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The 10 Days of Thul-Hijjah

Nov 18

Posted by J.Starling in Jurisprudence | 2 Comments

arafahThe 10 Days of Thul-Hijjah

A Friday Sermon by the Great Scholar

Shaikh Muhammad Salih Al-Uthaimeen (d. 1421 AH)

(رحمه اللّه)

All praise is for Allah and I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship other than Allah who is alone and without partner, a witness with which we hope for salvation on the day we meet Him and I bear witness that Muhammad His is servant, messenger, close friend, and guardian of His revelation, may His peace and blessings be upon him, his family, companions, and all of his followers in perfection until the day of judgment.

Servants of Allah, in these days you will be starting the 10 days of thul-Hijjah of which the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) conveyed the virtue of righteous action in them with his statement, “there are no days that contain righteous action more beloved to Allah than these ten days, ‘it was said, not even struggling in the way of Allah’ in which he replied, not even struggling in the way of Allah except for the one how goes out with his wealth and his life and none of it returns”.  So righteous action in the 10 days of Thul-Hijjah is more virtuous than righteous action in the last 10 of Ramadan and is more righteous than any day of the year.  This is what the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said but many people are ignorant of their significance thus you can hardly find anyone who distinguishes them from the other days of the year by increasing in righteous deeds.  Thusly I say, whoever the Sunnah of the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) has reached then it is more befitting and rightful that he follow it in its obligations and desirable actions therefore you should increase in righteous action in these 10 days, increase in praying, reciting the Quran, remembering Allah, giving charity, and fast for fasting is from the most virtuous of actions as Allah the Mighty and Majestic said in a hadeeth Qudsi, “every action of the son of Adam is rewarded by 10 times to 700 times or more except for fasting for it is for me and I reward for it”.  In these ten days respect your sacrificial slaughter in regards to that which has been sanctified by the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) as he said, “If the 10 days begin and one of you wishes to slaughter then do not cut your hair, trim your fingernails, or take from you skin anything”.  So whoever wants to slaughter then he is not to do any of that until he slaughters out of respect for the rights of the slaughter which is from Allah’s legislated ceremonies (or symbols) who said,

ذَلِكَ وَمَنْ يُعَظِّمْ حُرُمَاتِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِ * حُنَفَاءَ لِلَّهِ غَيْرَ مُشْرِكِينَ بِهِ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا خَرَّ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَتَخْطَفُةُ الطَّيْرُ أُوْ تَهْوِى بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِي مَكَانٍ سَحِيقٍ *  ذَلِكَ وَمَنْ يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ  ( الحج :30 – 32  )

“That (meaning the prescribed duties of Hajj is the obligation that mankind owes to Allah), and whoever honours the sacred things of Allah, then that is better for him with his Lord. The cattle are lawful to you, except those (that will be) mentioned to you (as exceptions). So shun the abomination (worshipping) of idol, and shun lying speech (false statements). Hunafâ’ Lillâh (i.e. to worship none but Allah), not associating partners unto Him and whoever assigns partners to Allah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far off place. Thus it is [what has been mentioned in the above said Verses (27, 28, 29, 30, 31) is an obligation that mankind owes to Allah]. And whosoever honors the Symbols of Allah, then it is truly from the piety of the heart.” (Al-Hajj 22:30-32)

This statement demonstrates the importance of the sacrifice as the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) legislated for it sacred things which the individual is to honor when arranging it.

In which country is the sacrifice to be?  It is to be in the individual’s country, in his home and he is to establishe the symbols or rituals of Allah with it in Allah’s lands and it is not just charity intended for the needy in the Muslim countries but rather it is a special pious act in which the individual seeks to get closer to his Lord.  If it was just charity then it would be permissible to give it before and after the Eid prayer, it would be permissible to give from all the beasts of cattle, and it would be permissible for the animal who has come of age and the one who has not but it is a fixed type of worship that has been limited in its performance and time.  From this we know that it is incorrect to send money to another country to sacrifice with it for this is not from the Sunnah of the messenger (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) as he would send a sacrificial animal from Madinah to Makkah specifying the place and not the need of the people.  The prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) used to sacrifice in Madinah and if one was to send money for this sacrifice to another place then he would miss out on its many benefits such as establishing the ceremonies throughout the lands for sacrificing this animal is from the symbols and ceremonies of Allah and if the people sent their money to other lands to sacrifice then they would remain without establishing these ceremonies, they will miss out on remembering their Lord for whom they are sacrificing these animals for as Allah the Most High said,

