TAKE FULL RAMADAAN!!!

ADVANTAGE

OF

THIS

1. Ramadaan is the month in which the Quraan was revealed. (See Soorah al-Baqarah [2]:185, Soorah al-Qadr [97]: 1 and Soorah ad-Dukhaan [44]: 3.) 2. Allaah says: O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you in order that you may attain Taqwaa (piety and self-righteousness). (Soorah al-Baqarah [2]:183) 3. The Prophet (SAW) said: When the month of Ramadaan comes in, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of HellFire are closed, and the [major] devils are chained up. (alBukhaaree and Muslim) 4. The Prophet (SAW) said: Allaah says: Every good deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting, for it is for Me and I will reward it. He leaves his desires, food and drink for My Sake. (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim) 5. The Prophet (SAW) said: Indeed there is a gate in Paradise called ar-Rayyaan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection, and none besides them will enter through it. It will be said: Where are those who used to observe fasts? So they will stand up. No one else will enter through it besides them. When they enter it, it will be closed and no one else will enter through it. (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim) 6. The Prophet (SAW) said: Whoever fasts the month of Ramadaan, with faith in Allaah and hoping for His reward, his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever stands in night prayer during Ramadaan with faith in Allaah and hoping for His reward, his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever stands in night prayer during Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power) with faith in Allaah and hoping for His reward, his previous sins will be forgiven. (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim) 7. The Prophet (SAW) said: Fasting is a shield [protection]. If anyone of you is fasting, he should not use obscene language nor raise his voice or act foolishly. And if someone speaks abusively on him or wants to fight him, he should say: I am fasting, I am fasting. The Prophet (SAW) added: By Him in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, the breath that comes out of the mouth of the one fasting is better to Allaah than the scent of musk. There are two times of joy for the fasting person: When he breaks his fast, he is happy with the

breaking of his fast; and when he meets his Lord, he is happy because of his fast. (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim) 8. Plan and make preparations now to maximize your reward this Ramadaan! 9. Have good intention (Niyyah) for the fast. The Prophet (SAW) said: Every action is based on the intention The place of the intention is in the heart and pronouncing it with the tongue is an innovation and unnecessary burden. The Prophet (SAW) said: Whoever does not determine that he will fast before Fajr will have no fast. (Aboo Daawood, at-Tirmidhee, an-Nasaaee) The Prophet (SAW) also said: Whoever does not carry the intention at night for fasting will have no fast. (anNasaaee, al-Bayhaqee) 10. The Prophet (SAW) said: Many a fasting person has nothing from his fasting except hunger and thirst; and many a fasting person standing in night prayer has nothing from his standing except wakefulness. (Ibn Maajah, al-Haakim & Ibn Khuzaymah) 11. Endeavour to eat your Sahoor (pre-dawn meal). The Prophet (SAW) said: Take the Sahoor because in the Sahoor is Barakah (blessings). (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim) The Prophet (SAW) also said: Eating the Sahoor is blessed. Do not neglect it even if you take a gulp of water, because Allaah and His angels invoke blessings upon those who partake in the Sahoor. (Ahmad) 12. Delaying the Sahoor (pre-dawn meal) until just before Fajr is more rewarding and more blessed. Anas reported on Zayd ibn Thaabit that he said: We had Sahoor with the Prophet, then he (SAW) stood up for the prayer. I (Anas) said: How much time was there between the Adhaan and the Sahoor? He said: The length of time it takes to recite fifty verses (Aayaat). [Reported by al-Bukhaaree] 13. Endeavour to break your fast early at sunset and before Maghrib prayer as enjoined by the Prophet (SAW). The Prophet (SAW) said: The people will not cease to be upon good so long as they hasten in breaking the fast. (alBukhaaree and Muslim) 14. The Prophet (SAW) used to break the fast before praying with fresh dates. But if there were no fresh dates, he used to break it with dry dates. And if there were no dry dates, he would take sips of water. (at-Tirmidhee) 15. Abdullaah ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet (SAW) used to say whenever he breaks his fast: Dhahabaz-zamau wabtallatil urooqu, wa thabatal ajru inshaaAllaah. (The thirst is gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is confirmed,
2

