Articles

Ramadan: The Month of the Qur’an
Author : Dr. Mohammad Al-Hunaiti
Date Added : 06-05-2025

Allah, The Almighty, Says in the Qur'an (What means): "Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong)." [Al-Baqarah/2]. Ramadan is the month of goodness, charity, generosity, and blessings. In it, the believers race towards attaining The Pleasure of Allah, His forgiveness, and mercy.

Undoubtedly, the doors to goodness and opportunities to increase acts of worship during this great month are many and varied; each person benefits from them in ways that increase their good deeds, elevate their ranks, and earn The Pleasure of Allah, The Exalted. Among these doors are: reciting the Noble Qur’an, studying it, and gaining understanding of its rulings.

Indeed, reading the Holy Quran is among the best and most esteemed deeds in the sight of Allah the Almighty. How could it not be, when the Holy Quran is the speech of The Lord of The Worlds, which He sent down as guidance for the righteous, and revealed to His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, as a mercy to the worlds.

Moreover, reading the Quran is recommended at all times, and it is even more emphasized during the month of Ramadan, because good deeds are multiplied in this virtuous month.

Among the evidence for the virtue of reading the Holy Quran is His saying, the Most High (What means: " For me, I have been commanded to serve the Lord of this city, Him Who has sanctified it and to Whom (belong) all things: and I am commanded to be of those who bow in Islam to God’s Will,- And to rehearse the Qur’an: and if any accept guidance, they do it for the good of their own souls, and if any stray, say: "I am only a Warner"." [An-Naml/91-92].

He The Almighty also Says (What means): "Those who rehearse the Book of God, establish regular Prayer, and spend (in Charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, hope for a commerce that will never fail:" [Fatir/29].

In addition, Abdallāh Ibn ‘Amr (May Allah Be Pleased with them) reported God’s messenger as saying: "The one who was devoted to the Qur’ān will be told to recite, ascend and recite carefully as he recited carefully when he was in the world, for he will reach his abode when he comes to the last verse he recites." [At-Tirmithi].

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "The one who memorized the Qur'an shall come on the Day of Judgment and (the reward for reciting the Qur'an) says: 'O Lord! Decorate him." So he is donned with a crown of nobility. Then it says: "O Lord! Give him more!' So he is donned with a suit of nobility. Then it says: "O Lord! Be pleased with him.' So He is pleased with him and says: "Recite and rise up, and be increased in reward with every Ayah. "[At-Tirmithi].

‘Abdallah Ibn ‘Amr (May Allah Be Pleased with them) reported God’s messenger as saying: "Fasting and the Qur’an intercede for a man. Fasting says, ‘O my Lord, I have kept him away from his food and his passions by day, so accept my intercession for him.’ The Qur’an States (What means): ‘I have kept him away from sleep by night, so accept my intercession for him.’ Then their intercession is accepted." [Ahmad].

It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah has His own people among mankind.' They said: 'O Messenger of Allah, who are they?' He said: 'The people of the Qur'an, the people of Allah and those who are closest to Him." [Ibn Majah].

Abū Umāma (May Allah Be Pleased with him) said he heard God’s messenger say: "Recite the Qur’ān, for on the day of resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite it." [Moslim].

However, it is obligatory upon the Muslim not to read the Quran as he reads other books, nor should his greatest concern be to increase the number of times he completes it. Rather, he should read the Holy Quran with contemplation and reflection. That is why the noble Companions would not move on from a verse until they acted upon it. Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "Then do they not reflect upon the Quran, or are there locks upon their hearts?" [Muhammad/24].

An-Nawwās Ibn Sam'ān (May Allah Be Pleased with him) said he heard the Prophet say: "On the day of resurrection the Qur’ān and those who acted according to it will be brought with sūra al-Baqara and Āl ‘Imran preceding them* like two black clouds or canopies with light between them, or as though they were two flocks of birds in ranks pleading for the one who recited them." [Moslim].

 I conclude with the saying of Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah Be Pleased with him): "The bearer of the Quran should be recognized by his night when people are sleeping, by his day when people are eating, by his sadness when people are rejoicing, by his weeping when people are laughing, by his silence when people are  engaging in idle talk, and by his humility when people are being arrogant.'" [Narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah in "Al-Musannaf"].

