Advice to Muslims Regarding Ramadaan

[Umm Khattab]

Advice to Muslims Regarding Ramadaan

Ramadaan is the month in which the rewards of our good deeds are multiplied, the doors of Hell are closed, the gates of Paradise are open and the shayaateen 'devils' are locked up. These factors undoubtedly encourage us to increase our good deeds, worship, taqwaa (fear of God) and eemaan (belief and actions); and these are the reasons why Allah (SWT) ordered the believers to fast in this blessed month. The Almighty says in His Book:



Oh you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those [nations] before you, so that you may attain piety. (EMQ al-Baqarah, 2:183)


Those who fast in order to "experience what the poor people are going through" or "imagine what it is like to have no food and water" are fasting for the wrong reasons. Fasting is not only about abstaining from food and drink between daylight hours. It also entails giving up your desires, customs, traditions, habits and disobedience in order to become completely subservient to Almighty Allah (SWT) – the way a believer should always be.



Bearing this in mind, it is essential for us to understand that we must utilise this blessed month as much as possible, by changing our old ways and doing many good deeds (that are based upon the Qur'aan and Sunnah). Every year the Sahaabah (Companions) would shed tears and beg Allah to give them the opportunity to reach Ramadaan (without passing away). This was because they had the right 'aqeedah and were well aware of the rewards and blessings the month carried with it.



If you find that every year you change during Ramadaan, but then return back to your old ways: know that you may have not achieved the main purpose of fasting – to attain taqwaa. The Messenger Muhammad (SAW) said:



A person may fast, but he will gain nothing from his fasting except hunger. And a person may perform qiyaam [stay awake at night whilst praying, reciting the Qur'aan, studying Islam etc.] but gain nothing but sahar [i.e. staying awake and not getting any reward]. (Sunan Ibn Maajah, hadeeth no.1690)


Hence, make sure you do not waste this month, for you do not know if you will live to see another. If you are from those who listen to music, free-mix, vote for the kuffaar 'non-Muslims', smoke cigarettes, watch haraam 'forbidden' movies, eat stunned (haraam) meat, follow ration over divine text or are busy with dunyaa 'worldly life' (such as by over working or studying the non-Muslims' way of life in college or university etc.) and are negligent of your duties, such as supporting jihaad and working to establish Allah's Deen; this is the perfect opportunity for you to repent and start doing your obligations.



We have produced this short piece of advice in order to remind ourselves and the Muslim Ummah of making the most out of Ramadaan. Below are some suggestions of how we can keep ourselves busy with worship in this month, what actions we can do to earn more reward and how we can stop ourselves from gaining nothing but hunger and thirst whilst fasting.



Start fasting when the moon has been sighted


Once the moon has been sighted by a trustworthy Muslim: Ramadaan has entered; regardless of what your group or the Saudi government says. Many people have missed the first day of Ramadaan just because their group or country they love has decided Ramadaan has not entered. This is the worst possible start to Ramadaan as it involves missing an obligatory fast for the sake of partisanship or nationalism – two acts of jaahiliyyah.



2. Do your obligations first



It is wrong for Muslims who have recently started practicing the Deen to concentrate on performing mandoobaat 'recommended' and nawaafil 'optional' deeds, if they have months, or even years, of obligatory salawaat 'prayers' to make up for. There is an Islamic principle which clearly states that the recommended is on-hold until the obligatory has been fulfilled. Therefore, if you have missed years of prayers, it is better for you to make them up (as they are the rights of Allah) instead of performing recommended prayers. Or perform both if you can.



The reason why we say this is because we have seen many young Muslims who make utmost effort to pray Taraweeh (as they have been told by innovators that your fast is incomplete unless you perform Salaat ut-Taraweeh) whilst failing to pray their five obligatory prayers throughout the day.



Our advice to Muslims is that if you cannot perform both recommended and obligatory deeds: concentrate on the obligatory. For example, if you have previously missed prayers (whilst you were not practicing), make those up after each prayer, or take half an hour out every evening in order to make up for missed prayers. BUT DO NOT become busy with recommended deeds whilst you have obligations to fulfil. The obligatory (waajib) takes priority over the recommended (mandoob or nawaafil).



3. Do not make the radio, television or calendar your Islamic standard



We break our fasts when Maghrib has entered (when the sun has set), not when the calendar or radio says. Radios and calendars are based upon predictions (or calculations); therefore, do not take them as fact. You can use them as rough guidelines, but if you can see that Maghrib has not entered, do not open your fast, even if everyone else has. Follow the text, not the people.



4. Eat halaal



If you are going to break your fast in the "mosques" make sure that the food is halaal. Since we (Muslims in the West) are living between the kuffaar, the original rule is different in comparison to living in a Muslim country. In Muslim countries the meat is un-stunned, but in the West most meat is stunned; therefore, the original rule is that you must verify first.



5. Do not invite kuffaar for iftaar



Iftaar (the meal to break one's fast) is karaamah (a privilege and honour) for Muslims only. Therefore it should not be shared with the kuffaar 'non-Muslims'. Do not hide your love and allegiance for the kuffaar by inviting them for iftaar under the pretext of "giving da'wah" (inviting them to Islam). If you want to give them da'wah invite them for a different meal, not for iftaar. The Prophet (SAW) said:



Do not have companionship except with a believer. And do feed your food except to a taqie [person who has taqwaa i.e. a believer]. (Sunan Abee Daawud, hadeeth no.4832)



The Messenger Muhammad (SAW) and his Companions (RA) would never invite the kuffaar for iftaar – as it is not allowed to do so.



6. Make plenty of du'aa



The Messenger Muhammad (SAW) informed us that our supplications and prayers are answered in the month of Ramadaan. Therefore, ask Allah (SWT) abundantly for guidance and firm eemaan. Also, do not forget your Muslim brothers and sisters who are in prison and are being tortured by the enemies of Allah. Ask Allah (SWT) to give the Ummah victory over the disbelievers and to support the mujaahideen wherever they are.



7. Wake up for suhoor



Try to make utmost effort to wake up for "sehri". The Messenger of Allah (SAW) informed us that the pre-dawn meal is what distinguishes our fasts from the fasts of the non-Muslims.



Also, do not be from those who sleep from Fajr to Zuhr, and then go back to sleep until just before Maghrib (to catch 'Asr). The fast of these people is almost completely pointless. Like we have mentioned before, fasting is not only about abstaining from eating and drinking during daylight hours.



8. Do plenty of good deeds



In general, Ramadaan is the month in which you should increase all your good deeds. Give plenty of da'wah by doing talks, meeting friends or producing leaflets. Spend more time reciting the Qur'aan and memorise verses and ahaadeeth. Donate as much as possible, especially toward those who are working to establish Allah's Deen. And most importantly, make sure you continue to do the good deeds and habits you have developed during Ramadaan once the blessed month has finished.

[Umm Khattab]

:sl:

Insha'Allah do remember me and the Muslim Ummah in your sincere Duas. And recite this supplication often:
O ALLAH! FORGIVE THE FOLLOWERS OF MUHAMMAD...MAY ALLAH'S PEACE & BLESSINGS BE UPON HIM.

[MetSudaisTwice]

salam
ameen
may allah guide us all in this blessed month
wasalam

[Umm Safiya]

Assalâmu 'alaykum wa Rahmatullâhi wa Barakâthu..

I was wondering, I come from a non-muslim family, and it's normal and "culture" that we sit down and eat together.. Of course I don't eat meat that is not halal or anything, but we sit down and eat together.. So here in Ramadhân, at iftâr, can I still eat with my family?

:w: