Life after Ramadan
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- Category: Philosofaith
- Written by M. U. Ndagi
- Hits: 829
The end of Ramadan fast is not and should not mark the end of a virtuous life for a true believer. Ramadan is expected to inspire believing men and women to sustain all the good acts of devotion (ibadah) they undertook in the last one month. They include steadfastness in prayers; constant recitation of the Holy Qur’an; seeking much forgiveness and mercy from Allah (SWT); feeding indigent persons and giving alms to the needy. Now that Ramadan is over, we must as sincere Muslims resolve not to go back to the sins we deserted in the month-long period of Ramadan fast. The life of a true believer during Ramadan should not be different from that which he lives after the holy month.
It is not too uncommon to find Muslims who after Ramadan fast dump their copies of the Holy Qur’an; abandon tahajjud; and abstain from the regular observance of salat until probably the Holy month comes around again. It is hypocritical for a believer to live a rebellious life after the Ramadan fast is over. The termination of Ramadan fast should not prompt working husbands and wives to resume their usual habit of late return from “work”. Some housewives and husbands whose spouses are used to returning late from work would have been thankful to Ramadan in the last one month for the early return of their spouses from work, at least, to break the fast at home. Let us strive to sustain the religious duties and worthwhile habits we imbibed in Ramadan. Those who are unfaithful to their spouses would always ascribe their late return from “work” to reasons of tight schedules in the office. This is constantly the excuse even when they were busy elsewhere doing something else.
As we think of rounding up Eidl-fitr activities, let us remember to prepare for the prophetic tradition that recommends six days of fasting in this Islamic lunar month of Shawwal. Imam Muslim (RA) relates on the authority of Abi Ayyub (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said, “whoever observes the Ramadan fast and follows it up with six days of voluntary fast in (the month of) Shawwal shall be ( considered) as having fasted a whole lifetime. The Prophet (SAW) is also reported to have said that “Allah (SWT) created the heavens and the earth in six days and whoever fasts (in Shawwal) for six days would receive a reward proportionate to the number of creatures on the earth; erase his mistakes and sins in the same proportion; and would raise the person in ranks (of honour)”. However, it is wrong to begin the six days of fasting in Shawwal on the Eidl-fitr day. It was for fear of joining to Ramadan what does not belong to it that some scholars express reservations about the six days of fasting in Shawwal. What ought to be done to forestall any misconceptions about the six days fast is for believers to be properly educated that the fast is not obligatory buy voluntary.
It is also not recommended to begin the six days voluntary fast during the festive period of Eidl-fitr because eating and drinking is traditionally part of the celebration of the Eid (Sallah). More so, our physical bodies have certain rights over us, especially the right to enough rest, in the same we have been naturally empowered to have rights over our physical bodies. Similarly, it is preferred that the six days voluntary fast is observed intermittently. Abdullahi bn Umar (RA) reports that the prophet (SAW) forbade voluntary fast for two or more days without resting in between. When the Prophet (SAW) was asked by a group of people that he (the prophet) practiced wisal, he (SAW) replied, “I am not the same as you; I am fed and given to drink”. Abu Hurayrah (RA) also reports that the Prophet (SAW) said, “Beware of wisal, Beware of wisal. They said, “But you practiced wisal; O Messenger of Allah”. He replied “I am not the same as you. My lord feeds me and gives me to drink”. Nevertheless, fasting to make up for days missed in Ramadan is preferred to be observed consecutively.
Sufyan ath-Thaury (RA) relates that he used to see a man at the Holy mosque of Ka’aba for about three years and they exchanged pleasantries after becoming familiar with one another. One day, the man called Sufyan and said, “If I die, wash and bury me. Stand by my grave to remind me of the creed statement of Islam (La ilaha ila llah) which I shall utter when the questioning Angel arrives”. Sufyan did as requested by the man after the former’s demise. But Sufyan had a dream in which he was told that the deceased needed no reminder to say the creed statement because the six days of voluntary fast, which the man used to observe in Shawwal was enough a reminder.
Voluntary fast, whether in Shawwal or in other months of the year, is a popular prophetic tradition. The prophet (SAW) used to fast every Monday and Thursday of the week. It was also his practice to observe voluntary fast on the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth of every month. May Allah (SWT) grant us the ability and the will to observe voluntary fast as practiced by the prophet (SAW) every week; may He (SWT) also guide us to make effective resolutions after Ramadan such that our private and public life would be the same after Ramadan fast as it were during the holy month, amin.
