from ignorant and indecent speech that day; and if anyone curses you or strikes you, then say: I am fasting));

[The authenticity of this narration has been agreed upon by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

4) Benefit from the fast by leaving off smoking, which causes cancer and ulcers; Try to maintain your willpower and leave off smoking in the evening just as you left it during the day. As a result, you will be better off in health as well as financially; 

5) Be wary of divulging in excessive eating at the time of breaking the fast, as it can result in ruining the benefit of the fast and harming your health. 

6) Do not go to the cinema or watch television, so that you do not see that which will spoil your fast and ruin its effect; 

7) Do not go to sleep too late and as a result miss out on the sahoor (pre-dawn meal) and the Salaatul-Fajr. Try to maintain an early start to your work, as the Messenger of Allah (sal-Allahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:

((O Allah bless my Ummah in that which they maintain of an early start));

[Saheeh, transmitted by Ahmad] 

8) Increase in giving in charity to your relatives and those who are needy; visit your relatives (to maintain family ties) and clear up any disputes and misunderstandings that may exist; 

9) Increase in the remembrance of Allah and recite the Qur'an, listen to it and reflect upon its meaning and act according to it. Go to the masaajid to listen to beneficial talks; and doing the i'tikaaf in the masjid during the last ten days and nights of Ramadan is from the Sunnah; 

10) Read around the subject of fasting so as to learn its rulings. You will then come to know that eating and drinking forgetfully does not break the fast. Also, having sexual intercourse during the night does not prevent anyone from fasting;

11) Maintain the fast of Ramadan and prepare your children to fast as soon as you feel they are capable, and beware of breaking the fast without an Islamically valid reason. Whoever intentionally breaks his fast any day then he is required to make up that day and repent;

12) Beware O my Muslim brother from eating (and drinking during the day) in Ramadan, and beware of openly doing so in front of the people, for indeed doing so is tantamount to fearlessness of Allah, making a mockery of Islam, and brazenness in front of the people. So know that whoever does not fast, then he has no right to celebrate the 'Eed since 'Eed is a major celebration upon the culmination of the fasting and anticipation for the acceptance of one's worship. - knowingallah.com

Longing for Ramadan - II

Make the month of Ramadan be the beginning of a new life, full of obedience and virtue; make it be the start of your maintenance of prayers in the mosque; make a pledge now to never again abandon even a single prayer; forget the notion that you cannot wake up and pray Fajr (morning prayer) with the congregation; purify your hearts with the recitation of the Quran; shed tears over the evil you have committed in the past, perhaps Allah may forgive you and transform your sins into reward; remember that the mercy of Allah is greater than the sins of anybody; end sinning and pay no attention to the criticism that you would draw by doing so; never underestimate any sin - stop shaving your beards, shun cigarettes and intoxicants and adhere to the Hijab.

If you are one who used to consume intoxicants, then shun them immediately, because they are prohibited. If you had dealings that involved Riba (i.e., interest or usury) then cease doing so. If you were accustomed to taking bribes, then content yourselves with that which is lawfully attained, because it is better for you and your children; purify your wealth from all ill-gotten money and be assured that by doing so, Allah will replace that which you dispose of from the ill-gotten money with something blessed and better. If you used to prevent others from doing virtuous deeds, then repent to Allah, and do not continue being a human devil. Train yourselves during this month to compete in virtue because this is a characteristic of the Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, about whom Allah Says (what means): "…Indeed they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive." [Quran 21: 90]

Pay no attention to those who wish that you remain disobedient and far from the guidance of Allah; they do this because, usually, fornicators wish to see everyone around them doing the same, and those who deal in Riba wish that all others partake in the same types of financial transactions as theirs, so beware, lest they prevent you from repentance and deprive you from goodness, because Allah likes that you repent while those who follow their desires like that you become inclined towards them and their actions. Some people wish that everyone around them will become supporters and assist them in their evil; listen to what Allah Says (which means): "Allah wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow their passions want you to digress [into] a great deviation. And Allah wants to lighten for you [your difficulties]; and mankind was created weak." [Quran 4: 27-28]

O young men! O you who is deceived by his youth! Be merciful to yourself; protect your honour and preserve your religion. Stop wasting your life in disobedience to your Lord; do you not ever think about the Day on which Allah will question you about this youth and how you spent it? Why do you insist on excluding yourself from those whom Allah will shade under His throne on the Day when there will be no other shade but His? Why are you lagging behind in following and imitating your Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, and his companions  who would rush towards virtue? This is an advice to you, and I hope you will follow it; repent now and adhere to the commandments of Allah and fulfil His rights upon you; be of those who never miss a prayer in the mosque, because that is where success lies, and it is the way leading to Paradise and its rivers and maidens; open a new page in your life full of obedience and dutifulness towards your parents.

