How to welcome Ramadhan

In the life of human beings, preparation and planning is very important.  Every sane and sensible person works with a plan.  The syllabus prepared in the schools and colleges, is in fact a planning for the education of the students.  Parents make plans for their children’s future.  A businessman prepares many plans to expand his business.  Plans are followed to advertise and market products.  The armed forces, along with having weaponry and personnel, make detailed plans.

 

Planning is not just among human beings.  If we glance at the animal world, birds, animals, etc. also plan at their own level.  Some animals relocate from one jungle to another, birds migrate in different seasons.  Even the ants prepare for summer in the winter. 

 

The way human beings plan, the way parents plan for their children, the way a businessman plans for his business, they way an army plans to complete its mission, they way animals plan as per their capacity, in the same way a Muslim should also be anxious about the hereafter.  To gain solace in the hereafter, a Muslim should plan for the days ahead.  To achieve eternal comfort, we should plan for the future.  Allah Ta'ala says:

 

Translation: - O Believers! Keep fearing Allah. And everyone should be vigilant to what he has sent forward for tomorrow (the Day of Reckoning). And always fear Allah. Indeed Allah is Well Aware of what you do.  (Surah Al-Hashr: 59:18) 

 

When planning is being done for worldly matters, when preparations are being made for education, business, and other worldly affairs, then it should be done all the more for religious affairs.  When we are receiving some bounty from Allah Ta'ala, we should plan as to how we are going to value it.  We should make preparations beforehand.

 

First sermon of welcoming Ramadhan

 

For this reason the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has described the greatness of Ramadhan before the arrival of Ramadhan.  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) gave sermons regarding the excellence and greatness of Ramadhan.  Basically, there are 3 Hadith about welcoming Ramadhan, which are like 3 eloquent sermons on welcoming Ramadhan.

 

Before the arrival of Ramadhan, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would give the Companions (Sahabah) glad tidings of its arrival.  As given in this Hadith of Musnad Imam Ahmad Bin Hambal:

 

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) gave glad tidings of the arrival of Ramadhan to His Companions in the words: The month of Ramadhan is dawning on you.  This is the month of Barakah (blessings and prosperity).  Allah Ta'ala has made its fasts Fardh (obligatory) on you.  In this month, the doors of Jannah are opened.  The doors of hell are closed and the devils are imprisoned.  In this month, there is a night, which is better than 1000 months.  The person who is deprived of the benefits of that night is really destitute.  (Hadith No. 9227

 

That the doors of Jannah are opened with the coming of Ramadhan shows that the doors of Jannah are open for those who perform good deeds.  Jannah is awaiting them with all its ni’mah.  the closing of the doors of hell in indicating that the doors of hell are closed for those who perform good deeds in this month and their abode is Jannah.  Imam Baihaqui (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has written a Hadith in Shu‘abul Iman:

 

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  When the first night of Ramadhan comes, devils and rebellious genie are chained.  The doors of hell are closed and no door of it is opened.  The doors of Jannah are opened and no door of it is closed again.  A caller calls out every night:  O you who desire good!  Go ahead with good deeds.  For those who desire transgressions, it is said: O you who desire evil!  Refrain from evil.  There are many people who have been freed from hell and this goes on every night.  (Shu‘abul Iman, Hadith No. 3446)

 

In Ramadhan especially, Allah Ta'ala makes the outward and inward atmosphere conducive to piety and virtuousness.  In every way, virtuous and good deeds are made easy for the slaves and the means to evil are minimized to the least extent.  Satan is chained.  The Self (Nafs) is checked through fasts.  Everywhere the ambience is made most conducive to piety.  We should draw benefit from this ni’mah of Allah Ta'ala.

 

Second sermon of welcoming Ramadhan

 

There are various ways of saying a thing.  It can be said in a plain manner.  Instead, if it is emphasized, its importance is realized and if before saying it, a preamble or prologue is used, then the extraordinary importance of what is being said becomes obvious.  By making using a preamble to describe the greatness and significance of Ramadhan, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) revealed its great importance:

 

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Anas Bin Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Someone is coming before you and you will welcome him.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said this thrice.

