By Shaykh Salm?n b. Fahd al-Oudah
The Pious Predecessors used to pay extra attention to the following things during the month of Rama??n:
Reading the Qur'?n
All?h says: "The month of Rama??n is that in which the Qur'?n was revealed." [S?rah al-Baqarah: 185]
For this reason, we find that the Pious Predecessors used to increase their recitation of the Qur'?n in Rama??n. Ibr?h?m an-Nakha`? tells us: "Al-Aswad b. Yaz?d used to complete reading the entire Qur�?n every two nights in Rama??n. He would sleep between Maghrib and `Ish?'. Outside of Rama??n, he would complete reading the Qur'?n every six nights."
`Abd al-Malik b. Ab? Sulaym?n tells us that Sa`?d b. Jubayr would also complete a reading of the Qur'?n every two nights in Rama??n.
It is also mentioned that al-Wal?d used to normally complete the Qur'?n every three nights, but in the month of Rama??n, he would read it in its entirety seventeen times.
Sal?m b. Ab? Mut?` informs us that Qat?dah used to normally take seven days to read the Qur'?n, but in Rama??n he would take three days to do so. Indeed, during the last ten nights of Rama??n, he would read the entire Qur'?n every night.
Al-Q?sim b. `Al? describes his father � Ibn `As?kir, the famed author of The History of Damascus � as follows: "He used to always observe his prayers in congregation and was constant in the recitation of the Qur'?n. He would always complete a reading of the entire Qur'?n by Friday. However, in Rama??n, he would do so every day and retreat to the eastern minaret of the mosque."
Adh-Dhahab? writes the following about Ab? Barak?t Hibah All?h b. Ma?f??: "He learned Islamic Law and read the Qur'?n. He was known for his charity and his good deeds. In the month of Rama??n, he would read the Qur'?n thirty times."
Standing for Prayer in the Middle of the Night
As-S?'ib b. Yaz?d relates: "`Umar b. al-Kha???b ordered Ubayy b. Ka`b and Tam?m ad-D?r? (ra?iyall?hu anhum) to lead the people in prayer in Rama??n. They would each read hundreds of verses at a go, until we had to support ourselves with canes due to the length of time we had to stand. We would only finish praying close to the time of Fajr." [Mu?annaf `Abd ar-Razz?q (7730) and Sunan al-Bayhaq? (4392)]
`Abd All?h, the son of Ab? Bakr (ra?iyall?hu anhu), relates that he heard his father say: "By the time we finished our prayers in Rama??n, the servants would have to rush to prepare food in fear of Fajr coming in." [al-Muwa??a' (254)]
`Abd ar-Ra?m?n b. Hurmuz tells us: "The reciters (leading the prayers) would complete the reading of S?rah al-Baqarah in eight units of prayer. When the reciters took twelve units of prayer to complete it, the people regarded it as if the reciters were making things easy for them." [Mu?annaf `Abd al-Razz?q (7734) and Sunan al-Bayhaq? (4401)]
N?fi` relates that Ibn `Umar (ra?iyall?hu anhu) used to pray in his house during the month of Rama??n. When the people departed from the mosque, he would go off to the prophet's Mosque, taking a flask of water with him. He would not leave the mosque again until after the Morning Prayer. [Sunan al-Bayhaq? (4384)]
`Imr?n b. Hudayr tells us that Ab? Mijlaz would lead the prayers in Rama??n for the people in his neighborhood. He would recite the Qur'?n in full in prayer in the course of seven days. [Mu?annaf Ibn Ab? Shaybah (7677)]
Giving Generously in Charity
Ibn `Abb?s (ra?iyall?hu anhu) says: "All?h's Messenger (?allall?hu `alayhi wa-sallam) was the most generous of all people in doing good, and he was at his most generous during the month of Rama??n. Gabriel used to meet with him every year throughout the month of Rama??n, so the Prophet could recite the Qur'?n to him. Whenever Gabriel met with him, he became more generous than a beneficial breeze." [?a??? al-Bukh?r? (1902) and ?a??? Muslim (2308)]
Al-Muhallab makes the following observation about this ?ad?th [Ibn Ba???l, Commentary on ?a??? al-Bukh?r? (4/22-23)]:
�This shows the blessings of good works and that engaging in some good deeds opens the door to the performance of others. The practice of doing some good deeds assists one in further good works. We can see here that the blessings of fasting and of meeting Gabriel increased the Prophet's in generosity and charity, so much so that he became more generous that a beneficial breeze.�
Az-Zayn b. al-Mun?r explains the comparison with a "beneficial breeze" as follows [al-`Asqal?n?, Fat? al-B?r? (4/139)]:
�His charity and good treatment for those who are poor and needy - as well as for those who are well-off and possess sufficient means - is as general as the relief brought by a beneficial breeze.�
Ash-Sh?f�`? said: "It is liked for a person to increase his charity in the month of Rama??n. This is following the Prophet's example. It is also in consideration of the people's needs and their welfare, since so many of them are distracted from earning their livelihood due to their preoccupation with fasting and prayer."
