Ramadan Advice - Shaykh Ninowy
The holy month of Ramadan has come, and it is a special occasion to all, but especially to the People of
Tasawuff. This is the time where body, heart and mind purification occurs. But only if you expose yourself to it,
with your presistant efforts, extra worship, and re-shaping yourself and your commitments.
Two things I would like you to to increase in this Holy month:
1- the number of times you send your Salams to our Beloved Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam
2- The number of Ayahs of the Qu'ran you recite daily. As this is the month of Qur'an.
Remember, that some think this is the month to eat, when infact, this is the month not to eat a lot.
Remember that you do not only abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset during this month, but
to go to a higher level by:
1- Commanding your organs and limbs ( including tongue, eyes, ears, hands) to abstain from all that's not good.
This is extremely important.
2- Commanding your thoughts that cross your mind to abstain from all that's not good. This comes with
training, and perseverance, so please start.
Khutbah (Sermon) of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam) about
Ramadan
'O you who believe, prescribed for you is the Fast, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that haply
you will have taqwa.' Qur`an 2:183
'A great month, a blessed month, a month containing a night which is better than a thousand months has
approached you people. Allah has appointed the observance of fasting during it as an obligatory duty, and the
passing of its nights in prayer as a voluntary practice. If someone draws near to Allah during it with some good
act he will be like one who fulfills an obligatory duty in another month, and he who fulfills an obligatory duty in
it will be like one who fulfills seventy obligatory duties in some other month. It is the month of endurance, and
the reward of endurance is paradise. It is the month of sharing with others, and a month in which the believer's
provision is increased. If someone gives one who has been fasting something with which to break his fast it will
provide forgiveness of his wrong actions and save him from the Fire, and he will have a reward equal to the
fasting man's reward without his reward being diminished in any way... Allah gives this reward to anyone who
gives one who has been fasting some milk mixed with water, or a date, or a drink of water with which to break
his fast, and anyone who gives a full meal to one who has been fasting will be given a drink by Allah and will
not thirst until he enters Paradise. It is a month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness, and
whose end is freedom from the Fire. If anyone makes things easy for his slave during it, Allah will forgive him
and free him from the Fire.'
From a khutba (sermon) given by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, on the last day of Shaban.
Reported by Salman al-Farsi (Mishkat al Masabih).
Some Hadiths About Ramadan
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger as saying: 'Ramadan, a blessed month, has cometo you during which
Allah has made it obligatory for you to fast. In it the gates of the Garden are opened, the gates of the Fire are
locked, and the rebellious Shaytan is chained. In it Allah has a night which is better than a thousand months. He
who is deprived of its good indeed suffered deprivation.' Ahmad and Nasa'i transmitted it.
Every good deed will be rewarded from ten to seven hundred fold except fasting which is endured for My sake
and which I shall reward.' Hadith Qudsi, Sahih al-Bukhari
'By Him Who holds my life in His hand the breath of the fasting man's mouth is more fragrant before God and
better pleasing to Him than redolent musk. 'Sahih Muslim
'Paradise has a gate which is called al-Rayyan through which not one shall enter except those who have
observed the fast.'Sahih al-Bukhari
'Two joys are prepared for him who observes the fast, the joy of breaking the fast and that of meeting his
Lord.' Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim
Excerpts from the Book of the Mysteries of Fasting from the
Ihya Ulum al-Deen of Imam al-Ghazali
'Praise be to Allah who has shown great favor to His servants, Who has frustrated the hopes and plans of
Shaytan by making fasting a bulwark and a shield for His friends.'
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, 'The reward of the fasting man will be generous beyond
imagination or estimate.' And so it should be because fasting belongs to Allah and by virtue of this relationship
it has been rendered noble. The fast belongs to Allah in two respects. First because it is a form of desisting and
relinquishing, in its very nature concealed from human sight, whereas all the other acts of worship are apparent
and exposed to it. And secondly because it is a means of vanquishing the enemy of Allah, Shaytan, who works
through the appetites and desires. These appetites and desires are increased by eating and drinking. For this
reason the Prophet said, 'Shaytan affects the son of Adam by pervading his blood. Let him therefore make this
difficult for Shaytan by means of hunger.' For the same reason he told A'isha, 'Persist in knocking on the door of
Paradise.' When she asked what she should knock with he replied, 'With hunger.'
The excellence of fasting established, what follows is a basic description of the outward and inward conditions
for fasting.
Outward conditions for fasting
1. The first outward duty is to watch the beginning of the month of Ramadan and announce it at the
observation of the new moon (al-hilal). If clouds make the observation of the new moon impossible then
the length of Shaban should be extended to thirty days. By observation we mean actual sighting of the
new moon. Anyone who hears a trustworthy witness say that he has seen the new moon and believes
him, fasting then becomes incumbent on him.
2. The second outward duty is intention (niyyah). Every night before the dawn of the following day one
should specifically and deliberately entertain the intention of fasting. If he should entertain the intention
to fast the month of Ramadan but fails to renew his intention every night his fast would not be valid...
3. The third duty is that, as long as he remembers that he is fasting, the individual should abstain from
intentionally allowing any material substance such as food, drink, snuff and enema, to enter his body...
Whatever enters the body unintentionally, such as dust, or water, during the rinsing of the mouth will not
invalidate the fast...
4. The fourth duty is abstinence from sexual intercourse...
5. The fifth duty is abstinence from deliberate seminal emission.
6. The sixth outward duty is abstinence from vomiting. If one cannot help it however, his fast remains
intact and valid.
