II. Hadrat ‘Aishah reported that the Messenger of Allah has said, “Seek Lailatul Qadr on an odd numbered night (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and the 29th) among the last ten (nights) of Ramadan.” [Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Page 270]

III. Hadrat ‘Aishah reported: “I asked the Messenger of Allah: tell me what should I say (pray) on Lailatul Qadr if I know which night it is?” He said: say,

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّى

“O Allah, You are forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me.” [Sunan Tirmidhi, Vol. 2, Page 191]

IV. Hadrat ‘Aishah reported that the Messenger of Allah used to strive hard in devotion in the last ten nights more than at any other time. [Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1, Page 372]

V. Hadrat Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah has said, “When Lailatul Qadr comes, Gabriel comes down with a company of angels who invoke blessings on everyone who is standing or sitting remembering Allah the Great and Glorious. Then when their festival day comes, i.e. the Eid day, He (Allah) speaks proudly of them to his angels saying, “O My angels, what is the reward of a hired servant who has fully accomplished his work?” They say, “Our Lord, his reward is that he should be paid his wages in full.” He says, “O My angels! My male and female servants have fulfilled what I have made obligatory for them, and then have come out raising their voices in supplication. By My Might, Glory, Honour, High dignity and Exalted Station, I will certainly answer them.” Then He says, “Return, I have forgiven you and changed your evil deeds into good deeds.” The Messenger of Allah said, “Then they return having received forgiveness.” [Mishkat, Vol. 1, Page 182]

VI. Hadrat ‘Aishah reported that when the last ten days began, the Messenger of Allah used to prepare himself rigorously for devotion; remain awake at night and (also) keep his family awake. [Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Page 271]

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Haq “Muhaddith-e-Dehlwi” states under the commentary of the above Hadith that:

“Shadda Mizarahu” (tied his lower garment) is a metaphor that the Messenger of Allah used to devote himself completely for the worship of Allah, more than usually in the last ten days of Ramadan. Or, this is metaphor that the Messenger of Allah isolated and secluded himself from his blessed wives. [Ashi’ah al-Lam’at – Vol. 2, Page 115]

Extracted From
Anwaar al-Hadith, Page 162 / 163
by Hadrat Allama Mufti Jalal al-Din Qadiri al-Amjadi

Azamt wala Mahina

Ramadan – Looking for Qadr in odd nights
Narrated by Aisha (Radhiallaho anha):

Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 234

Ramadan – Sadaqat-ul-Fitr
Narrated by Abdullah b ‘Umar (Radhiallaho anho):

Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) ordered the payment of Sadaqat-ul-Fitr before people go out for prayer.
Sahih Muslim

Ramadan – Gates of paradise for women
Narrated by Anas ibn Malik (Radhiallaho anho):

Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “When a woman observes the five times of prayer, fasts during Ramadan, preserves her chastity and obeys her husband, she may enter by any of the gates of Paradise she wishes.”
(Al-Tirmidhi 956, Abu Nu’aym transmitted it in al-Hilyah)

Ramadan – Giving up forged speech and evil acts
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Radhiallaho anho):

Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam)said, “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 127

Ramadan – Not censuring each other for fasting
Narrated by Anas bin Malik (Radhiallaho anho):

We used to travel with Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and neither did the fasting persons criticize those who were not fasting, nor did those who were not fasting criticize the fasting ones.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 168

Ramadan – Be generous and studying Quran
Narrated by Ibn Abbas (Radhiallaho anho):
Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was the most generous amongst the people, and he used to be more so in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel visited him, and Gabriel used to meet him on every night of Ramadan till the end of the month. The Prophet used to recite the Holy

Qur’an to Gabriel, and when Gabriel met him, he used to be more generous than a fast wind (which causes rain and welfare).
Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol. 2 : No. 288

Ramadan High way code

As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu

Ramadan – Nawafil Prayers
Narrated by Abu Huraira (Radhiallaho anho):
Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam)said, “Whoever fasted the month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith (i.e. belief) and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven, and whoever stood for the prayers in the night of Qadr out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven .”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 231

