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Ramadan is the Month of Patience
Author : Mufti Anas Khasasbeh
Date Added : 30-08-2023

Ramadan is the Month of Patience

 

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah say: "The month of patience (Ramadan) and three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime." (Transmitted by Ahmad).

The Prophet, peace be upon him, described Ramadan as the month of patience because it encompasses various forms of patience:

Patience in obeying Allah, patience in abstaining from what Allah has prohibited, and patience in enduring the painful decrees of Allah. Fasting in this month involves patience in obeying Allah through acts of worship such as prayer, remembrance, recitation of the Quran, and other forms of obedience. It also entails patience in refraining from the prohibited desires. Additionally, there is patience in enduring the hardships of hunger, thirst, weakness of the self and body that the fasting person experiences during Ramadan. The fasting person is rewarded for such patience.

Since fasting is the crucible, workshop, origin, and source of patience, we can understand what is confirmed in the authentic Hadith collections and others when the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting, for it is for Me and I shall reward for it. He gives up his desires and his food for My sake... There are two occasions of joy for one who fasts: joy when he breaks his fast, and joy when he meets his Lord. The smell that comes from the mouth of a fasting person is better with Allah than the scent of musk." This narration emphasizes the reward of fasting because fasting embodies the essence of the worship of patience. Allah the Almighty has also mentioned the reward of the patient in the Quran where He says {What means}: "those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!"  (Az-Zumar, 10).

Indeed, fasting is exempt from the multiplication by a known measure that applies to other deeds. All deeds are multiplied by ten to seven hundred times their value, except for fasting. Its reward is not limited to this specific number; rather, Allah, the Almighty, multiplies its reward with numerous increments beyond enumeration.

 Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: "One of the best forms of patience is fasting. This is because it encompasses patience in the three types: patience in obeying Allah, patience in refraining from disobeying Allah, as the servant abandons their desires for the sake of Allah, even though their soul might urge them towards those desires." [Jāmi' al-ʿUlūm wal-Ḥikam Vol. 2, Page 649].

It can be deduced from the profound wisdom of the act of fasting that this great religion came to instill in human beings the strength of will, sincere determination, steadfastness in adversity, and patience in the face of hardships. A person who can endure abstaining from the necessities of food and drink, which are essential for their survival and well-being, throughout the daylight hours of a whole month every year, is certainly capable of controlling their desires and curbing unnecessary cravings. This reflects their mastery over their own impulses and inclinations, which go beyond their basic needs.

Indeed, Ramadan becomes a catalyst for raising one's aspirations and elevating one's soul. How many are there who stand in devotion reciting the verses of Allah? How many are there who generously give from their wealth? How many are there whose tongues remain moist with the remembrance of Allah? And how many are there who spend hours assisting widows and orphans?

Let us approach this blessed month with sincere intention and strong determination, seizing the divine blessings within it. Just as Ramadan is like a rainfall, it requires a fertile ground to receive it. When the rain combines with good soil, good crops grow by the permission of Allah. May Allah make fasting easy for us and include us among those who fulfill this obligation in a manner that pleases Him. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

Does sacrificing one sheep avail for the entire household?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Offering an Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) is a communal Sunnah (Sunnah Kifayah) for members of the same household, provided that their financial maintenance is undertaken by a single provider. By "communal Sunnah," we mean that when one person performs it, the religious recommendation is fulfilled on behalf of the entire household, though the spiritual reward itself belongs uniquely to the one who offered it.
 
Therefore, if any member of the household performs the sacrifice—even if it is someone who is not legally responsible for the household's expenses, such as the wife or one of the children—the recommendation is fulfilled for everyone in that home. However, the reward does not automatically extend to the other members unless the person offering the sacrifice explicitly intends to share the reward with them—similar to how performing a funeral prayer (Janazah) fulfills the communal obligation for everyone, yet the specific reward is earned by those who actually prayed.
 
Additionally, a single sacrifice is sufficient for a man who is married to more than one wife. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

How to perform the witr prayer in terms of connection (wasl) and separation (fasl)?

 
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The Witr prayer has several forms that vary in terms of virtue:
 
The First Form: Separating every two units (rak‘ah) with a Tashahhud and a Taslim (salutation). This is superior to connecting the units, even if it is only a single rak‘ah. This is based on the Hadith of ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her): 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray eleven units between the end of the ‘Isha prayer and dawn, performing the Taslim after every two units and performing Witr with a single unit.' (Related by al-Bukhari & Muslim).
 
The Second Form: Connecting the units with only one final Tashahhud at the very end.
 
The Third Form: Connecting with two Tashahhuds—meaning reciting the Tashahhud before the final unit without performing the Taslim, then standing to complete the final unit. This form is considered the lowest in rank so that the Witr prayer remains distinct from the obligatory Maghrib prayer, as stated in the Hadith: 'Do not make the Witr resemble the Maghrib prayer.' (Narrated by Al-Daraqutni, who stated its narrators are trustworthy).
 
It is stated in Bushra al-Karim Sharh al-Muqaddimah al-Hadramiyyah: 'It is permissible to connect [the Witr] with one Tashahhud in the final unit—which is better—or with two Tashahhuds in the last two units, as both methods are established in Sahih Muslim from the actions of the Prophet ﷺ. In the connected method, more than two Tashahhuds are prohibited. Furthermore, separating (al-Fasl) is better than connecting (al-Wasl) if the number of units is the same, because the Hadiths supporting it are more numerous and it involves more devotional actions.' And Allah the Exalted knows best."

What is the ruling on praying in congregation at the mosque?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Congregational prayer (Salat al-Jama‘ah) is a communal obligation (Fard Kifayah) for resident men regarding the performance of the prescribed (obligatory) prayers. For men, praying in congregation at the mosque is better than praying elsewhere, such as at home. On the authority of Abdullah bin Umar, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Prayer in congregation is twenty-seven degrees more excellent than the prayer of a person alone' (Reported by Bukhari & Muslim). Furthermore, on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Shall I not tell you that by which Allah erases sins and raises ranks?' They said, 'Of course, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'Performing wudu thoroughly despite difficulties, taking many steps toward the mosques, and waiting for the next prayer after the prayer; that is your Ribat (steadfastness)' (Narrated by Muslim).
 
As for a woman, her praying in congregation at home is better for her than in the mosque, according to the saying of our Master the Prophet ﷺ: 'Do not prevent your women from attending the mosques, but their homes are better for them' (Narrated by Abu Dawood). Young boys should be encouraged to attend the mosques and congregational prayers so they may become accustomed to them. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law if the follower (maʾmūm) stands up for the third rakʿah out of forgetfulness while the imam has sat for the middle tashahhud?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
If the imam sits for the tashahhud while the follower (maʾmūm), out of forgetfulness, stands up for the third rakʿah, he is obliged to return to his sitting position, since following the imam is obligatory. In this case, no prostration of forgetfulness (sujūd al-sahw) is required of him. If, however, he fails to return, his prayer is rendered invalid.
Shaykh al-Islām Imām Zakariyyā al-Anṣārī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "If the follower stands up alone out of forgetfulness, he is obliged to return, since following the imam is obligatory... If he does not return, his prayer is rendered invalid, due to his departure from what is obligatory." [Asnā al-Maṭālib,Vol.1/P.190] And Allah the Almighty knows best.

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