Practices connected with the Fast
1. Delaying the time of suhur (until near the time of daybreak).
2. Speeding the breaking of the fast by eating dates or drinking water before performing the prayer.
3. Generous giving throughout the month.
4. Special study of the Our' an.
5. Retreat (i'tikaf) into the mosque, especially during the last ten days of Ramadan (in which the Night of
Power, laylat ul-Qadr, falls).
Inward conditions of fasting
Fasting is of three grades:
A. The fasting of the general public (sawm al-umun)
B. The fasting of the select few (sawm al-khusus)
C. The fasting of the elite among the select few (sawm kusus al-khusus)
The fasting of the general public involves refraining from satisfying the appetites of the stomach and the
appetites of sex and is described in the section on Outward conditions.
The fasting of the select few is to keep the ears, the eyes, the tongue, and hands, the feet and other senses free
from wrong actions. It consists of:
1. Refraining from looking at anything disapproved, or anything which occupies the person and distracts
him from remembering Allah.
2. Keeping the tongue free from raving, lying, backbiting, tale-bearing, obscenity, abusive speech,
wrangling and hypocrisy.
3. Closing the ears to every reprehensible thing because everything which is unlawful to utter is also
unlawful to hear.
4. Restraining the limbs from wrong actions as well as avoiding questionable foods at the breaking of the
fast.
5. Not overeating when breaking the fast.
6. Remaining in a state of suspense between fear and hope after breaking the fast as to whether or not the
fast has been accepted by Allah.
The fast of the elite among the select few is the fast of the heart from mean thoughts and worldly worries and
its complete unconcern with anything but Allah and the Last Day, as well as by concern over this world, except
insofar as it promotes the deen (life-transaction), which belongs to the hereafter.
Every act of worship is possessed of an outward form and an inner secret, an external husk and internal path.
The husks are of different grades and each grade has different layers. It is for you to choose whether to be
content with the husk or join the company of the wise and learned.
Breaking the Fast
'A human being has not filled any vessel which is worse than a belly. Enough for the son of Adam are some
mouthfuls which keep his back straight, but if there is not escape he should fill it a third with food, a third with
drink, and leave a third empty.'
Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah
'Many a one who fasts gets nothing from his fasting but thirst and many a one who prays during the night gets
nothing from his night prayers but sleeplessness.'
Tirmidhi
The mercy of the fast of Ramadan penetrates all dimensions of man's existence, providing a holistic cure for all
that ails him, rejuvenating the body as well as the spirit of man. Breaking the fast by overeating renders both
these beneficial effects useless. And breaking the fast with the wrong foods in any amount will debilitate the
one who fasts and make his spiritual efforts more difficult.
Allah exhorts us in the Our' an to eat of the purest foods and the practitioners of modern medicine are just
beginning to realize the essential wisdom of this command along with the wisdom of the fast itself. The
therapeutic effect of fasting is well documented by actual clinical experience both in Europe and in the United
States, leading to general acceptance of the principal that fasting is man's oldest and best healing method. And
the kind and amount of food with which one breaks the fast to a large extent determines whether the fast is
useful or a waste of time.
The main rule in breaking the fast is to remember why you are fasting and what you hope to obtain by it. There
are several du'a [supplications] for breaking the fast which call one back to this reality, one of which is:
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate,
O Allah, for You I have fasted and I have believed in You,
And have broken my fast on Your bounty and so forgive me
my past and present wrong actions.
O Lord of the Worlds.
Bismillahi Rahmani Raheem
Allahumma laka sumtu wa bika aamantu
Wa 'alaa rizqika aftartu faghfirlee
Maa addamtu wa maa akhartu
Ya rabbil aalamen.
One of the sunnas [practices] of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and give him peace, is to break the fast as
soon as the Adhan [call to prayer] is heard before performing the Maghrib prayer, with a date and some water.
Ramadan Food Guideline
The rule of thumb of the amount of food to be consumed at the evening meal which follows is that it should be
no more than is usually eaten at that time. In fact, if it is, the fast is technically invalid. Again one has to review
what one's goal in Ramadan is -- to bury his head deep into a nose-bag full of food every evening after sunset
and snore his nights away or to eat a light but nutritious evening meal and use the precious nights of Ramadan
for dhikr [remembrance] and fikr [reflection].
The following is a guideline to the types of food which will enhance the natural purifying effect which the fast
already has on the body and which will increase the one who incorporates them into his diet in energy, clarity
and awareness:
1. Use as much as possible pure and organic foods, uncontaminated by artificial flavorings, colors, and
preservatives.
2. Avoid eating too much meat too frequently. The Prophet, Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam, ate meat
only twice a week. Needless to say it should be halal, but it is also recommended to find a source of
free-range animals and to have as close a control as possible over the actual killing.
3. Include lots of vegetables and raw fruits in your diet.
4. Avoid overdoses of starches, particularly excessive amounts of polished white rice -- use whole grains
when possible and then not too much of them.
5. Avoid too much sugar and substances containing caffeine -- they will unbalance the delicate endocrine
system of the body.
6. Pay attention to the order in which you eat different foods and the combinations of foods which you eat.
The medicine of the Prophet recommends limiting the number of different types of food eaten at one
time as much as possible, and latest research has revealed that the reason for this is the stomach's ability
to produce
And finally, please do not forget me in your daily Du'a,
May Allah bless you and make this month a success for all,
wassalam,
Muhammad bin Yahya
Tasawuff. This is the time where body, heart and mind purification occurs. But only if you expose yourself to it,
with your presistant efforts, extra worship, and re-shaping yourself and your commitments.
