Remember

by AhmedO’ you who love to partyand raveRemember one day you will go to the graveFriends and guys wanna be in your ‘crew’Remember the darkness and loneliness of the grave awaits youFashion and clothes you love to adornRemember the day will come to sound the hornRaised up will be the whole of mankindOur deeds presented from ahead or behindIf from in front – to Jannah you are shownFrom behind – into Hellfire you will be thrownTrust me, now is the time to toil and sweatBefore in the hereafter you remorse and regretAccumulate many gooddeeds whilst still aliveFor the pleasure of Allah continue to striveFor this, Inshallah, Jannah is your rewardRepent now, come and worship your Lord.

Read the Qur’an

So brothers and sisters,to increase your imanRead the miracle, read the QuranHere’s a fact for the ones who are keener92 surahs revealed in Mecca, 22 in MedinahRead it every day and toread it be proudThe word Quran means to read it aloudRead the book from the Lord of the worldsOver 6,000 verses and 77,000 wordsRead with respect, no disturbance, no laughtersfrom Al Fatiha to An Naas, all 114 chaptersAnd in it 14 times you need to prostrateAnd say Allah ho Akbar, meaning Allah is greatIn this book, 25 prophets are mentionedby nameWho came at different times but their message was the sameThis miracle was revealed over a 23 year spanSent from Allah (swt), toan angel and then to a manThat man was Muhammed (saws), thebest of creationAnd we are proud to be part of his nationHe gave us a message and that was IslamSo read this miracle, read the Quran!Author unknown

Riyadh Ramadan Timings -Saudi Arabia

Hanafi TimingsJafari TimingsSehr-o-Iftar Time - HanafiDateDaySehrIftar06 JuneMonday3:33 am6:41 pm07 JuneTuesday3:32 am6:41 pm08 JuneWednesday3:32 am6:42 pm09 JuneThursday3:32 am6:42 pm10 JuneFriday3:32 am6:43 pm11 JuneSaturday3:32 am6:43 pm12 JuneSunday3:32 am6:43 pm13 JuneMonday3:32 am6:44 pm14 JuneTuesday3:32 am6:44 pm15 JuneWednesday3:32 am6:44 pm16 JuneThursday3:32 am6:45 pm17 JuneFriday3:32 am6:45 pm18 JuneSaturday3:33 am6:45 pm19 JuneSunday3:33 am6:45 pm20 JuneMonday3:33 am6:46 pm21 JuneTuesday3:33 am6:46 pm22 JuneWednesday3:33 am6:46 pm23 JuneThursday3:34 am6:46 pm24 JuneFriday3:34 am6:46 pm25 JuneSaturday3:34 am6:46 pm26 JuneSunday3:34 am6:47 pm27 JuneMonday3:35 am6:47 pm28 JuneTuesday3:35 am6:47 pm29 JuneWednesday3:36 am6:47 pm30 JuneThursday3:36 am6:47 pm01 JulyFriday3:36 am6:47 pm02 JulySaturday3:37 am6:47 pm03 JulySunday3:37 am6:47 pm04 JulyMonday3:38 am6:47 pm05 JulyTuesday3:38 am6:47 pm

The Spirit of Ramadan part 2

“Does Mr. Haroon provide you with meals?” Asad persisted. He knew Bilal’s father was rather tight fisted. He would have insisted that the men put in whole shifts instead of cutting down their working hours in deference to Ramadan.“What do rich men know about empty stomachs, my son,” the old carpenter replied, moving his plane over the wood in a smooth, fluid motion.With bile rising in his throat, Asad turned back towards his house. His mind was in turmoil and his heart ached. In the living room he paced restlessly and then saw some CDs that his grandfather was fond of listening. He put on one in the magnificent stereo system that his father had recently purchased. It wasrecitation of the Holy Quran. As the soul stirring voice of Qari Saad Al Ghamdi reciting Surah al Baqarah filled the room, Asad felt waves of serenity hitting him. He felt engulfed in peace and tears shimmered in his eyes.“Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and do not follow up their spending by stressing their benevolence and causing hurt, will find their reward secure with their Lord. They have no cause for fear and grief. ”Asad spent some time listening and absorbing the message from Allah. Then he took a bath and said his prayers. His parents came home and the smell of iftaar being prepared filled the house.As the entire family gathered for breaking the fast, Asad looked at the dining table laden with a variety of food ___ sandwiches, cake, fruit cocktail, tempura, triangular samosay, fried chicken pieces, dates and a variety of other dishes.“Mom, do we need to cook so much food for one meal that no one can possibly finish?”“What’s on your mind, son?” his father asked, surprised by his son’s unusual question.“Dad, Mom’s on a diet, grandparents can’t eat fried and salty food as per doctor’s orders and Fatima can’t eat solid food. That leaves you and me tofinish at least eight dishes. It’s pure waste.”“Asad, what is wrong, son?” His mother asked concerned about her son’s state of mind.“Mom there are people out there dying of hunger. There are people who have a handful of dried dates to eat and yet work all day on rich people’s mansions and then thank God for His blessings.”“Asad, we do pay zakat and charity tohelp those in need. I am very happy that you are being so thoughtful and caring, but we cannot eradicate poverty on our own,” his father reasoned.“Yes, but maybe this Ramadan we can share our food with those whose needs are greater than ours, father. May I?” Asad asked with a tilt of his head towards the food.The grown ups looked bemused but Asad felt a gleam of pride in their eyes. He went outside and invited the laborers for iftaar. At first hesitantly and then with joy and gratitude they accepted his offer.Asad’s servants laid out linen on the green grass of their beautifully manicured lawn and the men took offtheir shoes and sat cross legged waiting for the Maghrib azaan whichwould signal the time to break the fast.As Asad passed out fresh dates and fruit to about two dozen men in the garden, the old carpenter said smilingly, “Didn’t I tell you that Allah is the best Provider and we eat out of His provisions.”For the first time in the day, Asad laughed aloud in joy.“Thank you for teaching me the true spirit of Ramadan, babaji . It is not about mindlessly abstaining from food and drink all day but understanding the needs of others and pleasing Allah to gain His blessings that Ramadan is all about. Sharing and caring, that’s the true spirit of this holy month.”“Aye, and praying too. Now help this old man get up so that I can say my prayers, young man.”Happy and satiated, they all went to the local mosque to offer their prayers and thank Allah for all His blessings.By Gulrukh Tausif

