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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.

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

A Christian woman wants to marry a Muslim man through an unregistered marriage contract and for a specific period because of certain circumstances. She is an adult and wants to know the correct procedure so as not to make any mistakes. What is the correct thing to do in this regard?

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.
Every marriage should be conducted through court in order to preserve the rights of the spouses and avoid any accusations. In fact, a person shouldn`t be ashamed of what is lawful. Rather, he/she should overcome those circumstances and start in the correct way. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

What is the ruling on having brotherly ties between a strange man and a strange woman, and is the former considered a Mahram (unmarriageable) to the latter?

Such a relation between a strange man and a strange woman is forbidden in Islam because it involves forbidding what Allah has allowed by marriage, and allowing what Allah has forbidden such as looking and the like. Such a relation doesn`t render any act lawful between them, thus they are forbidden to look at each other, have a Khulwah (seclusion), and travel together.

How to pay Zakah (obligatory charity) on articles of merchandise?

Articles of merchandise are estimated by their whole sale market price at the end of each lunar year, and (2.5%) of their value is paid as Zakah whether it (value) went up, or down compared to actual purchasing price, and whether the increase (profit) was in the article itself such as an increase in the animal`s weight, or in the prices themselves. And Allah Knows Best.

What is the ruling on combining prayers at the Musala (Place for prayer) of a shopping center because of heavy rain, knowing that some people come from outside that center?

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

If there is hardship in going back to that Musala at the time of Asr or Isha` prayers, then it is permissible to combine prayers in twos only (Duhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha`). Kindly consider calling us. And Allah Knows Best.