Articles

Ramadan: The Month of Security and Faith
Author : His Grace Shiekh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh
Date Added : 05-04-2022

Ramadan: The Month of Security and Faith

 

 

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad, his family, and righteous companions.

The holy month of Ramadan is the month of mercy and forgiveness; the school of faith and piety. Allah prescribed it to purify hearts and consequently spread love and mercy amongst all members of society. He The Almighty, Says (What means): "O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,-" [Al-Baqarah/183]. It is the month of security, faith, and spiritual tranquility in terms of achieving the meanings of piety and reflecting that on society in the form of peace and security. That is, of course, if the Muslim adhered to the directives of Allah and the teachings of the Prophet. At the sight of the new moon (of the lunar month), the Prophet (PBUH) used to supplicate: "O Allah, let this moon appear on us with security and Iman; with safety and Islam. (O moon!) Your Rubb and mine is Allah." [Sahih Ibn Hibban].

Allah has distinguished this month by making it a month of safety, peace, and mercy since during it the devils are shackled, the jinns are restrained, the gates of the Fires are shut, and the seekers of good are called on. The Messenger of Allah said: "On the first night of the month of Ramadan, the Shayatin are shackled, the jinns are restrained, the gates of the Fires are shut such that no gate among them would be opened. The gates of Paradise are opened such that no gate among them would be closed, and a caller calls: 'O seeker of the good; come near!' and 'O seeker of evil; stop! For there are those whom Allah frees from the Fire.' And that is every night." {Sunnan At-Tirmithi}.

Allah made The Night of Power in which the Quran was revealed a night of peace and safety for the dwellers of the earth. He The Almighty Says (What means): " Peace!...This until the rise of morn!." [Al-Qadr/5].

All of the above encourages the believers to be merciful to one another as fasting is all about increasing self-discipline and restraining senses from committing sins. Ramadan encourages the believers to abstain from injustice, rancor, envy, backbiting and gossip. This is why the Prophet (PBUH) encouraged people to abstain from quarreling during Ramadan, remind themselves that they are living a state of self-purification, and keep their sight fixed on achieving one goal; that is piety. Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said, "Allah said, 'All the deeds of Adam's sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.' 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 quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, 'I am fasting." [Agreed upon].

On the other hand, failing to capture these sublime meanings of piety and righteousness is a great loss for obedience could turn into disobedience and reward into sin. Such a Muslim wastes a great season for obeying Allah and receiving tremendous rewards. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger, and there are those who pray and get nothing from their prayer but a sleepless night." [Sunnan Ibn Majah]. He (PBUH) also said: "Jibril, Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him, came to me and said: "Wretched is the slave to whom Ramadan comes and when it passes from him is not forgiven." [Sahih Ibn Hibban].

Losing this great reward results from deviating from the straight path; fasting isn`t about leaving food, drink, and desires; rather, it is a course that teaches a Muslim that he/she can leave the pleasures of life for the sake of Allah. This Muslim is more able to leave sins and dubious matters after Ramadan. Therefore, it is worthier for him/her to leave eating people`s flesh by eschewing gossip, backbiting, and mockery. It is also worthier to eschew lies, false conduct, and swearing since doing so is the fruit and true nature of fasting on which every Muslim should be keen. Therefore, the Prophet (PBUH) said: "If one does not eschew lies and false conduct, Allah has no need that he should abstain from his food and his drink." [Al-Bukhari].

 

Whoever achieves these sublime meanings in their fasting and is keen on self-purification realizes the aim behind fasting, which is fearing Allah, and faith settles into his/her heart. This is reflected on society through a state of brotherhood, unity, and mercy. Allah Says (What means): "The Believers are but a single Brotherhood" [Al-Hujurat/10]. It was said to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH): "Which of the people is best?’ He said: ‘Everyone who is pure of heart and sincere in speech.’ They said: "Sincere in speech, we know what this is, but what is pure of heart?’ He said: "It is (the heart) that is pious and pure, with no sin, injustice, rancor or envy in it." [Sunnan Ibn Majah]. And All praise is due to Allah The Lord of The Worlds.

 

Article Number [ Previous | Next ]

Read for Author




Comments


Captcha


Warning: this window is not dedicated to receive religious questions, but to comment on topics published for the benefit of the site administrators—and not for publication. We are pleased to receive religious questions in the section "Send Your Question". So we apologize to readers for not answering any questions through this window of "Comments" for the sake of work organization. Thank you.




Summarized Fatawaa

Is everyone obligated to follow the fatwas of his country, and if we adopt the fatwas of scholars of other countries, is it considered a sin?

: It is permissible for one who do not specialize in Shari `ah sciences to apply the opinions of renowned scholars whom he trusts ,whether they be from his own country or not ,but if the scholars don`t arrive at a consensus concerning a certain matter then he must consult someone who is more knowledgeable than himself .It is preferable that you(the inquirer) specify the case of your interest ,so that we could give you a more specific answer since some scholars deliver fatwas based on atypical opinions which should not be applied no matter what .And Allah ,The Exalted, knows best.

My mother inherited a share from my late father`s and brother`s property; however, the inheritance, a piece of land, wasn`t divided amongst the eligible heirs because it was hard to sell. While alive, she used say that she wanted these shares to be distributed amongst the poor and needy. What is the ruling of Sharia on this?

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and may His Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.
This is a will, so we have to consider the estate she had left behind. If the piece of land, which she had willed, equals one third and less of her estate, then the will must be executed. But, if it is more than one third, then one third must be executed and the rest of the estate, if the heirs agreed, is to be executed  as part of her will as well. However, if the heirs haven`t approved of that, then what remains, excluding that one third, must be divided amongst them according to the Islamic rules of inheritance. Moreover, we recommend that you pay a visit to the Iftaa` Department to make things clearer for you. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

A woman died at the age of ninety. Her living children are nine: two sons and two daughters. The youngest of her grandchildren, from her son who passed away one year before her, is aged thirty-two. Are these grandchildren entitled to the obligatory bequest although they are aged thirty-two and above?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
A Muslim isn`t obligated to leave a bequest to his grandchildren whose father had passed away; rather, this act is recommended. Therefore, if he left a bequest whereby they get less than one third of the estate then Allah will reward him for that. However, if he left no bequest for them then they get nothing because their paternal uncles are alive and they are closer to the deceased and more entitled to inherit him. This is the position of the four schools of Islamic jurisprudence. However, the Personal Status Law didn`t adopt this position; rather, it gave them the same amount to which their father is entitled when alive but his father or mother are dead; provided that it doesn`t exceed one third of the estate. Therefore, we advise them (Grandchildren) to relinquish this share of the inheritance. If not, then we advise their paternal uncles to overlook the amounts taken from their shares and given to their paternal nephews. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

Is it permissible for a religious young Muslim woman to love a young man for Allah`s sakes?

Such love between the two sexes is from the devil`s evil suggestions, and a pure Muslim woman should beware of such a matter, and she shouldn`t mix with non-Mahrams(Marriageable ).