All Praise is for Allaah, and Salaat and Salaam be upon the best of creation, his family and his Sahabah, and those who follow his path until the Day of Resurrection.
I ask Allaah, the Lord of the Mighty ‘Arsh (Throne), to bless us and you in this month, and to make us and you amongst those who fast the month, and receive complete rewards, and achieve Laylatul-Qadr. He Alone is our Waliy and He Alone is capable of this.
When Allaah loves a slave of His, He (Ta’ala) instills love for goodness in his heart, makes him among His chosen ones, facilitates ease for him, and keeps him away from evil and difficulty. Among the signs of Allaah’s Love and Tawfeeq (guidance) for His slave are the slave’s good intention and his sincere resolution (determination). When one’s intention is good during acts of goodness, and his resolution and determination is sincere/truthful while pursuing righteousness, then Allaah would bless the statements (words) and deeds of that person, expand his chest for performance of virtuous deeds and for enduring good actions.
Behold, the blessed month of Ramadan has come upon us, a noble and magnificent season filled with goodness and blessings. As the month of Ramadan begins, the gates of mercy are opened as mentioned by Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “When there comes the month of Ramadan, the gates of mercy are opened.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaari, no. 3277 and Muslim, no. 1079]
The amount of this mercy, its goodness and its blessings, and its people whom it (this mercy) will encompass – is known to Allaah Alone. Allaah Alone knows how much mercy awaits those in distress, how much forgiveness awaits those who repent, and how many ranks, goodness’s, and blessings await the good doers.
Thus, it is befitting for the guided righteous slave to welcome this month. It is befitting that all of us welcome this blessed month with hope in Allaah (Jalla Jalaluhu). We all have aspirations (and expectations) for His Mercy, Pardoning, Goodness, and Forgiveness. Let us welcome this month with Husn Adh-Dhan (optimism / good thoughts and good expectations) of Allaah, the Majestic and Exalted because we have been absentminded for days that have passed, and years that have gone by. We have been unmindful of our sins and mistakes, and we do not know what our state was in those times which Allaah will question us about.
Let’s welcome the season of blessings with the hope that Allaah’s Mercy will lighten our load of sins, conceal our mistakes and shortcomings, mend our brokenness, and increase our rewards and compensation.
Those who hold Husn Adh-Dhan (good expectation / optimism) of Allaah, He (Ta’ala) will not disappoint them. For Allaah is just as His slave thinks of Him, (i.e. He is Able to do for him what he thinks He can do for him). A slave’s holding good expectations of Allaah with his heart humbled before Him at the beginning of the season of goodness is a characteristic of the righteous slaves of Allaah and of His pious Awliyaa’ (Allaah’s close chosen friends). They welcome the season of goodness with hearts humbled before Allaah, with great hope in Him. They seek no refuge in or resort to anyone, except Allaah. Therefore, a righteous slave should turn to Allaah hoping for His Mercy, His Pardon, His Goodness, and His Forgiveness.
Verily, one of the greatest attainments – to which the righteous slave is guided towards in the month of fasting – is to fulfill the Right of Allaah in a manner that pleases Him. Each one of us should be conscious that Allaah has imposed an obligatory duty upon him, and that He has obligated it because of a significant right that He has upon us – and we must fulfill it in a way that pleases Allaah.
Allaah has obligated fasting upon us, and He has also instilled the love for fulfilling it in our hearts. Therefore, we should aim to fulfill the obligation of Allaah in a manner that pleases Him. A believer should observe fasting as it ought to be, with both heart and body, in private and in the open, outwardly and inwardly, in a way that safeguards his tongue, limbs, and heart from anything that does not please Him.
The month of Ramadan is a training ground of goodness, a training ground for obedience and righteousness, and verily, righteousness takes one to Paradise. It is an institute that refines a believer’s character, guides (disciplines) his behavior, and directs his path. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) mentioned fasting as a remedy for all trials (challenges) and sins.
A person expresses himself in words and actions, and his words and actions make up his outward appearance. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) warned against one’s words that can blemish his fast. He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) explained, ”When any one of you is observing fast, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise his voice (or speak in an ignorant tone); and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him, he should say twice: ‘I am fasting.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaari, no. 1894 and Muslim, no. 1151]. The words of the believers are disciplined in the month of fasting, and likewise their behavior and actions (such that they should abstain from obscenity and ignorance).
When the month of fasting approaches, you find the Mu’min (believer) preserve his fast as commanded by Allaah; he guards his speech, and he also guards his actions. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) emphasized that fasting is a means of safeguarding oneself from prohibitions. He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “O young people! Whoever among you is able to marry, should marry, and whoever is not able to marry is recommended to fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaari, no. 5065 and Muslim, no. 1400]
Thus, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) specified fasting as a remedy for desires, and a protective barrier against indecencies and evils – this is from the blessings and goodness of fasting. And truly, fasting contains abundant blessings and goodness!