Two things I would like you to to increase in this Holy month:
1- the number of times you send your Salams to our Beloved Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam
2- The number of Ayahs of the Qu'ran you recite daily. As this is the month of Qur'an.
Remember, that some think this is the month to eat, when infact, this is the month not to eat a lot.
Remember that you do not only abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset during this month, but
to go to a higher level by:
1- Commanding your organs and limbs ( including tongue, eyes, ears, hands) to abstain from all that's not good.
This is extremely important.
2- Commanding your thoughts that cross your mind to abstain from all that's not good. This comes with
training, and perseverance, so please start.
Khutbah (Sermon) of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam) about
Ramadan
'O you who believe, prescribed for you is the Fast, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that haply
you will have taqwa.' Qur`an 2:183
'A great month, a blessed month, a month containing a night which is better than a thousand months has
approached you people. Allah has appointed the observance of fasting during it as an obligatory duty, and the
passing of its nights in prayer as a voluntary practice. If someone draws near to Allah during it with some good
act he will be like one who fulfills an obligatory duty in another month, and he who fulfills an obligatory duty in
it will be like one who fulfills seventy obligatory duties in some other month. It is the month of endurance, and
the reward of endurance is paradise. It is the month of sharing with others, and a month in which the believer's
provision is increased. If someone gives one who has been fasting something with which to break his fast it will
provide forgiveness of his wrong actions and save him from the Fire, and he will have a reward equal to the
fasting man's reward without his reward being diminished in any way... Allah gives this reward to anyone who
gives one who has been fasting some milk mixed with water, or a date, or a drink of water with which to break
his fast, and anyone who gives a full meal to one who has been fasting will be given a drink by Allah and will
not thirst until he enters Paradise. It is a month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness, and
whose end is freedom from the Fire. If anyone makes things easy for his slave during it, Allah will forgive him
and free him from the Fire.'
From a khutba (sermon) given by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, on the last day of Shaban.
Reported by Salman al-Farsi (Mishkat al Masabih).
Some Hadiths About Ramadan
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger as saying: 'Ramadan, a blessed month, has cometo you during which
Allah has made it obligatory for you to fast. In it the gates of the Garden are opened, the gates of the Fire are
locked, and the rebellious Shaytan is chained. In it Allah has a night which is better than a thousand months. He
who is deprived of its good indeed suffered deprivation.' Ahmad and Nasa'i transmitted it.
Every good deed will be rewarded from ten to seven hundred fold except fasting which is endured for My sake
and which I shall reward.' Hadith Qudsi, Sahih al-Bukhari
'By Him Who holds my life in His hand the breath of the fasting man's mouth is more fragrant before God and
better pleasing to Him than redolent musk. 'Sahih Muslim
'Paradise has a gate which is called al-Rayyan through which not one shall enter except those who have
observed the fast.'Sahih al-Bukhari
'Two joys are prepared for him who observes the fast, the joy of breaking the fast and that of meeting his
Lord.' Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim
Excerpts from the Book of the Mysteries of Fasting from the
Ihya Ulum al-Deen of Imam al-Ghazali
'Praise be to Allah who has shown great favor to His servants, Who has frustrated the hopes and plans of
Shaytan by making fasting a bulwark and a shield for His friends.'
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, 'The reward of the fasting man will be generous beyond
imagination or estimate.' And so it should be because fasting belongs to Allah and by virtue of this relationship
it has been rendered noble. The fast belongs to Allah in two respects. First because it is a form of desisting and
relinquishing, in its very nature concealed from human sight, whereas all the other acts of worship are apparent
and exposed to it. And secondly because it is a means of vanquishing the enemy of Allah, Shaytan, who works
through the appetites and desires. These appetites and desires are increased by eating and drinking. For this
reason the Prophet said, 'Shaytan affects the son of Adam by pervading his blood. Let him therefore make this
difficult for Shaytan by means of hunger.' For the same reason he told A'isha, 'Persist in knocking on the door of
Paradise.' When she asked what she should knock with he replied, 'With hunger.'
The excellence of fasting established, what follows is a basic description of the outward and inward conditions
for fasting.
Outward conditions for fasting
1. The first outward duty is to watch the beginning of the month of Ramadan and announce it at the
observation of the new moon (al-hilal). If clouds make the observation of the new moon impossible then
the length of Shaban should be extended to thirty days. By observation we mean actual sighting of the
new moon. Anyone who hears a trustworthy witness say that he has seen the new moon and believes
him, fasting then becomes incumbent on him.
2. The second outward duty is intention (niyyah). Every night before the dawn of the following day one
should specifically and deliberately entertain the intention of fasting. If he should entertain the intention
to fast the month of Ramadan but fails to renew his intention every night his fast would not be valid...
3. The third duty is that, as long as he remembers that he is fasting, the individual should abstain from
intentionally allowing any material substance such as food, drink, snuff and enema, to enter his body...
Whatever enters the body unintentionally, such as dust, or water, during the rinsing of the mouth will not
invalidate the fast...
4. The fourth duty is abstinence from sexual intercourse...
5. The fifth duty is abstinence from deliberate seminal emission.
6. The sixth outward duty is abstinence from vomiting. If one cannot help it however, his fast remains
intact and valid.
Practices connected with the Fast
1. Delaying the time of suhur (until near the time of daybreak).
2. Speeding the breaking of the fast by eating dates or drinking water before performing the prayer.
3. Generous giving throughout the month.
4. Special study of the Our' an.
5. Retreat (i'tikaf) into the mosque, especially during the last ten days of Ramadan (in which the Night of
Power, laylat ul-Qadr, falls).
