Ramadan: Another opportunity
- Details
- Category: Philosofaith
- Written by M. U. Ndagi
- Hits: 1936
After breaking today’s fast at sunset, Muslims in Nigeria like their counterparts in other parts of the Muslim World would have completed about one-third of this year’s Ramadan that began nine days ago, which as described, is full of forgiveness (maghfirah) of sins. The Prophet (SAW) in one of his sayings tells us that, “the beginning of Ramadan is forgiveness (maghfirah), its middle course is mercy (rahmah) and the end of it is redemption (‘itq) from hell fire. The entire period of Ramadan is thus a season of spiritual amnesty. Ramadan is a unique month during which unrighteous believers are availed with the singular opportunity of renewing their dented relationships with Allah (SWT). It is also a period for obedient servants of Allah (SWT) to further strengthen their propinquity with the Almighty, Lord of the worlds.
The month of Ramadan is a period during which believers could easily and more than any other time of the year access Allah’s forgiveness and mercy. This forgiveness, however, must be earned through sincere repentance from evil. We must pledge never to go back to our sins. We must also be seen to have practically abandoned the path of unrighteousness, ungratefulness and the company of those who rebel against Allah’s commandment. Allah (SWT)’s forgiveness and mercy are both greater than the mass and weight of all the sins of man on earth. This, indeed, is what makes Allah (SWT) Oft-Forgiving and Most Merciful.The fact that we are today living in a society that is spiritually impure, morally bankrupt, socially maladjusted, economically exploitative and politically muddled makes us needier of Allah’s mercy and forgiveness than others. The act of seeking forgiveness of our sins therefore should be considered as a necessary religious duty by contemporary believing men and women. Let us take advantage of this blessed month and make as much istighfar as possible lest we regret our own act of negligence on the Day on which requests advanced for another opportunity would be turned down; that is the Day of Judgment.
Ramadan is a period when believers should persevere in worship, the reward of which is the Garden of Bliss (al-Jannah). The mind, the body and the soul of a believer during Ramadan each passes through various levels of perseverance in total service and submission to the will of Allah (SWT). It is in recognition of the worth of fasting (sawm) as a unique and revered act of worship (ibadah) that Allah (SWT) says every act of good deed is for man except (the act of) fasting which exclusively belongs to Him (SWT); and that He (SWT) alone gives the reward for it. The Prophet (SAW) states that “Allah (SWT) forgives a believer of all his sins committed between the last and the current Ramadan as long as the Ramadan fast is faithfully observed”.
Imam Malik relates on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (RA) who reports that the Prophet (SAW) said, “By the one in whose hand myself is, the smell of the breath of a man fasting is better in the sight of Allah than the scent of Musk. He leaves his desires and his food and drink for my (Allah’s) sake. Fasting is for me and I reward it. Every good action is rewarded by ten times its kind up to seven hundred times except fasting, which is for me and I reward it”. Abu Hurayrah (RA) further reports that the Prophet (SAW) said, “When Ramadan comes, the gates of the Garden (of Bliss) are opened, and the gates of the Fire are closed, and the devils (shayatin) are chained”. Ramadan is, thus, a unique opportunity for us not only to earn a special position in the sight of Allah (SWT) but also to redeem ourselves from the punishment of hell fire and enlist our names through genuine devotions in the “register” of those to enter paradise.
Ramadan is a season that avails believers with the benefit of not only strengthening the spirit of brotherhood among themselves through virtuous acts but also of mending fences where relationships have soured. Muslims are enjoined to use the Ramadan period to practically demonstrate the virtues of tolerance, hospitality, charity, kindness and other righteous qualities which Islam as a religion represent, especially to the indigent members of the society. They are thus encouraged to give alms, feed the poor and invite others and neighbors including non-Muslims to break the Ramadan fast with them. The single act of kindness in Ramadan has the capacity to foster religious understanding, harmony and social cohesion in a multi-faith society like Nigeria.
The month of Ramadan is a spiritual opportunity that comes our way once annually. The sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) urges believers to keep themselves pre-occupied with diverse acts of worship during Ramadan. This may include, in addition to istighfar, attending commentary of the holy Qur’an (tafsir) sessions to listen to the word of Allah (SWT), constant recitation of the holy Qur’an as well as observing supererogatory (nafilat) prayers called Tarawih (plural form of the Arabic word Tarweehah), which literally refers to the rest or relaxation taken at intervals of superogatory (nafilat) prayers. Technically, it implies nafilat prayers exclusively observed only during Ramadan on a daily basis immediately after the late evening (Isha’i) and before the Witr prayer.
Let us not be carried away by the pursuit of the “comforts” (or rather ‘wahala’) of this life including power, money and women as to ignore the opportunities provided by Ramadan. We do not know whether this would be the last Ramadan in our life time. Have we easily forgotten that some of those with whom we observed Ramadan fast, tarawih prayers and seclusion (‘itikaf) last year did not live to witness this Ramadan? It is only moderate for us to presume that we would be next in the turn. We pray that Allah (SWT) guides us unto the path of those who would not only be forgiven their sins but would also be emancipated from Hell fire during this Ramadan. May Allah (SWT) give us the strength of will and ability to take good advantage of Ramadan, amin.