Ramadan – Umra in Ramadan equivalent to Hajj
Narrated by Ibn Abbas (Radhiallaho anho):
When Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) returned after performing his Hajj, he asked Um Sinan Al-Ansari, “What did forbid you to perform Hajj?” She replied, “Father of so-and-so (i.e. her husband) had two camels and he performed Hajj on one of them, and the second is used for the irrigation of our land.” The Prophet said (to her), “Perform ‘Umra in the month of Ramadan, (as it is equivalent to Hajj or Hajj with me (in reward).”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 86

Ramadan – Fasting on one’s behalf
Narrated by Aisha (Radhiallaho anha):
Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam)said, “Whoever died and he ought to have fasted (the missed days of Ramadan) then his guardians must fast on his behalf.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 173

Ramadan – Suhur
Narrated by Anas bin Malik (Radhiallaho anho):
Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam)said, “Take Suhur as there is a blessing in it.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 146

Ramadan – Devils are chained in The month of Ramadan
Narrated by Abu Huraira (Radhiallaho anho):
Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam)said, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 122

Ramadan – Not to fast a day or two before Ramadan
Narrated by Abu Huraira (Radhiallaho anho):
Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “None of you should fast a day or two before the month of Ramadan unless he has the habit of fasting (Nawafil) (and if his fasting coincides with that day) then he can fast that day.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 138

Ramadan – The virtues of Ramadan
Narrated by Abu Huraira (Radhiallaho anho):
Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said “The blessed month has come to you. Allah has made fasting during it obligatory upon you. During it, the gates to Paradise are opened and the gates to hellfire are locked, and the devils are chained. There is a night [during this month] which is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good is really deprived [of something great].”
This is related by Ahmad, an-Nasa’i, and al-Baihaqi.

Ramadan – Looking for Qadr in last ten days
Narrated by Aisha (Radhiallaho anha):
Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) used to practice Itikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, “Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 237

Ramadan – The virtues of Ramadan
Narrated by Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (Radhiallaho anho):
Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan, obeying all of its limitations and guarding himself against what is forbidden, has in fact atoned for any sins he committed before it.”
Ahmad and alBaihaqi related this hadith with a good chain.

Ramadan – The virues of Fasting
Narrated by Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (Radhiallaho anho):
Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said “The fast and the Qur’an are two intercessors for the servant of Allah on the Day of Resurrection. The fast will say: ‘O Lord, I prevented him from his food and desires during the day. Let me intercede for him.’ The Qur’an will say: ‘I prevented him from sleeping at night. Let me intercede for him.’ And their intercession will be accepted.”
Ahmad related this hadith with a sahih chain.

Ramadan – The virtues of Ramadan -2
Narrated by Abu Huraira (Radhiallaho anho):
Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said “The time between the five prayers, two consecutive Friday prayers, and two consecutive Ramadans are expiations for all that has happened during that period, provided that one has avoided the grave sins.”
Sahih Muslim

The Prophet (PBUH) said “Pass on knowledge from me even if it is only one verse”

It’s surely unbelieve how quickly Ramadan has almost come to an end this year once again. It feels like the month just began and we were all preparing ourselves for it. Rather now, we are preparing ourselves for Eid ul Fitr instead. Even though at the start of the month, it seems as if we have so many weeks ahead of us to fast and it will take quite a bit of time before we come towards the end. I must honestly admit that I miss this beautiful month of blessings once it is all over and done with. And of course how can I forget to mention all those sehri’s and iftari’s and looking forward to eating dates, fruit chaats, pakoras, dhai baras, paratha’s, etc. etc. on such a regular basis. Foods we hardly pay attention to during the rest of the year, yet they taste so good and we look forward to enjoying them during this blessed month It’s kinda funny though, isn’t it?

So most of us are only a night or so away from that ever-powerful and blessed night. The greatest nights of all nights during this month of fasting before the ‘ actual ‘ end rolls around. I would just like to take a moment and convey the message to all, that it is one of the most precious nights of all nights, this night of Lailatul Qadr. Let’s all please pray together as much as we can and remember Allah swt and his graciousness and mercy that he bestows upon us everyday of our lives. Let’s all pray for forgiveness of our sins from the Al-Mighty and request that he accepts the repentance for all our mistakes whether made intentionally or unintentionally. Let’s pray that ( as Muslims) we may try to unite and assist one another as much as we can in times of desperation and despair. I don’t feel that anyone should feel helpless and hesitant going to another fellow Muslim brother or sister ( in Islam ) in times of need or urgency. Let’s pray that may Allah swt always give us that rank and capability to help one another whenever possible instead of turning our backs and walking away. Whether it be financial, moral, spiritual or emotional support, we should be there for one another, as that is what Islam and being Muslim is all about. It’s something we should learn from practice not only during this one month time span but rather all year round.