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنْسَكاً لِيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَا رَزَقَهُمْ مِنْ بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَام  (الحج : 34 )

“And for every nation We have appointed religious ceremonies, that they may mention the Name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He has given them for food.” (Al-Hajj 22:34)

Following the Sunnah of the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) will be missed out on as he would slaughter his own animal, mention the name of Allah, and ask Allah to accept it.  So if you send your money far away then who will take charge of this affair for you?  Would it not be the butcher? That is if we hold a good opinion and thought of him and put our trust in him and likewise the one whom we send the money with and if you were to do the sacrifice at your home then you would take charge of it if you were capable and ready and in turn you would glorify the symbols of Allah in your home and if you were to send it to another country then you would certainly miss out on this great benefit and you would miss out on eating from it as Allah has ordered to eat some of it and said,

وَالْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَاهَا لَكُمْ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهٌِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرُ. فَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عليها صَوَافَّ فَإذا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْقَانِعَ وَالْمُعْتَرَّ  ( الحج : 36 )

“And the Budn (cows, oxen, or camels driven to be offered as sacrifices by the pilgrims at the sanctuary of Makkah.) We have made for you as among the Symbols of Allah, therein you have much good. So mention the Name of Allah over them when they are drawn up in lines (for sacrifice). Then, when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat thereof, and feed the beggar who does not ask (men), and the beggar who asks (men).” (Al-Hajj 22:36)

And that which is known, if your sacrifice was in another country then it is not possible to act in accordance with the order of Allah by eating some of it as it is not with you, thus you miss out on this order from Allah the Mighty and Majestic.  Some of the people of knowledge have said that eating some of it is an obligation and if the individual does not eat from it then he is sinning, and there is no doubt that he is being disobedient in this order but is he sinning like the sinner or not?  This issue contains a difference of opinion between the scholars.  Likewise if you were to send your money to another country for the sacrifice you would not know when it would take place, would it be on the first day, which is better than the three after it, or would it be before the prayer or after the days of Tashreeq and you would remain on hold regarding when you could cut your hair, trim your finger nails, and take from you skin.  If you sent it to another country you would not know if the one purchasing the animal did his best to make sure that it was of the right age and free from defects, you will miss out on all of this.  O brothers it is incorrect for a person to send his money to another land to sacrifice because of what is missed out on of great benefits which you have heard.  If someone has extra money then I encourage him to send it to poor countries in need for the struggle in Allah’s way and Allah the Most High and Glorified possesses great virtue.

It is from the Sunnah for a man to sacrifice on behalf of himself and his family without a doubt and if he was to limit it to just himself then this is a practice in agreement to the Sunnah of Allah’s messenger (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) as the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) was the most noble of the creation without a doubt, he loved righteousness and goodness the most from the creation without a doubt, was the first of the people to perform good deeds without a doubt, he was the legislator for his nation without a doubt, and he (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) did not slaughter on his own behalf of his family except once, and it is known that he had 9 women, each woman in her own house and he did not sacrifice more than that.  Therefore, what some people do today of waste in their sacrifice is in opposition to the Sunnah that which some.  Unfortunately, we have some people who sacrifice 10 animals and have no need for them, a man sacrifices for himself and his family as I said and then the daughter comes and says that she wants to sacrifice for her paternal grandfather and grandmother and for her maternal grandfather and grandmother and like this the sister and the wife have similar requests until one house has 10 sacrifices and no need for them which is waste.  So I say that the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) did not sacrifice on behalf of Khadijah who was his most beloved wife, the mother of most of his children, and the women that he never took another wife with while she was present.  Likewise his uncle Hamzah Abdul-Muttalib (radi Allahu anhu) who was martyred in the battle of Uhud and was the lion of Allah and His messenger and the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) did not sacrifice on his behalf.  Likewise his daughters that passed away before his death, he did not sacrifice on their behalf, so where did we get this practice of sacrificing for the dead?  So whoever has one correct word from the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) that he sacrificed on behalf of his passed away relatives or that he ordered someone to sacrifice on behalf of their dead relatives then save us with it and we will accept it and follow it by the will of Allah, as for performing acts of worship seeking to get close to Allah based on pure emotion in our hearts then this is not allowed because the legislation is from Allah.  Do you not know that some of the scholars say that sacrificing on behalf of the dead is not correct as it was not mentioned in the Sunnah with the fact that the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “whoever does a deed that has not been ordered by us then it is rejected”.  Do you not know that those who have made the sacrifice on behalf of the dead permissible have done so by comparing it with charity as charity has been mentioned in the Sunnah in the hadeeth of Sad ibn Ubadah when he “gave a dress on behalf of his mother with the permission of the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam)” and the man who said, O messenger of Allah, “My mother died suddenly, and I think that if she could speak, she would have given in charity. May I give in charity on her behalf? And he (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said yes” but did he ever say to his nation give charity on behalf of your deceased?  Did he ever say sacrifice on behalf of your deceased or did he every sacrifice on behalf of his deceased relatives?  This is were you derive the ruling, so what is our deal that we make one house have 10 sacrifices, give or take, for the deceased in one year?  So we say to those that have extra money, one slaughter is sufficient for everyone in one house so do not overstep the bounds of the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam).  Are you better than the messenger or is he better?  Are you more generous than the Messenger or is he?  Do you love obedience more or does he?  Bring your evidence if you are truthful.  By Allah, we are not more generous than the messenger of Allah nor are we more knowledgeable with what Allah loves nor quicker in doing that which Allah loves, rather the messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) is absolutely the most generous of the creation without a doubt and more loving of that which is good.  So we say that a man is to sacrifice for himself and on behalf of his family with one sheep and he who has extra money then he is to help his Muslim brothers in the Muslim lands for there are poor people who can only eat leaves and there are people who are not properly clothed and cannot warm themselves from the cold or dress appropriately in the heat so what is our deal?  We prevent them from what Allah has given us and then we waste it as Allah the Mighty and Majestic has said,

