'O Seeker of the Good; Come Near!'

 

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

It has been narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Indeed, your Lord has breezes of mercy in the days of your life, so expose yourselves to them; perhaps you may receive a breeze from them and never be wretched after that ever." ([1]). Although this hadith has a weak chain of transmission, its meaning is correct. Its ultimate purpose is to encourage seizing virtuous days and blessed moments.

The evidences from the Sharia (Islamic Law) supporting this are abundant, emphasizing the urgency of hastening toward good deeds and seizing opportunities. Examples include supplication on the Day of Arafah, during Laylat Al-Qadr, in the last third of the night, during the special hour on Friday, while traveling, and in the positions of prostration. All of these indicate the same meaning conveyed by the hadith.

Undoubtedly, one of the greatest divine blessings and mercies is the blessing of the noble month of Ramadan. It is the month of mercy and forgiveness, the month of salvation from the Hellfire. That is why the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would rejoice at its arrival and give glad tidings to his companions, saying: "Ramadan has come to you, a blessed month in which Allah has made fasting obligatory upon you. The gates of the heavens are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the rebellious devils are chained. In it, there is a night better than a thousand months; whoever is deprived of its goodness is truly deprived." ([2]) Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "This Hadith is a foundation for congratulating one another on the arrival of Ramadan. How could a believer not rejoice at the opening of the gates of Paradise? How could a sinner not rejoice at the closing of the gates of Hell? How could a rational person not rejoice at a time when the devil is chained? What other time can compare to this time?" ([3])

For this reason, the Prophet (PBUH) encouraged making the most of this great month from its very first moments and turning to Allah by seizing its days and nights. He (PBUH) said: "When the first night of Ramadan arrives, the devils and rebellious jinn are chained, the gates of Hell are closed, and not a single one is opened, while the gates of Paradise are opened, and not a single one is closed. A caller proclaims: 'O seeker of good, come forward! O seeker of evil, desist!' And Allah has those whom He frees from the Fire, and that happens every night." ([4])

The Prophet (PBUH) also highlighted the virtue of Ramadan and emphasized that a Muslim’s opportunity for forgiveness in this month is greater than in others. He (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven. And whoever stands (in prayer) on the Night of Decree out of faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven." ([5])

For this reason, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would occupy themselves with Ramadan throughout the entire year. Mu‘alla Ibn Al-Fadl said: "They used to supplicate to Allah for six months that He allows them to reach Ramadan, and then they would supplicate for six months that He accept it from them." Yahya Ibn Abi Kathir said that one of their supplications was: "O Allah, grant me safety until Ramadan, grant Ramadan safety for me, and accept it from me." ([6])

This is due to the special nature of worship in Ramadan, the most significant of which is fasting, which Allah has attributed to Himself. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Every deed of the son of Adam is multiplied: a good deed is multiplied tenfold, up to seven hundred times. Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, said [what means]: ‘Except for fasting, for it is Mine, and I shall reward it. He leaves his desires and food for My sake. The fasting person has two joys: one at the time of breaking his fast and one at the time of meeting his Lord. And the smell from the mouth of a fasting person is more fragrant to Allah than the scent of musk.’” ([7]) In another narration, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah, The Exalted Said in a Qudsee Hadith (What means): "Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except for fasting, for it is Mine, and I shall reward it. Fasting is a shield. So, when one of you is fasting on a given day, he should neither engage in obscene speech nor raise his voice in dispute. If someone insults or fights him, he should say: "I am fasting." By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the smell from the mouth of a fasting person is more fragrant to Allah than the scent of musk. The fasting person has two joys: one when he breaks his fast and another when he meets his Lord and rejoices in his fasting.’” ([8])

Ibn Battal said: "His statement: (Fasting is for Me, and I shall reward it) — fasting, like all acts of worship, is for Allah. However, since outward actions can be affected by Satan through ostentation and other influences, whereas fasting is a hidden act that only Allah is fully aware of, He rewards it according to the sincerity of the worshipper. This is why fasting is attributed specifically to Him. Al-Tabari said: "Do you not see His statement in the hadith: (He leaves his food, drink, and desires for My sake)? Ibn Uyaynah used to say regarding the statement (Except for fasting, for it is Mine): ‘Because fasting is patience; a person restrains himself from food, drink, and marital relations.’ Then he recited the verse, it states (What means): "Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account." [Az-Zumar/10] ([9]).