I don’t think any practice is impossible or difficult if we are just willing to at least give it a chance and seek a reward from Allah swt only for it at the end of the day. He is the Supreme-being that will surely listen to our hearts and know what is on our minds.

Also please do pray for the well-being of Pakistan (as a whole) and our countrymen. Even if you do not directly have family, friends or relatives living there, I am sure that there would be some sort of connection that your parents or grandparents would have with their roots being attached to Pakistan in one way or another.

Aside from that, I would request that you all remember those women in your special of special prayers that recently died during the dreadful mishap, whilst the distribution of flour (atta) was in progress. It was deeply saddening and disturbing to hear about and view on television the incident that happened with these women and some children of theirs, that were only struggling for the most needed commodity of commodities in order to keep their families fed and alive. Afterall, isn’t it extremely shameful and disgusting that something like this had to happen over such a commodity of flour. We are not even talking of an item of luxury here people. For the love of God, it was an item of necessity and something as pathetic and tragic as this had to happen?

It really didn’t have to all happen the way it did and it is unfortunate. Just hearing about it all brought a few tears to my eyes only because of the thought of those children that these deceased women left behind that were needing to be fed. What will happen to them now and where will they go to receive that maternal love and caring that they always had and lived for? Will there be a replacement for that unconditional love that they lost within minutes. Someone please tell me, how fair was that to them and their families? Why did the poor and needy ( who have challenges and struggles in life of their own already) have to be punished for all of this nonsense? And of course as I write about all this, I tend to get teary-eyed and emotional once again myself.

Last but not least, I would simply request from all of you ( not only during Ramadan) but rather all year round and in all seasons and times to come to try and lend a hand to one another. Even if that means to spare some of your precious time for someone that needs your advice or undivided attention. It doesn’t always have to be financial assistance, even providing moral support may mean a lot to someone. You would never know how they would be benefitting from all that you would be doing for them. Do keep in mind that we often ask of others to remember us in their prayers and they expect the same from us, so then at any given time each of us is either praying for someone or someone is praying for us and our good health and happiness. That is how it should be. As the Holy Qur’an and our religion of Islam dictates brotherhood and generosity towards mankind, we should surely be on top of that first and foremost if indeed we are practicing Muslims.

May Allah (swt) always allow us to be led on the path of goodness and justice. May he also allow us to live a life that safeguards our dignity and self-respect and keep us away from all evils & sins…Insh’Allah. Beyond all that, Allah swt is well aware of what’s best for all of us.

Thank you all for your time and consideration.

Reaping the opportunities in Ramadan:
The Prophet’s (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) companions used to say, “Let not the day that you fast and the day that you do not fast be equal.” It is important that one’s behaviour, attitude and outlook should not be the same on the day that one is fasting and when one is not fasting. There should be a change, as one is trying to worship Allah more, so one’s fasting should have an effect.

Lesson 1:
Gaining taqwa (fear of Allah)

Allah legislated fasting for gaining taqwa,

“O you who believe fasting has been prescribed upon you as it has been prescribed upon those before you, so that you may attain taqwa.” (meaning of Sooratul Baqarah (2):138)

Tawqa in this case means, to make a shield between oneself and Allah’s anger and hellfire. So we should ask ourselves, when we break our fasts, ‘Has this fasting day made us fear Allah more ? Has it resulted that we want to protect ourselves from the hellfire ?’

Lesson 2:
Drawing us closer to Allah

This is achieved by reciting and reflecting on Al-Qur’an during the night and the day, attending the taraweh prayers, remembering Allah, sitting in circles of knowledge and for those who can, making umrah.

The Prophet (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) said,”An umrah in the month of Ramadan is equal (in reward) to performing a hajj.” (Ahmad & Ibn Majah).

Also for those who can, making itikaf (seclusion) in the last ten days of Ramadan, so to leave all worldly pursuits and seclude oneself in a masjid just thinking of Allah, this brings us closer to Allah.