 

Hadhrat ‘Umar bin Khattab (May Allah be well pleased with him) asked:  Did any revelation (Wahi) descend.  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  No.  Is any enemy coming?  He said: No.  Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) asked:  Then what is going to happen?  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  (Ramadhan is coming).  Verily!  The first night of Ramadhan, Allah Ta'ala forgives all believers who believe Ka’aba to be the Qibla (the direction to offer Salaat).  While saying this, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) gestured towards the Qibla with His hand.  (Sahih Ibn Khuzaima, Hadith No. 1778)

 

Before the coming of Ramadhan, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) emphasized this and described the greatness of Ramadhan.  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) gave glad tidings of forgiveness.  This shows that we should take it as a mission to prepare for Ramadhan before it comes.  We should prepare ourselves mentally, physically, socially and financially to benefit from each and every moment of this blessed month.

 

The preparations of the Companions for Ramadhan

 

It is mentioned in Al Ghunya on the authority of Hadhrat Anas Bin Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him):

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Anas bin Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him) that when the Sahabah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would see the moon of Sha’abaan, they would be busy in the recitation of the Holy Quran.  Muslims would take out the Zakaat of their wealth, so that the weak and the needy would take it and have strength for fasting in Ramadhan, the officers of the government would summon the prisoners and would enforce the punishment of the Shariah on those who deserved it and set free those who didn’t.  The businessmen would fulfill the rights due to others and take what was outstanding.  When they would see the moon for Ramadhan, then they would bathe and engage themselves in worship with all devotion.  (Al Ghunya Lit Talibi Tariqil Haqqi, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 188)

 

The aforementioned Hadith clearly shows that the fervor with which the Companions would prepare for Ramadhan in Sha’abaan itself.  Practically, as preparation for Ramadhan, they would increase the recitation of the Holy Quran.  At the economic level, they would complete all transactions/dealings.  They would fulfill all rights due to them.  They would take the payment due to them.  At the social level, they would think about others as well.  They would give the Zakaat in Sha’abaan itself so that the needy people would prepare for Ramadhan with the Zakaat.  The prisoners for whom there were no Shariah punishments to be enforced, would be released so that they could also prepare for Ramadhan.  After all these preparations, when they would see the moon, which signifies the beginning of Ramadhan, they would take a bath and engage themselves in worship with all concentration.

 

Third and the most detailed sermon on welcoming of Ramadhan

 

The Beloved Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) described the superiority of the month of Ramadhan, the obligatory of the fasting, importance of the Taraweeh and excellence of Shab-e-Qadr addressed an esteem sermon.  This sermon was a detail one on the topics of welcoming Ramadhan, whose interpretation is done by Imam Bayhaqi in Shu’aib Ul Iman:-

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Salman Farsi (May Allah be well pleased with him) that on the last day of Sha’abaan, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) gave a sermon and said: O people, a great month has dawned on you.  That month is full of blessings.  That month is such that there is a great night in it which is better than a thousand months.  Allah Ta'ala has declared this month's fasts as Obligatory (Fardh) and the praying of night as optional (Nafl).  Any person who performs an optional act in this month is like the one who performed an obligatory act in any other month.  The one who performs an obligatory act in this month is like the one who performed 70 obligatory acts in any other month.  It is a month of patience and the reward of patience is Jannah.  It is a month of sympathy.  It is a month in which the sustenance (Rizq) of a Momin is increased.  In this month whoever provides a fasting person with means to break his/her fast, the sins of that person are forgiven and it becomes a reason to set free the person from Hell.  That person will be given a reward equal to the fasting person without any decrease from the reward of the one who fasts.  We said: O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), everyone among us does not have the means to do so.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, Allah Ta'ala gives this reward to the person who provides the fasting person a sip of milk or a date or even a sip of water to break the fast; and the person who satisfies a fasting person completely, Allah Ta'ala will give that person such a sip from My houz (i.e.  houz e kouthar); he/she will never feel thirsty till he enters Jannah.  This is such a month in which the first 10 days are of mercy, the next 10 days are of forgiveness and the last 10 days are for freedom from Hell.  Whoever lessens the load of his/her slave (subordinate), Allah Ta'ala will forgive that person and free him from hell.