Inward conditions of fasting
Fasting is of three grades:
A. The fasting of the general public (sawm al-umun)
B. The fasting of the select few (sawm al-khusus)
C. The fasting of the elite among the select few (sawm kusus al-khusus)
The fasting of the general public involves refraining from satisfying the appetites of the stomach and the
appetites of sex and is described in the section on Outward conditions.
The fasting of the select few is to keep the ears, the eyes, the tongue, and hands, the feet and other senses free
from wrong actions. It consists of:
1. Refraining from looking at anything disapproved, or anything which occupies the person and distracts
him from remembering Allah.
2. Keeping the tongue free from raving, lying, backbiting, tale-bearing, obscenity, abusive speech,
wrangling and hypocrisy.
3. Closing the ears to every reprehensible thing because everything which is unlawful to utter is also
unlawful to hear.
4. Restraining the limbs from wrong actions as well as avoiding questionable foods at the breaking of the
fast.
5. Not overeating when breaking the fast.
6. Remaining in a state of suspense between fear and hope after breaking the fast as to whether or not the
fast has been accepted by Allah.
The fast of the elite among the select few is the fast of the heart from mean thoughts and worldly worries and
its complete unconcern with anything but Allah and the Last Day, as well as by concern over this world, except
insofar as it promotes the deen (life-transaction), which belongs to the hereafter.
Every act of worship is possessed of an outward form and an inner secret, an external husk and internal path.
The husks are of different grades and each grade has different layers. It is for you to choose whether to be
content with the husk or join the company of the wise and learned.
Breaking the Fast
'A human being has not filled any vessel which is worse than a belly. Enough for the son of Adam are some
mouthfuls which keep his back straight, but if there is not escape he should fill it a third with food, a third with
drink, and leave a third empty.'
Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah
'Many a one who fasts gets nothing from his fasting but thirst and many a one who prays during the night gets
nothing from his night prayers but sleeplessness.'
Tirmidhi
The mercy of the fast of Ramadan penetrates all dimensions of man's existence, providing a holistic cure for all
that ails him, rejuvenating the body as well as the spirit of man. Breaking the fast by overeating renders both
these beneficial effects useless. And breaking the fast with the wrong foods in any amount will debilitate the
one who fasts and make his spiritual efforts more difficult.
Allah exhorts us in the Our' an to eat of the purest foods and the practitioners of modern medicine are just
beginning to realize the essential wisdom of this command along with the wisdom of the fast itself. The
therapeutic effect of fasting is well documented by actual clinical experience both in Europe and in the United
States, leading to general acceptance of the principal that fasting is man's oldest and best healing method. And
the kind and amount of food with which one breaks the fast to a large extent determines whether the fast is
useful or a waste of time.
The main rule in breaking the fast is to remember why you are fasting and what you hope to obtain by it. There
are several du'a [supplications] for breaking the fast which call one back to this reality, one of which is:
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate,
O Allah, for You I have fasted and I have believed in You,
And have broken my fast on Your bounty and so forgive me
my past and present wrong actions.
O Lord of the Worlds.
Bismillahi Rahmani Raheem
Allahumma laka sumtu wa bika aamantu
Wa 'alaa rizqika aftartu faghfirlee
Maa addamtu wa maa akhartu
Ya rabbil aalamen.
One of the sunnas [practices] of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and give him peace, is to break the fast as
soon as the Adhan [call to prayer] is heard before performing the Maghrib prayer, with a date and some water.
Ramadan Food Guideline
The rule of thumb of the amount of food to be consumed at the evening meal which follows is that it should be
no more than is usually eaten at that time. In fact, if it is, the fast is technically invalid. Again one has to review
what one's goal in Ramadan is -- to bury his head deep into a nose-bag full of food every evening after sunset
and snore his nights away or to eat a light but nutritious evening meal and use the precious nights of Ramadan
for dhikr [remembrance] and fikr [reflection].
The following is a guideline to the types of food which will enhance the natural purifying effect which the fast
already has on the body and which will increase the one who incorporates them into his diet in energy, clarity
and awareness:
1. Use as much as possible pure and organic foods, uncontaminated by artificial flavorings, colors, and
preservatives.
2. Avoid eating too much meat too frequently. The Prophet, Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam, ate meat
only twice a week. Needless to say it should be halal, but it is also recommended to find a source of
free-range animals and to have as close a control as possible over the actual killing.
3. Include lots of vegetables and raw fruits in your diet.
4. Avoid overdoses of starches, particularly excessive amounts of polished white rice -- use whole grains
when possible and then not too much of them.
5. Avoid too much sugar and substances containing caffeine -- they will unbalance the delicate endocrine
system of the body.
6. Pay attention to the order in which you eat different foods and the combinations of foods which you eat.
The medicine of the Prophet recommends limiting the number of different types of food eaten at one
time as much as possible, and latest research has revealed that the reason for this is the stomach's ability
to produce
And finally, please do not forget me in your daily Du'a,
May Allah bless you and make this month a success for all,
wassalam,
Muhammad bin Yahya
Advice for the Blessed month of Ramadhan
Al- Habib Kazim Ja‘far Muhammad al-Saqqaf
Make due preparation for the first night of the month of Ramadhan as this is the night that Allah t’ala gazes upon his slaves. Whoever Allah t’ala gazes upon, he’ll never be punished.
oRead Surah Fath on this night
oHave a ghusl (male and female)
oIntend to fast for the entire month
Some people are cognisant of the Divine gaze and are affected by it whereas others remain unaware and unaffected…
Complete the obligation of fasting but also other works to draw nearer to Allah t’ala such as strengthening the ties of sisterhood.
oThe devil always attempts to cheat a human being and render him in a state of ingratitude
oA small amount of shukr will make one ascend in degrees
oWe should make a firm intention to act in accordance with what we have learnt, even if it is a little.
oConsistent small works and a little thankfulness is better than a lot of inconsistent acts.
oThe mercy that Allah t’ala shows you is in proportion to the mercy you show to others.
oOur Beloved said: when 2 Muslims meet 100 mercies descend – 90 are for the one with the best character and higher countenance (by the mercy of Allah t’ala 10 mercies go to the other).