والله لا يحب المسرفين

“Allah does not like the wasteful”

So we say to those that desire to benefit their deceased, give generously with this money for other than the sacrificial animal, give it in the form of charity and give it to your brothers who are dying of starvation in great number.  O brothers, I invite you and myself to follow the Sunnah and not to follow emotions and to move forward with the prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) as our guide and role model and not to overstep that which he did or be wasteful in that which Allah dislikes waste.

Some people rely upon week narrations that in every hair of the sacrificial animal there is a good deed which is not authentically reported from the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam). The most important thing regarding the sacrifice is that the blood is spilt seeking the face of Allah, glorifying Him the Mighty and Majestic, the Most High said,

لَنْ يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلا دِمَاؤُهَا وَلَكِنْ يَنَالُهُ التَّقْوَى مِنْكُمْ  ( الحج : 37 )

“It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him.” (Al-Hajj 22:37)

This is what reaches Allah, that we fear Him the Mighty and Majestic in what we seek to get closer to Him with and we mention His name, enjoy eating from it, us, our children, neighbors, brothers, and the poor.  More importantly are those that send money from the endowments of their deceased relatives to sacrifice in other countries and how this is rationalized.  The guardian of these endowments is a trustee and it is not permissible for the trustee to act by himself as he is only authorized by the permission of the authorizer and that permission is impossible as he is deceased.  The intent of the deceased is apparent for they wanted those after them to enjoy eating this sacrifice, to mention the name of Allah over it, to praise Allah for the food, and to supplicate for them. This is the intent of the trust, not to sacrifice from across the oceans and seas.

Servants of Allah, do not act according to your emotions, you have scholars, so ask them because that which is built upon knowledge and evidence is real authentic worship and that which is built upon thought, confusion, and emotion which has no reference from the book of Allah, the Sunnah of His messenger (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) or from the rightly guided predecessors is vain and false in accordance with the statement of the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam), “whoever does a deed which has not been ordered by me will have it rejected.

In conclusion, whoever has a sacrificial animal then do not send it to another country, slaughter it in your country making the symbols of Allah apparent and following the Sunnah of the messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) in order to obtain the many great benefits which we have mentioned that if it was sent out of the country they would be missed out on.  Secondly, waste in the sacrifice, there is no reason to have more than one sacrifice as that is enough for a man and his family and whoever has extra money and wants to benefit his deceased relatives then he is to give it in the form of charity to those in other countries in more need than those here in this country.  Thirdly, we have mentioned that the person who wants to slaughter is not to cut his hair, trim his fingernails, or remove any of his skin from the beginning of Thul-Hijjah until he slaughters and whoever is having a slaughter done for him then there is no problem for taking from them, for example the family members if the man of the family wants to slaughter on behalf of them then they can cut their hair and trim their nails with no problem for the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “whoever of you wants to slaughter” and he did not say, wants to sacrifice or sacrifice on behalf of , likewise it was not reported that the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told his family not to cut their hair, trim their nails, or take from their skin when he wanted to sacrifice on behalf of them and the origin of this affair is permissibility until there is sufficient evidence of prohibition.  Thus this prohibition does not include the people of the house rather it is specific for the one who wants to perform the slaughter.

