Ramadan: Down to the Wire

In the name of Allaah, the Beneficent, Most Merciful. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions. As for what proceeds;

Sheikh ‘Abdur Razaaq ibn ‘Abdul Muhsin al-‘Abbaad, may Allaah preserve them both, mentions in his lecture ‘The last ten nights of Ramadan’:

“Indeed the blessed month of Ramadan is a month that all of it is blessed and mercy, it’s days and nights. It’s last ten nights however, have a special virtue over the rest of it by many tremendous qualities and bounties. This is why the Messenger, may peace and blessings be upon him, and his companions after him, may Allaah be pleased with them, used to have great honor and respect for these last ten nights and strive in them more than any other. It has been collected in the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad and Saheeh Muslim on the authority of ‘Aaisha, may Allaah be pleased with her, that she said:

“The messenger of Allaah used to strive in the last ten nights of Ramadan more than he would strive in any other.”

Imaam Bukhaari and Muslim both collected on the authority of ‘Aaisha, may Allaah be pleased with her, said:

“When the last ten entered the Prophet, may peace and blessings be upon him, used to tighten up his izaar, awaken his night and wake up his family.”

1] “Tighten up his izaar“ means that he would strive very diligently in worship and keep away from (his) women, i.e. no sexual relations. Therefore he wouldn’t take any enjoyment in those nights except in the conversation with his Lord and drawing nearer to Him. So that which Allaah allowed for him from intercourse during the nights of Ramadan he would be busied with worship and obedience desiring to obtain the reward of these last ten and success in reaching the Night of Power.

2] “Awaken his night” means that he would remain woke busied with obedience, that is how he would awaken it. He would keep himself woke by drawing near to Allaah, humility and servitude to Him. Because sleep is the brother of death and neither the souls, bodies, time or lives are given life except by the obedience of Allaah, this is the true life indeed. Allaah says:

“Is he who was dead and then We gave him life and placed for him a light walking thereby amongst the people like the one who is steeped in darkness never coming out of it.” [6:122]

3] “And he would wake up his family” means he would get them up for prayer and to worship Allaah during these last ten nights. This is from his complete diligence and concern for his family upholding the responsibility that Allaah entrusted him with. Likewise it is from directing towards the good and the one who directs someone to a good is like the doer of that good. In this is an instruction to the fathers and mothers to be concerned about their families and the upbringing of their children especially during this noble month.”

http://www.al-badr.net/web/index.php?page=page&action=view&pageid=9

Those who pray exclusively in Ramadan

In the name of Allah — The Most Gracious, The Bestower of Mercy

Shaykh Abdul-Aziz bin Baaz (rahimahullah — may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: What is the verdict, in your opinion, of people who do not perform salah except in Ramadan; is their fasting accepted?

He answered: Whoever leaves off salah, as you’ve presented, is a kaafir (disbeliever) and their fasting is not accepted in the most correct opinion of the scholars. This is due to the statement of Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), “What separates between men and what separates between Kufr (disbelief) and Shirk (associating partners with Allah) is leaving off Salah.” Also with his statement (sallalaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), “The covenant that’s between us and them is Salah; so whoever leaves it off has disbelieved.” These Hadeeth are in conjuncture with others. We ask Allah for wellness!

 

Taken from: http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/18649

 

Now, with that said, this doesn’t mean that one should dispair and quit fasting altogether; rather this should show us the importance of salah and be a means of encouragement for all of us. Allah says in the Qur’an;

“Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” — Surah Az-Zumar (39) : 53

But, Allah also says:

“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” — Surah Ar-Ra’d (13) : 11

In this ayah Allah is telling us that we have to take the initiative first. We can’t sit around waiting for “the right time”, say that “we’re trying” (or whatever other excuses people may use), when in fact we’re not. This is a very serious is issue as we see from the aforementioned Hadeeth. May Allah make us from those who diligently perform their prayers with tranquility and reflection!

And I send peace and salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his companions.

What’s after Ramdan?

In the name of Allah (The One). I send peace and blessings upon His Messenger (Al-Mustafa) and upon His Messenger’s family, companions, and those who follow him in righteousness until the Day of Judgment (Yowm Al-Qiyaamah).

There’s no doubt that everyone who fasted the month of Ramadan and stood up (in prayer) during his nights was hoping that his fasting and standing was correct and accepted, as well being grateful in his striving. He supplicates to Allah to make this request a reality and complete for him what he desires.

