Excellence Of Tarawih Prayers

Assalamu’alaikum !

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to urge (the people) to perform (optional Tarawih) prayer at night during the month of Ramadhan. He did not order them or make it obligatory on them. He (SAW) said,

“Whosoever performs (optional Tarawih) prayers at night during the month of Ramadhan, with Faith and in the hope of receiving Allah’s reward, will have his past sins forgiven.”

[Muslim]

Commentary: This Hadith highlights the following points:

1. Qiyam (prayer at night) in the month of Ramadhan is a much-stressed act and has great importance from the viewpoint of reward and award.

2. The sins which are pardoned though are minor sins because major sins are not forgiven unless one makes sincere repentance and compensates those whom he has wronged.

3. That Qiyam during the month of Ramadhan was the practice of the Prophet (SAW). He performed this Qiyam in congregation with his companions. [It is not obligatory but is preferred that one prays Qiyam prayer during the month of Ramadhan].

4. Qiyam Ramadhan was later on named Tarawih. Since the Companions of the Prophet (SAW) used to make a lengthy Qiyam in them and they would take rest after performing every four Raka’ah. This is how these came to be named Tarawih (Rest prayer).

5. In Tarawih, that is Qiyam Ramadhan, lengthy Qiyam is a sunnah, but it must be borne in mind that the Qur’an must be recited according to the principles of ‘Ilm-at-Tajwid with clear and distinct voice at a slow pace.

Excellence Of Observing Sawm

Assalamu’alaikum !

In a narration by Muslim, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said,

“The reward of every (good) deed of a person is multiplied from ten to seven hundred times. Allah says: The reward of observing Sawm is different from the reward of other good deeds; Sawm is for me, and I Alone will give its reward. The person observing Sawm abstains from food and drink only for my sake.’ The fasting person has two joyous occasions, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time of meeting his Rabb. Surely, the breath of one observing Sawm is better smelling to Allah than the fragrance of musk.”

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said,

“When Ramadhan begins, the gates of Jannah are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.”

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Sahl bin Sa’d (RA): The Prophet (SAW) said,

“In Jannah there is a gate which is called Ar-Raiyan through which only those who observe Sawm (fasting) will enter on the Day of Resurrection. None else will enter through it. It will be called out, “Where are those who observe fasting?” So they will stand up and proceed towards it. When the last of them will have entered, the gate will be closed and then no one will enter through that gate.”

[Muslim]

The Most Unfortunate People

Assalamu’alaikum !

On the authority of Kaab ibn Ujrah (May Allah be pleased with him) it is related that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said,

“Come near to the mimbar”. And we came near the mimbar. When He (saw) climbed the first step of the mimbar, He (saw) said “Ameen”, When He (saw) ascended the second step, He (saw) said “Ameen”, When He (saw) climbed the third step, He (saw) said “Ameen” When He (saw) came down, We said “O Messenger of Allah (saw), we have heard from you today something which we have never heard before” He (saw) said, when I climbed the first step, the angel Jibraeel (as.) appeared before me and said,

“Destruction to him who found the blessed month of Ramadhan and let it pass by without gaining forgiveness”

Upon that I said ‘Ameen’. When I climbed the second step, he said,

“Destruction to him before whom my name is mentioned and then he does not make Dua for Allah’s blessing on me (by saying salawat, for example sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).”

I replied ‘Ameen’. When I climbed the third step, he said,

“Destruction unto him in whose lifetime both his parents or either one of them reaches old age, and (through failure to serve them) he is not allowed to enter Jannah”.

I said ‘Ameen’.

(Haakim, Baihaqi)

The First Day Of Ramadhan

Assalamu’alaikum !

On the authority of Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them both) it is reported that he heard the Prophet (Peace be upon him) say:

“Verily, Jannah (Paradise) becomes perfumed with the sweetest fragrance in Ramadhan. From the beginning of the year till the end, it is being brightly decorated for the coming of this blessed month. And when the first night of Ramadhan appears, a wind blows from beneath the Arsh (Throne). It is called Mutheerah, and causes the leaves of the trees of Jannah to rustle and door handles to sound, whereby setting forth such a melodious sound as had never been heard before.

The dark eyed damsels of Jannah then step forth till they appear in the centre of the balconies of Jannah, exclaiming: Is there anyone making dua to Allah for us that Allah may join us in marriage to them?” Then these damsels call out: “O Ridwaan, keeper of Jannah, what night is this?” He replies: “Labbaik, this is indeed the first night of Ramadhan, when the doors of Jannah are opened to those who observe the fast from among the Ummah of Muhammad (saw)”.

Rasullulah(saw) further said, “Allah says, “O Ridwaan open the doors of Jannah, O Maalik (Keeper of Jahannam) close the doors of Jahannam for those who fast from among the Ummah of Muhammad (saw). O Jibraeel proceed down to the earth and bind the rebellious shayateen (devils), put them in chains and cast them in the oceans so that they make no mischief, thereby spoiling the fast of the Ummah of My beloved Muhammad (saw).”

Allah commands a caller from the heavens to call out three times on every one of the nights of Ramadhan: “Is there anyone begging of Me that I may grant him his desire? Is there anyone repenting to Me that I may turn in mercy to him? Is there anyone begging for forgiveness that I may forgive him? Who is there who shall give a loan (i.e. give charity) to the One whose wealth does not diminish, and the One who duly fulfils without unjust deductions”.

[reported in Targheeb]

The Sermon Pt.2

Assalamu’alaikum !

(continued from yesterday…)

“This is a month, the first of which brings Allah’s mercy (i.e. the first 10 days), the middle of which brings His forgiveness and the last of which brings freedom from the fire of Jahannam.”

“Whosoever lessens the burden of his servants (or those under his authority) in this month, Allah will forgive him and free him from the fire of Jahannam.”

“And in this month four things you should continue to perform in great number, two of which shall be to please your Lord, while the other two shall be those without which you cannot do. Those which shall be to please your Lord, are that you should in great quantity bear witness that there is no deity to worship except Allah (i.e. recite the Kallimah Tayyibah Laa ilaha illallah) and make much Istighfaar (repentance, beg Allah’s forgiveness with Astaghfirullah). And as for those without which you cannot do, you should beg of Allah, entrance into Paradise and ask refuge in Him from Jahannam.”

“And whoever gave a person who fasted water to drink, Allah shall grant that giver to drink from My fountain, such a drink where after that a person shall never again feel thirsty until he enters Jannah.”

[Ibn Khuzaimah in his Saheeh]