The Spirit of Ramadan part 1

Asad opened the refrigerator door and peered inside. His eyes fell on a huge chocolate cake and some sandwiches, the leftovers from yesterday’s tea.“Oh God! Why am I being punished like this?” He groaned silently.It was the first day of Ramadan and Asad was fasting. He had just returned from school and was feeling ravenous. After dropping his heavy backpack on the bedroom floor, he made a beeline for his favorite spot in the house, the kitchen. But fasting meant no food for at least four more hours. He would have to wait till sunset to break the first fast of the month.Just for a second, Asad felt sorely tempted.“Who would know if I eat a slice of the cake?” he mused. His parents weren’t home, his grandparents wereresting and his baby sister, Fatima was too young to tell tales.“Somebody would know, “a little voice argued inside his heart. “He, who knows everything, since He is our Creator.”Asad slammed the fridge door shut in frustration. He was fourteen and felt ashamed of his momentary weakness. He went to the living roomwhere a maid was spooning Cerelac into Fatima’s little mouth. Fatima gurgled and grinned at her older brother who bent down to give her a hug. Asad looked at the pale yellow concoction that was smeared across her face and swallowed hard. Even Cerelac smelled good at this hour.He flopped down on the sofa in disgust and switched on the television.“Maybe a nice program will take my mind off food for a while,” he thought, aggressively pressing downthe channel buttons on the remote control.He paused at BBC channel where a cute anchorperson was presenting a report. Asad stared at her for a while without registering the news but thensome live images made his attention snap back at the report. Rachel Hayward was talking about intense, widespread poverty and famine in Africa where millions of children perished each year due to hunger and malnutrition.Asad stared at the disturbing pictures of dark brown skeletal children with distended stomachs. Flies hovered around their faces and their naked bodies, as mothers listlessly tried to wave them away. Their misery was writ large on their faces and their empty eyes bore testimony to man’s inured ways.Asad thought with a guilty pang about the uneaten pizza he had thrown away in a fit of temper last night. He had ordered his favorite Chicken Supreme but the delivery boyhad brought some other pizza and would not take it back. Asad had paid for it and just to show the impertinent delivery guy what he thought of his services, had tossed the pizza into the trash can outside his house. It had felt so good at that time but now he felt like a total jerk.He remembered how his grandmother always chided him when he left rice uneaten on his plate that was later scrapped off by the servant and dumped in trashcan. He remembered the lavish meals he and his friends ordered in college canteen and then discarded because they could not eat a bite more. If excess, extravagance and waste werecrimes, then he was guilty of each one of them.He changed the channels once again and put on MTV. He had a huge crush on Beyonce but after witnessing the BBC report, the music seemed too loud, too cheerful and even obscene. He switched the television off.“What is wrong with me today?” He thought uneasily. “It must be the lack of food that is making me so restless.” He glanced at the stately golden clock adorning the living room wall. Only twenty minutes had passed and he still had more than three and a half hours to kill.“I’ll go to Bilal’s house.” He decided, thinking about his friend’s house across the street. “Maybe a few rounds of computer games will improve my mood.”When he stepped out of his house, he saw was a couple of dirty, bedraggled children foraging through the trash can. The older kid, who seemed about 5 yrs old, dragged a piece of dried chapatti out of the refuse heap and brushed away blackened mango peels from it. He broke it in two and offered the other half to his younger sister. Asad stoodrooted to the spot in horror.“Hey. Don’t eat that. It’s terribly dirty and probably mouldy too,” he shouted but the duo quickly crammed the hard chapatti into their hungry mouths and scampered off.“Why had I never noticed such things before?” he wondered.Asad had never been hungry in his entire life so poverty, deprivation, and hunger were concepts that he had never thought about.If the home cooked meal was not to his liking, he always ordered his favorite foods from upscale restaurants and had them delivered home. He had a creditcard, a gift from his father on his fourteenth birthday and he used it forlavish meals whenever he wished.Now hunger due to the obligatory fast was forcing him to look at the plight of the less fortunate and the more he saw, the more disturbed he felt.He crossed the street and saw a construction crew at work. Bilals’ father was having a wing added to his already imposing residence. Asad paused to admire the skill of an old carpenter who was busy smoothing a rectangular block of wood. Wood shavings littered the floor around him.“Are you fasting, babaji?” He asked respectfully.The old man looked up and wiped the perspiration from his brow.“Aye, son. Work is no excuse for not fasting,” he replied.Asad could not imagine fasting and then working in the relentless summer afternoon heat. He looked around at the laborers, mason, and brick layers working in a rhythmic method.“What do you eat for iftaar?” he asked out of curiosity, referring to theevening meal. He imagined the lavish food that got prepared in their kitchen everyday. It took their chef at least two hours to put together an afternoon tea.The old man smiled,” Whatever Allah provides for us, son. He is Merciful and Most Gracious.”

Fasting is a Shield

Fasting is a shield[Bukhari]Fasting is a shield for a person whichprotects them from Shaytan, Allah’s punishment and Jahannam. However, one needs to make sure the shield is not damaged in any way. Otherwise it will not be effective in doing its job. The actions that damage this shield and render it useless are sins like Backbiting, Lying, Evil Glance, Swearing, Nonsensical Conversation, Arguments, Slander, Haram Sustenance, and every other evil.Besides the compulsory fasting in themonth of Ramadan, one should try tofast during those days for which Rasoolullah (صلي الله عليه و سلم) has mentioned many rewards, for example:*.6 days of Shawwal*.Day of Aarafah*.Ashoora (9th & 10th or 10th & 11th of Muharram)Source: Riyadul Jannah Issue 2 Vol 13

Itikaaf

It is reported from Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) that Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said:“Whosoever performs an I’tikaaf of ten days in Ramadaan will receive the reward of two Hajj and two Umrah.”(Shu’abul Iemaan)

Last Night of Ramadhaan

Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said,‘On the last night of Ramadhaan the fasting Muslims are forgiven.’ The Sahaabah radiyallahu anhum inquired,‘O Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, is that the night of power?’ Rasulullah sallallahu alayhiwasallam replied,‘No! But it is only right that a servant should be given his reward on having completed his duty’ [Ahmad]

