Maximizing The Worship in the Blessed Month

Maximizing The Worship in the Blessed Month

Withot we realizing it, the month that we’ve been eagerly anticipating has arrived. The ninth month in the Hijra (lunar) calendar. Ramadhan, that’s its name, as Allah has mentioned inside of the Qur’an.

This month has many virtues, among which are:

1. The Qur’an was revealed by Allah in the month of Ramadhan.

2. The Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- also received the divine Will at the first time in the month of Ramadhan.

3. During the month of Ramadhan, satan are chained, all of the doors of Hell are closed, and all of the doors of Paradise are opened by Allah the Glorified and Exalted.

4. Righteous deeds performed during the month of Ramadhan could wash away the sins committed between the past and current Ramadhan.

The Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said:

(( الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ وَالْجُمُعَةُ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ مُكَفِّرَاتٌ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ إِذَا اجْتَنَبَ الْكَبَائِر)).

“The five daily prayers, a Friday and the next Friday, and Ramadhan and the next Ramadhan, could wash away the sins committed between (those times) if the major sins are avoided.” (Narrated by Muslim).

And there are many other virtues of this fully-blessed month.

In relation to the month of Ramadhan, the angel Gabriel -peace be upon him- once invoked Allah so that people who encounters the month of Ramadhan, while his sins are not forgiven, will indeed suffer major losses and grave humiliation. And the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- approved of that du’a, as mentioned in the hadith below:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَقِيَ الْمِنْبَرَ فَقَالَ: (( آمِينَ ، آمِينَ ، آمِينَ ))، فَقِيلَ لَهُ : (( يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ! مَا كُنْتَ تَصْنَعُ هَذَا؟ )) فَقَالَ : (( قَالَ لِي جِبْرِيلُ : أَرْغَمَ اللَّهُ أَنْفَ عَبْدٍ – أَوْ بَعُدَ – دَخَلَ رَمَضَانَ فَلَمْ يُغْفَرْ لَهُ ، فَقُلْتُ : آمِينَ …إلخ )).

It is narrated from Abu Huraira – may Allah be pleased with him-, that the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- once raised to the pulpit, saying, “Amin! Amin! Amin!”. After that, he -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- was asked, “What did you do?”. He -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- replied, “Gabriel told me, ‘May Allah humble a slave who enters the month of Ramadhan but he is not forgiven.” I said, ‘Amin…'” (Narrated by Ibn Khuzaimah in his Shahih book, Ibn Hibban in his Shahih book, and other narrators. Sheikh Al-Albani classified it as valid hadith in “Shahih At-Targhib wa At-Tarhib”)

Hopefully, we are not included among those who suffer major loss and humbled by Allah the Glorified and Exalted. Amin. Therefore, it is of major importance for me to remind myself and the readers of this article to take advantage of this Ramadhan at its best.

To optimize our worship in this month, there are plenty of deeds that we could do. However, before I begin mentioning them, it is better for us to know two requirements for a deed to be accepted by Allah the Glorified and Exalted. Those are:

1. Sincere, and the opposite of it is shirk
We must aim to gain Allah’s please and rewards alone in all of our deeds, and not anything or anyone beside Him. One of the form of shirk is riya’ (showing off righteous deed intending to be praised).

2. Following the guidance of Prophet Muhammad -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- and not innovating anything in religion.

Below are the righteous deeds that we could perform during the month of Ramadhan, and a glimpse of its explanation:

1. Fasting

It is compulsory for all muslim and muslimah who have reached the age of adulthood and of sane mind, to perform the Ramadhan fast. The exception is for people who have a legitimate reason not to fast, such as the sick, people traveling in long journey, menstruation and puerperal phase for women, etc. Allah the Exalted decreed,

{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ}

“Believers! Fasting is enjoined upon you, as it was enjoined upon those before you, that you become Godfearing.” (Chapter Al Baqara/The Cow:183).

Fasting posseses abundance of virtues, one of which is revealed in a hadith below:

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو : أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : (( الصِّيَامُ وَالْقُرْآنُ يَشْفَعَانِ لِلْعَبْدِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ، يَقُولُ الصِّيَامُ : أَيْ رَبِّ ، مَنَعْتُهُ الطَّعَامَ وَالشَّهَوَاتِ بِالنَّهَارِ ، فَشَفِّعْنِي فِيهِ ، وَيَقُولُ الْقُرْآنُ : مَنَعْتُهُ النَّوْمَ بِاللَّيْلِ ، فَشَفِّعْنِي فِيهِ ، قَالَ : فَيُشَفَّعَانِ.))

