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Guidelines for the Month of Ramadan
6-14-2016
1. We must wake up for suhur as it is sunnah of our Rasul ?. He has informed us that the food of suhur is full of barakah: “Eat suhur, because in it lie great blessings.” (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)
We should arrange our time for suhur in such a way that we are also able to perform at least 4 to 8 raka’at of tahajjud together with du’a for about 15 minutes or more. Rasulullah ? has said that the du’a in the darkness of the night (after tahajjud) is readily accepted by Allah. (At-Tirmidhi)
2. The ideal way to perform tahajjud with suhur is to wake up early and perform tahajjud and make du’a before suhur. Everyone in the house should wake up and engage in ibadah in the darkness and isolation of their own rooms. Shed tears and ask Allah SWT for your needs just as a small child cries and gets his needs fulfilled. Rasulullah ? has encouraged his followers to cry when making du’a.
Crying and weeping attracts mercy. Just as a mother who, upon seeing her child crying for a sweet, will succumb at the sight of the child’s crying and treat it with mercy, similarly when one shed tears whilst beseeching his Lord, the Mercy of the Lord will enshroud him.
3. After tahajjud and suhur, we must pray our Fajr Salah with congregation. Ladies should also perform their obligatory Salah.
4. After Fajr remain engaged in ibadah till 15-20 minutes after sunrise and perform 4 raka’at ishraq.
5. Before zawal, perform Salat-ad-Duha (chasht). Rasulullah ? said, “There is charity due upon you in lieu of every joint that exists in your body. To say sub’hanallah is a form of charity, to say alhamdulillah is also a charity, to say la ilahaillallah is also a charity, to command goodness and forbid evil is also a charity, and two raka’at at the time of duha (chasht) is sufficient for all this charity (i.e. to compensate the favour of every joint that Allah SWT has given you).” (Muslim)
6. Perform Zuhr with congregation. If possible, engage in ibadah for a while and have a short rest with the intention of qaylulah-a Sunnah of our beloved Prophet ? .
7. Perform ‘Asr. The time between ‘Asr and Maghrib is very valuable especially for du’a. We must make the effort to perform our ‘Asr with congregation and then remain in the masjid until Maghrib. Unfortunately, Shaytan and nafs have deceived us so much that many of us cannot do without food in the masjid at the time of iftar. My friends, we should try to change our habits and keep the Akhirah in our minds. Shaytan and nafs will take us home for some food, which should only take a few minutes, and will not let us come to the masjid until just before Maghrib. This is the best part of the day, which we do not value, only because of our desire for food. Rasulullah ? said, “There are three groups of people whose du’a is not rejected; the fasting person until he breaks the fast……..” (Ahmad)
When Allah SWT has made a promise through His Prophet ?, there is no doubt in the acceptance of these supplications. In spite of this, we find some people whose prayers are not answered. This does not mean that their prayers have been rejected. It is Allah SWT’s Favour upon us that should He find that granting us what we ask from Him is in our interest, He grants, otherwise not.
Another point to remember is that there are certain conditions in the absence of which they may be rejected. Among these is halal food and making du’a with attention and concentration. If our hearts and minds are not in our du’as, then they may not be answered.
My friends, we must make the habit of bringing a few dates with us at the time of ‘Asr, and after ‘Asr we must engage in dhikr, tilawah, tasbih, etc. until just 10-15 minutes before Maghrib, when we should raise our hands in du’a until Adhan. In this way, everyone will be engrossed in their own ibadah and we will find that if some of the individuals are crying, others will also get the inclination to do the same. Therefore value this time between ‘Asr and Maghrib and do not waste it in worrying about food. The saintly people are such that not even gold and silver will distract them from the Worship of Allah SWT, let alone food. Their concentration in their du’a is not affected even if heaps of treasure were to be placed before them, whereas, we would not be able to concentrate if only a small morsel was to be put in front of us. I would request my sisters not to spend the time between ‘Asr and Maghrib in the kitchen.
8. After performing Maghrib, we should perform 6 raka’at of awwabin after the two raka’at sunnah and two raka’at nafl of Maghrib. However: those who do not feel inclined to do this, some ulama have said that two raka’at sunnah and two raka’at nafl of Maghrib can also become part of the 6 raka’at awwabin. Hence, performing only two raka’at after the sunnah and nafl of Maghrib will suffice.
9. After food prepare for Isha Salah and go to the masjid. Perform Isha Salah and tarawih. The sisters should note that 20 raka’at tarawih is sunnah mu’akkadah for them too. They must perform tarawih after Isha.
10. After tarawih, go straight home. Do not loiter around outside the masjid wasting time. At home, remain in ibadah until you go to sleep. Sleep with the intention of waking up for tahajjud and suhur.
11. Apart from the above, we know that in Ramadan there are always various programmes taking place in the masajid led by our ulama. These are for our own benefit. There are many of us who are very sinful and during this month our hearts are softened and more receptive; by listening to the wise words of our ulama the chances of bringing good deeds into practice are greater. Although the month of Ramadan is solely for ibadah, we should try and attend these programmes in the masajid because by listening to these discourses, insha’allah, changes will come into our lives for the better. Our hearts are blackened by and full of sins and by listening to these discourses and sitting in the company of the ulama and the pious, change will definitely occur in our hearts, inshallah.
NOTES:
· The household should sit together daily at a specified time and read from Virtues of Ramadan compiled by Shaykh-al-Hadith, Shaykh Mawlana Muhammad Zakariyya ? for at least 15 minutes. This will create a good atmosphere and environment in our homes and at the same time Ramadan will pass joyfully with an abundance of barakah in the home, insha’allah.
· Whilst in the masjid engage yourself in ibadah. Take great care not to get involved in any worldly talk. It is very upsetting and disheartening to see people wasting their time in futile talk in the masjid, even during the month of Ramadan. Try and restrain yourself and remain engaged in ibadah.
· Perform i’tkaf of the last ten days in the masjid. Sisters mar perform i’tikaf in their homes. Rasulullah ? used to perform i’tikaf in the final ten days of Ramadan. (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)
· Recite as much Qur’an as possible during the month of Ramadan.
· Du’a, istighfar and tawbah should be made in abundance throughout the blessed month.
· Intermingling with people should be decreased to a minimum.
· Everyone should try to take rest in order to conserve energy for the compulsory ibadah. There is no point in remaining in nafl ibadah and not getting rest, which will result in tiredness and laziness at the time of compulsory salah, etc.
Allah SWT’s Mercy is in abundance throughout the year, but especially during this month. We should yearn in our hearts for this Mercy because we need mercy, blessing and forgiveness from Allah SWT. We are sinful and in this month we want to win Allah SWT’s Attention so that we can become His Beloved Slaves. If we are eager to perform good deeds then, insha’allah this month will become a month of great blessing for us.
May Allah SWT accept our efforts and make every moment of this month a means of receiving His Mercy, Blessing and Forgiveness. May we all be granted a place in Jannah. Amin.
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