Allaah, the Exalted, has gathered abundant virtues in fasting, including righteousness, piety, grace, and Ihsaan (doing good). He (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-Baqarah (2:183):
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
“O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).”
From the first day of the month of Ramadan, the believer stands with (or at) his words and actions. He stands with his tongue, which he has always used in dishonoring the believers in their absence, engaging in backbiting and gossip. He stands with his tongue that has frequently engaged in slander and insults. He stands as though he is telling his tongue, “O tongue, fear Allaah! Until when will you keep indulging in the prohibitions of Allaah and transgressing His limits?” At the beginning of Ramadan, the believer stands with his limbs and his actions, and with his interactions that are between him and his Lord, and his interactions with the creation of Allaah; thus, a believer begins the month of fasting with this great secret, which is vigilant awareness of Allaah (observation of Allaah), i.e. being watchful of Allaah.
Allaah (Ta’ala) did not prescribe fasting for the mere purpose of causing hunger and thirst. Rather, He ordained it for the sake of His Taqwa (i.e., for one to develop piety and keep his duty towards Him). Fasting is prescribed to serve as a training ground for the believers and to be a guidance for the pious. Many slaves begin the month of fasting learning about the goodness of Islam and the qualities of the people of Islam, and by the time the month of fasting ends, their manners are refined, their tongues are straightened, and their hearts have been guarded against everything that does not please Allaah, the Exalted.
Indeed, they are the winners; they are the fasting ones who honored the sanctities of Allaah and preserved the Rights of Allaah. They have achieved the goodness of this world and the Hereafter. O Allaah, make us among them through Your Grace and Generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful!
The month of fasting is one of the greatest foundations. Two great matters, when combined in the heart of a slave during fasting make him amongst the people of Paradise:
- The first matter is the foundation of the religion: Sincerity (Al-Ikhlaas).
- The second matter is the only path to reach the highest ranks in Allaah’s Paradise: Patience (As-Sabr).
The First Matter: Al-Ikhlaas (Sincerity)
Fasting is distinguished by two great matters: the first of them being Al-Ikhlaas (i.e., sincerity, seeking Allaah’s Face Alone when performing acts of righteousness). Fasting causes the heart to seek the Face of Allaah Alone. The happiest person in this world is he whose heart is filled with Allaah, with reverence for Allaah, and vigilance (awareness) for Allaah. The happiest people in this world are those who start and end their days with words and deeds for Allaah Alone.
Al-Ikhlaas is to seek the Face of Allaah. It is for Al-Ikhlaas that Allaah has revealed His Books and sent His Messengers. Every moment and every second of Ramadan directs the heart of a believer to this Ikhlaas. Allaah pointed to this meaning in a Hadeeth Qudsi, when He (Ta’ala) said: “Every good deed of Adam’s son is for him except fasting; it is for Me and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaari, no. 5927 and Muslim, no. 1151b]
A Mu’min (believer) senses during his fasts in the month of Ramadan, that Allaah wants him to be a slave to Him Alone, glorified be He, and not a slave to anyone else. Islam is submission to Allaah Alone, obedience to Him Alone, and sincere devotion to Him Alone without Shirk (polytheism).
Allaah has taken His servants out of the worship of others towards worship of Him Alone, without any partners – and that is with Inaabah (returning to Him in repentance), sincerity, and singling Him out in Uboodiyyah (servitude). This great foundation of Al-Ikhlaas makes every person who intends to fast question himself regarding his dealings and his words with people; and to examine the qualities from which emerge his speech and actions. Does he intend by them the Face of Allaah, or does he seek what people have? Does he seek praise, commendation, or reputation from them?
Fasting makes the Mu’min hold himself accountable for every word he utters. Therefore, when one of the righteous predecessors intended to speak, he would look at what his heart desired by it, i.e. does he seek the people or the Lord of the people and Paradise?
Indeed, to Allaah belongs the Day – which will be the last and greatest of all days before entering Paradise, the abode of peace. It is the Day when nothing will benefit the slave except his sincerity. It is the Day of the truthful. May Allaah make us and you from them out of His Grace, Generosity, and Mercy. He is the Most Merciful of all the merciful!
It is imperative for the believer to make efforts to discipline himself on Ikhlaas when fasting, and to make it a habit to seek the Face of Allaah when speaking and performing deeds. As Al-Hasan Al-Basri (Rahimahullaah) said, “A person remains in goodness as long as he says and acts for the sake of Allaah.”
It is enough of hypocrisy, enough showing off, enough deceit and enough dishonesty for a person that he lies and makes matters contrary to what pleases Allaah. It is enough injustice on his self that when Allaah sees into the depths of his heart, He finds deceit, falsehood, hypocrisy, or He finds that his inward is darker than his outward.