Dear sisters! Obey Allah and His messenger ; be obedient wives as long as your husbands do not order you to do an act of disobedience to Allah; help your husbands become obedient men and know that the first step in your true repentance is materialised in your adherence to the Hijab. Also, beware of walking in the streets adorned and never shake hands with non Mahram (i.e., unmarriageable men).

Many are those who were advised but never listened; they saw people passing them by, on their way towards success, but never joined the caravan; time began running out for them, but they insisted on remaining heedless, until their time came to an end; they then regretted what they did during their lives, but alas … it was already too late.

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim  said: “Whenever you see a man with a heart that has shunned the love of Allah and has ceased to prepare for His meeting, and has replaced that with loving others, and is content instead with the pleasures of this life, then know that such a heart is ruined; whenever you see that the eyes have become dry, then know that this resulted from the hardness of the hearts, and the furthest people from Allah are the hardhearted ones; whenever you see one who rejoices in being with other people more than being in isolation in supplication to Allah, then know that this is a useless heart and one that leads (its owner) to punishment." -islamweb.net

READ PART 1 - Longing for Ramadan -I

Ramadan 2020: Why do Muslims fast in Ramadan? Can you drink water?

RAMADAN is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar - but why do Muslim fast during the celebration and can they drink water? Ramadan 2020 starts on 24 April 2020 (today).

Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar. According to tradition, the Koran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad during Ramadan. Muslims also believe the gates to heaven are open and the doors to hell are closed during this month. But where does fasting come into play during Ramadan?

This year's Ramadan will be a bit different, as the coronavirus outbreak means many people will not be able to visit friends and family, or their local mosque.

But there's one thing that will not change during Ramadan, and that's fasting (known as saw in Arabic) which is one of the five key pillars of the Islamic faith.

The other pillars are faith, prayer, charity and making the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.

Ramadan fast: Why do people fast during Ramadan? (Image: GETTY)

Why do people fast at Ramadan?

Fasting is seen as a way of purifying ourselves spiritually and physically.

But fasting is also used to remind oneself that there are others who are less fortunate than themselves.

There is also a verse in the Koran that prescribes fasting for all Muslims who are mature and healthy enough to do so for the full day.

Fasting is also seen as a way to learn patience and break bad habits, along with being a chance to get closer to God.

All fit and able adults are expected to fast during Ramadan, but not children, elderly or vulnerable people.

This includes pregnant and breastfeeding women, those on their periods, and people travelling.

Ramadan fast: Families come together to break their fast (Image: GETTY)

Ramadan fast: Traditional foods are eaten to break the fast (Image: GETTY)

It is common to have a meal (known as suhoor) just before dawn and another (known as iftar) after sunset.

Families and friends will often get together for iftar to break their fast after sunset each day.

According to MuslimAid: “One of the Five Pillars of Islam, sawm will begin a few hours after the sighting of the moon at sunrise and continue until sunset.

“It is essential to familiarise yourself with the dates and times for Ramadan 2020, as anyone who is still eating their pre-dawn meal (suhoor) following the completion of the call to prayer (Fajr) is disqualified from that day’s fast.

“The day’s fast is completed at sunset and the Maghrib prayers can begin. It is traditional to end your fast by eating dates before the evening meal with family and friends.”

Ramadan fast: Musims break the fast with a meal (known as iftar) after sunset (Image: GETTY)

Can you drink water during Ramadan?

Fasting involves abstaining from all food, drink, smoking and having sex from sunrise to sunset.

The fasting rules are strict, so you cannot even drink water during fasting hours.