Ramadan is the month of worship and devotion. Acts of worship in Islam are tests of trial and a measure that reveals the depth of faith in a believer’s heart. At the same time, they serve as means to strengthen that faith—just as water nourishes trees and plants. Ramadan comes with all the elements necessary to achieve its ultimate goal: Taqwa (God-consciousness). Allah Almighty Says (What means): "O you who have believed, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain taqwa." [Al-Baqarah/183]. This is the season of reconciliation, the time for a truly profitable trade. So, O seeker of good, come forward! And O seeker of evil, restrain yourself.

Ramadan is a month like no other, as mentioned in the following verse (What means): "The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion." [Al-Baqarah/185]. Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an, the month of righteousness and benevolence, the month of liberation from the Hellfire. It is a month in which rewards and good deeds are multiplied, sins are forgiven, and ranks are elevated. It is the month of fasting, prayer, and maintaining family ties. Its status is immense, and its virtues are countless. It is the month of spiritual elevation and divine acceptance, the season of mercy and generosity. It is a treasure for the pious, the joy of the seekers, and the comfort of the devoted worshippers. In this month, souls break free from the chains of heedlessness and the captivity of laziness and stagnation, soaring into the vastness of worship and the springtime of devotion.

In Ramadan, tongues are supplicating, eyes are shedding tears, ears are attentive, and hearts are yearning. The soul finds peace in the month of fasting. Whoever hastens to good deeds will attain them, whoever strives against his desires will master them, whoever follows the path of righteousness will walk it, and whoever sincerely seeks piety will achieve it.

A month that surpasses all months with a night,

Better than a thousand months in virtue and might.

Glad tidings to the servant whose fast is true,

Calling upon the Almighty, at dawn and night too.

And in its nights, he stands in prayer,

Reciting his portion with devotion and care.

 

Glad tidings to the servant who invests in this great month, and woe—utter woe—to the one who leaves Ramadan without being forgiven. Indeed, Jibreel (peace be upon him) supplicated against such a person, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) affirmed his supplication. Ka‘b Ibn ‘Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Come near the Minbar/pulpit." So we gathered around him. When he ascended the first step, he said: "Ameen." When he ascended the second step, he said: "Ameen." When he ascended the third step, he said: "Ameen." When he descended, we asked: “O Messenger of Allah, we heard you say something today that we had never heard before.” He said: “Jibreel (peace be upon him) came to me and said: ‘May the one who reaches Ramadan but is not forgiven be distanced [from Allah’s mercy].’ So I said: Ameen. Then when I ascended the second step, he said: ‘May the one in whose presence your name is mentioned but does not send blessings upon you be distanced [from Allah’s mercy].’ So I said: Ameen. Then when I ascended the third step, he said: ‘May the one who finds his parents in old age—one or both—but does not enter Paradise through them be distanced [from Allah’s mercy].’ So I said: Ameen.”

One of the beautiful aspects of the month of fasting is that it nurtures within the Muslim a sense of contentment, submission, and obedience to the command of Allah, even if the wisdom behind an act of worship is not immediately apparent. Allah, The Almighty, has obligated His believing servants to fast for one month each year, Saying (What mean): "The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an—a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So, whoever among you witnesses the month, let him fast it." [Al-Baqarah/185]. Islam has linked the beginning of fasting in Ramadan to the sighting of the crescent moon, as the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Fast when you see it (the crescent), and break your fast when you see it. If it is obscured from you, then complete the count of Sha‘ban as thirty days." [Agreed upon]. Allah further clarified that abstinence from food, drink, and other invalidators of fasting begins at dawn and lasts until sunset, by stating (What means): "And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until nightfall." [Al-Baqarah/187]. All of this and more instills in the Muslim the virtues of submission and obedience to the commands of Allah and His Messenger (PBUH), even when the underlying wisdom is not immediately discernible.

It is only fitting for a Muslim who is keen on attaining the virtues of Ramadan to welcome this blessed month with sincere and pure repentance—by abandoning sins, resolving never to return to them, feeling remorse for past misdeeds, and restoring the rights of others. One should eagerly engage in all forms of worship, including fasting, night prayers, recitation of the Qur’an, charity, righteousness, and acts of kindness, hoping for acceptance from the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.

When the winds of opportunity blow, seize them,

For every gust is followed by stillness.

Do not turn away from doing good while you can,

For you do not know when stillness will come.

And if your she-camels give milk, then milk them,

For you do not know who the calf will belong to.

 

And may peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad, and upon his family and all his companions.