Ibn `Umar (ra?iyall?hu anhu) used to never break his fast except in the company of the poor. Whenever someone came to him while he was eating and begged him for something, Ibn `Umar (ra?iyall?hu anhu) would take from his food what he deemed to be his rightful share and then he would stand up and leave the rest of the food for that person. He would then take what was in his hand and give it to his family, so that when he woke up the next morning to resume his fast, he would not have eaten anything the night before. [La??'if al-Ma`?rif (314)]
Y?nus b. Yaz?d tells us that during the month of Rama??n, Ibn Shih?b would engage in nothing besides reciting the Qur'?n and providing food for the poor.
?amm?d b. Ab? Sulaym?n would take it upon himself to provide food five hundred people to break their fast with during the month of Rama??n. Then, on the day of `?d, he would give each of those people one hundred pieces of silver.
Safeguarding the Tongue
Ab? Hurayrah relates that the Prophet (?allall?hu `alayhi wa-sallam) said: "Whoever does not abandon false speech and acting falsely, then All?h has no need of his abandoning food and drink." [?a??? al-Bukh?r? (1903)]
Al-Muhallab makes the following observation about this ?ad?th [Ibn Ba???l, Commentary on ?a??? al-Bukh?r? (4/23)]:
Ibn `Umar (ra?iyall?hu anhu) used to never break his fast except in the company of the poor. Whenever someone came to him while he was eating and begged him for something, Ibn `Umar (ra?iyall?hu anhu) would take from his food what he deemed to be his rightful share and then he would stand up and leave the rest of the food for that person. He would then take what was in his hand and give it to his family, so that when he woke up the next morning to resume his fast, he would not have eaten anything the night before. [La??'if al-Ma`?rif (314)]
Y?nus b. Yaz?d tells us that during the month of Rama??n, Ibn Shih?b would engage in nothing besides reciting the Qur'?n and providing food for the poor.
?amm?d b. Ab? Sulaym?n would take it upon himself to provide food five hundred people to break their fast with during the month of Rama??n. Then, on the day of `?d, he would give each of those people one hundred pieces of silver.
Safeguarding the Tongue
Ab? Hurayrah relates that the Prophet (?allall?hu `alayhi wa-sallam) said: "Whoever does not abandon false speech and acting falsely, then All?h has no need of his abandoning food and drink." [?a??? al-Bukh?r? (1903)]
Al-Muhallab makes the following observation about this ?ad?th [Ibn Ba???l, Commentary on ?a??? al-Bukh?r? (4/23)]:
�This shows that fasting entails refraining from obscene and false speech just like it entails refraining from food and drink. A person who engages in false or obscene speech detracts from the value of his fast, He exposes himself to his Lord's displeasure and to the possibility of his fast not being accepted.
The Prophet (?allall?hu `alayhi wa-sallam) said: "If one of you starts off the day fasting, he should avoid obscene speech and ignorant behavior. If someone abuses him or starts to fight with him, he should reply by saying: 'I am fasting. I am fasting'." [?a??? Muslim (1151)]
Al-Mazar? observes about this ?ad?th:
Al-Mazar? observes about this ?ad?th:
�It is possible that the person is recommended to say "I am fasting. I am fasting" merely to remind himself, so that he refrains from getting involved in the exchange of insults.�
`Umar b. al-Kha???b (ra?iyall?hu anhu) said: "One does not merely fast from food and drink, but also from lying, from falsehood, from vain talk, and from swearing." [Mu?annaf Ibn Ab? Shaybah (8882)]
`Al? b. Ab? ??lib (ra?iyall?hu anhu) said: "Fasting is not to leave off food and drink, but rather to leave off lying, falsehood, and vain talk." [Mu?annaf Ibn Ab? Shaybah (8884)]
`Al? b. Ab? ??lib (ra?iyall?hu anhu) said: "Fasting is not to leave off food and drink, but rather to leave off lying, falsehood, and vain talk." [Mu?annaf Ibn Ab? Shaybah (8884)]
Talq b. Qays tells us that Ab? Dharr (ra?iyall?hu anhu) said: "When you fast, then be on your guard as mush as possible." As for Talq, when he fasted, he only emerged from his home in order to go to the mosque for prayers. [Mu?annaf Ibn Ab? Shaybah (8878)]
J?bir b. `Abd All?h (ra?iyall?hu anhu) said: "When you fast, your hearing, your vision, and your tongue should also fast � by avoiding lies and sins. You should not abuse your servant. You should maintain your composure and dignity on the day that you fast. Do not make your fasting day the same as your normal day." [Mu?annaf Ibn Ab? Shaybah (8880)]
`At?' tells us that Ab? Hurayrah (ra?iyall?hu anhu) said: "When you fast, do not act in an ignorant manner and do not insult people. If someone acts ignorantly towards you, say: 'I am fasting'." [Mu?annaf `Abd ar-Razz?q (7456)]
Muj?hid said: "If you avoid two things, then your fast will be alright. You must avoid backbiting and lying."
Ab? al-`?liyah said: "A fasting person is engaged in worship as long as he does not backbite someone."
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Spam Comments Deleted Automatically!