When one sins, one feels distant from Allah. That is why one might find it hard to read and reflect on the Qur’an and come to the masjid. However, the obedient worshipper feels closer to Allah and wants to worship Allah more, because Allah forgives and is merciful.

Lesson 3:
Acquiring patience and strong will

Allah has mentioned patience more than seventy times in the Qur’an and has commanded patience in more than sixteen ways in His Book. So when one fasts, and gives up one’s food and drink, and one’s marital sexual relations for those hours, one learns restraint and patience. This ummah needs men and women that are strong willed, who can stand upon the Sunnah and the Book of Allah and not waver in front of the enemies of Allah. We do not need emotional people, who raise slogans and shout, but when the time comes to stand upon something firm, they cannot do so, they waver.

Lesson 4:
Striving for ihsan (righteousness & sincerity)
and staying away from riyaa’ (showing off)

Ihsan means to worship Allah as if one sees Him, for if one does not see Him, He sees all. Hasan al-basri said,”By Allah in the last twenty years, I have not said a word or taken something with my hand or refrained to take something with my hand or stepped forward or stepped back, except that I have thought before I have done any action,’Does Allah love this action ? Is Allah pleased with this action ?’ ” So when one is fasting, one should gain this quality of watching oneself and also staying away from riyah (showing off).

That is why Allah said in a qudsi hadith, “..Fasting is for Me and I will reward it..” (Bukhari) Allah singles out fasting from all other types of worship saying, “..Fasting is for Me..”, because no one knows whether you are fasting or not, except Allah. For example, when one is praying or giving charity or making tawwaf, one can be seen by the people, so one might do the action seeking the praise of the people.

Sufian at-thawri used to spend the nights and the days crying and the people used to ask him, “Why do you cry, is it due to the fear of Allah ?”, he said,’No.’, they said,”Is it due to the fear of the hell-fire ?”, he said, ‘No. It is not the fear of Allah that makes me cry, what makes me cry is that I have been worshiping Allah all these years and doing scholarly teaching, but I am not certain that my intentions are purely for Allah.’

Lesson 5:
Refinement of manners, especially those
related to truthfulness and discharging trusts.

The Prophet (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) said,”Whoever does not abandon falsehood in word and action, then Allah, the Mighty and the Majestic has no need that he should leave his food and drink.” (Bukhari)

And the Prophet (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) said,”It may be that a fasting person attains nothing but hunger and thirst from his fast.” (Ibn Majah)

What we learn from this, is that we must pay attention to the purification of our manners. The Prophet (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) said,”I was sent to perfect good manners.” (Muwatta) So we must check ourselves, are we following the behaviour of the Prophet (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him). For example, Do we give salam to those we don’t know and those we do know? Do we follow the manners of Islam, by telling the truth and only telling the truth? Are we merciful to the creation?

Lesson 6:
Recognising that one can change for the better
The Prophet (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) said,”Every son of Adam sins and the best of the sinners are those who repent.” (Ibn Majah) Allah provides many opportunities to repent to Him and seek His forgiveness. If one was disobedient they can become obedient.

Lesson 7:
Being more charitable
Ibn Abbas said,”The Prophet (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) was the most charitable amongst the people, and he used to be more so in the month of Ramadan when Gibreel used to meet him on every night of Ramadan till the end of the month. The Prophet (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) used to recite the Holy Qur’an to Gibreel.” (Bukhari)

The Prophet (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) said, “He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him, without nothing being reduced from the fasting person’s reward.” (Tirmidhi )

Lesson 8:
Sensing the unity of the Muslims
The Prophet (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) said, “…Those of you who will live after me, will see many differences. Then you must cling on to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided khalifah. Hold fast to it and stick to it..” (Abu Dawud)

It is possible for Muslims to be a single body, but this will only be achieved when obedience is only to Allah and His Messenger. One senses unity, because the Muslims pray and fast together.

Lesson 9:
Learning discipline
The Prophet (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) said, “Bilal makes the adhan, while it is still night; therefore, eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktum makes the adhan.” (Bukhari)

The Prophet (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) made us adhere to this strictness. Similarly one cannot knowingly break the fast before the sunset, as this will not be accepted by Allah. Muslims should learn to be very strict in their lives, because they are people of an important message, which they mould their lives around.