 

 

 

Footnotes:

[1] - Al-Tabarani: Sulaiman bin Ahmad bin Ayyub bin Mutayr Al-Lakhmi Al-Shami, Abu Al-Qasim Al-Tabarani (d. 360 AH), Al-Mu'jam Al-Kabir, edited by: Hamdi bin Abdul-Majeed, Publisher: Maktabat Ibn Taymiyyah – Cairo, Second Edition, Hadith No. 519, Vol. 19, p. 233. Weak Hadith.

[2] - Al-Nasa'i: Abu Abdurrahman Ahmad bin Shu‘aib Al-Nasa'i (d. 303 AH), Al-Sunan Al-Kubra, verified and its hadiths extracted by: Hasan Abdul-Mun‘im Shalabi (with the assistance of the Heritage Verification Office at Al-Resalah Foundation), supervised by: Shu‘ayb Al-Arna’ut [d. 1438 AH], introduced by: Abdullah bin Abdul-Muhsin Al-Turki, Publisher: Al-Resalah Foundation – Beirut, First Edition, 1421 AH - 2001 CE, Hadith No. 2427, Vol. 3, p. 96. Authentic Hadith.

[3] - Ibn Rajab: Zain Al-Din Abu Al-Faraj Abdul-Rahman bin Shihab Al-Din Ahmad bin Rajab Al-Hanbali (736-795 AH), Lata'if Al-Ma'arif, verified and annotated by: Tariq bin Awad Allah, Publisher: Al-Maktab Al-Islami, Beirut, First Edition, 1428 AH - 2007 CE, p. 264.

[4] - Ibn Majah: Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Yazid bin Majah Al-Qazwini (209-273 AH), Sunan Ibn Majah, edited by: Shu‘ayb Al-Arna’ut, Adel Murshid, Muhammad Kamil Qara Balli, Abdul-Latif Harz Allah, Publisher: Dar Al-Risalah Al-Alamiyyah, First Edition, 1430 AH - 2009 CE, Hadith No. 1642, Vol. 2, p. 559. Authentic Hadith.

[5] - Al-Bukhari: Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Isma'il Al-Bukhari Al-Ju‘fi, Sahih Al-Bukhari, edited by: Dr. Mustafa Deeb Al-Bugha, Publisher: (Dar Ibn Kathir, Dar Al-Yamamah) – Damascus, Fifth Edition, 1414 AH - 1993 CE, Book of Fasting, Chapter on the Virtue of Laylatul Qadr, Hadith No. 1910, Vol. 2, p. 709.

[6] - Ibn Rajab, Lata'if Al-Ma'arif, p. 264.

[7] - Muslim: Abu Al-Husayn Muslim bin Al-Hajjaj bin Muslim Al-Qushayri Al-Naysaburi, Sahih Muslim, edited by: Muhammad Dhuhni Afandi, Ismail bin Abdul-Hamid Al-Hafiz Al-Tarabulsi, Ahmad Rifaat bin Uthman Hilmi Al-Qarah Hisari, Muhammad Izzat bin Uthman Al-Za‘franbuliy, Abu Ni‘mat Allah Muhammad Shukri bin Hasan Al-Anqarawi, Publisher: Dar Al-Tiba‘ah Al-‘Amirah – Turkey, Year of Publication: 1334 AH, Book of Fasting, Chapter on the Virtue of Fasting, Hadith No. 1151, Vol. 3, p. 158.

[8] - Al-Bukhari: Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book of Fasting, Chapter: Should One Say "I Am Fasting" If He Is Insulted?, Hadith No. 1805, Vol. 2, p. 673.

[9] - Ibn Battal: Abu Al-Hasan Ali bin Khalaf bin Abdul-Malik (d. 449 AH), Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari, verified by: Abu Tamim Yasir bin Ibrahim, Publisher: Maktabat Al-Rushd – Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Second Edition, 1423 AH - 2003 CE, Vol. 4, p. 9.

[10] - Al-Hakim: Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Hakim Al-Naysaburi (321-405 AH), Al-Mustadrak ‘ala Al-Sahihayn, verified by: The Scholarly Team of the Sunnah Service Office, supervised by: Ashraf bin Muhammad Najib Al-Masri, Publisher: Dar Al-Minhaj Al-Qawim for Publishing and Distribution, Syrian Arab Republic, First Edition, 1439 AH - 2018 CE, Hadith No. 7484, Vol. 8, p. 388. Authentic Hadith.

[11] - Al-Bukhari: Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book of Fasting, Chapter: The Saying of the Prophet (PBUH): "Fast When You See It (the Crescent) and Break the Fast When You See It," Hadith No. 1810, Vol. 2, p. 674.