The worst of people is the one whose private affairs are worse than his public ones, and the best of people is the one whose private affairs are better than his public ones, and his public affairs are good.
One should train himself to ensure that his internal affairs are better than his public affairs. During fasting, when a person abstains from food and drink in front of people, despite being able to enter his home or room and eat whatever he likes without anyone seeing him; he can conceal himself from the eyes of others, he has the ability to eat and drink as he pleases without anyone noticing – but he fasts for twenty-nine or thirty days, training his self on Ikhlaas, training his self for the great matter of self-observation.
What prevents him from isolating himself and eating and drinking, and allowing his body to enjoy? It is the Fear of Allaah, and vigilance (awareness) towards Allaah – these days of Ramadan are a training ground for this great principle!
The Second Matter: As-Sabr (Patience)
As-Sabr (patience) is a combination of righteousness and steadfastness upon obedience and doing good. A slave cannot attain the Pleasure of Allaah except through it. As-Sabr (patience) is one’s determination; it is the determination of the truthful, the one whose faith is certain, and of the good doer – he, whose rank Allaah has elevated in this world and the Hereafter. The Pleasure and Love of Allaah are not attained except through As-Sabr. This is because Allaah, Glorified and Exalted, established His Awliyaa’, the pious, His Prophets, His Messengers on this great foundation of As-Sabr. It is for this reason Allaah poured calamities down upon them, and brought down trials, tribulations, worries, sorrows and afflictions upon them. Their hearts were then caused to be patient; thus, they remained steadfast, and they persevered, and stood firm.
How blessed are the eyes of the patient, and how comforted are the eyes of the pious and the steadfast who have submitted to Allaah, Lord of the worlds. Neither weariness nor fear affected them. Rather, the trials and tribulations increased them in steadfastness, resilience, strength and hope for reward from Allaah – for, when calamities befell them, or misfortunes and hardships afflicted them, they knew that the crisis of the entire universe is in the Hands of the One in Whose Hands is the dominion of the earth and the heavens – (so, they increased in) their firmness and certainty in Allaah.
Patience serves as a training ground in the month of Ramadan; a person refrains from food and drink during fasting, which is one of the most beloved matters to the soul. He also abstains from marital relations, which is one of its most pleasurable physical desires. Regardless of this, he restrains himself from food and drink that Allaah has made lawful for him, and from his spouse which Allaah has made Halaal (lawful) for him – despite her being lawful, he abstains from her out of obedience to Allaah.
It is only appropriate for a believer who has faith in Allaah, who fasts for the sake of Allaah, and who refrains from Halaal, to also refrain from the Haraam. He patiently endures abstaining from the Halaal at the command of Allaah, and so it is incumbent upon him also, to patiently endure refraining from the Haraam (prohibitions) in obedience to Allaah.
Being patient is the training ground of Ramadan, and that is why it is called the month of As-Sabr. As-Sabr is patience in obeying Allaah, and patience in the face of calamities from Allaah.
Amongst the greatest facets (ranks) of patience are patience in the face of calamity, and patience in obedience (to Allaah). ‘Umar (Radia- Allaahu ‘anhu) said, “We found the sweetness of life with Sabr.”
The Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, explaining the virtue of the patient people: “Whoever is patient, Allaah will make him patient.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaari, no. 1469 and Muslim, no.1053]
If there were no virtues in Sabr, Allaah would not have praised the Sabiroon (those who are patient). He (Ta’ala) says in Surat Aal-‘Imran (3:146):
وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الصَّابِرِينَ
“Allaah loves the Sabireen.”
Allaah has testified that He loves the Sabiroon, so when you fast in Ramadan, remember every day, that the worship of fasting contains a secret (i.e., patience), and it contains a matter that Allaah loves.
If only the fasting person – at any moment – could feel that what he is doing of (patiently) enduring the obedience of Allaah and Allaah loves him for it! Whoever senses this, the act of obedience becomes easy for him, and the difficulties, hardships, and challenges become bearable. So, as the first day passes while you feel this, and the second, third, and fourth day passes, you will have a natural aptitude (tendency) of patience, you will find yourself capable of patiently enduring everything that Allaah loves.
What makes many people enter and leave the month of Ramadan without changing anything in their lives is that they are unaware of these meanings and understandings, unaware of what the intended purpose of it is.
If one were to sense in every moment that he is dealing with Allaah, and that Allaah loves his obedience to Him, and that Allaah will take care of its reward, his soul would strengthen, his spirit would elevate, and his reward with Allaah would be magnified!