After Ramadan

The Holy month of Ramadaan came like seasonal rain and passed by. This rain did not water the plants and crops -it showered upon the hearts of believers. It is sad, but true, that the hearts of the majority of Muslims are stricken with spiritual drought and spiritual decadence. It is a drought caused by excessive indulgence in un-Islamic activities, immoral behaviour, unjust actions, unfair dealings etc. Drought caused by lack of rain destroys crops -drought caused by lack of piety, lackof fear of Allah and lack of Allah consciousness destroys the SPIRITUALITY of the heart.Ramadaan’s spiritual rains brought to life the Masaajid and other prayer places. Ramadaan had fanned the dying spark of charity .Ramadaan had awakened the dying spirit of tolerance, patience and sympathy forthe less fortunate.Now that we come to the end of Ramadaan the big question is what to do? Did we go through all the spiritual exercises in Ramadaan in order that we may have the freedom to indulge, on Eid day, in all types of immoral, shameless and indecent amusement? Did we restrain ourselves from halaal food, drinks and other pleasures from dawn to sunset throughout Ramadaan, so that we may return with renewed vigour to gambling, drinking, adultery and fornication? Will the spirit of tolerance, mercy, patience, charity and sympathy be still evident or will these noble qualities be shelved until the dawn of the next Ramadaan?Will the Masajids which were filled on most nights in Ramadaan remain the same or will they become empty wondering where the faithful have gone? Our lifetsyles after Ramadaan will show whether we used the month to bring about a total reformation within ourselves or are we going to waste the valuable opportunity?The National and international position of the Muslim communities leaves much to be desired. Muslims are lamenting the loss of lives, destruction of property, oppression, tyranny, injustice and a host of other problems all over the world. They arewondering why the promised help of Allah to the believers is nowhere in sight. Just one glance into the lifestyles of the overwhelming majority of the Muslims is sufficient to answer the question. Millions of Muslims do not have much to their credit besides Muslim names.Allah’s help comes with action and Islamic qualities -not with names or faces – Arabs or non-Arabs, African or European, Chinese or Indians. On the other hand every group, organization, society or individual who talks Islam, seems to have got its own brand of Islam. The Islamic teachings which were left behind for us, crystal clear and pristine pure, have become so adulterated with foreign customs, alien practices and un-Islamic ideologies, that a new Muslim has to make an effort to search for the Quran and Sunnah brand of Islam or remain confused and ignorant.May Allah Ta’ala on the occasion of Eid give us the guidance to resolve that we shall make the Quran and Sunnah our guiding lights and practise Islam as much as possible. If the non-Muslim inhabitants of ourcountry see Islam in the lives of Muslims, they will not require much persuasion to accept our beautiful deen.

The Wonderful Status of I’tikaaf

Fulfil one’s I’tikaaf in such a Masjid wherein the five daily Salaah is offered. A Masjid in terms of the Shariah. By means of this act Allah Ta’ala has granted us solitude while in a gathering. What more can be said!Two Haj and two Umrah, by means of a single days I’tikaaf, how far is one removed from Jahannum? A distance of five hundred years. Brothers! What we all desire and need is to be distanced from Jahannum and closeness to paradise.Another amazing point is the fact that one who is waiting for Salaah is granted the rewards of being in Salaah. It is as if the person forming the intention for I’tikaaf has begun Salaah on the eve of the twentieth of Ramadaan and remains engaged in this Salaah for a full ten days and nights, till the sighting of the crescentfor Eid after which he turns for Salaam and completes his Salaah. While fast asleep, he is in Salaah! While wide a wake, he is in Salaah! While eating, he is in Salaah! While drinking, he is in Salaah! At every instant during his stay in the Masjid he is in Salaah. At times this is actually so while at other times he is allegorically so. We beseech Allah Ta’ala to grant us the abundant Taufeeq for these actions to be performed during Ramadaan and that He make them easy for us and assist us therein.O Allah! We are weak and helpless. We are assailed by different forms of illnesses. O Allah! Provide us with Your assistance from the unseen whereby we can imbibe all these aspects within us. Let us engage in the abundant recitation of the Quraan as in the case of Hazrat Raipuri who gave up all his correspondence as well as meeting people and was either occupied in fasting or recitation of the Quraan. This cycle continued over and over every day of the entire month. We beseech Allah Ta’ala to grant such devotion to us as well, along with I’tikaaf during the last ten days.O Allah! Grant abundant Taufeeq to us as well as to our children and the other members of our household. O Allah! Grant us the Taufeeq to spend Ramadaan in keeping with the Sunnah as discussed. Grant us the Taufeeq to spend Ramadaan in the shadows of Your accepted servants, Ameen.Source:Darul Uloom Al-Islamiyya , Port Elizabeth South Africa

The Last Ashrah

The month of Ramadhan enjoys and intrinsic superiority over all the othermonths of the year. Likewise, it’s last ‘Ashra or ten days are superior to the two earlier ‘Ashras, andlaylatul Qadror the Night of Power, generally,falls in it. That is why, the sacred Prophet (peace & blessings upon him) devoted himself more intensively to prayer and other forms of worship during it and urged others, also, to do the same.Ayesha (RA) related to us that “the Apostle of Allah (peace & blessings upon him)strove harder and took greater pains to observe prayer etc., during the last ten days of Ramadhan than during the other days.” [Muslim]It is related by Ayesha (RA) that “whenthe last ten days of Ramadhan beganthe Apostle of Allah (peace & blessings upon him) would gird up the loins and keep awake in the nights (i.e., he used to spend the whole of the nights in prayer and worship), and, also, wakened the members of his family (so that they, too, could partake of the blessings of the nights of that month).” [Bukhari]Source: Meaning and Messages of the traditionsby Shaykh Mohammad Manzoor Nomani

Laylatul Qadr

(The Night of Power)Crowning GloryLaylatul Qadr is the crowning glory of the holy month of Ramadhaan. It is associated with the sending down of the Qur’an Majeed, the last Book ofAllah on His last Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), for the guidance of mankind. The Qur’an Majeed describes this Night.إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِوَمَآ أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِلَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍتَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍسَلاَمٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ ٱلْفَجْرِ“We have indeed revealed this (message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the Angels and the Spirit (Jibraeel) by Allah’s permission, on every errand: Peace! This until the rise of Morn!” (Surah 97)The Night of Power is the night of spiritual bliss. Our Nabi (SallallaahuAlayhi Wasallam) is reported to have said concerning Ramadhaan:“Verily this month has come to you; and therein is a night which is better than a thousand Months. Whosoeveris deprived of it, is deprived of all good; and none is deprived of its good except a totally unfortunate person”. (Ibn Majah)“Whosoever stands up (in prayer) at the Night of Power out of faith and hopeful of reward, all his past sins will be forgiven.”(Targhib)Better than a thousand monthsA thousand months are equivalent to 83 years and 4 months. Fortunate is the person who spends this night in prayer. The man or woman, who prays for the whole night during this Night, will deserve blessings and reward for the period as if he or she had been praying for eighty three years and four months consecutively. Since the Night of Power is better than one thousand months no one can actually measurethe extent as to how much better it is.ExclusiveThe Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “Laylatul Qadr has been bestowed byAllah to my Ummah (People). It was not given to any people before this.” (Dur-Mansoor).How manifest and replete the special bounties and mercies of Allah Ta’ala are upon this Ummat is quite really beyond imagination. It will therefore be extremely foolish to allow ourselves to be deprived of these great blessings at the expense of sheer laziness and a few hours of extra sleep.Which Night is it?Although there are different reports in different traditions regarding the exact night, it is almost unanimous that the blessed night occurs in one of the last ten nights of Ramadhaan and more probably in one of the last ten odd nights i.e. 2lst, 23rd, 25th 27th or 29th night.The popular opinion is, however, in favour of the 27th Night of Ramadhaan but that is not absolutely certain. The traditions indicate that it is to be sought in one of the last ten nights and preferably in the last three odd nights. It was therefore the practice of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and his companions to make I’tikaaf in the Mosque for the whole time offering Divine service during the last ten days of Ramadhaan.Hazrath Aisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) reported that the Apostle of Allah said:“Search for the Blessed Night in the odd (nights) from the last ten (nights) of Ramadhaan”(Bukhari).Hazrath Aisha has narrated another saying:“I asked: O Messenger of Allah! Tell me if I were to find a Night of Power, what should I recite therein?”Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) advised her to recite:Al-laa-hum-ma in-na-ka ‘afoow-wan tu-hib-bul-‘af wa fa-fu ‘an-ni.O Allah! You are Forgiving, You love forgiveness, so forgive me. (Bukhari).Special attention should therefore be given to the excessive recitation of this dua on the blessed night. Furthermore one may engage in lengthy rakaats of Tahajjud salaat, Tilaawat of the Qur’an, Dua, Zikr, etc.The worship and the vigil of the Nightof Power are a treat to the soul. The heart tends to melt into tears of heartfelt gratitude. The body is in a state of angelic ecstasy The soul strives to reach nearer to Almighty Allah. In this holy month of Ramadhaan let us strive to seek the Night of Power and its bliss. May Allah reward us with His bountiful blessings. Aameen.Source:Jamiatul Ulama