In this great month, the Muslim seizes every moment in obedience to Allah The Almighty and in reciting His verses, so that he may attain Allah's Pleasure and Paradise.

The published article reflects the opinion of its author

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on combining (jam‘) and shortening (qaṣr) prayers when travel is repeated on a daily basis?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
A traveler is permitted to avail himself of the concessions of shortening and combining prayers once the distance of his journey reaches (81 km) or more. This is on condition that his journey is a permissible one, and that he begins shortening and combining only after setting out and passing beyond the built-up limits of the city in which he resides, or beyond the administrative boundaries of the area where he lives.
Accordingly, if the distance between one's workplace and one's place of residence reaches the distance upon which the concession of combining and shortening depends, then combining and shortening are permissible once he leaves the built-up area, even if this travel is repeated on a daily basis.
Ash-Shirbīnī (raḥimahullāh) said: "It is permissible to combine Ẓuhr and ‘Aṣr, either as an early combination (taqdīm) in the time of the first, or as a delayed combination (ta'khīr) in the time of the second; and likewise Maghrib and ‘Ishā' — either early, in the time of the first, or delayed, in the time of the second — during a long, permissible journey, in following [the Prophet's practice]. As for the delayed combination, it is established in the two Ṣaḥīḥs from the ḥadīth of Anas and Ibn ‘Umar (raḍiyallāhu ‘anhum). As for the early combination, Ibn Ḥibbān and al-Bayhaqī graded it ṣaḥīḥ from the ḥadīth of Mu‘ādh, and at-Tirmidhī graded it ḥasan." [Quoted with slight abridgment from Mughnī al-Muḥtāj, Vol.1/p.529]
The conditions for combining and shortening have already been explained in Fatwa No. 14 and Fatwa No. 842. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

I have a date farm, and the dates come in different categories, and within each category there are different sizes. How is zakāh paid on the yield?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
If the yield reaches the niṣāb (the minimum threshold for zakāh to become obligatory) — which is five awsuq (plural of wasq), equivalent to (611) kg — then zakāh becomes obligatory upon it, at a rate of one-tenth ('ushr) if irrigated by rainwater (i.e., naturally, without the use of machinery), or one-twentieth (half of the 'ushr) if irrigated using machinery/equipment.
If the yield of dates consists of different varieties, then zakāh should be paid from each variety according to its respective proportion. If this proves difficult, it is permissible to pay from a medium-quality variety [representative of the average].
It is stated in Ḥāshiyatā Qulyūbī wa ‘Umayrah (Vol.2/P.22): "Different varieties are combined together [for the purpose of calculating the niṣāb] — such as the various types of dates, the various types of raisins, and so on — and zakāh is paid from each type according to its respective proportion. However, if this becomes difficult due to the large number of varieties and the small quantity of each individual type, then zakāh should be paid from a medium-quality variety among them — neither the best nor the worst — out of consideration for both sides [the giver and the poor recipient]. If one goes to the trouble of paying from each variety according to its proportion, this is also permissible." And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on the white discharge (*Al-Qassat al-Bayda'*) if it is in a very small amount—is it considered a sign of purity?

 
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Among the signs of purity (Tahr) for a woman is the white discharge (Al-Qassat al-Bayda'), which is a clear, pure white fluid, regardless of whether it is minimal in quantity, or complete dryness (Jafaf), wherein secretions cease entirely such that if a white cotton cloth is inserted, it comes out completely clean. Once a woman observes either of these two signs, she has attained ritual purity.
 
Furthermore, another sign of purity is when the duration of the menstrual period exceeds the maximum limit of menstruation, which is fifteen days. If it exceeds this period, it becomes evident that she is experiencing non-menstrual bleeding (Istihadah).
 
The rulings pertaining to menstruation may be reviewed in the article: "Rulings on Menstruation and Postnatal Bleeding Every Muslim Woman Must Know." And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on speaking with one's fiancée (before the marriage contract) by telephone and WhatsApp?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
Before the marriage contract, the two engaged persons remain non-mahram (strangers) to one another. Reciting al-Fātiḥah, receiving some money on account of the dowry (mahr), or accepting a gift are all merely a promise of marriage and not a valid contract under the Sharīʿah.
It is therefore forbidden for the engaged couple, before the marriage contract is concluded, to be alone together (khalwah) or to shake hands. It is likewise forbidden to speak by telephone or correspond without need. And Allah Almighty knows best.