“It is narrated from ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr that the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said, “The fast and the Qur’an will intercede for a slave in the Hereafter. The fast will say, ‘O my Lord! I’ve prevented him from (his) food and (satisfying) his sexual desire during the day. Please allow me to intercede for him.’ The Qur’an says, ‘I’ve prevented him from sleeping at the night time, please allow me to intercede for him.’ Eventually, they are allowed to give intercession.” (Narrated by Ahmad in his Musnad, Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak, Al-Baihaqi in Syu’abul-Iman, and others. The hadith is classified as valid hadith by Sheikh Al Albani in Misykatul-Mashabih).

In order to gain maximum benefit in fasting, we shall take heed of these points below:

a. We shall eat the sahoor meal

The Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said,

(( تَسَحَّرُوا فَإِنَّ فِي السَّحُورِ بَرَكَةً ))

“Eat sahoor, indeed, there is a blessing in sahoor.” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim).

b. We shall postpone the sahoor until near the dawn.

The Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- always postponed his sahoor meal until the time between it and the fajr prayer was about the time needed to recite fifty verses of the Qur’an (about Ten minutes). Many people are neglecting this sunnah. Some people in certain region do not even eat sahoor anymore because it’s been their tradition, whereas sahoor is the distinguishing factor between our fasting and the fasting of the ummah before us.

c. The Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- consumed dried dates for his sahoor meal.

He -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said,

(( نِعْمَ سَحُورُ الْمُؤْمِنِ التَّمْرُ ))

“The best among sahoor dishes is dates.” (Narrated by Abu Daud. Sheikh Al Albani classified it as valid hadith in ‘Shahih Sunan Abi Dawud’).

d. It is not needed to express the intention explicitly in sahoor, since the intention’s place is in the heart.

e. During the day of Ramadhan, beside performing the compulsory and avoiding the nullifiers of fasting, it is suggested for us to perform many voluntary deeds and abandong the detested deeds, moreover the forbidded ones.

f. It is suggested to recite plenty of dua during fasting, since it is one of the time the du’a is mostly answered.

g. Near the time of Maghrib, it is suggested that we prepare ourselves to break our fast, thus we’ll obtain the excellence of breaking the fast early and not postpone it until later.

h. Upon breaking the fast, it is suggested that recite the following du’a:

(( ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ ))

“The thirst is gone, the throat is wet, and the reward is set, by Allah’s wish.” (Narrated by Abu Daud. Sheikh Al Albani classified it as valid in Shahih Sunan Abi Dawud)

I. It is suggested to break the fast with ruthab (fresh date). If there is no ruthab, with tamr (dried date). And if there is no tamr, to break the fast with water.

j. Upon breaking the fast at other people’s place, it is suggested to recite the following du’a:

(( أَفْطَرَ عِنْدَكُمُ الصَّائِمُونَ ، وَأَكَلَ طَعَامَكُمُ الأَبْرَارُ ، وَصَلَّتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ.))

“People who fast have breaking their fast together with you, the righteous ones have eaten your food, and the angels have prayed for you.” (Narrated by Abu Daud, and Ibn Maja. It is classified as valid hadith by Sheikh Al Albani in Shahih Sunan Ibni Majah)

k. It is also suggested to provide food for breaking the fast for others.

The Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said,

(( مَنْ فَطَّرَ صَائِمًا فَلَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرُهُ ، إِنَّهُ لاَ يَنْتَقِصُ مِنْ أَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ شَيْءٌ ))

“Whoever provided food for breaking the fast for people who fast, will obtain the rewards (of fasting) without reducing the reward of the fasting one at all.”(Narrated by At Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja. It is classified as valid hadith by Sheikh Al Albani in Shahih Sunan Ibni Majah)

These are some points that we should do upon sahoor, fasting, and breaking the fast.

2. Performing The Tarawih Prayer

After the Isha’ prayer until the time of Fajr prayer comes, it is strongly suggested that we perform the Tarawih prayer. Majority of the scholars considered that it is suggested to perform the Tarawih prayer in congregation, and this is what the muslims have been practicing time after time. In fact, the best time to perform it is in the last one-third of the night; a fact that many people has forgotten. However, if it is difficult to do it, then it could be performed right after the Isha’ prayer.

The Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said,

(( مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ.))