The Taraweeh Salah

Merit of the tarawih salahOnce the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, addressed his followers on the last day of Shaban, on the eve of Ramadan, and said:"There is a night in this month which is greater in excellence than a thousand months; Allah has enjoined an extra salah to be offered in the nights of this month. If a person performs a nafl act, out of his own free choice during this month, he will beentitled to receive the reward of a fard act performed in other months…" (Mishkat)In an other tradition, Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, has regarded the tarawih salah as a means of the forgiveness of sins. He has said:"The one who observes the tarawih salah at night during Ramadan with complete faith and devotiononly for the sake of the recompense of the hearafter, will have all of his previous sins forgiven by Allah." (Bukhari, Muslim)Scholars have regarded the collective offerings of the tarawih salah as a compulsory sunnah havingthe kifiyah status. According to consensus of the Companions, the tarawih salah consists of twenty rak'ahs which are to be offered two at a time with one salutation and after every four rak'ahs a short pause of rest has to be observed for the convenience of the people.The worshipper has the option to sit quiet during the pause after each four rak'ahs, or recite the tasbeeh, or offer a voluntary salah.The witr salah is allowed to be offered collectively only during Ramadan.It is sunnah of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhiwa sallam, to complete recital of the whole Quran, from the beginning to the end. One must understand that the tarawih salah is a compulsory sunnah of the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, and has to be observed regularly until the end of the month of Ramadan, no matter whether the Quran has been recited once or more than once in the mosque.Miscellaneous Regulations*.The intention is to observe two rak'ahs of the tarawih salah, and thus to complete 20 rak'ahs with 10 salutations.*.It is preferable to offer the witr salah after completion of the tarawih salah, but if the witr salah is offered before the tarawih salah, or after offering some of the rak'ahs of the tarawih salah,there is no harm.*.If a late comer for the tarawih salah finds that theImam has stood up for witr salah when he has yet to complete some of his tarawih rak'ahs he should join in witr congregation, and should complete his remaining rak'ahs of tarawih later in his own time.*.It is desirable to observe the pause of rest after each four rak'ahs for as long as the time taken for observing the four rak'ahs; however, if the followers find it hard and inconvenient they may observe a shorter pause.*.It is not valid to join in the tarawih congregation before first observing the fard salah of 'Isha, for the tarawih salah has to start after the 'Isha salah.*.If a person has observed his fard salah in 'Isha incongregation, but has not observed the tarawih salah in congregation, he is permitted to offer hiswitr salah in congregation.