Recite the noble Quran by day and by night
oTo recite it by day will ensure that the Quran will bear witness for you on the day of judgement
oTo recite it by night (especially in the last third of the night) will ensure that the Quran is actually embodied and will physically act as an intercessor for you on the day of judgement.
Pray 20 rakat - Salaatul-Tarawih
Breaking the fast:
With dates – 3, 5 or 7 – this prepares you to embrace the odd night of Laylatul Qadr as you have taken on “oddities” in your acts.
Pray to Allah t’ala as every day a dua will be accepted from you:
§1st night – a good ending
§2nd night – emancipation from the hell-fire
§3rd night – well-being here and in the hereafter
§4th night – companionship of our Beloved
§Rest of the nights (26 in total) = choice of your own prayer
Make an intention for each fast on the night preceding the fast.
During the daylight hours control the tongue and don’t speak out of anger, lying, backbiting – the fast can be rendered void if you do so.
In the last 10 nights of Ramadhan say abundantly the dua of our Beloved
Allahumma innaka afuwwun tuhibbul afwa fa-fu anni.
O Allah! You are the Most forgiving, You love forgiveness, so forgive me.
There are blessings in suhoor – even if you are not hungry, observe eating even if it’s a small amount.
Don’t argue/dispute with anybody – especially in the last 10 nights.
If Jummah falls on an odd night in the last 10 days – bring it to life as this is likely to be Laylatul Qadr.
If you go to the Masjid make intention for itikaaf for the duration of time that you spend in there – to increase your rewards.
If you go to the Masjid for itikaaf or salaatul-tarawih – when you enter the Masjid say that you are making an oath to Allah t’ala upon yourself – to pray 20 rakat or to sit itikaaf – as it then becomes wajib for you to complete the oath. Therefore the reward is x70 more for performing a wajib.
Habib Khazim said if we do all of the above we have good hope that we will bring to life all of the blessings of this sacred month inshallah…
Some Common Mistakes During Ramadan
Taking Ramadaan as a ritual
For many of us Ramadaan has lost its spirituality and has become more of a ritual than a form of Ibaadah. We fast from morning to night like a zombie just because everyone around us is fasting too. We forget that its a time to purify our hearts and our souls from all evil....we forget to make dua, forget to beseech Allah to forgive us and ask Him to save us from the Fire. Sure we stay away from food and drink but that's about all.
Although the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
"Jibreel said to me, 'May Allah rub his nose in the dust, that person to who Ramadaan comes and his sins are not forgiven,' and I said, 'Ameen'. Then he said, 'May Allah rub his nose in the dust, that person who lives to see his parents grow old, one or both of them, but he does not enter Paradise (by not serving them) and I said, 'Ameen'. Then he said, 'May Allah rub his nose in the dust, that person in whose presence you are mentioned and he does not send blessings upon you,' and I said, 'Ameen.'" (Tirmidhi, Ahmad, others.)
Too much stress on food and drink
For some people, the entire month of Ramadaan revolves around food. They spend the ENTIRE day planning, cooking, shopping and thinking about only food, instead of concentrating on Salaah, Quraan and other acts of worship. All they can think of is FOOD. So much so that they turn the month of 'fasting' into the month of 'feasting'. Come Iftaar time, their table is a sight to see, with the multitudes and varieties of food, sweets and drinks. They are missing the very purpose of fasting, and thus, increase in their greed and desires instead of learning to control them. It is also a kind of waste & extravagance.
'.....and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not Al-Musrifoon (those who waste by extravagance) ' [al-Araaf :31]
Spending all day cooking
Some of the sisters (either by their own choice or forced by their husbands) are cooking ALL day and ALL night, so that by the end of the day, they are too tired to even pray Ishaa, let alone pray Taraweeh or Tahajjud or even read Quraan. This is the month of mercy and forgiveness. So turn off that stove and turn on your Imaan!
Eating too much
Some people stuff themselves at Seher until they are ready to burst, because they think this is the way to not feel hungry during the day and some people eat at Iftaar, like there is no tomorrow, trying to 'make up for the food missed.' However, this is completely against the Sunnah. Moderation is the key to everything.
The Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 'The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach; for the son of Adam a few mouthfuls are sufficient to keep his back straight. If you must fill it, then one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for air.' (Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah. ).
Too much food distracts a person from many deeds of obedience and worship, makes him lazy and also makes the heart heedless.
It was said to Imam Ahmad: Does a man find any softness and humility in his heart when he is full? He said, I do not think so.
Sleeping all day
Some people spend their entire day (or a major part of it) 'sleeping away their fast'. Is this what is really required of us during this noble month? These people also are missing the purpose of fasting and are slaves to their desires of comfort and ease. They cannot 'bear' to be awake and face a little hunger or exert a little self-control. For a fasting person to spend most of the day asleep is nothing but, negligence on his part.
Wasting time
The month of Ramadaan is a precious, precious time, so much so that Allah calls this month 'Ayyamum Ma'doodaat' (A fixed number of days). Before we know it, this month of mercy and forgiveness will be over. We should try and spend every moment possible in the worship of Allah so that we can make the most of this blessing. However, there are some of us who waste away their day playing video games, or worse still, watching TV, movies or even listening to music. Subhaan Allah! Trying to obey Allah by DISOBEYING Him!