“Whoever performs the night prayer in the month of Ramadhan with faith and hoping for its reward, his past sins will be forgiven. ” (Narrated by Al Bukhari and Muslim).

It is suggested that we do not question about the number of rak’ahs performed at each mosque, and instead be tolerant in accepting the diversity.

3. Performing Umrah (The Minor Pilgrimage)

It is better for anyone with an excess of wealth to spend their Ramadhan time by performing the minor pilgrimage to Mecca, since the reward of performing it during the month of Ramadhan is tremendously great and equals to the reward of the major pilgrimage. The Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said,

(( عُمْرَةٌ فِي رَمَضَانَ تَعْدِلُ حَجَّةً. ))

“The minor pilgrimage performed in the month of Ramadhan equals the hajj (in reward, -ed).” (Narrated by At Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja. It is classified as valid hadith by Sheikh Al Albani in Shahih Sunan Ibni Maja).

4. Seeking the Night of al Qadr

The night of Al Qadr is one of the night in the month of Ramadhan, in which the angels are descending upon the earth. Its time for each year is not known. However, the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- had informed us that the night exists in the last ten days of Ramadhan. At this night, all kinds of good deed will be valued better than the deed performed in a thousand months. It is a little amount of time, but Allah the Glorified and Exalted multiplies the reward in it. This applies to everyone. Therefore, the noble predecessors spent the last nights of Ramadhan by worshipping and not sleeping.

The Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- mentioned the virtue of staying awake worshipping at the night of Al Qadr :

(( مَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِ ))

“Whoever performs an act of worship at the night of Al Qadr out of faith and wish for the reward, his past sins will be forgiven.” (Narrated by Al Bukhari).

Some of the muslims have a wrong concept about the night of Al Qadr; they assume that at that night, a special light will be descended upon certain person that Allah chooses, thus in the future he’ll be a man with many supernatural powers. It is a misguided concept and needs to be straightened.

5. I’tikaf (Retreating in the mosque)

I’tikaf means staying inside of the mosque and do not get out of it until a certain time limit, with the intention of worshipping Allah. By performing i’tikaf, not only we’ll be able to find the night of Al Qadr, focus in worshipping and leaving behind the worldly matters, but also to follow the example of the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-.

Majority of the muslim around the world have left this sunnah, even though many of the preachers in Friday prayer and other admonishers have mentioned about its excellences every year. The religious leaders should not only preach it from their pulpit, rather, they have to show the real act to people. If the religious leaders perform i’tikaf, by Allah’s permission, other people will follow them. It is better that all institutions and companies postpone all of their activities during these ten days and advise all of its employee to do i’tikaf.

People who is already get used to do i’tikaf will feel something is missing whenever he enters the month of Ramadhan without performing i’tikaf. Don’t you want to be one of them?

6. Recite and study the Qur’an plentily

This month opens great chance for us to spare some time to recite and study the Qur’an. For those who are not able to read the Qur’an yet, it is suggested that they learn about it soon. For those who are already able to read it, it is suggested that they complete their Qur’an recitation. And for those who are able to read it fluently, it is suggested that they complete it several times during this month. After completing it twice, complete it thrice, fourth times, five times, and so on.

Beside reciting, we are also suggested to attempt to study the meaning and content of the Qur’an, by the help of Qur’an translation or books of tafseer.

7. Doing all kinds of good deed plentily

Upon seeing the month of Ramadhan, the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- was exceedingly kind. His kindness exceeded his kindness during the other months. He was very generous in spending money for charity and giving alms, as well as helping others, as explained in the hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas. Such was his kindness, that Ibn ‘Abbas made a parable, “His kindness was faster than the strong blow of the wind (of rain).” (Narrated by Al Bukhari and Muslim).

These are some points that I’m able to deliver, in the hope that we can maximize our worship during this year Ramadhan. May we become the slaves whose sins are forgiven. Amin.

Finished, by His favors and generosity. May it benefit us all.


Bibliography:

1. Hadyun-Nabi shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam fi Ramadhan. By Sami bin Muhammad.

2. Istiqbalul-Muslimin li Ramadhan. By ‘Athiyah Muhammad Salim.

3. Ramadhan Kaifa Nastaqbiluhu wa Kaifa Naghtanimuhu?. By As-Sayyid Al-Arabi bin Kamal.

4. Taujihat Ramadhaniyah. By Ibnu Abdillah Az-Zuhairi.

5. Other books that have been mentioned inside this article.

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