The 1400 Year History of Taraweeh Salaah

Amongst the special Ibaadah of the month of Ramadhaan are the fasts and the Taraweeh salaah. The information below will be dedicated to the history of the number of Rakaahs of Taraweeh that have always been performed in the two holy Harams.The Taraweeh Salaah During the Time of Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم)Saheeh Muslim reports a hadith from Hadhrat Aaisha (رضى الله عنها) that when (during Ramadhaan) Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) once performed the Taraweeh salaah in the Masjidun Nabawi, the Sahabah رضى الله تعالى عنهم followed him in the salaah. When Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) again performed the salaah the following night, an even larger congregation followed him. It was then either on the third or fourth night that Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not come to the Masjid for the Taraweeh salaah. Explaining his reason the following morning, Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to the Sahabah رضى الله تعالى عنهم, “I noticed your fervour and did not come to the Masjid to perform the Salaah fearing that this Taraweeh salaah should become compulsory for you.” 1It is therefore evident that Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) performed the Taraweeh salaah in congregation at least twice or thrice in his lifetime. Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمة الله and Allaama Showkaani رحمة الله have both mentioned that a study of Ahadeeth regarding Taraweeh reveals that Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) never specified the number of rakaahs for Taraweeh.During the Period of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (رضى الله تعالى عنه)During this period, the Sahabah رضى الله تعالى عنهم meticulously performedthe Taraweeh salaah individually or in small congregations.During the Period of Hadhrat Umar (رضى اللهتعالى عنه)During his Khilaafah, the second Khalifah Hadhrat Umar Faarooq (رضى الله تعالى عنه) combined all the small congregations into one because of the possibility of the Taraweeh salaah becoming Fardh no longer existed. With the approval of all the Sahabah رضى الله تعالى عنهم, twenty rakaahs Taraweeh salaah was performed every night of Ramadhaan after the Isha salaah, followed by three Rakaahs Witr salaah. 2There are many people nowadays who perform the Taraweeh salaah with Jamaah throughout Ramadhaan because it was carried out during the time of hadrat Umar (رضى الله تعالى عنه) with the consent of all the Sahabah رضى الله تعالى عنهم. However, these people object to the number of Rakaahs. If they keep the following Hadith in mind, their objection will Inshaa Allah be removed.Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “I advise you fear Allah, to listen and to obey (your leaders) even though your leader be an Abyssinian slave because those of you who live after me shall see great disputes. It is therefore compulsory for you to adhere to my practices and to the practice of the righteous and rightly guided successors (Khulafaa Raashideen). Hold fast to these practices and bite on them with your molars.” 3In this Hadith Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) has emphasised to his Ummah that it is imperative for them to emulate his practices as well as the practices of the Khulafaa Raashideen. When Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) has instructed the following of the practices of his Khulafaa, how can their practices be labelled as Bidah? How can one promote forsaking something that Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) empathetically wanted done? How can there be scope to oppose something that the Sahabah رضى الله تعالى عنهم unanimously agreed upon?This practice of the righteous Khalifah Hadhrat Umar (رضى الله تعالى عنه) falls perfectly within the purport of this Hadith. Therefore one should perform twenty Rakaahs Taraweeh salaah in congregation every night of Ramadhaan after the Isha salaah. This is then followed by three Rakaahs of Witr salaah.During the period of Hadhrat Uthmaan (رضىالله تعالى عنه)The third righteous khalifah Hadhrat Uthmaan (رضى الله تعالى عنه) also continued the practice of twenty Rakaahs Taraweeh salaah in congregation, followed by the three Rakaahs of Witr salaah. 4During the period of Hadhrat Ali (رضى الله تعالى عنه)The fourth righteous khalifah Hadhrat Ali (رضى الله تعالى عنه) also continued the practice of twenty Rakaahs Taraweeh salaah in congregation, followed by the three Rakaahs of Witr salaah. 5The Taraweeh salaah in the Masjid Haraam in MakkahThe famous book of Ahadeeth Jaami Tirmidhi states that according to the majority of scholars, the number of Rakaahs in the Taraweeh salaah is twenty, as reported from Hadhrat Umar رضى الله تعالى عنه, Hadhrat Ali رضى الله تعالى عنه and other Sahabah رضى الله تعالى عنهم. This is also the opinion of Hadhrat Sufyan Thowri رحمة الله and Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Mubaarak رحمة الله. Hadhrat Imaam Shafiee رحمة الله says, “I have seen the learned scholars of Makkah perform twenty Rakaahs of Taraweeh salaah.” 6In his famous book Kitaabul Umm (vol 1 page 142), Imaam Shaafiee رحمةالله says that twenty Rakaahs Taraweeh salaah is reported from Hadhrat Umar رضى الله تعالى عنه and the learned scholars of Makkah also perform twenty Rakaahs Taraweeh with three Rakaahs Witr.In the third century A.H., the famous historian of Makkah Muhammad binIshaaq Faakihi documented that during the month of Ramadhaan it was the practice of the people of Makkah to sit five periods of Taraweeh (rest periods between every four Rakaahs of the Taraweeh salaah. This denotes that they performed twenty Rakaahs of salaah.) 7It is therefore evident twenty Rakaahsof Taraweeh salaah has been performed in the Masjid Haraam of Makkah for the past fourteen hundred years. Throughout, this period, there has never been a single night when only Rakaahs have been performed.Taraweeh salaah in theMasjidun Nabawi صلى الله عليه وسلمThe renowned Saudi scholar and Mufassir Sheikh Atiyya Saalim رحمة الله who was a Sheikhul Hadeeth, judge and lecturer in the Masjidun Nabawi صلى الله عليه وسلم wrote a book in Arabic entitled “The history of the Taraweeh salaah in the Masjidun Nabawi صلى الله عليه وسلم for more than a thousand years.” In this book[8], he conclusively proves from historical evidence that twenty Rakaahs Taraweeh salaah has been performed in the Masjidun Nabawi صلى الله عليه وسلم for the past fourteen centuries. He adds further that even after the establishment of the Saudi rule, both the Harams in Makkah and Madinah have twenty Rakaahs of Taraweeh salaah with three witr. 9The heart-rending and beautiful Taraweeh salaah in both the Haramsis broadcast live throughout both on radio and television.A fourteen century old practiceTwenty Rakaahs Taraweeh salaah is being performed from the first century of Islaam up to this fifteenth century.Source: The Historyof Makkah Mukarramahby Dr Muhammad Ilyas Abdul GhaniReferences1 – Muslim – The Chapter concerning encouragement for performing the Taraweeh salaah.2 – Mu’atta Maalik, as quoted in Nasbur Ra’yah3 – Tirmidhi – Hadith 6272. The hadith is classified Hasan Saheeh and even Albaani has verified its authenticity [see Mishkaat annotatedby him (Vol. 1 pg. 28)]4 – Sunan Kubra of Bayhaqi – Chapter concerning the number of Rakaahs during the nights of Ramadhaan.5 – Sunan Kubra of Bayhaqi – Chapter concerning the number of Rakaahs during the nights of Ramadhaan.6 – Tirmidhi7 – Akhbaar Makkah by Faakihi (Vol.2 Pg. 156,157)8 – Pgs. 41-589 – Pg. 65