Anyone who is fasting is recommended to drink as much water as possible in the early morning to ward off thirst during the day.

However, the NHS recommends adults break their fast if they become very dehydrated

How to celebrate Ramadan in lockdown

The Muslim Council through-out the World are advising families and friends to video call each other during iftar this year during lockdown.

Many Muslims also usually go to the mosque to pray during Ramadan, as they try to get closer to go.

However, with lockdown restrictions in place, this is impossible for many Muslims around the world.

Instead, some mosques are holding virtual services online for people to watch together. - express.co.uk

Longing for Ramadan - I

Recognising and appreciating the great favours of Allah, among which are the virtues of certain seasons and the opportunity of worshipping Allah during them:

Imam Ibn Rajab  said: “Allah has made some months more virtuous than others just as He has made some days and nights more virtuous than others; an example of this is His making the Night of Al-Qadr (the loft night during which matters are decreed) better than one thousand months; Also, Allah swore by the first ten days of the month of Thul-Hijjah to reflect their virtue.”

Every one of these virtuous seasons has certain acts of worship and specific forms of obedience to Allah, and blissful is he who utilises these seasons, months, days or hours to draw closer to Him.

Muhammad Ibn Maslamah  narrated that the Prophet  said: “Amongst the days of Allah are seasons of mercy, so expose yourselves to them; perhaps one of you will attain some of this mercy and therefore never suffer after that.” [At-Tabarani]

Mujahid  said: “Every new day that arrives addresses the son of Adam saying: `O son of Adam! I have come to you at this moment never to return; therefore, analyse what you do during my stay.` Once it has ended, it is folded and sealed, and will remain so until Allah opens the seal on the Day of Resurrection.”

He  also said: “O son of Adam! A new day is your guest, and every guest eventually departs with either praise or dispraise for you - and your nights do likewise."

Bakr Al-Muzani  said: “Every new day calls, saying: `O son of Adam! Utilise me; perhaps you will not have any day after me` - and the nights say the same.”

Once, three men came to the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, and embraced Islam; they then went and stayed with Abu Talhah . Later, the Prophet  sent these men in a batch of troops to a battle, and one of them was martyred; at a later date, the Prophet  sent the remaining two in another batch of troops to another battle, during which another of the three was martyred; at a later time, the third died in his house. After this, Abu Talhah  said: “I saw these three men in a dream and saw that they were in Paradise. The leader of the three was the last one, who died on his bed in his house, followed by the second martyr, while the first one who was martyred was last, so I went to the Prophet  and informed him about the dream; he  said: “Are you surprised by the order that they were in (in) Paradise? Didn’t the latter one stay a year longer, during which he fasted the month of Ramadan and prayed such and such prayers?”  It was said: “Yes!” Then he  said: “The distance between them (in Paradise) is like that between the heavens and the earth.”

Some of the Salaf (The predecessors - The first three generation of Islamic Nation after Prophet )  said: “Prayer takes you half of the (distance) of the road, fasting leads you to the gate of the King (i.e., Allah) and charity takes you by your hand into His presence (i.e., to the attainment of His pleasure).”

Apologies to you, O Ramadan! You used to come to people who prepared to meet you, understood your secrets and appreciated your reality; they would thus await your arrival and prepare for you by praying, fasting, and performing other acts of worship; they would supplicate to Allah for six months prior to your arrival that He would allow them to live long enough to enjoy your virtuous period; they would then supplicate during the remainder of the year for Allah to accept the deeds that they performed during your stay. They would say: ‘O Allah! Make us live long enough to reach Ramadan, and accept (the deeds we perform in it) from us.’

These people appreciated that you came to teach them how to elevate themselves above the animalistic conduct of having their main objectives being eating, drinking and satisfying their sexual desire. They realised that you came to teach them how to divest themselves of their desires.

Once, ‘Abdur-Rahman Ibn ‘Awf  was fasting, and when the time came for him to break his fast, two types of food were brought to him; when he saw this, he began to weep. His wife asked him why he was crying, to which he replied: “I remembered the day Mus’ab Ibn ‘Umayr  died, and nothing could be found to shroud him except a small garment, (it was too short to wrap the body completly) that when we covered his head, his feet would be exposed, and when we covered his feet, his head would be uncovered; but today, I am enjoying these types of food, and I fear that we are exhausting all our share of pleasures by enjoying them now.”