Fasting but not giving up evil
Some of us fast but do not give up lying, cursing, fighting, backbiting, etc. and some of us fast but do not give up cheating, stealing, dealing in haraam, buying lotto ticket s, selling alcohol, fornication, etc. and all kinds of impermissible things without realizing that the purpose of fasting is to not stay away from food and drink; rather the aim behind it is to fear Allah.
"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)" [al-Baqarah 2:183]
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 'Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, and ignorance, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.' (Bukhaari)
Skipping Seher
The Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 'Eat seher for in suhoor there is blessing.'(Bukhaari , Muslim). And he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 'The thing that differentiates between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is eating seher.' (Muslim)
Not fasting if they missed Seher
Some people are too scared to fast if they miss Seher. However, this is a kind of cowardice and love of ease. What is the big deal if you missed a few morsels of food? It's not like you will die. Remember, obedience to Allah overcomes everything.
Delaying breaking fast
Some people wait until the adhaan finishes or even several minutes after that, just to be 'on the safe side'. However, the Sunnah is to hasten to break the fast, which means breaking fast whenever the adhaan starts, right after the sun has set. Aa'ishah (RA) said: This is what the Messenger of Allah (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to do. (Muslim)
The Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 'The people will continue to do well so long as they hasten to break the fast.' (Bukhaari, Muslim)
Determine to the best of your ability, the accuracy of your clock, calendar, etc. and then have tawakkul on Allah and break your fast exactly on time.
Eating continuously until the time for Maghrib is up
Some people put so much food in their plates when breaking their fast and continue eating, enjoying dessert, drinking tea, etc., until they miss Maghrib. That is obviously not right. The Sunnah of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Ala iyhi wa Sallam) was that once he broke his fast with some dates, them he would hasten to the prayer. Once you are done with the prayer, you can alw ays go back and eat some more if you wish.
Missing the golden chance of having your Dua accepted
The prayer of the fasting person is guaranteed to be accepted at the time of breaking fast.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 'Three prayers are not rejected: the prayer of a father, the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer of a traveler.' (al-Bayhaqi).
Instead of sitting down and making Dua at this precious time, some people forego this beautiful chance, and are too busy frying samosas, talking, setting the food, filling their plates and glasses, etc. Think about it....Is food more important than the chance to have your sins forgiven or the fulfillment of your Duas.
Fasting but not praying
The fasting of one who does not pray WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. This is because not praying constitutes kufr as the Prophet (Sal Allahu Ala iyhi wa Sallam) said: 'Between a man and shirk and kufr there stands his giving up prayer.' (Muslim)
In fact, NONE of his good deeds will be accepted; rather, they are all annulled.
'Whoever does not pray 'Asr, his good deeds will be annulled.' (Bukhaari)
Fasting and not wearing Hijaab (dressing modestly)
Not wearing the Hijaab is a major sin as it is obligatory for Muslim women. (See Surah Nur, Surah Ahzaab). So fasting and not wearing hijaab certainly takes away enormously from the rewards of fasting, even if does not invalidate it.
Not fasting because of exams or work
Exams or work is NOT one of the excuses allowed by the Shariah to not fast. You can do your studying and revision at night if it is too hard to do that during the day. Also remember that pleasing and obeying Allah is much more important than 'good grades'.. Besides, if you will fulfil your obligation to fast, even if you have to study, Allah will make it easy for you and help you in everything you do.
'Whosoever fears Allah, He will appoint for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect, Allah is Sufficient for whosoever puts his trust in Him.' (Surah at-Talaaq 2-3)
Mixing fasting and dieting
DO NOT make the mistake of fasting with the intention to diet. That is one of the biggest mistakes some of us make (esp. sisters). Fasting is an act of worship and can only be for the sake of Allah alone. Otherwise, mixing it with the intention of dieting may become a form of (minor) Shirk.
Intentions and Benefits of Fasting in Ramadan
Reported al-Bukhari that Umar bin al-Khaatab narrated: “I heard Allah’s Messenger (salallahu alyhi wa salaam) saying: “The reward of deeds depend on the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.” [Al-Bukhar: 1/1/1]
The Intentions of Fasting: Compilations of Intentions and benefits of fasting in the month of Ramadan
To carry out the orders of Allah and to attain piety as Allah said: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become al-Muttaqun (pious)” (Al-Baqarah 2:183)
To get protection from Hell-Fire. Allah’s Messengers (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) said: “When a person fasts for a day, for the sake of Allah, Allah drives away the Hell-Fire from him to a distance of seventy years of traveling.” [Al-Bukhari: 4/52/93 and Muslim 6/2570 to 6/2572]
To expiate one’s past sins. Allah’s Messenger said: “whoever observes Saum (fasting) during the month of Ramadan, out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s Rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.” [Al-Bukhari 1/2/37 and 3/32/231]
To enter Paradise .Abu Umamah said: I asked the Prophet,’O Allah’s Messenger, guide me to a deed with which I may enter Paradise. “He (salallahu alyhi wa salaam) replied,’ Observe fasting; there is nothing like it.’” [An-Nissai, Ibn Hibban, and al-Hakim]
To get the intercession on the Day of Judgment. “On the Day of Judgment, fasting and Qur’an will intercede for the person who observes fast and recites the Qur’an.” [Ahmed]
To get a granted invocation (supplication).Allah’s Messenger said:’ Three kinds of invocations are to be granted; the invocation of the person who observes fast, the invocation of an oppressed person, and the invocation of a traveler.” [Al-Silsilah as-Sahiha no. 1797]
To enter through the gate of Ar-Rayyan on the Day of Judgement. Allah’s Messenger said: “There is a gate of Ar-Rayyan on The Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it.”