Every day in the month of Ramadan, the believer stands at the end of the day, just before the sunset, having experienced an entire day. It is true that in this era, with the presence of air conditioning and other means of comfort, we may not fully sense (the challenges of fasting), but there are those who feel it, especially those who work hard and face hardships (throughout the day); when the day is halfway through – especially if the fasting is in the summer heat – as the day reaches the midpoint, they feel the hardship and fatigue. Their insides become thirsty, and their stomachs are hungry, yet they continue to endure; patiently facing the challenges until the call to ‘Asr prayer is pronounced.
When the Adhaan for ‘Asr is pronounced, Shaytaan comes from every direction and from every path, and to some people the Shaytaan approaches him from the door of ‘concession’, saying: ‘You are amongst the excused, Allaah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity, this is hardship! This is suffering!’ However, if he is patient and he perseveres, he will experience a moment at sunset – a moment that every believer should reflect upon, a moment when they should all pause and contemplate! When the sun approaches sunset, and the heat of thirst and hunger is ignited in the human soul, especially in harsh environments, and the slave stands at the end of the day, at the time of sunset with his insides thirsted and hungered for the sake of Allaah, the Most High; he stands at the end of that day… and it is as if his state is saying:
ذَهَـبَ الظَّمَـأُ، وَابْتَلَّـتِ العُـروق، وَثَبَـتَ الأجْـرُ إِنْ شـاءَ الله
“Thahabadh-dhama’, wabtallatil-`uruq, wa thabatal-‘ajru in Shaa Allaah.”
“The thirst is gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is confirmed, if Allaah Wills.” [Abu Dawoud, no. 2357 and authenticated by Al-Albaani and graded Hasan]
This situation is similar to the situation when a calamity befalls a nation, whether on individuals or the community. If Allaah has trained His believing servants to be patient with this act of worship, then (they will be steadfast even) whenever tribulations befall them and the Shaytaan comes to shake their Eeman and Sabr; (with questions like;) where is the victory? Where is the honor of Islam? Where is this…? Where is that…?!
Like the one who stands at the end of the day, exhausted and tired, his soul weakened, and then relief comes to him with the setting of the sun and the completion of his fast, and he will achieve rewards from Allaah (in the Hereafter).
Allaah Alone knows how many times the sun has set, and how many sins were committed. He knows the number of disobedient slaves, wrongdoers, and sinners – those who neither fasted nor stayed up, and remained ignorant of their Lord, and they were unjust to themselves.
And then one day, they fasted sincerely for the sake of Allaah, and when sunset approached; the slave opened up his concerns and grief to Allaah, and turned to Allaah in repentance, eager and seeking (help and forgiveness). Thus, the doors of Heaven were opened for his Du’aa (invocation). He asked Allaah to forgive what had passed of his previous life, and he asked Allaah to forgive his mistakes and shortcomings, and so he was freed from his sins, and the sun set concealing his sins, and he returned (sinless) as on the day his mother gave birth to him.
Each person who is tested with calamity, fasting teaches him Sabr. Fasting teaches that towards the end of Sabr, one will have to face bitterness, hardship, and constriction like how you stand at the end of each fasting day. Fasting makes you realize that any calamity, even if the entire nation collectively undergoes trials – the situation will reach a point of extremity to an extent that the slave may begin doubting himself, his Eeman, and even suspect that Allaah dislikes him, or that Allaah hates him because of what he is suffering – this is the nature of calamities, it has instances of ‘mighty shaking.’ Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Al-Ahzaab (33:10-11) concerning the Sahabah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhum):
إِذْ جَاءُوكُمْ مِنْ فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ وَإِذْ زَاغَتِ الْأَبْصَارُ وَبَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوبُ الْحَنَاجِرَ وَتَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ الظُّنُونَا، هُنَالِكَ ابْتُلِيَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَزُلْزِلُوا زِلْزَالًا شَدِيدًا
“When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when the eyes grew wild (i.e. stared fixedly with horror) and the hearts reached the throats, and you were harboring doubts about Allaah. There, the believers were tried and shaken with a mighty shaking.”
Patience reinforces the endurance of every person who practices it. This happens every day when the slave stands before the setting of the sun – (although,) the problem nowadays is that people are in comfort and luxury, and they don’t feel the bitterness of patience, or the constriction of these great lessons that shake the souls of believers. (Nevertheless,) each day, remind yourself before the sun sets: How many hours have passed?! How (easily) they went by as if it was nothing?!
From here, you will realize the Barakah i.e., the blessing of obedience, the blessing of patience during obedience, the blessing of responding to Allaah, and the goodness in the love of Allaah. You will realize that dealing with Allaah is profitable, and that the (favorable) outcome (the good end) is for those who have Taqwa (piety).
Source:
This article is from ‘Sharh Fiqh As-Siyaam’
By Shaikh (Dr.) Muhammad Ibn Muhammad Al-Mukhtar Ash-Shinqiti
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