As Ramadan winds-up
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- Category: Philosofaith
- Written by M. U. Ndagi
- Hits: 762
As we approach the end of this year’s Ramadan fast, believers have become busier with acts of worship (ibadah). It is in this last lap of the holy month that people enter in to i’tikaf while the search for Lailat ul-Qadr is also intensified. It is within this same period that we experience the incredible rush for lesser pilgrimage (umrah) especially among Nigerians. The manner and the rate at which Muslims in Nigeria go for umrah in recent years prompt certain pertinent questions and germane remarks. The hadith of the Prophet (SAW) reported by Imam Ahmad and Ibn Majah, which says “the performance of umrah in Ramadan is equal in reward to the performance of a non-obligatory pilgrimage (hajj)”, perhaps, accounts for the large number of Muslims that annually go for umrah during Ramadan. While this column does not claim to be privy to the intentions of those who go to perform umrah, the essence of the above hadith is threatened when the categories of those who undertake the trip for various motives are brought into focus. Of course, only Allah (SWT) knows best the secrets of the hearts of His servants; and therefore He (SWT) alone shall reward all acts of worship according to the motive(s) that respectively prompted them.
This column finds it difficult to reconcile between umrah as a prophetic tradition and the collective abandonment of state responsibility by a large number of public officers whose mass absence from office jeopardizes the well being of people they claim to rule or represent. It is similarly challenging to reconcile between mass rush to umrah by a class of people whose communities are bedeviled with abject poverty, hunger, malnutrition and disease; mostly lacking access to basic necessities of life including water. This and other heart-touching issues which are begging for reconciliations suggest that the mass rush for umrah is rather turning the spiritual duty into a religious fashion or tourist attraction. Of course, we are not by any stretch of argument discouraging the prophetic practice of performing umrah in Ramadan. However, the umrah of the under-aged (minor), of those who go for business, and of those who undertake the trip for non-spiritual reasons, can certainly not be the same with the umrah of those who perform it for the purposes it was institutionalized by the sunnah of the Prophet (SAW).
Let us now talk of Eidl-fitr which is just a few a days from today. When the news gets to us that the moon of Islamic lunar month of Shawwal has been sighted, it is required that we eat or drink in the morning of the Eidl-fitr day before setting out for the two raka’at prayers at the Eid praying ground, usually in the outskirt of the town. It is forbidden for a believer to fast on the day of Eidl-fitr either as a continuation of the Ramadan fast which should have terminated with the sighting of the moon or as voluntary fast (tatawwu’i). Refusing to eat or drink before going for the Eid prayers does not make one more pious than others. Let us not seek to extend the Ramadan beyond and against Allah’s will. It similarly is required that we give Zakat ul-fitr for ourselves and for those dependent on us before we leave our houses for the Eid prayer or even earlier. Anas bn Malik (RA) reports that the Prophet (SAW) said “the Ramadan fast of believing servants of Allah (SWT) would hang between the heaven and the earth until they have paid Zakat ul-fitr…”
Zakat ul-fitr is compulsory on every Muslim, male and female, children and adult, free-born as well as slaves. An individual’s Zakat ul-fitr would be given out by the person responsible for his or her sustenance and upkeep. A man would give the Zakat ul-fitr of his wife or wives, children and all those under his care. The Zakat ul-fitr is be paid in the common food item that is generally eaten by members of one’s community. It could be rice, maize, millet, wheat, beans or groundnut. The quantity to be given out per head as Zakat ul-fitr is four measures of grains using the prophetic measure (mudun-Nabiyy). The two palms of an adult put together and filled with grains are equivalent to one full measure of mudun-nabiyy. Four full measures of mudun-nabiyy equal a measure of the Prophet’s cubic measure (Saa’un-Nabiyy). The Zakat ul-fitr could be paid two days or a day before the Eidl-fitr day. If for reasons one could not give out the Zakat ul-fitr before observing the Eid prayers; it shall be paid at any time it is available. Zakat ul-fitr has no waiver or substitute. It is obligatory on all Muslims, rich and poor. Zakat ul-fitr is a clear manifestation of the spiritual and humanitarian spirit of responsive interactions between the individual and the society. It is an expression of the general philosophy of Islam, which adopts a moderate or middle but positive and effective course between the individual and society; between capitalism and socialism; and between materialism and spirituality.
With the Ramadan getting to a close, some of us are already missing the month. By this time next week, insha Allah, some routine moments of guidance that come along with the blessed month including the tafsir sessions at designated mosques and on the electronic media would have momentarily ceased. Restrictions placed on us through physical denial by Ramadan fast during the day-time would have also been removed. Believers would be missing Ramadan because of the spiritual opportunity it avails them, including that which makes the Holy Qur’an their best companion during the sacred month. This week’s edition of the column is obviously the last in this year’s Ramadan. Allah (SWT) alone knows those who would live to witness next year’s Ramadan. For some us, it is the last. For others, it may not be. May Allah (SWT) forgive us our sins; have mercy on us; and put us among His righteous servants to be redeemed from hell fire in this blessed month of mercy, amin. We also pray that Allah (SWT) accepts all our acts of devotion, amin. Remember to give out your Zakat ul-fitr and of those dependent upon you, before you leave your house for the Eid prayers. Eid Mubarak in advance! Kullu Aamin Wa Autum Bi-khairin!!
