Author: Shaykh Saalih ibn Foazaan
Source: Translated by Abu Aqeela Mustafa Nesbeth
Obligation concerning pre occupying ones time during Ramadhaan with righteous actions.
All Praises deservedly belong to Allah and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
To proceed:
Indeed the virtues within the month of Ramadhaan many and plentiful, every individual who Allah has made successful will take from its virtues, from them, is the one who completes it. This is how the pious predecessors were; they were those who were joyous and happy with the month of Ramadhaan. Although throughout the year they were diligent and strove vigorously, standing at night in prayer, fasting in the days, those who fought for the sake of Allah, sought beneficial knowledge and performed righteous actions yet they would be delighted with this month because of the increase they would do in regards to goodness. They were those who loved goodness and whatsoever brought them closer to goodness. So the pious predecessors would express happiness regarding this month, making it exclusive for striving, exhausting all means. They would supplicate that Allah would accept (that which they put forth in that month) from them. As for one who is deficient in comparison to how they were he will still benefit from this month by whatsoever Allah bestows upon him. He is not one who seeks to spoil it through evil actions and negligence. The month of Ramadhaan has with it great virtues, the greatest of them being that Allah has made it specific for fasting which is a pillar from the pillars of Islaam. It has been ordained that this great pillar is performed within the month of Ramadhaan. Sufficient it is to say, regarding its nobility and virtuosity, that Allah has ordained the performance of a pillar from the pillars of Islaam, that pillar being fasting.
From its virtues: It was the month wherein the revelation of the Magnificent Quran took place. Allah the Most High and Exalted says:
"The month of Ramadhaan in which was revealed the Qur’aan..."
This is a great virtue due to the fact that this period of time was specified for the revelation of the greatest Book from the Books of Allah, the Magnificent Qur’aan. One can extrapolate from this: that the recitation of the Qur’aan in this month has a degree of excellence over its recitation in any of the other months. It is desired/required from the believer that he does much by way of reciting the Qur’aan in every month and throughout every day but its recitation in this month is more virtuous and bears more excellence because it was this month in which the Qur’aan was revealed. It was also the time when Jibreel revised it with the Prophet (sallahu alaihi wa sallam) and he (sallahu alaihi wa sallam) relayed it back unto Jibreel from beginning to end. So recitation of the Qur’aan in this month has with it much by way of great virtues. Concerning its recitation throughout the year, for each letter (harf) there is reward, the reward being the likes of ten thereof. These rewards are multiplied during the month of Ramadhaan.
Also from the virtues of this month: that there is one night in it better than a thousand months. A thousand months when converted annually is equivalent to eighty years and then some. This night being equal to eighty years and some months, all of which in obedience to Allah, this is truly a great virtue. The one who has with him in life eighty years in obedience to Allah is he whom Allah has granted for him that he encounters this night. So he stands in it with true faith seeking reward (from his Lord) Allah will prescribe for him from the standing of this night, the likes of a thousand months. This is Allah’s Favour, He gives it to whosoever He chooses and this night is in the month of Ramadhaan. As Allah Glorified is He and far removed from what is ascribed to Him, the Most High has said:
"Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree)"
And His saying:
"The month of Ramadhaan in which was revealed the Qur’aan..."
So the Qur’aan was revealed/sent down in lailatul Qadr (the night of Decree), in the month of Ramadhaan. That which is meant by ‘the Qur’aan being revealed/sent down in it (i.e. the month)’ is that Allah began its revelation to mankind on this night, in the month of Ramadhaan, then continued its revelation upon the Prophet (sallahu alaihi wa sallam). This is because the Qur’aan was revealed upon the Prophet (sallahu alaihi wa sallam) from when he was sent/appointed in Makkah up until Allah caused him to breathe his last breath in Madeenah, for a period of twenty three years. The Qur’aan being revealed upon him bit by bit, it would be revealed to him in chapters, it would be revealed upon him in verses, until the completion of the Qur’aan with his (sallahu alaihi wa sallam) death. So the meaning of "... revealed the Qur’aan" and "Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree)" refers to its initial revelation and then that which followed after that. It was revealed upon the Messenger of Allah (sallahu alaihi wa sallam) up until the end of his life. May peace and blessings be upon him.