O brothers, know that the best speech is the book of Allah and the finest guidance is that of Muhammad (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam).  I ask Allah the Most High to make us adhere to the guidance of Muhammad (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) until we meet Him pleased with us.  The worst of affairs are newly invented matters for every newly invented matter in the religion is an innovation, every innovation is a going astray, so stick to the main body of Muslims for Allah’s hand is over them and whoever strays, strays into the fire.  Know that Allah the Most High orders you to send you salutations of peace and blessings upon you prophet Muhammad (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) and has said,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيماً (الأحزاب : 56 )

“Allah sends His blessings on the Prophet (Muhammad (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam)) and also His angels too. O you who believe! Send your salutations of peace and blessings upon him.”  (Al-Ahzab 33:56)

Translated by John ‘Eesa’ Starling

Found in:

Al-Qawlul Mufeed, December 2008

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Now That Ramadan Has Passed

Oct 9

Posted by J.Starling in Jurisprudence | 2 Comments

very old medinahNow That Ramadan Has Passed

A Friday Sermon by The Great Scholar

Shaikh Muhammad Salih Al-Uthaimeen (d. 1421 AH)

(رحمه اللّه)

All praise is for Allah, we praise Him, seek His aid, seek His forgiveness, repent to Him, and seek refuge in Him from the evil of our souls and evil deeds.  Whomever Allah guides there is none to lead him astray and whomever Allah allows to stray there is none to guide him.  I bear witness that there is no deity worshiped in truth other than Allah who is alone and has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger who He sent with guidance and the true religion thus conveying the message, fulfilling the trust, and leaving his nation upon clearness whose night is like its day none stray from it except that they are destroyed.  I send salutations of peace and blessings upon him, his family, companions, and all that follow him in perfection until the last day.

You were looking forward to the month of Ramadan and it has come and now you have left it behind you which is how every individual is when waiting for something and then having it pass by them and then leaving it behind until death arrives.  Indeed the month of Ramadan came as a noble guest and now you have left it with what Allah has willed of righteous deeds and has left as a witness for you or against you.  There is a group that are happy to see it go as they have finished with it, finished fasting and worship that was difficult upon them and there is another group who are happy with its completion for they have ended it with ending sin and transgression with what they did in it of righteous deeds and achieved what Allah promised of forgiveness.  The difference between these two groups is great and the sign of those that are happy with its ending is the return of sin, neglect of the obligations, and boldness with the prohibitions all of which the effect can be seen in society as the number of people that pray in the masjid is decreased significantly, and whoever squanders his prayer then other than it is more of a waste as the prayer prevents vileness and abomination.  Sin perhaps conceals obedience and righteousness after it has been performed and the one acting has nothing except fatigue.  Some people say that the reward for virtue or good deeds is more good deeds or virtue after them so whoever acts righteously and then follows it with goodness then that is the sign of the acceptance of his first act of righteousness just as the one who does good deeds and then follows it with evilness could have his good deeds nullified when weighed on the scales.

The actions of the believer do not end with the ending of the season of deeds for the action of the believer is persistent and does not stop except with death, Allah the Most High said,

(وَاعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكَ الْيَقِينُ) الحجر:99

“And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death).” (Al-Hijr 15:99)

And He said,

(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ) آل عمران:102

“O you who believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allah.” (Aali Imran 3:102)

The month of fasting, the season of action, has come to an end but the time of action and deeds does not end.  The fasting of Ramadan is over but fasting is still legislated and all praise if for Allah so whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days in the month of Shawwal is like fasting the entire year.  The prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) has made fasting every Monday and Thursday a guided practice of his and said that the good deeds are displayed to Allah the Mighty and Majestic on those two days.  He also advised Adu Hurairah, Abu Thar, and Abu Darda (radi Allahu anhum) to fast three days of every month, “fasting three days of every month is fasting the entire year”.  Likewise he encouraged the performance of righteous action in the ten days of Thul-Hijjah such as fasting and it was narrated that he did not leave fasting in those ten days.  He (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “the best fast after Ramadan is Allah’s month Muharram” and said that fasting the tenth of that month was an expiation for the previous year.  He (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) also said that fasting the day of Arafah expiated the previous and coming year and Aisha said that he (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) did not fast in a month voluntarily like he fasted in the month of Shaban as he used to fast most of it, rather he used to fast all of it.