if Allaah wills). [Collected by Aboo Daawood, al-Haakim, Ahmad and an-Nasaaee.] 16. Engage much in daily recitation of the Quraan and completing it at least once before the month ends. 17. Engage much in reading the meaning of the Quraan and reflecting upon its message. 18. Endeavour to memorize some Surahs (Chapters) or Aayaats (Verses) of the Quraan. 19. Engage much in Dhikr (Remembrance of Allaah). The best Dhikr is to say Subhaanallaah, Alhamdulillaah, Laa ilaaha illallaah, Allaahu Akbar. 20. Engage much in seeking forgiveness of Allaah saying Astaghfirullaah. The Prophet (SAW) said: Jibreel came to me and said: Whoever meets the month of Ramadan and his sins are not forgiven, may he enter the fire and may Allaah distant from him. Say Aameen. So I said Aameen (Ibn Hibbaan & Ibn Khuzaymah) The Prophet (SAW) also said: Jibreel came to me and said: O Muhammad! He is doomed he upon whom the month of Ramadan comes and then finishes and his sins are not forgiven. Say Aameen. So I said Aameen (Ahmad & atTabaraanee) 21. Engage much in seeking blessings of Allaah upon our noble Prophet (SAW). 22. Endeavour to observe all your Salaah in congregation. 23. Guard your (Salaah) prayers. From the great wrongs committed in Ramadaan is that many people fast in Ramadaan, but do not pray. Their example is like that of a people who build a palace but destroy its surroundings. From the great wrongs also is that: Some people observe the prayers in Ramadaan, but then leave off praying after the month comes to an end. So it is as if the Lord of Ramadaan is not the Lord of Shawwaal or any of the other months. May Allaah be far removed from false gods and partners. 24. Supplicate for the weak and oppressed Muslims all over the world. Supplicate for Muslim victory over their adversaries. Supplicate Allaah for your needs. The Prophet (SAW) said: Three Duaa (supplications) are never rejected: The Duaa (supplication) of the father, the Duaa of the one fasting, and the Duaa of the traveller. (al-Bayhaqee) 25. Engage much in doing good deeds. Engage much in charity. Forgive others and overlook their faults and errors. 26. Endeavour to observe the voluntary forenoon prayer (Salaatud-Duuhaa) after sunrise. It is a minimum of two rakats. 27. Endeavour to participate in the daily Taraweeh prayers.
3

28. Endeavour to attend gatherings of Islamic knowledge and Tafseer (exposition of the Quraan). 29. Shun sins and vanities. Restrain your gaze and your tongue. From the prohibited types of vain passing of time is: Being obsessed with music, film watching to while away time, entertainment tools and musical instruments, such as the television and videos, which are used to watch what Allaah detests such as music, dancing, nudity, intermingling (between the sexes) and wickedness. Avoid gatherings of vain and useless talk. Sit with the people of righteousness and knowledge. 30. The Prophet (SAW) said: Whoever does not abstain from false speech and acting upon that [false speech], Allaah is not in need of him leaving his food and his drink. (al-Bukhaaree) 31. Endeavour to wake your brothers/sisters up for Sahoor. Endeavour to provide food for your brothers/sisters to break their fasts. Invite others to join you in breaking the fasts. The Prophet (SAW) said: Whoever provides someone with something to break the fast, he would have the same blessings as the fasting person and this would not reduce the blessings of the fasting person in any way. (Ahmad, atTirmidhee, Ibn Maajah) 32. Endeavour to visit the sick Muslims in the hospitals. Endeavour to visit the helpless children in the orphanages. Endeavour to visit the Muslim inmates in the prisons. Endeavour to visit the graveyards of the Muslims. Endeavour to strengthen family ties by visiting your relations and doing good to them. 33. Teach your immediate family and let them partake with you in all the good deeds and acts of worship in Ramadaan. Take your Iftaar (dinner) together. 34. Strive harder in the last ten days and nights following the example of the Prophet (SAW) so that you do not miss the blessings of Laylatul-Qadr. The Prophet (SAW) said: This month has come to you, and it contains a night which is better than a 1,000 months. He who is deprived of it is deprived of all good, and none is deprived of it except those denied prosperity. (Ibn Maajah) The Prophet (SAW) also said: Whoever stands in night prayer during Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power) with faith in Allaah and hoping for His reward, his previous sins will be forgiven. (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim) 35. Endeavour to perform Itikaaf (seclusion in the Masjid) following the example of the Prophet (SAW). 36. Do not forget to give your Zakaat-ul-Fitr, giving it before the Eed prayer. The Time when it is permissible to give Zakaat-ul4

Fitr is one or two days before Eed. Ibn Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allaah (SAW) made Zakaat-ul-Fitr obligatory as a means of purifying the fasting person from idle talk and foul language, and to feed the poor. Whoever pays it before the prayer, it is an accepted Zakaah, and whoever pays it after prayer, it is just a kind of charity (Sadaqah). (Aboo Daawood) 37. Make sure you observe and participate in the Eed prayers. 38. It is recommended that the one who fasts the month of Ramadaan to (also) fast six days in the month of Shawaal. The Prophet (SAW) said: Whoever fasts the month of Ramadaan and follows it up with six days in Shawaal, it is as if he has fasted the whole year. (Muslim, Ahmad and others)

PUBLICATION OF MUSLIM COMMUNITY, GENERAL HOSPITAL, LAGOS.