Articles
Life after Ramadan
Category: Philosofaith Written by M. U. Ndagi Hits: 829
The end of Ramadan fast is not and should not mark the end of a virtuous life for a true believer. Ramadan is expected to inspire believing men and women to sustain all the good acts of devotion (ibadah) they undertook in the last one month. They include steadfastness in prayers; constant recitation of the Holy Qur’an; seeking much forgiveness and mercy from Allah (SWT); feeding indigent persons and giving alms to the needy. Now that Ramadan is over, we must as sincere Muslims resolve not to go back to the sins we deserted in the month-long period of Ramadan fast. The life of a true believer during Ramadan should not be different from that which he lives after the holy month.
It is not too uncommon to find Muslims who after Ramadan fast dump their copies of the Holy Qur’an; abandon tahajjud; and abstain from the regular observance of salat until probably the Holy month comes around again. It is hypocritical for a believer to live a rebellious life after the Ramadan fast is over. The termination of Ramadan fast should not prompt working husbands and wives to resume their usual habit of late return from “work”. Some housewives and husbands whose spouses are used to returning late from work would have been thankful to Ramadan in the last one month for the early return of their spouses from work, at least, to break the fast at home. Let us strive to sustain the religious duties and worthwhile habits we imbibed in Ramadan. Those who are unfaithful to their spouses would always ascribe their late return from “work” to reasons of tight schedules in the office. This is constantly the excuse even when they were busy elsewhere doing something else.
As we think of rounding up Eidl-fitr activities, let us remember to prepare for the prophetic tradition that recommends six days of fasting in this Islamic lunar month of Shawwal. Imam Muslim (RA) relates on the authority of Abi Ayyub (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said, “whoever observes the Ramadan fast and follows it up with six days of voluntary fast in (the month of) Shawwal shall be ( considered) as having fasted a whole lifetime. The Prophet (SAW) is also reported to have said that “Allah (SWT) created the heavens and the earth in six days and whoever fasts (in Shawwal) for six days would receive a reward proportionate to the number of creatures on the earth; erase his mistakes and sins in the same proportion; and would raise the person in ranks (of honour)”. However, it is wrong to begin the six days of fasting in Shawwal on the Eidl-fitr day. It was for fear of joining to Ramadan what does not belong to it that some scholars express reservations about the six days of fasting in Shawwal. What ought to be done to forestall any misconceptions about the six days fast is for believers to be properly educated that the fast is not obligatory buy voluntary.
It is also not recommended to begin the six days voluntary fast during the festive period of Eidl-fitr because eating and drinking is traditionally part of the celebration of the Eid (Sallah). More so, our physical bodies have certain rights over us, especially the right to enough rest, in the same we have been naturally empowered to have rights over our physical bodies. Similarly, it is preferred that the six days voluntary fast is observed intermittently. Abdullahi bn Umar (RA) reports that the prophet (SAW) forbade voluntary fast for two or more days without resting in between. When the Prophet (SAW) was asked by a group of people that he (the prophet) practiced wisal, he (SAW) replied, “I am not the same as you; I am fed and given to drink”. Abu Hurayrah (RA) also reports that the Prophet (SAW) said, “Beware of wisal, Beware of wisal. They said, “But you practiced wisal; O Messenger of Allah”. He replied “I am not the same as you. My lord feeds me and gives me to drink”. Nevertheless, fasting to make up for days missed in Ramadan is preferred to be observed consecutively.
Sufyan ath-Thaury (RA) relates that he used to see a man at the Holy mosque of Ka’aba for about three years and they exchanged pleasantries after becoming familiar with one another. One day, the man called Sufyan and said, “If I die, wash and bury me. Stand by my grave to remind me of the creed statement of Islam (La ilaha ila llah) which I shall utter when the questioning Angel arrives”. Sufyan did as requested by the man after the former’s demise. But Sufyan had a dream in which he was told that the deceased needed no reminder to say the creed statement because the six days of voluntary fast, which the man used to observe in Shawwal was enough a reminder.
Voluntary fast, whether in Shawwal or in other months of the year, is a popular prophetic tradition. The prophet (SAW) used to fast every Monday and Thursday of the week. It was also his practice to observe voluntary fast on the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth of every month. May Allah (SWT) grant us the ability and the will to observe voluntary fast as practiced by the prophet (SAW) every week; may He (SWT) also guide us to make effective resolutions after Ramadan such that our private and public life would be the same after Ramadan fast as it were during the holy month, amin.