 

In the narration of Hadhrat Hamam (May Allah be well pleased with him), the following words are added:  In Ramadhan, perform 4 things profusely, 2 things among them are those through whom you can please your Lord and the other 2 are those without whom you have no recourse.  The first 2 are recitation of “La Ilaha Illallah Muhammadur Rasulallah” and seeking Maghfirah (forgiveness) and the last 2 are:  You supplicate Allah Ta'ala for Jannah and seek Allah’s protection from hell.  (Shu’abul Iman, Hadith No. 3455; Mishkatul Masabeeh, Kitab Us Saum, Pg. No. 173/174; Zujajatul Masabeeh, Vol. 1, Kitab Us Saum, Pg. No. 541)

 

How should we prepare for Ramadhan?

 

In light of the greatness of the month of Ramadhan, it is necessary for us that we welcome it with repentance and Tauba.  We should consider these blessed moments as a respite and try to gain blessings from them.  We should spend our time in worship and works of piety.  We should spend our time in recitation of the Holy Quran.  We should fulfill others’ rights due to us.  We should give our Zakaat so that the needy also become free to engage in worship.

 

Respect of Ramadhan is a means of salvation

 

Hadhrat Abul Hasanaat Syed Abdullah Shah Naqshbandi Qadri Muhaddith-e-Deccan (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has describe in his book Fadhaail-e-Ramadhan in relation to the excellence of the month of Ramadhan:

 

There was a Parsi person.  He saw his son eating in the market in the month of Ramadhan, something like pan (betel leaf) at which he beat his son and said: You wretch!  Don’t you respect the month of Ramadhan of the Muslims?

 

Someone saw this Parsi after he passed away that he was sitting on a throne in Jannah.  On asking how he entered Jannah, he said:  When my last moments came, the order was given:  Angels!  Don’t let him remain on disbelief!  Tell him that he has respected Ramadhan, so embrace Islam for Our sake.  The throes of death started after I embraced Islam.  (Fadhaail-e-Ramadhan Pg. No. 25) 

 

Disregarding the month of Ramadhan: Deprivation from forgiveness

 

There are warnings of ruin for the person who does not respect the month of Ramadhan and does not gain Maghrifah in this month, as given in this Hadith of Maas:

 

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Ka’ab (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said:  The Beloved Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Gather at the pulpit.  We gathered at the pulpit.  When the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) placed His foot on the first step of the pulpit, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Aameen.  When He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) placed His foot on the second step of the stairs, He said:  Aameen.  When He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) placed His foot on the 3rd step, He said: Aameen.  When the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) stepped down from the pulpit, we asked him: O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  Today while you were ascending the pulpit we heard such words from you that we never heard them before.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Jibreel (May peace be upon him) came to me and said:  Whoever gets Ramadhan and he (or she) does not gain forgiveness, may he be turned away from the mercy of Allah Ta’ala.  I said:  Aameen!  When I took the second step, Jibreel (May peace be upon him) said:  The person before whom your blessed name is heard and he does not recite Durud, may he be turned away from the mercy of Allah Ta’ala. I said: Aameen!  When I stepped on the 3rd stair, Hadhrat Jibreel (May peace be upon him) said:  The person whose parents or any one from them reach old age and does not become worthy of entering Jannah by serving them, may he be turned away from the mercy of Allah Ta’ala.  I (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Aameen!  (Mustadarak ‘Alas Sahihain, Hadith No. 7365)