[Al-Bukhari 3/31/120, Muslim 5/2239 and 5/2240].
To receive the reward in full without reckoning. Allah’s Messenger said:’ A man’s good acts are recompensed many times, from ten times to 700 times. Allah, the Exalted, says ‘But a fast is an exception because it is undertaken simply for My Sake) i.e.,there is no limit for it’s recompense) and I, Alone shall bestow the reward for it.’” [Muslim 6/2566 to 6/2568]
The intentions When taking Sahur (the Pre-Dawn Meal):
To carry out the commandment of Prophet Muhammed (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) and follow his sunnah, when he said: “Take the Sahur because there’s blessing in it.” [Al-Bukhari 3/31/146, and Muslim].
To be different from the people of the scriptures who do not observe partaking of Suhur [Muslim].
To seek the salaah of Allah and his angels upon oneself. The Prophet Messenger (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) said: “Allah sends his salaah (graces, honors, blessings, mercy, etc.) and also his angels send their salaah (ask Allah to bless and forgive them) upon those who take sahur.’” [Ibn Hibban and at-Tabaraani]
To facilitate fasting and gain strength for worshipping.
To make Du’aa and ask forgiveness after taking Sahur at the end of the night.
The intentions at the time of breaking Fast.
To carry out the orders of Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) by eating at sunset.
To gain strength for worshipping Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala).
To follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammed (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) in hasting the breaking of the fast.
Allah’s Messenger said: “The people will continue to be in a good state of affairs as long as they hasten the breaking the fast.’” [Bukhari 3/31/178 and Muslim 6/2417]
To get the pleasure (Joy) when one will meet his Lord on the day of resurrection. Allah’s messenger said: “There are two pleasures of the person observing fast, one at the time of Iftar (breaking fast), and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; Then he will be pleased because of his Saum (fasting).” [Al-Bukhari 3/31/128 and 9/93/584]
To get a granted invocation (prayer) at the time of breaking the fast. Allah’s messenger said: “Indeed the fasting person has at the time of breaking fast a prayer (supplication) which is not rejected.” [Ibn Majah and Al-Hakim]
The Intentions of Qiyaam (Establishing the nights with Prayer):
To expiate ones past sins. Allah’s Messenger (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever establishes (Nawafil, voluntary) prayers during the nights of Ramadan, faithfully, out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s Rewards, all his past sins will be forgiven.’” [Al Bukhari]
To search for Lailatul -Qadar (The Night of Qadar).Allah’s Messenger (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) said: “Search for the night of Qadar in the odd nights of the last nights of Ramadan.” [Al-Bukhari 1/2/37]
To enter paradise with peace. Allah’s Messenger said: “O people! Spread Salaam (greetings), feed others, join your kin, and pray at night while people are sleeping, you will enter paradise with peace.” [Ibn Majah and at-Tirmidhi]
To be one of the Muhsinun (Goodoers) who, “They used to sleep but little by night and in the hours before dawn, they were (found) asking (Allah) for forgiveness.” (51:17-18)
To imitate and follow the way of the righteous predecessors. Allah’s messenger said: “exert your utmost to offer night prayers, because it is the way of the righteous predecessors before you it is nearness to your Lord, it expiates sins and prevents one from committing evil deeds or sins.” [At-Tirmidhi and authenticated by al-Albaani]
To receive the great booty that comes from reciting the Qur’an in the night prayer is. Allah’s messenger (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever establishes the night prayer and recite ten verses, will not be written down as one of the heedless and whoever prays at night reciting 100 verses will be written down as one of the sincere devotes, and whoever prays at night reciting 1000 verses will be written down as one of the al-Muqantarin [i.e. those for whom is written a Qintaar (a weight measure) of reward].” [Abu Dawoud and authenticated by al-Albaani]
The intentions when reciting the Qur’an
To get the intercession. Allah’s messenger said: “Read the Qur’an as it shall come on the day of resurrection as an intercessor for its readers” [Muslim 4/1757]
To get the healing for that which is in the breast (disease of ignorance, doubts, etc…)
To be raised in grade (ranks) Paradise.
To make it a protection (and a shield) from Hellfire
To attain high ranks and to be with the angels.
To be one of Allah’s special people.
To get the Light with which one can be guided in the darkness (i.e. it is a light in the heart, in the face, in the grave and on the bridge (As-Siraat) on the day of Resurrection)
To get increased amount of reward and to attain Allah’s love.
To get the guidance and mercy of Allah.(Subhana wa ta’ala)
We ask Allah to help us be among those who implement all of these things consistently in our lives–allahumma ameen!
