Guidelines For The Month Of Ramaḍān

[ummtaalib]

By Shaykh Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat ḥafiẓahullāh

 

1.    We must wake up for suḥūr as it
is a sunnah of our Rasūl s. He has informed us that the food of suḥūr is full of barakah: “Eat suḥūr,
because in it lie great blessings.” (Bukhārī, Muslim)

 

      We should arrange our time for
suḥūr in such a way that we are also able to perform at least 4 to 8 raka‘āt of
tahajjud together with du‘ā for about 15 minutes or more. Rasūlullāh s has said that the du‘ā in the darkness of the night (after
tahajjud) is readily accepted by Allāh. (Tirmidhī)

 

2.    The ideal way to perform
tahajjud with suḥūr is to wake up early and perform tahajjud and make du‘ā
before suḥūr. Everyone in the house should wake up and engage in ‘ibādah in the
darkness and isolation of their own rooms. Shed tears and ask Allāh S for your needs just as a small child cries and gets his
needs fulfilled. Rasūlullāh s has encouraged his followers to cry when making du‘ā.

 

      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 sheds tears whilst beseeching his Lord, the Mercy of the Lord will
enshroud him.

 

3.    After tahajjud and suḥūr, we
must pray our Fajr Ṣalāh with congregation. Ladies should also perform their
obligatory Ṣalāh.

 

4.    After Fajr remain engaged in
‘ibādah till 15-20 minutes after sunrise and perform 4 raka‘āt ishrāq.

 

5.    Before zawāl, perform Ṣalāt-ad-Ḍuḥā
(chāsht). Rasūlullāh s said, “There is charity due upon you in lieu of every joint that
exists in your body. To say sub’ḥānallāh is a form of charity, to say alḥamdulillāh
is also a charity, to say lā ilāha illallāh is also a charity, to
command goodness and forbid evil is also a charity, and two raka‘āt at the time
of ḍuḥā (chāsht) is sufficient for all this charity (i.e. to compensate the
favour of every joint that Allāh S has given you).” (Muslim)

 

6.    Perform Ẓuhr with congregation.
If possible, engage in ‘ibādah for a while and have a short rest with the
intention of qaylūlah – a Sunnah of our beloved Prophet s.

 

7.    Perform ‘Aṣr. The time between
‘Aṣr and Maghrib is very valuable especially for du‘ā. We must make the effort
to perform our ‘Aṣzr with congregation and then remain in the masjid until
Maghrib. Unfortunately, Shayṭān and nafs have deceived us so much that many of
us cannot do without food in the masjid at the time of ifṭār. My friends, we
should try to change our habits and keep the Ākhirah in our minds. Shayṭān 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. Rasūlullāh
s said, “There are three
groups of people whose du‘ā is not rejected; the fasting person until he breaks
the fast........” (Aḥmad)

 

      When Allāh S has made a promise through His Prophet s, 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 Allāh
S’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 ḥalāl food and making du‘ā with attention and concentration. If
our hearts and minds are not in our du‘ās, then they may not be answered.

 

      My friends, we must make the
habit of bringing a few dates with us at the time of ‘Aṣr, and after ‘Aṣr we
must engage in dhikr, tilāwah, tasbīḥ, etc. until just 10-15 minutes before
Maghrib, when we should raise our hands in du‘ā until Adhān. In this way,
everyone will be engrossed in their own ‘ibādah 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 ‘Aṣr 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 Allāh S, let alone food. Their concentration in their du‘ā 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 ‘Aṣr and
Maghrib in the kitchen.

 

8.    After performing Maghrib, we should
perform 6 raka‘āt of awwābīn after the two raka‘āt sunnah and two raka‘āt nafl
of Maghrib. However; those who do not feel inclined to do this, some ‘ulamā
have said that two raka‘āt sunnah and two raka‘āt nafl of Maghrib can also
become part of the 6 raka‘āt awwābīn. Hence, performing only two raka‘āt after
the sunnah and nafl of Maghrib will suffice.

 

9.    After food prepare for ‘Ishā Ṣalāh
and go to the masjid. Perform ‘Ishā Ṣalāh and tarāwīh. The sisters should note
that 20 raka‘āt tarāwīh is sunnah mu’akkadah for them too. They must perform
tarāwīh after ‘Ishā.

 

10.  After tarāwīh, go straight home.
Do not loiter around outside the masjid wasting time. At home, remain in
‘ibādah until you go to sleep. Sleep with the intention of waking up for
tahajjud and suḥūr.

 

11.  Apart from the above, we know
that in Ramaḍān there are always various programmes taking place in the masājid
led by our ‘ulamā. 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 ‘ulamā the chances of bringing good deeds
into practice are greater. Although the month of Ramaḍān is solely for ‘ibādah,
we should try and attend these programmes in the masājid because by listening
to these discourses, inshā’allāh, 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 ‘ulamā and the pious, change will
definitely occur in our hearts, inshā’allāh.

 

notes:

 

•   The household should sit together
daily at a specified time and read from Virtues of Ramaḍān compiled by
Shaykh-al-Ḥadīth Muḥammad Zakariyyā v for at least 15 minutes. This will create a good atmosphere and
environment in our homes and at the same time Ramaḍān will pass joyfully with
an abundance of barakah in the home, inshā’allāh.

 

•   Whilst in the masjid engage
yourself in ‘ibādah. 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 Ramaḍān. Try and restrain
yourself and remain engaged in ‘ibādah.

 

•   Perform i‘tikāf of the last ten
days in the masjid. Sisters may perform i‘tikāf in their homes. Rasūlullah s used to perform i’tikāf in the final ten days of Ramaḍān.
(Bukhārī, Muslim)

 

•   Recite as much Qur’ān as possible
during the month of Ramaḍān

 

•   Du‘ā, istighfār 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 ‘ibādah. There is no point in
remaining in nafl ‘ibādah and not getting rest, which will result in tiredness
and laziness at the time of compulsory ṣalāh, etc.

 

Allāh S’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 Allāh S. We are sinful and in this month we want to win Allāh S’s Attention so that we can become His Beloved Slaves. If
we are eager to perform good deeds then, inshā’allāh this month will become a month
of great blessing for us.

 

May Allāh S 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. Āmīn.

 

© Islãmic Da‘wah Academy