The Virtue of Taraweeh

In this belated day and age, every morning heralds a new fitna, a fitna that strikes at the very root of our Imaan and amal. For the past fourteen hundred years the Ummah has been performing twenty rakaats of taraweeh without question. However “a sect” now claims that taraweeh is ONLY eight rakaats, which implies that for fourteen hundred years the Ummah had deviated from the sunnah of Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam and had performed twenty rakaats without any shari proof.The Virtue of TaraweehAbdullah Bin Ammar radhiallahu anhu states that Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: “The fast and the Quraan will both plead on behalf of the bondsmen who keeps fast in the day and recites or listens attentively to the recitation of the Quraan at night standing in the presence of Allah (in taraweeh). The fast will say “O my Lord, I had held him back from food, drink and sexualgratification, accept my intercession for him today and treat him with mercy and forgiveness. The Quraan will say, “I had held him back from taking rest and sleep at night, O’ my Lord, accept my intercession for him today and treat him with mercy and forgiveness”. The intercession of both the fast and Quraan will be accepted and he will be treated with exceptionl kindness”. (Baihaqi).Sayyidina Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudree radhiallahu anhu narrates that Sayyidina Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: “When the first night of Ramadhaan dawns (comes), the doors of the skies are opened, and none of its doors are then closed until the last night of Ramadhaan.”No mu’min servant (of Allah) performs salaah during its night (any night of Ramadhaan), but Allah will record for him one thousand five hundred hasanah (rewards) for everysajdah that he makes. And Allah will build a home for him in Jannah made out of red ruby, which will havesixty thousand doors, each of its doors having (interlinked to, leading to) a palace made out of gold, ornamented (beautified and decorated) with rubies.Thus, when he (the mu’min) fasts on the first day of Ramadhaan, all his past sins are pardoned, and seventy thousand malaaikah make istighfaar for him, daily, from the time of the fajr salaah, until the sun sets.And for every sajdah that he makes during Ramadhaan, either by day or by night, there will be for him a tree, (in Jannah, so huge that) a person onhorseback will ride in its shade for five hundred years.” (Baihaqi, Targheeb)Salmaan radhiallahu anhu reports: “On the last day of Sha’baan the Messenger of Allah addressed us and said: ‘O people, there comes overyou now a great month, a most blessed month in which lies a night more greater in virtue than one thousand months. It is a month in which Allah has made compulsory that the days shoud be observed by fasting. And he has made sunnah theTaraweeh by night. Whosoever intends drawing nearer to Allah by performing any virtuous deed, for him shall be the reward like him who had performed a fardh in any other time. And whoever performs a fardh, for him shall be the reward of seventyfaraa’idh in any other time. This is indeed the month of patience, and thereward for true patience is Jannah (paradise). It is the month of sympathy with one’s fellow men. It is the month wherein a true believer’s rizq is increased.Whosoever feeds another who fasted,in order to break the fast (at sunset), for him there shall be forgiveness for his sins and emancipation from the fire of Jahannam (hell), and for him shall be the same reward as him (whom he fed) without that person’s reward being decreased in the least….”. From this hadeeth it is notedthat the command for taraweeh prayers too comes from Allah Himself. All the authorities of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamm’ah are agreed upon the fact that taraweeh issunnah.Taraweeh During the Era of Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam and the Sahabah radhiallahu anhuIbn Abbass radhiallahu anhu states that during the month of Ramadhaan, Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam performed twenty rakaats (taraweeh) and thereafter performed the witr salaat. (Baihaqi and Musannaf Ibn Abie Shaiba).Ubay bin Ka’ab radhiallahu anhu ledthe taraweeh prayers and offered 20 rakaats and three rakaats waajib salaat.Umar radhiallahu anhu commandedthe Imaam to perform twenty rakaatsTaraweeh salaat for the congregation.Views of the ScholarsImaan Qurtubi radhiallahu anhu states: “Twenty rakaats taraweeh and three rakaats witr is the most authentic narration.”Imaam Nawawi radhiallahu anhu states: “Taraweeh is a unanimously accepted sunnah of the Muslims. It istwenty rakaats”.“The pandemonium that the Ghair Muqallideen (people who do not follow any Mazhab) had started for the past hundred years was never heared of in the Islamic world before……… Similarly from the time of Umar radhiallahu anhu upto the emergence of this sect there was no masjid in the world where eight rakaats of Taraweeh was performed……”. (Moulana Habib ur Rahmaan Azmi).A Grave MisconceptionThe proponents of eight rakaats taraweeh quote the following hadeeth of Ayesha radhiallahu anha as stated in Bukhari Shareef. Ayesha radhiallahu anha was asked about the salaat of Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam. She replied by saying thatNabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam did not exceed eleven rakaats in Ramadhaan nor in any other month…”.This hadeeth apparently indicates that Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam performed eight rakaats taraweeh and three rakaats witr. However the words ‘nor in any other month’ clearly indicates that this was with reference to tahajjud salaatand not taraweeh salaat. The fact that Imaam Bukhari (R.A.) himself has not mentioned this hadeeth under the caption of Taraweeh salaat is clear proof that the salaat inquestion refers to witr and not taraweeh salaat.Hazrat Umar radhiallahu anhu during his khilaafat had directed thattaraweeh salaat be performed collectively in the masaajid, lest the practice gradually dissipates from the Ummah. He did not introduce the number of rakaats on his own accord. To believe that the twenty rakaats is an innovation of Umar radhiallahu anhu is to undermine the integrity of Umar radhiallahu anhu and all the Sahabah who were present at that time!Source:Jamiatul Ulama South Africa

Virtues of Sehri

by Sheikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad ZakariyyaHADITH NO. 7 Ibn Umar (Radhi Allaho anho) relates: Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said: ‘Verily Allah and His Malaa’ikah send Mercy upon those who eat ‘Sehri’ (sower-Suhoor).”COMMENTARY How great is Allah’s favour upon us that even the partaking of food before dawn for fasting is so greatly rewarded. There are many Ahaadith in which the virtues of “Sehri” are expounded and the rewards mentioned. Allaamah Ain – Commentator on Bukhari – hasquoted the virtues of “Sehri” from seventeen different ‘Sahaabah’ and all the “Ulama” are agreed on its being “Mustahab” (desirable). Many people are deprived of this great reward because of their own laziness. Some even go so far as to finish ‘Taraweeh’, eat (what they suppose to be “Sehri’!) and go to bed.What great blessings do they lose! “Sehri” actually means partaking of food shortly before dawn. Some authorities say that the time for “Sehri” commences after half the night has passed (Mirquat). The author of Kash-shaff (Zamakhshari) divided the night into six portions, stating that the last one of these is thetime of “Sehri”; so that, when the night (from sunset till dawn) extends over twelve hours, the last two hours would be the correct time for “Sehri”. Then it must also be remembered that to eat at the latest possible time is better and greater in reward than eating earlier, subject to the condition that no doubt remains as to whether “Sehri” had been eaten before the time of dawn. The Ahaadith are full of virtues of “Sehri”.Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) said: ‘The difference between our fasting and that of the Ahlul-Kitaab (Jews and Christians) lies in our partaking of food at “Sehri” which they do not.” The Prophet has said, “Eat Sehri, because in it lie great blessings; and again. “In three things, are the great blessings: in “Jama’ah” (company), in eating “Thareed” and in “Sehri”. In this Hadith, the use of the word “Jama’ah” is general, wherefrom we deduce that it includes “Salaat” with “Jamaa’ah” and all those righteous deeds done in company, as thus Allah’s help comes to them. “Thareed” is a tasty preparation, in which baked bread is cooked with meat. The third thing mentioned in this Hadith is “Sehri”. When Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) used to invite any of the companions to eat “Sehri” with him, he used to say: “Come and partake of blessed food with me.” One Hadith says: “Eat ‘Sehri’ and strengthen yourself for the fast. And sleep in the afternoon (Siesta), so as to gain assistance in waking up in the latter portion of the night (for “Ibaadah”).” Abdullah bin Haarith (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that one of the Sahaaba said: “I once visited Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihi wasallam) at a time when he was busy in partaking of ‘Sehri’. Rasulullah then said: “This is a thing full of blessings, which Allah has granted you. Do not give it up.” Rasulullah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) in urging us repeatedly for ‘Sehri’ has said: “Even though there be no food, then one date should be eaten or a drink of water taken.” Thus, when there are definitely great advantages and reward in ‘Sehri’, Muslims should endeavour to observe this practice asmuch as possible. However, in all things moderation is important, and going beyond the bounds of moderation is harmful: neither should so little be eaten that one feelsweak throughout the period of fasting, nor should so much be eaten that it causes discomfort. Repeatedly,we have been prohibited from filling the stomach excessively.In his commentary on “Sahih Bukhari”, Ibne Hajar has mentioned various reasons for the blessedness of “Sehri”:*.Because in it, the ‘Sunnah’ is followed.*.Through “Sehri”, we differentiate ourselves from the ways of Ahlul-Kitaab, which we are at all times called upon to do.*.It provides strength for “Ibaadah”*.It promotes greater sincerity in “Ibaadah”*.It aids in elimination of bad temper,which normally comes about as result of hunger.*.‘Sehri’ is the time when prayers are accepted.*.At the time of ‘Sehri’, one gets the opportunity to remember Allah, makes Dhikr and lifts up the hand to Him in prayer.These are a few of the major reasons;there are many others as well. Some ‘Sufis’ are in doubt as to whether the eating of ‘Sehri’ conflicts with the object of fasting or not. They maintain that the object of fasting is to stay away from food, drink and sexual desires, therefore ‘Sehri’ is against the object of fasting. In my opinion the amount to be eaten varies according to different persons and their activities. Foe example, for those students who are busy seeking knowledge of ‘Deen’, too little food at ‘Sehri’ as well as ‘Iftaar’ will be harmful; for them it is better not to have too little, because they seek ‘Deeni’ knowledge, which is very important (for the preservation and spread of Islam). similar is the case of those who are busy with ‘Dhikr’ and other ‘Deeni’ activities. Other people who have no such hard work to do should eat little at ‘Sehri’.Once Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam) announced to those proceeding for ‘Jihaad’: ‘There is no virtue in fasting while travelling.’ That was in the month of Ramadhaan, when some Sahaaba were fasting. Allamah Sha’raani mentions in Sharh Iqna: ‘A covenant was made with us that we shall not fill our stomachs (completely) when eating, especially in the nights of Ramadhaan.’ It is better that one should eat less in the nights of Ramadhaan than on other nights. After all, what is the utility of fasting after having filled oneself at ‘Sehri’ and ‘Iftaar’? the religious divines have said, ‘Whoever remains hungry in Ramadhaan shall remain safe from the evil of ‘Shaytaan’ throughout the year, until the next Ramadhaan.’Sharah Ihya Ulumuddin mentions the experiences of some saints, such as Sahl bin Abdullah Tastari, who used to eat only once every fifteen days, while in Ramadhaan he ate only one morsel; but in order to follow the Sunnah, he used to have a drink of water daily for ‘Sehri’ and ‘Iftaar’. Shaykh Junayd always used to fast throughout the year. However, when his noble friends would visit him occasionally, he used to break his fast and eat with them, saying, ‘The virtue of breaking fast and eating with (such noble) friends is not less than that of ‘Nafl’ fasting.Similarly, we can mention the experiences of numerous saints who through eating less used to discipline their inner-selves, but let us bear in mind that it should not be carried to such extremes that the’religious’ activities and responsibilities are neglected, as a result of weakness of the body.Virtues of Ramadhaan