O Ramadan! But nowadays, who do you meet when you arrive? People whose opinion of you is that you are a month of hunger and thirst during the day, and stuffed stomachs during the night; people who think of you as a month of cooking varied dishes in outrageous quantities; people whose preparation for meeting you was nothing except to supply themselves with food and drink, it is as if you only came to teach them the art of cooking and preparing meals in varied forms.

Apologies to you, O Ramadan! You used to come to people who would stay up at night in worship during you; they realised that you are a season of virtue and they therefore sacrificed everything during your stay. They heard the Saying of Allah (which means): "A limited number of days…" [Quran 2: 184] Thus, they certainly did not wish to miss out during these few days.

You would look at them and they would be crying, standing in the optional night prayers, heedless of this life, their main worry being the Hereafter; they shunned this life and would prostrate and supplicate, placing their hope only in Allah.

Safwan Ibn Saleem  would pray the optional night prayer until his veins became protruded and their green colour would become apparent.

‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab  would cry to the extent that there became two permanent lines engraved on his face.

‘Abdullaah Ibn Al-Fudhayl  heard a verse that made him faint and fall; it was the Saying of Allah  (which means): "If you could but see when they are made to stand before the Fire and will say: 'Oh, would that we could be returned [to life on earth] and not deny the signs of our Lord and be among the believers.'" [Quran 6: 27]

It surely is applicable to these people, the Saying of Allah (which means): "Their sides depart [i.e., they arise] from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration, and from what We have provided them, they spend. And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes [i.e., satisfaction] as reward for what they used to do. " [Quran 32: 16-17]

O Ramadan! But nowadays, who do you meet when you arrive? Miserable people whose only worry during the night is entertainment and frivolity; foolish people who have abandoned prayers and busied themselves with satellite television channels; lazy people, some of whom only strive to pray eight Rak’ahs of Taraweeh with the Imam and then leave the mosque, bragging about it as if they have therefore fulfilled their due worship and all other responsibilities towards Allah; hard-hearted people who hear the Quran being recited day and night and yet whose hearts do not move, and whose eyes never shed a tear.

O Ramadan! Forgive us! Our hearts have become hard and our eyes are dry; we no longer feel the sweetness of obedience to you, nor do we sense the beauty of worship.

Apologies to you, O Ramadan! You used to come to people who were brothers without any blood relationship, but they realised the value of brotherhood, understood its significance, and thus fulfilled its rights; they perfectly comprehended the saying of the Prophet  when he said: “A Muslim is the brother of his fellow Muslim.”

They would be like a single body, the elders would be merciful towards the young and the young would honour the elders; they lived compassionate lives and dealt with each other based on love; they lived in harmony and had no hatred, envy or spite. They would suffer at the suffering of their brothers and strive to fulfil the needs of their brethren.

Once, a man came to Ibn ‘Abbas  and found him residing in the mosque during I’tikaf; he asked him to help him fulfil a need, so Ibn ‘Abbas  stood up to accompany him and help him, so people said to him: “You are in your I’tikaf! How can you leave?” He  replied: “It is better for me (i.e. more rewarding) to accompany my brother, aiming to fulfil his need, than staying in I’tikaf for two full months in the mosque of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam.”

O Ramadan! But nowadays, you only meet people who have replaced brotherhood with enmity, and love with hatred; it is as if they have never heard the saying of the Prophet : “Deeds are raised to Allah every Monday and Thursday, and He forgives all people except for any two who have a dispute among them; it will be said: `Delay these two until they reconcile.`”

You only come nowadays to find people whose sense of brotherhood, as well as the bond set forth between them by Allah, has diminished; they do not react to the disasters of their fellow Muslims around the globe. They are not moved when their sisters are raped, or their rights are transgressed; it is as if they have never heard the saying of the Prophet : “He who is not concerned about the worries of other Muslims is not one of them.” You only come nowadays to find people who hardly even know anything about their next door neighbour.

Apologies to you, O Ramadan! These are our wounds and this is the reality in which we live! - islamweb.net