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Laws and
Virtues Pertaining to the Month of Ramadān, Tarāwīh etc.
Laws and
Virtues Pertaining to the Month of Ramadān, Tarāwīh and Sadaqatul Fitr
Rasulullah
sallallahu alaihi wasallam said: "On the first night of Ramadān, the
Shayateen (devils) and the rebellious jinnat are imprisoned. All the doors of
Jahannam (hell) are closed and all the doors of Jannah are opened. A caller
calls out, "O seeker of good, advance and O seeker of evil, refrain (from
evil). Many people are emancipated from Jahannam by Allah Taala and this
takes place every night." (Tirmizi, Ibn Majah)
Similarly
Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam has stated: "The person that keeps
fast with conviction and hope of reward, all his past sins are forgiven and
the person that makes qiyām (remains awake for ibādat) on the Night of Power
(Laylatul Qadr) with firm conviction and hope of reward will have all his past
sins forgiven." (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim) Rasulullah sallallahu
alaihi wasallam also mentioned that Allah says: "The reward for good
deeds of the son of Adam (alaihis salām) are multiplied between ten and seven
hundred times besides fasting, as fasting is for Me, and I will grant its
recompense (in accordance to My status). The fasting person discards his
passions and eating for My sake. The fasting person experiences two occasions
of happiness - one at the time of iftār (terminating the fast) and the second
at the time of meeting Allah Taala, and the smell that emerges from the
mouth of a fasting person is more precious in the sight of Allah than the
fragrance of musk.
Fasting
is a shield
When a person
is fasting, he should not utter any obscene utterance nor should he quarrel.
If anyone does quarrel or initiate an argument then say: "I am
fasting." (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
Rasulullah
sallallahu alaihi wasallam has also mentioned: "This is the month of
blessings. In it lies the Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr) which is more
virtuous than a thousand months. Allah has made it's (the month of Ramadāns)
fasting fard and the qiyām (standing) of the night (i.e. tarāwīh) nafl
(i.e. a practise of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam). In this month the
reward of a nafl (optional) action equals that of a fard (obligatory practise)
and one fard action equals seventy fard actions in reward. In this month a
believers rizq (sustenance) is increased. A person that feeds a fasting
person, his sins will be forgiven and he will be freed from Jahannum and he
will receive the same reward as that of the fasting person. This reward is
attained by merely giving a sip of milk or water or one piece of date. Whoever
fed a fasting person, Allah shall grant the giver to drink from my haud
(fountain), a drink after which that person shall never feel thirsty again
until he enters jannah." (Mishkāt)
Masa'il
(Rules)
It is sunnah
to partake of Sehri. Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said: "Eat
sehri, as in it lies great blessings." (Sahih Bukhari) The difference in
our fasting and that of the Ahlul Kitab (Jews and Christians) lies in the
partaking of food at the time of sehri.(Sahih Muslim) This sunnah may also be
achieved by merely eating one or two morsels or having something to drink. The
sunnah time for sehri is the last portion of the night, whereas to hasten with
iftār is sunnah. When a person clearly comes to know of the setting of the
sun, he should commence with his iftār. He should not delay. It is preferable
to break ones fast with dates, otherwise with water as this is also a
cleanser. The dua at the time of iftār is: "O Allah, for You have I
fasted and upon Your sustenance I break my fast." (Sunan Abi Dawood) To
make an intention is a pre-requisite for fasting. To make this intention from
the night is preferable. However, the fast of Ramadān will be valid even if a
person made his intention before the passing of half the day.
Abstaining
from Sin
Whilst
fasting, special importance should be given to abstain from sin. It is stated
in a hadith that "the person who does not abstain from evil acts and
speaking lies, Allah is not in need of his fast. (Sahih Bukhari) Backbiting,
slandering, arguments, not guarding ones eyes from looking at evil, bad
thoughts, shaving or trimming of the beard and allowing ones trouser or
garments to cover the ankles. One should abstain from all these types of sins
especially in the month of Ramadān. If a person gives due importance to
refrain from these sins in the month of Ramadān, then it is hoped that it
will become easy for him to refrain from them throughout the year. The
objective of fasting is to inculcate the quality of taqwa (piety) as Allah
mentions in the Quran: "So that you attain piety." A person refrains
from eating and drinking for the sake of Allah for a stipulated time, but how
foolish will it not be to refrain from those things which are always harām
(forbidden). Tarāwīh The tarāwīh salāh of twenty rakaāt is
sunnat-e-muakkadah for both males and females. For men to perform it in the
masjid with jamāah is Sunnah-alal-kifāyah. This means that it is sunnah
for some people to perform the salāh with jamāah (congregation) in the
masjid. Thus if some others perform their Esha salāh with jamāah in the
masjid and perform their tarāwīh salāh at home with jamāah or
individually, it is permissible. Itikāf To remain in itikāf for the last ten
days of Ramadān is Sunnah-alal-kifāyah. If even one person from the locality
performs itikāf,this sunnah is fulfilled. A very easy and practical way of
finding Laylatul Qadr is to sit for itikāf. If a person only performs itikāf
during the nights of the last ten days, then also he will acquire this virtue.
If this is also not possible, then at least the odd nights should be given
importance. This is also a great fortune. A person sleeping whilst in itikāf
will be regarded as if he is performing ibādat (worship). A person may engage
in permissible speech whilst in itikāf. However he should refrain from
obscene and vain talk.