Virtues of Iftari

Hadhrat Sahal (Radhiallaahu Anhu) narrates that the holy Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: “The people will remain prosperous so long as they hasten in breaking their fast (at the time of Iftaar).” [Bukhari]Hadhrat Abu Hurayra (Radhiallaahu Anhu) narrates that the holy Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Allah Ta’ala said, ‘The most belovedof my servants in my sight are those who hasten when breaking fast’.” [Tirmidhi]Hadhrat Salman bin Amir (Radhiallaahu Anhu) narrates that the holy Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: “When one of you breaks his fast he should do so with dates for they provide blessing, but if he cannot get any he should break his fast with water for it is purifying.” [Mishkat]Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) narrates that the holy Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Not a single prayer made by a fasting person at the time of breakingfast (iftaar) is rejected.” [Ibn Majah]

Ibaadat of Iftaar

A very important act related to Saum (Fasting) is Iftaar or to break the fast at its appropriate time. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) emphasised the importance and the virtues of correct observance of Iftaar. Correct observance of Iftaar means to observe it in the Sunnat way. Although Iftaar is ostensibly a mundane act of eating some food, it is an ibaadat of much thawaab (reward) as well. However, Iftaar will be bereft of its spirituality and ibaadat dimension if it is not observed in the Masnoon manner.THE MASNOON MANNERIt should be well understood that Iftaar is not feasting. It is not an act to discharge gluttonously or with impatience. It is a spiritually pleasurable act or should be so. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that the Saa-im (the fasting person) experiences two moments of happiness or pleasure. The one moment is when he makes Iftaar and the other moment will be the occasion when he meets his Rabb(in the Aakhirah).This pleasurable exercise should not be contaminated and ruined with greed and impatience when it is time to end the fast. The Masnoon methodof breaking the fast is to eat some dates or to drink some water. It should not be transformed in a veritable feast with heavy foods as has become the norm in most places.Instead of the light Iftaar which was the practice of Rasulullah (sallallahualayhi wasallam) and his Sahaabah,people have developed the greedy and impatient habit of stuffing their bellies with food of a variety of kinds while the Athaan is in progress. They are consequently deprived of the thawaab of responding to the Athaan. They suffer the loss of the Sunnat acts of responding to the Athaan and of the Masnoon light Iftaar which is not only spiritually beneficial but which is physically beneficial as well. The sudden avalanche of food which descends into the stomach which has become contracted as a result of the day-long abstention from food and water, leads to disorders in the body. The repercussion of such disorders can be severe and very harmful for even the physical health.The excessive feasting at the time of Iftaar leads to spiritual lethargy, indigestion and delay in beginning of the Maghrib Salaat. To gain the best rewards of Iftaar, spiritual and physical, it is necessary to break the fast with only some dates or water. The Maghrib Salaat should then commence almost immediately after the Athaan, perhaps three or four minutes after the Athaan, not 10, 15 and even 20 minutes after the Athaanas has been observed in some placeswhere people feast like gluttons. In this way, they detract from the benefits of the Saum. The best resultsof ibaadat can be acquired only if theproper Masnoon method is adopted.Source:www.themajlis.net