http://www.ilmfruits.com/ramadan-resource-bonanza
The Intentions of Fasting: Compilations of Intentions and benefits of fasting in the month of Ramadan
To carry out the orders of Allah and to attain piety as Allah said: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become al-Muttaqun (pious)” (Al-Baqarah 2:183)
To get protection from Hell-Fire. Allah’s Messengers (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) said: “When a person fasts for a day, for the sake of Allah, Allah drives away the Hell-Fire from him to a distance of seventy years of traveling.” [Al-Bukhari: 4/52/93 and Muslim 6/2570 to 6/2572]
To expiate one’s past sins. Allah’s Messenger said: “whoever observes Saum (fasting) during the month of Ramadan, out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s Rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.” [Al-Bukhari 1/2/37 and 3/32/231]
To enter Paradise .Abu Umamah said: I asked the Prophet,’O Allah’s Messenger, guide me to a deed with which I may enter Paradise. “He (salallahu alyhi wa salaam) replied,’ Observe fasting; there is nothing like it.’” [An-Nissai, Ibn Hibban, and al-Hakim]
To get the intercession on the Day of Judgment. “On the Day of Judgment, fasting and Qur’an will intercede for the person who observes fast and recites the Qur’an.” [Ahmed]
To get a granted invocation (supplication).Allah’s Messenger said:’ Three kinds of invocations are to be granted; the invocation of the person who observes fast, the invocation of an oppressed person, and the invocation of a traveler.” [Al-Silsilah as-Sahiha no. 1797]
To enter through the gate of Ar-Rayyan on the Day of Judgement. Allah’s Messenger said: “There is a gate of Ar-Rayyan on The Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it.”
[Al-Bukhari 3/31/120, Muslim 5/2239 and 5/2240].
To receive the reward in full without reckoning. Allah’s Messenger said:’ A man’s good acts are recompensed many times, from ten times to 700 times. Allah, the Exalted, says ‘But a fast is an exception because it is undertaken simply for My Sake) i.e.,there is no limit for it’s recompense) and I, Alone shall bestow the reward for it.’” [Muslim 6/2566 to 6/2568]
The intentions When taking Sahur (the Pre-Dawn Meal):
To carry out the commandment of Prophet Muhammed (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) and follow his sunnah, when he said: “Take the Sahur because there’s blessing in it.” [Al-Bukhari 3/31/146, and Muslim].
To be different from the people of the scriptures who do not observe partaking of Suhur [Muslim].
To seek the salaah of Allah and his angels upon oneself. The Prophet Messenger (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) said: “Allah sends his salaah (graces, honors, blessings, mercy, etc.) and also his angels send their salaah (ask Allah to bless and forgive them) upon those who take sahur.’” [Ibn Hibban and at-Tabaraani]
To facilitate fasting and gain strength for worshipping.
To make Du’aa and ask forgiveness after taking Sahur at the end of the night.
The intentions at the time of breaking Fast.
To carry out the orders of Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala) by eating at sunset.
To gain strength for worshipping Allah (Subhana wa ta’ala).
To follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammed (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) in hasting the breaking of the fast.
Allah’s Messenger said: “The people will continue to be in a good state of affairs as long as they hasten the breaking the fast.’” [Bukhari 3/31/178 and Muslim 6/2417]
To get the pleasure (Joy) when one will meet his Lord on the day of resurrection. Allah’s messenger said: “There are two pleasures of the person observing fast, one at the time of Iftar (breaking fast), and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; Then he will be pleased because of his Saum (fasting).” [Al-Bukhari 3/31/128 and 9/93/584]
To get a granted invocation (prayer) at the time of breaking the fast. Allah’s messenger said: “Indeed the fasting person has at the time of breaking fast a prayer (supplication) which is not rejected.” [Ibn Majah and Al-Hakim]
The Intentions of Qiyaam (Establishing the nights with Prayer):
To expiate ones past sins. Allah’s Messenger (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever establishes (Nawafil, voluntary) prayers during the nights of Ramadan, faithfully, out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s Rewards, all his past sins will be forgiven.’” [Al Bukhari]
To search for Lailatul -Qadar (The Night of Qadar).Allah’s Messenger (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) said: “Search for the night of Qadar in the odd nights of the last nights of Ramadan.” [Al-Bukhari 1/2/37]
To enter paradise with peace. Allah’s Messenger said: “O people! Spread Salaam (greetings), feed others, join your kin, and pray at night while people are sleeping, you will enter paradise with peace.” [Ibn Majah and at-Tirmidhi]
To be one of the Muhsinun (Goodoers) who, “They used to sleep but little by night and in the hours before dawn, they were (found) asking (Allah) for forgiveness.” (51:17-18)
To imitate and follow the way of the righteous predecessors. Allah’s messenger said: “exert your utmost to offer night prayers, because it is the way of the righteous predecessors before you it is nearness to your Lord, it expiates sins and prevents one from committing evil deeds or sins.” [At-Tirmidhi and authenticated by al-Albaani]
To receive the great booty that comes from reciting the Qur’an in the night prayer is. Allah’s messenger (salallahu alyhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever establishes the night prayer and recite ten verses, will not be written down as one of the heedless and whoever prays at night reciting 100 verses will be written down as one of the sincere devotes, and whoever prays at night reciting 1000 verses will be written down as one of the al-Muqantarin [i.e. those for whom is written a Qintaar (a weight measure) of reward].” [Abu Dawoud and authenticated by al-Albaani]
The intentions when reciting the Qur’an
To get the intercession. Allah’s messenger said: “Read the Qur’an as it shall come on the day of resurrection as an intercessor for its readers” [Muslim 4/1757]
To get the healing for that which is in the breast (disease of ignorance, doubts, etc…)
To be raised in grade (ranks) Paradise.
To make it a protection (and a shield) from Hellfire
To attain high ranks and to be with the angels.
To be one of Allah’s special people.
To get the Light with which one can be guided in the darkness (i.e. it is a light in the heart, in the face, in the grave and on the bridge (As-Siraat) on the day of Resurrection)
To get increased amount of reward and to attain Allah’s love.
To get the guidance and mercy of Allah.(Subhana wa ta’ala)
We ask Allah to help us be among those who implement all of these things consistently in our lives–allahumma ameen!
http://www.ilmfruits.com/ramadan-resource-bonanza