Articles
Ramadan: Another opportunity
Category: Philosofaith Written by M. U. Ndagi Hits: 1936
After breaking today’s fast at sunset, Muslims in Nigeria like their counterparts in other parts of the Muslim World would have completed about one-third of this year’s Ramadan that began nine days ago, which as described, is full of forgiveness (maghfirah) of sins. The Prophet (SAW) in one of his sayings tells us that, “the beginning of Ramadan is forgiveness (maghfirah), its middle course is mercy (rahmah) and the end of it is redemption (‘itq) from hell fire. The entire period of Ramadan is thus a season of spiritual amnesty. Ramadan is a unique month during which unrighteous believers are availed with the singular opportunity of renewing their dented relationships with Allah (SWT). It is also a period for obedient servants of Allah (SWT) to further strengthen their propinquity with the Almighty, Lord of the worlds.
The month of Ramadan is a period during which believers could easily and more than any other time of the year access Allah’s forgiveness and mercy. This forgiveness, however, must be earned through sincere repentance from evil. We must pledge never to go back to our sins. We must also be seen to have practically abandoned the path of unrighteousness, ungratefulness and the company of those who rebel against Allah’s commandment. Allah (SWT)’s forgiveness and mercy are both greater than the mass and weight of all the sins of man on earth. This, indeed, is what makes Allah (SWT) Oft-Forgiving and Most Merciful.The fact that we are today living in a society that is spiritually impure, morally bankrupt, socially maladjusted, economically exploitative and politically muddled makes us needier of Allah’s mercy and forgiveness than others. The act of seeking forgiveness of our sins therefore should be considered as a necessary religious duty by contemporary believing men and women. Let us take advantage of this blessed month and make as much istighfar as possible lest we regret our own act of negligence on the Day on which requests advanced for another opportunity would be turned down; that is the Day of Judgment.
Ramadan is a period when believers should persevere in worship, the reward of which is the Garden of Bliss (al-Jannah). The mind, the body and the soul of a believer during Ramadan each passes through various levels of perseverance in total service and submission to the will of Allah (SWT). It is in recognition of the worth of fasting (sawm) as a unique and revered act of worship (ibadah) that Allah (SWT) says every act of good deed is for man except (the act of) fasting which exclusively belongs to Him (SWT); and that He (SWT) alone gives the reward for it. The Prophet (SAW) states that “Allah (SWT) forgives a believer of all his sins committed between the last and the current Ramadan as long as the Ramadan fast is faithfully observed”.
Imam Malik relates on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (RA) who reports that the Prophet (SAW) said, “By the one in whose hand myself is, the smell of the breath of a man fasting is better in the sight of Allah than the scent of Musk. He leaves his desires and his food and drink for my (Allah’s) sake. Fasting is for me and I reward it. Every good action is rewarded by ten times its kind up to seven hundred times except fasting, which is for me and I reward it”. Abu Hurayrah (RA) further reports that the Prophet (SAW) said, “When Ramadan comes, the gates of the Garden (of Bliss) are opened, and the gates of the Fire are closed, and the devils (shayatin) are chained”. Ramadan is, thus, a unique opportunity for us not only to earn a special position in the sight of Allah (SWT) but also to redeem ourselves from the punishment of hell fire and enlist our names through genuine devotions in the “register” of those to enter paradise.
Ramadan is a season that avails believers with the benefit of not only strengthening the spirit of brotherhood among themselves through virtuous acts but also of mending fences where relationships have soured. Muslims are enjoined to use the Ramadan period to practically demonstrate the virtues of tolerance, hospitality, charity, kindness and other righteous qualities which Islam as a religion represent, especially to the indigent members of the society. They are thus encouraged to give alms, feed the poor and invite others and neighbors including non-Muslims to break the Ramadan fast with them. The single act of kindness in Ramadan has the capacity to foster religious understanding, harmony and social cohesion in a multi-faith society like Nigeria.
The month of Ramadan is a spiritual opportunity that comes our way once annually. The sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) urges believers to keep themselves pre-occupied with diverse acts of worship during Ramadan. This may include, in addition to istighfar, attending commentary of the holy Qur’an (tafsir) sessions to listen to the word of Allah (SWT), constant recitation of the holy Qur’an as well as observing supererogatory (nafilat) prayers called Tarawih (plural form of the Arabic word Tarweehah), which literally refers to the rest or relaxation taken at intervals of superogatory (nafilat) prayers. Technically, it implies nafilat prayers exclusively observed only during Ramadan on a daily basis immediately after the late evening (Isha’i) and before the Witr prayer.
Let us not be carried away by the pursuit of the “comforts” (or rather ‘wahala’) of this life including power, money and women as to ignore the opportunities provided by Ramadan. We do not know whether this would be the last Ramadan in our life time. Have we easily forgotten that some of those with whom we observed Ramadan fast, tarawih prayers and seclusion (‘itikaf) last year did not live to witness this Ramadan? It is only moderate for us to presume that we would be next in the turn. We pray that Allah (SWT) guides us unto the path of those who would not only be forgiven their sins but would also be emancipated from Hell fire during this Ramadan. May Allah (SWT) give us the strength of will and ability to take good advantage of Ramadan, amin.