Lesson 10:
Teaching the young to worship Allah
It was the practice of the people of Madinah, that during the fast of Ashura (which is now a recommended fast of one day) to get their children to fast with them. When the children would cry of hunger and thirst, their parents would distract their attention by giving them some sort of toy to play with. The children would break their fast with their parents. (mentioned in Bukhari) So the young should be brought to the masjid and they should pray with their parents, so that they are able to get into the habit of becoming worshippers of Allah.

If one does not encourage children to fast when they are young, they will find it very difficult to fast for thirty days at the age of puberty. This is why the Prophet (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) said, “Command your children to pray at the age of seven and beat them at the age of ten (if they do not pray)” (Hakim)

Lesson 11:
Caring for one’s health
Fasting teaches Muslims to take care of their health and to build strong bodies. The Prophet (may Allah send his blessing and peace upon him) said,”A strong believer is better and is more beloved to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone.” (Muslim)

O Allah !
For us let this month of Ramadan be a period of peace,
faith safety and total submission to Thy will;
make us walk apace swiftly to that
which Thou likes and approves.

O Allah !
Pour out much blessings on us in this month, make available for us its generous good and assistance, and keep us safe from the harm, evil, misfortune and mischiefthat may try to trap us in this month.
(Aameen)

May Allah Subhanuhu Wa Ta’ala keep all of us guided on Siraat-al-Mustaqeem, and grant us the taufeeq to utilize this most blessed month of Ramadan. May Allah accept our fasts, sujood o qayaam and tauba for indeed His mercy prevails over His wrath, and indeed we are sinners in dire need of Allah’s mercy.
(Aameen Ya Rabb-ul-Aalaameen)

Wassalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah!

Ordinary Fasting means abstaining from food, drink and sexual satisfaction.

Special Fasting means keeping one’s ears, eyes, tongue, hands and feet — and all other organs — free from sin.

Extra-special Fasting means fasting of the heart from unworthy concerns and worldly thoughts, in total disregard of everything but Allah, Great and Glorious is He.

This kind of Fast is broken by thinking of worldly matters, except for those conducive to religious ends, since these constitute provision for the Hereafter and are not of this lower world.. Those versed in the spiritual life of the heart have even said that a sin is recorded against one who concerns himself all day with arrangements for breaking his Fast. Such anxiety stems from lack of trust in the bounty of Allah, Great and Glorious is He, and from lack of certain faith in His promised sustenance.

To this third degree belong the Prophets, the true awliya and the intimates of Allah. It does not lend itself to detailed examination in words, as its true nature is better revealed in action. It consists in utmost dedication to Allah, Great and Glorious is He, to the neglect of everything other than Allah, Exalted is He. It is bound up with the significance of His words: ‘Say: “Allah (sent it down)”: then leave them to play in their vain discussions.’ [al-An'am,6:91]

Inward Requirements

As for Special Fasting, this is the kind practiced by the righteous. It means keeping all one’s organs free from sin and six things are required for its accomplishment:

1. SEE NOT WHAT DISPLEASES ALLAH
A chaste regard, restrained from viewing anything that is blameworthy or reprehensible, or that distracts the heart and diverts it from the remembrance of Allah, Great and Glorious is He.

Said the Prophet, on him be peace: ‘The furtive glance is one of the poisoned arrows of Satan, on him be Allah’s curse. Whoever forsakes it for fear of Allah will receive from Him, Great and Glorious is He, a faith the sweetness of which he will find within his heart.’

Jabir relates from Anas that Allah’s Messenger, on him be peace, said:

‘Five things break a man’s Fast: lying, backbiting, gossiping, perjury and a lustful gaze.’

2. SPEAK NOT…
Guarding one’s tongue from idle chatter, lying, gossiping, obscenity, rudeness, arguing and controversy; making it observe silence and occupying it with remembrance of Allah, Great and Glorious is He, and with recitation of Quran. This is the fasting of the tongue.

Said Sufyan: ‘Backbiting annuls the Fast.’ Layth quotes Mujahid as saying: ‘Two habits annul Fasting: backbiting and telling lies.’