Acceptance (of your deeds) has signs that prove and characteristics that make one hope to believe that they were accepted. From them: that the person finds himself upon goodness, forbearance, and obedience after Ramadan at a higher level than he was at before (Ramadan). He does his ‘ebadah (worship) with zeal, preserving his wajibaat (obligatory acts) and fulfilling his prayers in the Masjid with the jama’ah (congregation). Loving righteousness, acting upon it, and commanding it; as well as hatting transgression, staying away from it, and warning from it. But as for the one who’s condition after Ramadan is like his condition before it, or worse than it; headless in misguidance, being lazy in fulfilling his wajibaat and missing them, and immersed in muharramaat (impermissible acts), then this is from the signs of the loser and a proof what he wasn’t successful. He didn’t seize the moment in the season of righteousness, didn’t show any inspiration in the season of donations, didn’t ask Allah’s forgiveness, and didn’t do what he needed to in the month of forgiveness and success. So what a great failure and enormous calamity!

Indeed the blessed month of Ramadan is a great season to accustom yourself to righteousness, diligence in ‘ebadah, and competing to perform good deeds. It’s distasteful for a Muslim to leave off ‘ebadah after this noble month finishes as is the condition of some people; they don’t know Allah or ‘ebadah except in the month of Ramadan. To these people we say: O you who knew in Ramadan that you have a Lord that you worship, obey, fear, and hope in; how do you forget him after Ramadan?! O you who knew in Ramadan that Allah made obligatory upon you the five daily prayers in the masaajid (plural of masjid), how did you forget or ignore that after Ramadan?! O you who knew in Ramadan Allah prohibited sinning, how did you forget after Ramadan? O you who knew in Ramadan that in front of you (i.e., in the future there will be) Jannah (Paradise), Naar (fire, i.e., hellfire), reward, and punishment; how did become negligent to that after Ramadan?! And O you who used to fill up the masaajid in Ramadan reciting Qur’an, how’ve you abandoned the masaajid and migrated away from the Qur’an after Ramadan?! It is strange for a people to not know Allah,  nor are they fearful of him, except in Ramadan. Some of the Salaf (predecessors) were asked about a condition like these people, so they said, “What an evil people that do not know Allah except in Ramadan.”

For surely the Lord of the months is one. Therefore the Lord of Ramadan is the Lord of Showwal, Sha’baan, and the rest of the months. It is obligatory upon a Muslim to worship Allah and stay away from sin all the time and everywhere, as Allah said,

“And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (death).” — Surah Al-Hijr (15) : 99

Which means, stay consistent in ‘ebaadah (worship) of Allah and submit your entire life to him; because Allah is the owner of a person’s life, and he wants from his servents to fill it with obedience, ‘ebaadah, and nothing else. Allah said,

“Say, “Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah , Lord of the worlds.” — Surah Al-An’aam (6) : 162

So, whoever busies his time, life, health, strength, youth, intelligence, thoughts, heart, tongue, and the rest of his limbs in something that Allah did not command with or His messenger ﷺ did not legislate from the obligatory, recommended, or permissible things to make your intentions to gain closeness to Allah, then indeed he has wronged his  tongue in a great way! Also, he will be heartbroken and regretful on Youm Al-Qiyaamaby the amount he wasted. Whoever preserves something and is consistent in it, he’ll die upon it and will be resurrected upon it. This is the Sunnah of Allah with his creation, and for that reason He commanded them to worship Him. The first of that is consistency upon Islam, its laws, and legislations until he dies upon that. Allah said,

“O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].” — Surah Aali Imran (3) : 102

Ibn Katheer (rahimahullah — may Allah have mercy upon him) said, “Meaning, preserve your Islam while you’re healthy and peaceful so you’ll die upon that. For indeed this has made it a tendency that if someone lived upon something he’ll die upon it. And whoever dies upon something he’ll be resurrected upon it. Therefore seek refuge in Allah from having other than that (i.e., other than dieing Muslim).” Imam Ahmed, Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah, and other than them narrated on Mujaahid who said: People used to make Towaaf(curcummemulation of the Ka’bah) and Ibn Abbaas was sitting with him and said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

“O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].”

