Islamic Months · Ramadan

Welcoming Ramadan


Ramadan is coming soon

The main ibadaah [worship] during the blessed month of Ramadan is our association with the Qur’an. We must read it, understand it, act upon it and teach it to others. It is the most beneficial trade of this dunya. On the Day of Judgment it will come as our intercessor and its intercession will be accepted.

[Objective and Subjective Conditions of Reciting the Qur’an]

May Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala allow us to be sincere in our efforts of getting closer to the Qur’an and bringing others closer to the Book of Allah, aameen.

The following are some points that were shared by Dr. Farhat Hashmi in her lecture Ramadan – the Month of Qur’an, held in Islamabad on June 23rd, 2014:

Make a Learning Diary:

Our knowledge should not remain constant. Therefore, we need to maintain a diary where we note down the new things that we have learn and we can keep a track of how much we have learned.

[How can a Seeker of Knowledge Organize His Time?]

When you learn something beneficial do two things:

1. Do shukr of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala because “He gave” you the opportunity to learn something beneficial and did not allow you to be involved in meaningless tasks.

2. Acknowledge His Supremacy – say Allahu Akbar because if we don’t mention His Greatness we will become arrogant that I am better than others. But when we do shukr and realize “Who” has gifted us this blessing, we will be humbled.

Same goes for worship. When you are able to perform your ibaadah completely and properly do shukr and mention His Supremacy.

[Talk about Allah more than You Talk about Yourself or Your Loved Ones]

Get Attached to the Qur’an:

Ramadan is a month of reading Qur’an, understanding it and acting upon it. Ramadan is Shahrul Qur’an, the month of Qur’an and “wal ehsaan” and (the month of) excellence. Qur’an is a gift of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala revealed in a blessed night of a blessed month brought by an honorable Angel. If Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala honored Qur’an so much, what is our attitude towards the Qur’an? Do we honor it as much as Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala ordained it to be honored?

The Prophet salAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to revise Qur’an with Jibreel ‘alayhi salaam every night. So recite Qur’an during the night and the day. This is the most valued ibaadah during Ramadan. Association with the Qur’an is the most beneficial trade in this world.

[Ramadan: the Month of Qur’an]

What is the criterion of loving Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala? Remembering Him the most. When you remember Him open the Qur’an and recite it. Even if you are a hafidh, read it with the mus-haf [hard copy of the Qur’an]. Verbal declaration of love is not sufficient display your fondness for Him by your actions.

Don’t just swipe your finger over the mus-haf but read it aloud with your ears and eyes open because the Qur’an is a Kalaam. Kalaam is from the root kaf-laam-meem which means to speak or express. Your Qur’an’s recitation “should” be audible.

[Reciting Qur’an in Melodious Voice]

Reciting the Qur’an in the state of fasting will result in the Qur’an interceding for its recitor on the Day of Judgment. Therefore, develop the love for Qur’an in your heart and in the heart of your children. The path is strenuous and the reward is great. When you remember Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala on the earth (through your recitation and thikr) then you will be mentioned in an honorable gathering up on the skies. The angels come down to listen to Qur’an recitation. Don’t you want the company of the most pious creation?

Reciting the Qur’an is equivalent to giving sadaqah. So when you feel you have no wealth to give in sadaqah, recite the Qur’an.

• Never Miss a Single Taraweeh:

If the taraweeh gets long and you feel tired, recall the times you have stayed awake for a worldly event such as a (Pakistani) wedding. For how long did you stay awake without complaining? Till 2 a.m. or even 4 a.m. So why not for Qur’an? Don’t miss the taraweeh at all. When you get tired, remember the qiyam-ul-layl of Rasoolullah salAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Momin’s honor is in qiyam-ul-layl and in being free/independent of human beings (meaning not having any expectations from other people). Never expect any kind of reward or help from the people. Your association should always be with Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.

[Is there a Difference between Qiyaam and Taraweeh?]

• The Huffadh must get their Hifdh Checked by Someone Else:

If you are a hafidh, revise what you have learned and make someone else listen to it. If you are a student don’t think your level is really low, you’re also honorable because you are taking out time to learn the Qur’an.

[How to Memorize the Qur’an]

• Improve Your Eating Habits:

When you sit down to eat something ask yourself: is it halal? Is it tayab? It should be nutritious and healthy. If you are diabetic patient you shouldn’t eat what you are not allowed to eat otherwise. Don’t give yourself unnecessary freedom to eat whatever pleases you.

[The Command to Eat Pure Things and Express Gratitude]

Since there is a great reward for feeding others therefore when we get up early for making Suhoor we shouldn’t enter the kitchen with a frown on our face. Do it for the pleasure of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. The men too should be generous in spending money on their family and the needy. Use Allah’s blessings but don’t be extravagant and don’t make food your major focus.

[Sister Yvonne offers a lot of Ramadan cooking tips to cut down kitchen time at her blog My Halal Kitchen. She also has some nutritious suhoor and iftar recipes.]

Increase Your Sadaqat: 

What are the most recommended ibadaat by Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala? Performing prayers at their right time with proper wudhu, reciting the Qur’an and giving sadaqat. Therefore, keep some change with you always. Whenever there’s a call to spend some money in Allah’s way or to help someone, run forth to contribute. When you leave your house leave with the intention of giving some sadaqah on the way and do give something even if it’s one rupee.

[Giving Allah a Goodly Loan]

• Analyze Your Skills: 

What has Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala blessed you with? How can you utilize that for His path? Find someone who wants help with the Qur’an whether it’s tajweed, translation or tafseer, even if it’s only two ayaat, help them.

Make a Du’a Diary:

Keep this diary with you when you travel, when you are fasting, when you are offering prayers or when you hear the athan [call to prayer]. Whenever you remember something that you want, note it down in this diary.

[Sample du’a list]

In our teacher’s words, Apne dil ki baatein Allah se karein  and especially ask for your forgiveness. Whenever you remember a past sin, ask Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala to forgive you. Whenever there is a hurdle in something that you want, ask Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala to forgive you. Whenever you are not getting an opportunity to do good, ask Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala to forgive you. Seek repentance at Suhoor time. Du’a changes taqdeer, if you are upset about something in your life, ask Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala to change it.

[The Virtues of Repentance]

What happens in a sports’ ground? Whistle blows and players begin competing against one another. That should be your relationship with the Qur’an. Compete with others in reciting and learning the most. On the Day of Judgment, the winner will be he who keeps himself busy with the recitation of the Qur’an.

It has been observed, those who occupy themselves with the recitation of the Qur’an, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala does not puts them in a miserable state. Their eyesight remains almost perfect even in their old age and they are fit and healthy. Reciting the Qur’an brings barakah and tranquility in the house. Feeling low? Recite the Qur’an. Reciting the Qur’an blesses one with the company of the angels and also protects one against the punishment of the grave and shades the one on the Day of Judgment especially the recitation of Surah al-Baqarah and Aal-Imran. It will intercede for its recitor and it will be accepted.

End Note:
There should be an obvious difference between our lifestyle during other months and our routine during Ramadan.

Share the khair with your family and friends. May Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala help us become better Muslims, aameen.

The audio of this lecture can be listened to at this link (in Urdu language).

Leave a Reply


You are commenting using your account. Log Out /  Change )

Google photo


Twitter picture


Facebook photo


Connecting to %s