The Prophet, on him be peace, said:

‘Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is Fasting he should not use foul or foolish talk. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say: “I am Fasting, I am Fasting!”‘

According to Tradition: ‘Two women were Fasting during the time of Allah’s Messenger, on him be peace. They were so fatigued towards the end of the day, from hunger and thirst, that they were on the verge of collapsing. They therefore sent a message to Allah’s Messenger, on him be peace, requesting permission to break their Fast. In response, the Prophet, on him be peace, sent them a bowl and said: “Tell them to vomit into it what they have eaten.”

One of them vomited and half filled the bowl with fresh blood and tender meat, while the other brought up the same so that they filled it between them. The onlookers were astonished.

Then the Prophet, on him be peace, said: “These two women have been Fasting from what Allah made lawful to them, and have broken their Fast on what Allah, Exalted is He, made unlawful to them. They sat together and indulged in backbiting, and here is the flesh of the people they maligned!”‘

3. HEAR NOT…
Closing one’s ears to everything reprehensible; for everything unlawful to utter is likewise unlawful to listen to.
That is why Allah, Great and Glorious is He, equated the eavesdropper with the profiteer, in His words, Exalted is He:
‘Listeners to falsehood, consumers of illicit gain.’ [al-Ma'idah, 5:42]

Allah, Great and Glorious is He, also said:
‘Why do their rabbis and priests not forbid them to utter sin and consume unlawful profit?’ [al-Ma'idah, 5:63]

Silence in the face of backbiting is therefore unlawful. Allah, Exalted is He, said: ‘You are then just like them.’ [al-Nisa, 4:140] That is why the Prophet, on him be peace, said: ‘The backbiter and his listener are copartners in sin.’

4. DO NOT…
Keeping all other limbs and organs away from sin: the hands and feet from reprehensible deeds, and the stomach from questionable food at the time for breaking Fast. It is meaningless to Fast — to abstain from lawful food – only to break one’s Fast on what is unlawful.

A man who Fast like this may be compared to one who builds a castle but demolishes a city. Lawful food injurious in quantity not in quality, so Fasting is to reduce the former. A person might well give up excessive use of medicine, from fear of ill effects, but he would be a fool to switch to taking poison. The unlawful is a poison deadly to religion, while the lawful is a medicine, beneficial in small doses but harmful in excess.

The object of Fasting is to induce moderation.

Said the Prophet, on him be peace: ‘How many of those who Fast get nothing from it but hunger and thirst!’

This has been taken to mean those who break their Fast on unlawful food. Some say it refers to those who abstain from lawful food, but break their Fast on human flesh through backbiting, which is unlawful. Others consider it an allusion to those who do not guard their organs from sin.

5. AVOID OVEREATING
Not to over-indulge in lawful food at the time of breaking Fast, to the point of stuffing one’s belly. There is no receptacle more odious to Allah, Great and Glorious is He, than a belly stuffed full with lawful food.

Of what use is the Fast as a means of conquering Allah’s enemy and abating appetite, if at the time of breaking it one not only makes up for all one has missed during the daytime, but perhaps also indulges in a variety of extra foods? It has even become the custom to stock up for Ramadan with all kinds of foodstuffs, so that more is consumed during that time than in the course of several other months put together.

It is well known that the object of Fasting is to experience hunger and to check desire, in order to reinforce the soul in piety. If the stomach is starved from early morning till evening, so that its appetite is aroused and its craving intensified, and it is then offered delicacies and allowed to eat its fill, its taste for pleasure is increased and its force exaggerated; passions are activated which would have lain dormant under normal conditions.

The spirit and secret nature of Fasting is to weaken the forces which are Satan’s means of leading us back to evil. It is therefore essential to cut down one’s intake to what one would consume on a normal night, when not Fasting.. No benefit is derived from the Fast if one consumes as much as one would usually take during the day and night combined.

Moreover, one of the properties consists in taking little sleep during the daytime, so that one feels the hunger and thirst and becomes conscious of the weakening of one’s powers, with the consequent purification of the heart.

One should let a certain degree of weakness carry over into the night, making it easier to perform the night Prayers (tahajjud) and to recite the praises (awrad). It may then be that Satan will not hover around one’s heart, and that one will behold the Kingdom of Heaven. The Night of Destiny represents the night on which something of this Kingdom is revealed.