And if a drop from Az-Zaqqum (a tree that grows in Hell) were commanded to drop to the people of Earth it would eat them up, so what about the one who has no sustenance other than Az-Zaqqum?” From the comprehensive Duas (supplications) are that of Yusuf (‘alayhis salam— peace be upon him),

“You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous.”” — Surah Yusuf (12) : 101

There’s nothing of success, happiness, peace, nor safety in this Dunya (worldly life) except by grabbing hold to this religion and being religious upon all of it’s teachings, legislations, and directions; rather, success in this Dunya is connected to success in the religion. For that reason the Prophet ﷺ grouped the Dunya and the Deen together in his Duas when he said, “O Allah, make me successful in my religion for it is the greatest thing in my life, make me successful in my Dunya wherein I find my sustenance, make me successful in my Aakhira (afterlife) to which I shall return, make my life long all upon goodness, and make my death easy from all evil.”

He ﷺ used to start his month with the known Dua whenever he’d see the hilal (crescent), “Oh Allah make this hilal reach us with goodness, Iman, peace , and Islam. Allah is my Lord and your Lord.” This was a warning from him ﷺ to be religious and the connection between it and Iman, peace, and Islam. It is as if he said: If you want Al-Ihsaan (the highest state of goodness), then live believing and in peace during this month and the rest of this life, therefore being firm in Islam and living with Iman. Indeed whoever believes in Allah and his firm upon His legislations (that he revieleved to his Prophet ﷺ) and did not mix with that anything from Shirk (associating partners with Allah), kufr (disbelief), bid’ah (innovation), or transgression then Allah has guaranteed for him safety, peace, and guidance in this Dunya and on Yowm Al-Qiyaamah. Allah said,

“They who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice – those will have security, and they are [rightly] guided.” — Surah An’aam (6) : 82

He also said,

“Indeed, those who have said, “Our Lord is Allah ” and then remained on a right course – the angels will descend upon them, [saying], “Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised. We [angels] were your allies in worldly life and [are so] in the Hereafter. And you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you request [or wish] As accommodation from a [Lord who is] Forgiving and Merciful.” And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, “Indeed, I am of the Muslims.” — Surah Fussilat (41) : 30-33

In addition He said,

“Indeed, those who have said, “Our Lord is Allah ,” and then remained on a right course – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. Those are the companions of Paradise, abiding eternally therein as reward for what they used to do.” — Surah Al-Ahqaaf (46) : 13-14

Muslim recorded that on the authority of Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (radiAllahu ‘anhu — may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever would love to be freed from Hell and entered into Jannah then let him make his intention while believing in Allah and the last day, and let him give to people that which he’d love to be given to him.”

I ask Allah to make our lives upon Islam, make us die with Iman, and make us firm upon the truth and guidance until we meet him Subhaanahu (glory be to him — i.e., Allah).

Written by: Shaykh Abdul-Razzaq ibn Abdul-Muhin Al-Abbaad

Taken from: http://www.al-badr.net/web/index.php?page=article&action=article&article=62

Rulings about Zakaat al-Fitr

In the name of Allaah, the Beneficent, Most Merciful. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions. As for what follows;

Question: “What is the ruling of Sadaqah al-Fitr and does one have to pay an excess amount on it? Are the types of this sadaqah enumerated? And if so what are they? Lastly does a man pay it to the people of his household like his wife and maids?”

Sheikh Bin Baaz, may Allaah have mercy upon him, says: “Zakaat al-Fitr is obligatory upon every Muslim whether he/she be young, old, male, female, free or  slave. For it has been authentically reported on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with them both, that he said:

“The Messenger of Allaah enjoined the payment of one Sa’a[1] of dates or one Sa’a of barley as Zakat al-Fitr on every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

It does not have any nisaab (excess amount to be paid) rather it is binding upon every Muslim to pay it upon himself and the people of his household from his children, wives and what he possesses from slaves if he has extra food for himself and his family for his night and day. As for the rented maid then his/her zakaat is to be paid by himself unless the renter undertakes the tasks or it has been stipulated upon him.

As for the owned slaved then his zakaat falls on his owner as it has preceded in the hadeeth. It is obligatory to give it from the food of ones country whether it be dates, barley, wheat, grain or other than that according to the more correct statement of the Scholars. Because the Prophet, may Allaah exalt his rank and grant him peace, did not stipulate in that regard any specific kind because it is intended to aid and gladden and it isn’t upon the Muslim to do this from other than his food supply.”

http://ibnbaz.org/mat/1483