Fasting of Rasulullah صلي الله عليه وسلم

The nafl saum (fast) of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam is discussed here. It was the noble practice of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam to observe many siyaam (fasts). At times he continually observed fasts for many days. The virtues of fasting have been mentioned in many kitaabs. In every command of Allah there are thousands of benefits and wisdom. The human mind and lofty thinking cannot reach the wisdom of the All Wise Allah. Every person can grasp the deeni and dunyawi (worldly) benefits of Allah's commands only till where it can think loftily. The wisdom of Allah is much higher than this. In the manner that all othercommandments are filled with thousands of benefits, likewise is the saum, a few of its benefits are apparent and self-evident, one of which is beneficence and sympathy. One who remains hungry, can feel what a hungry person experiences. The difficulties the hungry confront. In such a state one creates a passion to help the hungry, and the feeling to help the poor is also sensed. More than this, it subdues one's animalistic passions and urges. Many a time when these tendencies irritate a human, it results in degrading a human religiously as well as materially. Maulana Rumi explains this in the following couplets:'This love which the people have today, is not the love which good people have. This is a mischief to fill the stomach. When the stomach is filled, then unlawful deeds come to mind. And when the stomach is empty and full of hunger, then love andits kind are all forgotten'.Therefore it is stated in the hadith: "The one who cannot get married, should observe many fasts, for this will subdue his carnal passions". A major benefit of saum is the great spiritual strength that is derived from it. For this reason, in every religion and society there was a form of saum. From among the truthful religions, since the time of Sayyidina Aadam 'Alayhis Salaam, saum has been prescribed. The practices of the Ambiyaa 'Alayhimus Salaam were different in this matter. Sayyidina Nuh 'Alayhis Salaam, always fasted for twelve months. The practice of Sayyidina Daawud 'Alayhis Salaam was to fast every alternate day. Sayyidina 'Eesa 'Alayhis Salaam fasted every third day. In the same manner the Ambiyaa 'Alayhimus Salaam had different practices. The practice of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam was unique in this respect. Due to periodical benefits, it was his practice to fast on special and fixed days. Besides this, at times for timely benefits he continuously fasted, and at times did not fast. The reason is clear, that when saum is observed as an antidote or a medical curethe timely benefits, it will be necessary as is the principle of medicine to use less or more. The author has given a few examples of the practices of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam.(281) Hadith Number 1.'Abdullah bin Shaqeeq Radhiyallahu 'Anhu reports: "I inquired from 'Aayeshah Radhiyallahu 'Anha regarding the (nafil) saum of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. She replied: 'At timesRasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam fasted countinuously. We used to say, he will keep on fasting (this month). At times he did not fast, till we began thinking he will not fast (that month). Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam did not fast for a month after he came to Madinah, besidesthe fasts of Ramadhaan'". (In this manner, the passing of the whole month without fasting was not observed. As mentioned in Abu Daawud. This practice of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam will be mentioned in the commentary of hadith number three in detail).(282) Hadith Number 2.Anas Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports: "Someone was asked about the saum of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam? He replied: 'It was his noble habit to fast on different occasions. In some months he fasted for so many days, that it was thought he would continue fasting. In other months he did not fast, we thought he would not fast now. It was also from his noble habits that if one wanted to observe Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam performed salaah at night, it was possible, and if one wanted to observe Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam sleep at night, this too was possible'".CommentaryThe object here is that the noble habit of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam was not to sleep the whole night, neither to remain awake the full night, but adopt a middle course, wherein the rights of the nafs were considered, and also the 'ibaadaat were given its full importance.Therefore it was possible to observe his sleep at night as he retired for a portion of the night, and also observed the salaah, as part of the night was devoted to prayers. Some of the 'ulama have given another explanation to this, that the noble habit of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam varied in this respect. At times he performed the nawaafil in the first portion of the night. Sometimes in the middle portion of the night. At times in the last portion of the night. Therefore, if one wanted to observe sleep or salaah at a special time of the night, this too was possible. If one feels that one would like to observethe salaah of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam at a certain part of the night, then this opportunity could also be obtained, and if one wished to observe the sleep at this time an opportunity could also be obtained at some time. Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam would rotate the time spent in prayer to every portion of the night on different days. We understand two benefits of this. The first is that themain object is worship, and man was created for this reason, resulting in attaining the pleasure of Allah. On every portion of the night, at one time or another, the blessings will be obtained. The second is, that when 'Ibaadah (devotion) is confined to an appointed time, it becomes a sort ofhabit, then the taste and pleasantness of hardship does not remain. When 'ibaadah is performed at different times of the night it will not become a habit.back(283) Hadith Number 3.Ibn 'Abbaas Radiyallahu 'Anhu relates:"Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam fasted themajor portion of the month at times, till we thought that he did not intend ending the fasts. In some months he did not fast, we began to think he would not fast now. Besides Ramadaan he did not fast for a full month".CommentaryThe practice of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam has been mentioned in many narrations. There are two reasons for this. The first one has already been mentioned in the beginning of the chapter, that in reality saum is an antidote, and at times it is a medicine for spiritual fulfillment and other benefits. In this manner according to the general rules of medicine, at times it is necessary to use medicine continuously,and at times there is no need for it, or if it is casually needed, then due to some timely obstacles it is necessary to abstain from it. This is common among physicians. Who can reach the state of a spirtitual doctor more than Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi wasallam, therefore,Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam many a time fasted continuously for some timely necessities, and at times did not fast. The spiritual doctors of the ummah, may determine for the sake of spiritual benefit, when should one fast and when should one not fast. Those who are not spiritual doctors themselves, should consult those who are and benefit from them. The second reason is this that Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam has a few special practices. For example, the fasting on the days of Monday and Thursday; three days in everymonth; the ayyamul beed (i.e. the 13th 14th 15th day of the Islaamic lunar month); tenth of Muharram and the tenth of Dhul Hijjah etc. Many times because of being on a journey, or due to some obstacles these fasts were not kept. When the obstacles were overcome he kept these missed fast as qadaa, and also to complete his special practices. It was also from the special habit of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam that whenever he began a devotion he continually kept up

Fasting and Tafsir of Ma’ariful Qur’an

يٰأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ‘O those who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as were enjoined upon those before so that you be God-fearing.’ [Surah Baqarah, 183]Literally, Sawm means ‘to abstain’. In the terminology of Islamic law, Sawm means ‘to abstain from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse: with the conditions that one abstains continuously from dawn to sunset, and that there is an intention to fast.’ Therefore, should one eat or drink anything even a minute before sunset, the fast will notbe valid. Similarly, if one abstained from all these things throughout the day but made no intention to fast, there will be no fast here too.Past communities and the injunction to fastThe verse makes it obligatory for the Muslims to fast in a specified period, but the command in the respect has been accompanied by the statement that the obligation of fasting is not peculiar to them. The fasting had also been enjoined upon the earlier Ummahs (communities of the past prophets). The reference to the earlierUmmahs in the verse shows the importance of fasting on the one hand, and gives an encouragement to the Muslims on the other. It indicates that although there may be some inconvenience in fasting but the same inconvenience was faced by earlier communities. This brings a psychological comfort to the Muslims, because if an inconvenience is faced by a large number of people, it becomes easier to bear. (Ruh al Ma’ani)The words of the Qur’an ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ (those before you) have been used in general sense including all religious communities from Sayyidina Adam to the last of the Prophets (peace and blessings upon him). This tells us that, like Salah, fasting has also been enjoined upon every Ummah of every prophet without exception.Commentators who interpret مِن قَبْلِكُمْ(before you) to mean ‘the Christians’ take it just as an example, not aimingto exclude other communities. (Ruh al Ma’ani)The verse simply says that fasts have been enjoined on Muslims as were enjoined on past communities. From this it does not necessarily follow that the fasts enjoined upon the earlier communities were fully identical in all respects with the fasts enjoined upon this Ummah. There may have been difference in the number and the timings of the fasts etc. and, actually, there has been such a difference. (Ruh al Ma’ani)By saying لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ (so that you be God-fearing), the text has pointed outto the inherent quality of fasting which contributes significantly to one’s ability to become abstaining from the sins and God-fearing. Fasting grows into man a power which helps him control his desires, which is really the foundation of Taqwa, the very special term of the Holy Qur’an which has been tentatively translated as fear of God, abstinence, and the warding of evil.Ma’ariful Qur’an by Mufti Muhammad Shafi