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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

What is the ruling on discharges two or three days before the expected period of menstruation and the light-colored blood accompanying it? Must the woman abstain from prayer during this period?

If the total duration of these blood-tinged discharges reaches a day and a night (24 hours) or more, it is considered menstruation. If their total does not exceed 24 hours, it is not considered menstruation but is irregular bleeding (dam al-fasad). Each woman has specific cases for which she should ask the scholars. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the wisdom behind the legislation of fasting?

Fasting is a divine school from which the believer learns much and trains in virtues that may be needed in life. Among these virtues is patience, as it is the month of patience. Fasting also teaches honesty and consciousness of Allah in both private and public, for there is no observer over the fasting person in abstaining from lawful pleasures except Allah alone.
Fasting strengthens willpower, sharpens determination, and nurtures mercy and compassion among the servants of Allah. It is a struggle against the self, a restraint of desires, a purification of the soul, and a cultivation of goodness.
The Prophetﷺ said: "Allah, the Almighty, said: ‘Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except for fasting; it is for Me, and I shall reward for it. Fasting is a shield. So when one of you is fasting on a day, let him not engage in obscene speech or raise his voice in anger. If someone insults him or fights him, let him say: I am a fasting person. By Him in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the breath of the fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than the fragrance of musk.’" [Bukhari and Muslim]

What is the ruling on a Friday sermon in which the khaṭīb did not explicitly exhort the congregation to be conscious of Allah (taqwā) in both sermons, but sufficed with commanding them to obey Allah and refrain from disobeying Him?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
For the Friday sermon (khuṭbat al-Jumʿah) to be valid, certain essential pillars (arkān) must be fulfilled. Among these is the exhortation to be conscious of Allah (waṣiyyah bi-taqwā Allāh), which must be present in both sermons. Alongside this pillar, the praising of Allah (ḥamdallah) and the sending of blessings upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ are equally required.
Shaykh al-Islām Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "These three are pillars in each of the two sermons, because each sermon is independent and separate from the other." [Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj,Vol.4/P.447]
It is not a condition that the exhortation be expressed in any specific wording, nor is it required that the word "taqwā" itself be used — such as saying "I exhort you to be conscious of Allah." Rather, this pillar is fulfilled by any expression that contains a command to obey Allah the Almighty and to abstain from what He has prohibited.
Imām al-Khaṭīb al-Sharbīnī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "The third pillar is the exhortation to taqwā... The specific wording of this exhortation is not required, according to the most correct view, because the purpose is admonition and the urging of obedience to Allah the Almighty. Therefore, any expression that conveys admonition suffices — whether long or short — such as: 'Obey Allah and be ever mindful of Him.'" [Mughnī al-Muḥtāj,Vol.1/P.550]
Accordingly, what the khaṭīb has done — by commanding obedience to Allah and forbidding disobedience to Him in both sermons — is valid and sufficient. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on wearing energy stones?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
There is no objection to a woman adorning herself with precious and semi-precious stones — such as ruby, carnelian, or the like — so long as these are stones that women customarily wear as adornment.
As for what are known as "energy stones," if they are used with the intention of seeking remedy and healing, then such matters are governed by experimentation and scientific study — which either establishes that they have a tangible effect or does not — and all of this operates by the permission and will of Allah, Glorified and Exalted. If studies or practical experience do establish that such stones carry a beneficial effect upon human health, then there is no objection to using them. They are, after all, part of Allah's creation, much like medicinal substances extracted from plants or derived from other created things — provided that the Muslim does not believe that the stone itself is the source of benefit or harm. It is nothing more than a means among the many means that Allah has placed in this world, and the reality of all affairs belongs to Allah alone. And Allah the Almighty knows best.