Tahajjud
There is
great reward for the performance of tahajjud salāh (nightly vigil). It is the
practise of the pious. By virtue of it, sins are forgiven. To refrain from
sins also becomes easy. The reward of Tahajjud will be achieved by performing
two rakaāt also. A person should perform two to four rakaāt of
tahajjud at least when waking up for sehri. The time of tahajjud and sehri
remains till subah sādiq (true-dawn).
Sadaqatul
fitr
Sadaqatul
fitr is wajib on every such Muslim who possesses the nisāb of zakāt before
the subah sādiq (true-dawn) of the day of Eid. Whether he had this amount of
money for a complete year or not. In fact, if a person possesses more than his
basic household needs and its value is equal to the nisāb of zakāh, then
upon him also sadaqatul fitr is wajib, while zakāt is not wājib on him. (Marāqiul
falāh) A person has to give sadaqatul fitr for himself and on behalf of his
immature children (those that have not yet reached the age of puberty). If the
children do have the amount of money, then the father will pay it from their
money. The wife and bāligh children will give sadaqatul fitr from their own
wealth if they posses that amount. It is not wājib (compulsory) on the
husband and father to give on their behalf. However, if a person pays on
behalf of his wife or bāligh children after informing them, then it will be
regarded as fulfilled. If the wife and bāligh children do not posses that
amount, then sadaqatul fitr is not wajib on them nor on their guardians. (Shāmi/Hidāyah)
Amount
of Sadaqatul fitr
In accordance
to sound and authentic ahādith, if a person gives wheat for sadaqatul fitr,
then half a sā is sufficient. This is ascertained from both Tahawi and
Tirmidi Shareef (compilations of hadith) and this is the view of the majority
of the Hanafi scholars. Half a sā in todays time is equivalent to a
maximum of 1.7kg. Flour to the same amount is also suffi cient. If onewishes
to give money in place of wheat or flour, then the value of 1.7kg of wheat
flour should be given. For example, if one kilogram of flour costs three rands,
then the amount will be 1.7 kg x R3.00 which will total to R5.10. Similarly,
if the price of flour is less, then it should be multiplied with the
respective amount. The price of that flour should be ascertained which a
person uses daily. If he happens to use different types or qualities of flour,
then he should ascertain the price of the average quality flour. This ruling
and calculation is in conformance to the view of majority of the scholars of
the Indo-Pak Subcontinent. This is also the view of, interalia, Mufti Muhammed
Shafi Sāheb rahmatullah alaih - Grand Mufti of Pakistan and Moulānā Abrarul
Haq Sāheb damat barakatuhum of Hardoi.
The
Musallah (Eid Gah)
The
performing of the Eid salāh in an open field on the outskirts of the town or
city, is Sunnah Muakkadah (greatly stressed upon sunnah). According to the
verdict of many senior Muftis, in big cities or towns, the sunnah will (Insha
Allah) be fulfilled even by reading in a field or open plain within the city.
However, for the benefit of the sick, weak and other "mazoor"
persons (people with valid Shari reasons), arrangements can be made to
perform Eid Salāh in the masjid. Similarly, due to rain also, the Eid Salāh
can be read in the masjid. However, to fulfill the Sunnah Muakkadah act of
performing Eid Salāh at the Musallā (Eid Gāh) in favourable weather, normal
and healthy people should give importance to proceeding to the Musallā (Eid Gāh).
The habit of performing the Eid Salāh in the Masjid is not a good habit.
Despite the great virtue of the blessed Masjid of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi
wasallam - Masjid-un-Nabawi - Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam and the
Khulafa - Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali Radiallahu anhum left this masjid on
the occasion of Eid and always proceeded to the Musallā (Eid Gāh) for the
Eid salāh. For more details on this subject refer to the book, "The
Sunnah of the Musallā" by Hazrat Moulānā Fazlur Rahman Saheb.
Women
Proceeding for Eid Salaah
For women to
proceed to the Musallā (Eid Gāh) nowadays is forbidden according to the
majority of the Fuqahā (jurists), as there is a great danger of fitnah
(vice). Imam Tahāwi rahmatullah alaih states that during the time of
Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam the women used to go to the Musallā (Eid
Gāh) so that the enemies could be overawed by the large numbers of the
Muslims. (Maarifus Sunan vol. 4 pg. 445). Similarly, in that blessed era
there was safety from all evils and vices, unlike today where there is a great
danger of all forms of evils and vices. Today, the majority of women do not
observe Hijāb (Shari concealment) and venture outdoors after adorning
themselves. To venture outdoors in this manner is not permissible according to
all the authentic scholars of Islam. In the light of the Quran and hadith, it
is not permissible to venture outdoors in this manner (i.e. with no hijāb and
adorning oneself). Hazrat Aisha radiallahu anha had mentioned during her time:
"If Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam had to see the new style of the
women of today, he would have prevented them from venturing outdoors as the
women of the Bani Israeel were prevented. (Bukhari p.120) Thus the Fuqaha
(jurists) have completely prohibited young women. A few jurists had permitted
old women. However, due to increase in evil and vice, general prohibition of
both young and old women has been declared. (For more details refer to
Maarifus Sunan vol. 4 pgs 445-448)
By Madressah
Islamia Arabia- Azaadville
Courtesy:
www.everymuslim.com
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