Question: What words of guidance do you have for the Muslim Ummah, on the occasion of the month of Ramadhan?
Response: In the name of Allah, all praise is to Allah alone, and may Allah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his family and his companions and whoever is guided (aright) by his guidance. To proceed:
Certainly, concerning the approach of the blessed month of Ramadhan, I advise my Muslim brethren everywhere to have taqwa of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic; to strive to do good deeds; to give sincere advice and be patient with the advice; to assist one another in good deeds and piety; to be
cautious of all the sins Allah has forbidden, wherever one may be, especially during this noble month – for indeed it is a great (precious) month, within which the reward for good actions is multiplied.
Mistakes (sins) are forgiven during this month, for those who fast and perform voluntary prayers, with sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadhan, out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his previous sins will be forgiven”.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said:
“When the month of Ramadhan starts, the gates of the Heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained”.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said:
“Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarrelling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, ‘I am fasting'”.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said (on the authority of Allah):
“All the deeds of the son of Adam are for himself; a good deed is equal to ten times it’s equivalent except fasting, for certainly it is for Me, and I will give the reward for it. He left his desires, his food, his drink for My sake. There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord. The unpleasant smell coming from the mouth of a fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than the smell of musk”.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to announce the good news of the arrival of the month of Ramadhan to his companions, and would say to them:
“The month of Ramadhan has come to you. It is the month of blessings. During this month, Allah sends down mercy, ones mistakes are forgiven, supplications are answered and Allah praises you in the presence of His angels, so show Allah your virtues. For certainly the unfortunate individual is he who is prohibited from the mercy of Allah”.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“One who does not abandon evil talk and actions, then Allah is not in need of him abandoning his food and drink (i.e. his fasting)”.
And (such) narrations regarding the superiority of Ramadhan and striving to increase good deeds in it, are many.
Therefore, I advise my Muslim brethren to be sincere and upright during the days and the nights, and to compete in doing all good deeds. And from amongst these (good deeds) are: To increase in reading the Noble Koran, with understanding and contemplation. And to increase in glorifying Allah [Subhan’Allah/Glorious is Allah] (at-Tasbeeh), praising Allah [Alhamdulillah /Praise to Allah] (at- Tahmeed), declaring none truly worthy of worship except Allah [La Ilaha Illallah /There is no god only Allah] (at-Tahleel), declaring the greatness of Allah [Allahu Akbar/Allah is Great] (at-Takbeer), and
seeking forgiveness from Allah [Astaghfirullah/I seek forgiveness from Allah] (al-Istighfaar), and to ask
Allah for Paradise, seeking His protection from the Hell fire and all (other) good supplications.
I also advise my Muslim brethren to increase in giving charity during this month; to comfort the poor and destitute; to make (every) effort to deduct the Zakaah (from one’s wealth) and distribute it amongst the deserving; to make (every) effort in inviting to (the path of) Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and teaching those unacquainted (with Islam); to command the good and forbid the evil with gentleness, wisdom and the best of manners; to warn against all evil and adhere to seeking sincere repentance, according to Allah’s saying:
“…and all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful”.
(The Holy Quran, Surah 24. “The Light”, verse 31) And the saying of Allah:
“Verily those who say: ‘Our Lord is (only) Allah,’ and thereafter Istaqamu (i.e. stood firm and straight
on the Islamic Faith of Monotheism by abstaining from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allah has forbidden and by performing all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained), – On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Such shall be the dwellers of Paradise, abiding therein (forever), – a reward for what they used to do”.
(The Holy Quran, Surah 18. “The Cave”, verses 13-14)
May Allah grant everyone success in that which pleases Him and protect everyone from the temptations which misguide and all satanic enticement. For certainly Allah is generous and kind.
Sheikh ‘Ibn Baaz
Fatawa Ramadhan – Volume 1, Page 32, Fatwa No.7;
Majmoo Fatawa Samaahatu as-Sheikh Abdul-Azeez Ibn Baaz – Volume 3, Pages 147-148
Source: Fatwa-online.com
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