This is what is meant by the words of Allah, Exalted is He:
‘We surely revealed it on the Night of Power.’ [al-Qadr, 97:1]

Anyone who puts a bag of food between his heart and his breast becomes blind to this revelation. Nor is keeping the stomach empty sufficient to remove the veil, unless one also empties the mind of everything but Allah, Great and Glorious is He. That is the entire matter, and the starting point of it all is cutting down on food.

6. LOOK TO ALLAH WITH FEAR AND HOPE
After the Fast has been broken, the heart should swing like a pendulum between fear and hope. For one does not know if one’s Fast will be accepted, so that one will find favor with Allah, or whether it will be rejected, leaving one among those He abhors. This is how one should be at the end of any act of worship one performs.

It is related of al-Hasan ibn Abil Hasan al-Basri that he once passed by a group of people who were laughing merrily. He said: ‘Allah, Great and Glorious is He, has made the month of Ramadan a racecourse, on which His creatures compete in His worship. Some have come in first and won, while others have lagged behind and lost. It is absolutely amazing to find anybody laughing and playing about on the day when success attends the victors, and failure the wasters. By Allah, if the veil were lifted off, the doer of good would surely be preoccupied with his good works and the evildoer with his evil deeds.’ In too full of joy to indulge in idle sport, while for one who has suffered rejection laughter will be precluded by remorse.

Of al-Ahnaf ibn Qays it is reported that he was once told: ‘You are an aged elder; Fasting would enfeeble you.’ But he replied: ‘By this I am making ready for a long journey, Obedience to Allah, Glorified is He, is easier to endure than His punishment.’

Such are the inwardly significant meanings of Fasting.

Al-Ghazali, Inner Dimensions of Islamic W

2. Intend to fast every day with Iman and pure intention seeking the reward from Allah alone. The Prophet peace be upon him said, “Whoever fasts in Ramadan with Iman and seeking reward (from Allah) his past sins will be forgiven”. (Bukhari)

3. Read the whole Qur’an at least once as the Prophet peace be upon him did.

4. Have Suhoor as the Prophet peace be upon him said, “Have Suhoor because it is blessed”.

5. Make Du’a during the fast because the Prophet peace be upon him said that three people’s supplication is not rejected one of them is the fasting person. Ask for the good of this life and the next for yourself, your family and Muslims in general.

6. Make Dua before opening the fast. The Prophet peace be upon him said, “The fasting person has a supplication that is answered when he opens his fast”.

7. Give Sadaqah and be good to people. The Prophet peace be upon him was the most generous of people and he was most generous in Ramadan.

8. Avoid anything that diminishes the fast such as, lying, backbiting, cheating, getting angry. The Prophet peace be upon him said “Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink.” [Bukhari] 9. Do not eat too much after Iftar.

10. Ask for forgiveness since this is the month Allah frees people from the fire.

11. Pray At-Tarawih with Khushoo. If you pray in the Masjid complete the Salah with the Imam. If you pray at home prolong the Salah as long as you can. The Prophet peace be upon him said, “Whoever prays during Ramadan with Iman and seeking reward (from Allah) his past sins will be forgiven”.

12. Feed the poor and invite others for Iftar. The Prophet peace be upon him said, “Whoever gives Iftar to someone fasting he will have the same reward without decreasing the reward of the person fasting”.

13. Try harder the last ten nights especially the odd nights. The prophet would strive in Ramadan more than he would in any other month and more so in the last ten days.

14. Say this Dua in the nights that Laitul-Qadr is likely to fall on: Allhumma innaka afuwun tuhibbul-afwa fa’fu anni (O Allah you are Forgiving and love forgiveness so forgive me).

15. Ask Allah to accept all your good actions during this month.

By Abu Talha

Say (O Muhammad ): “O Allah! Possessor of the kingdom, You give the kingdom to whom You will, and You take the kingdom from whom You will, and You endue with honour whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will. In Your Hand is the good. Verily, You are Able to do all things.
You make the night to enter into the day, and You make the day to enter into the night (i.e. increase and decrease in the hours of the night and the day during winter and summer), You bring the living out of the dead, and You bring the dead out of the living. And You give wealth and sustenance to whom You will, without limit (measure or account). (3:26,27)