Articles
As Ramadan winds-up
Category: Philosofaith Written by M. U. Ndagi Hits: 762
As we approach the end of this year’s Ramadan fast, believers have become busier with acts of worship (ibadah). It is in this last lap of the holy month that people enter in to i’tikaf while the search for Lailat ul-Qadr is also intensified. It is within this same period that we experience the incredible rush for lesser pilgrimage (umrah) especially among Nigerians. The manner and the rate at which Muslims in Nigeria go for umrah in recent years prompt certain pertinent questions and germane remarks. The hadith of the Prophet (SAW) reported by Imam Ahmad and Ibn Majah, which says “the performance of umrah in Ramadan is equal in reward to the performance of a non-obligatory pilgrimage (hajj)”, perhaps, accounts for the large number of Muslims that annually go for umrah during Ramadan. While this column does not claim to be privy to the intentions of those who go to perform umrah, the essence of the above hadith is threatened when the categories of those who undertake the trip for various motives are brought into focus. Of course, only Allah (SWT) knows best the secrets of the hearts of His servants; and therefore He (SWT) alone shall reward all acts of worship according to the motive(s) that respectively prompted them.
This column finds it difficult to reconcile between umrah as a prophetic tradition and the collective abandonment of state responsibility by a large number of public officers whose mass absence from office jeopardizes the well being of people they claim to rule or represent. It is similarly challenging to reconcile between mass rush to umrah by a class of people whose communities are bedeviled with abject poverty, hunger, malnutrition and disease; mostly lacking access to basic necessities of life including water. This and other heart-touching issues which are begging for reconciliations suggest that the mass rush for umrah is rather turning the spiritual duty into a religious fashion or tourist attraction. Of course, we are not by any stretch of argument discouraging the prophetic practice of performing umrah in Ramadan. However, the umrah of the under-aged (minor), of those who go for business, and of those who undertake the trip for non-spiritual reasons, can certainly not be the same with the umrah of those who perform it for the purposes it was institutionalized by the sunnah of the Prophet (SAW).
Let us now talk of Eidl-fitr which is just a few a days from today. When the news gets to us that the moon of Islamic lunar month of Shawwal has been sighted, it is required that we eat or drink in the morning of the Eidl-fitr day before setting out for the two raka’at prayers at the Eid praying ground, usually in the outskirt of the town. It is forbidden for a believer to fast on the day of Eidl-fitr either as a continuation of the Ramadan fast which should have terminated with the sighting of the moon or as voluntary fast (tatawwu’i). Refusing to eat or drink before going for the Eid prayers does not make one more pious than others. Let us not seek to extend the Ramadan beyond and against Allah’s will. It similarly is required that we give Zakat ul-fitr for ourselves and for those dependent on us before we leave our houses for the Eid prayer or even earlier. Anas bn Malik (RA) reports that the Prophet (SAW) said “the Ramadan fast of believing servants of Allah (SWT) would hang between the heaven and the earth until they have paid Zakat ul-fitr…”
Zakat ul-fitr is compulsory on every Muslim, male and female, children and adult, free-born as well as slaves. An individual’s Zakat ul-fitr would be given out by the person responsible for his or her sustenance and upkeep. A man would give the Zakat ul-fitr of his wife or wives, children and all those under his care. The Zakat ul-fitr is be paid in the common food item that is generally eaten by members of one’s community. It could be rice, maize, millet, wheat, beans or groundnut. The quantity to be given out per head as Zakat ul-fitr is four measures of grains using the prophetic measure (mudun-Nabiyy). The two palms of an adult put together and filled with grains are equivalent to one full measure of mudun-nabiyy. Four full measures of mudun-nabiyy equal a measure of the Prophet’s cubic measure (Saa’un-Nabiyy). The Zakat ul-fitr could be paid two days or a day before the Eidl-fitr day. If for reasons one could not give out the Zakat ul-fitr before observing the Eid prayers; it shall be paid at any time it is available. Zakat ul-fitr has no waiver or substitute. It is obligatory on all Muslims, rich and poor. Zakat ul-fitr is a clear manifestation of the spiritual and humanitarian spirit of responsive interactions between the individual and the society. It is an expression of the general philosophy of Islam, which adopts a moderate or middle but positive and effective course between the individual and society; between capitalism and socialism; and between materialism and spirituality.
With the Ramadan getting to a close, some of us are already missing the month. By this time next week, insha Allah, some routine moments of guidance that come along with the blessed month including the tafsir sessions at designated mosques and on the electronic media would have momentarily ceased. Restrictions placed on us through physical denial by Ramadan fast during the day-time would have also been removed. Believers would be missing Ramadan because of the spiritual opportunity it avails them, including that which makes the Holy Qur’an their best companion during the sacred month. This week’s edition of the column is obviously the last in this year’s Ramadan. Allah (SWT) alone knows those who would live to witness next year’s Ramadan. For some us, it is the last. For others, it may not be. May Allah (SWT) forgive us our sins; have mercy on us; and put us among His righteous servants to be redeemed from hell fire in this blessed month of mercy, amin. We also pray that Allah (SWT) accepts all our acts of devotion, amin. Remember to give out your Zakat ul-fitr and of those dependent upon you, before you leave your house for the Eid prayers. Eid Mubarak in advance! Kullu Aamin Wa Autum Bi-khairin!!