These are the great virtues of this month:
• Firstly. A pillar (i.e. fasting) from the pillars of Islaam is performed within it.
• Secondly. Allah had revealed the Qur’aan in it.
• Thirdly. In this month, there is a night better than a thousand months.
• Fourthly. From the virtues of this month that actions within it are magnified and rewarded in multiple. (So the original reward which may already be numerated is then further multiplied). Due to this time frame Allah has allocated for them.
• Fifthly. Allah has specified this month for the night prayer which is to be prayed in the mosque in congregation and this is for none other than in the month of Ramadhaan. This indicates its virtue and it station with Allah Glorified is He and far removed from what is ascribed to Him, the Most High.
• Sixthly. From its virtues, the doors of Paradise have been opened as a welcome for righteous actions and doers (of good). The doors of the Hellfire have been closed. Disobedience and sin is lessened in the month of Ramadhaan whilst Muslims become more inclined towards obedience to Allah and upon competing against each other, racing for the Paradise.
• Seventh. From its virtues is that (during this month) the devils (shayaateen) are chained and shackled from the believers. Indeed Allah, Far removed is He from that which they ascribed to Him, the Most High suppresses/restrains the devils from the believers in this month. They cannot make mischief with them neither corrupt their worship. Because of this you will find the people more able/inclined towards having obedience to Allah in the month of Ramadhaan up until the one who is generally lazy throughout the year you will find him respondent during Ramadhaan in regards to obedience and this is something apparent, why? Because the devils have been shackled (and restrained) from the people of true faith (eemaan). As for the people of disbelief and hypocrisy then indeed the shayateen have been granted authority/power over them during the month of Ramadhaan as well as other than it. The shackling /suppression of the devils from the believers is exclusive for the month of Ramadhaan for the purpose of the consolidation/strengthening of ones obedience to Allah Far is He from that which they ascribe to Him, the Most High. As for the hypocrites and disbelievers then it is as Allah the Most High has said concerning them:
"See you not that We have sent the shayaateen (devils) against the disbelievers to push them to do evil" So they incite them towards evil – we seek Allah protection (from that) – they incite them towards evil during Ramadhaan and during other than it. Allah the Most High has mentioned:
"Verily, he has no power over those who believe and put their trust only in their Lord (Allah).His power is only over those who obey and follow him (shaytaan), and those who join partners with Him (Allah)"
So the Shaytaan has authority/power over the disbelievers. The friends of the shaytaan include every disbeliever, atheist, apostate, hypocrite and malicious evil being.
As for the true believers (the people of true faith) then indeed the shaytaan has no power/authority over them, to Allah deservedly belongs all praise. When they repent, Allah accepts their repentance and forgives them for their sins and removes their evils deeds. He forgives them for everything which they had put forth and increases for them their reward. This is what enrages the shaytaan that he is not able to prevent the virtue/grace which Allah sends upon His believing slaves/servants. It enrages him (the shaytaan) with extreme anger and torment but it is from Allah’s favour upon the true believers.
So this month is a great blessed month, as the Prophet (sallahu alaihi wa sallam) described it. Allah, the Most High, has made fasting during its days obligatory and standing in prayer at night voluntary. He (the most High) has made it so, that one who does a voluntary act in it from those habitual behaviours of goodness, he is like the one who has performed a obligatory act and the one who fulfilled the obligatory act, then it is as one who has perform the seventy of its like. This is a tremendous virtue and a glad tiding for the true believers.
We ask Allah the Most High to bless us and yourselves with the goodness and blessings of this month and that He makes us from amongst those who will benefit from His virtues and from His reward, that he does not prevent/prohibit his virtue upon us (me and you).That He does not prevent for us to attain righteous actions in this month and in other than it. May peace and blessing be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all of his companions.
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Surah al Baqarah 185
Surah al Qadr 1
Surah al Baqarah 185
Surah al Maryam 83
Surah an Nahl 99-100
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