Praying in the night of Ramadan has come to an end but praying at night is still legislated for every night of the year.  The prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) encouraged this and said, “the best prayer after the obligatory prayers is in the middle of the night”.  It has also been authentically reported that he (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Verily Allah descends to the heavens of the earth every final third of the night and says, who is supplicating to me so that I may answer him, who is asking me so that I may give him, and who is seeking forgiveness from me so that I may forgive him”.  So fear Allah O servants and spend your lives performing (good) deeds and realize your statements with action for the real life of a person is what he spends in the obedience of Allah.  The tactful person is he who subjects himself, taking himself to account and performs deeds for what is after death and the weak person is he who follows his desires and hopes that Allah will give him security.

O Muslims, Allah has made the ways to goodness easy for you and opened their doors and called you to enter them conveying to you their reward.  The five (obligatory) prayers are the most certain of the pillars of Islam after the testimony of faith and they are five in number and fifty on the scales of the one who performs them.  They are an expiation and salvation on the day of resurrection.  Allah has legislated them for you and completed them with extra voluntary prayers numbering 12 units.  Four before the noon prayer with two tasleems and two after, two after the sunset prayer, two after the night prayer, and two before the dawn prayer whoever prays them Allah will build a house for him in paradise.  The odd numbered pray or witr is also a prophetic practice in accordance to his statement, “whoever fears that he will not stand the last part of the night then he is to pray an odd number in the first of the night and whoever desires to pray in the last of the night then he is to pray an odd number then, for the prayer in the last part of the night is a witness and that is the best and most virtuous”.  So the witr is a certain practice and it is not appropriate that anyone leave it while some of the people of knowledge hold the opinion that it is obligatory and sinful if left.  Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal said, whoever leaves the witr then he is evil and his witness should not be taken.  The witr is at least one unit and at most 11 units and its time is after the night prayer until before the time of the dawn prayer and while its time is at night it can be made up in the day with an even number of units so if someone’s habit is to pray three units and forgets to pray them in the night or sleeps through them, he is to pray four units in the day as it has come in Muslim on the authority of Aisha that the prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) would pray twelve units in the day if he slept or was unable to pray in the night.  The remembrances after the obligatory prayers were performed by the prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) after he made tasleem and would seek forgiveness three times and then say,

اللهم أنت السلام ومنك السلام تباركت يا ذا الجلال والإكرام

After the prayer he would glorify Allah saying Subhana Allah 33 times , Al-hamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 33 times which is 99 and said whoever completes 100 by saying “la illaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lak, lahu al-mulk wa lahu al-hamd wa huwa ala kuli shai-en qadir” will be forgiven even if his sins are (as abundant) as the foam of the ocean.  The ablution for the one who performs it thoroughly and then says, “there is no deity worshipped in truth other than Allah who is alone and without partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is his servant and messenger, O Allah make me from those who are oft-repenting and of those who purify themselves” will have the eight doors of paradise opened for him and will be allowed to enter any of them he pleases.  Likewise spending of wealth in charity of all types on the family and children all draw one near to Allah the Mighty and Majestic even for one’s own self as there is not a servant who spends seeking the face of Allah except that he is rewarded for it.  Also Allah is pleased with the servant who eats and praises Him for the food and drinks and praises Him for the drink.  The one who aids the widow and the poor is like the one who struggles in the way of Allah, the one who fasts and does not break his fast, or the one who stands in prayer and does not stop and the one who aids the widow and poor is the one who answers their call for provision and sees to their needs just as your family, both young and weak who are not able to see to their own needs who are from the poor so aiding them is like struggling in the way of Allah or constant fasting and continuous praying.  O servants of Allah, the pathways to righteousness are numerous, so where are those that take these paths?!  Their doors are open, so where are those that enter them?!  The truth is very clear and no one strays from it except they are destroyed so take your portion of every righteous deed for Allah the Most High has said,

(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَاسْجُدُوا وَاعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَافْعَلُوا الْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ) (الحج:77)

O you who believe! Bow down, and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord and do good that you may be successful. (Al-Hajj 22:77)

May Allah give me and you success in taking advantage of our time and spending it with righteous actions and avoiding sin and evilness, and I ask that He purify us from it from His favor and bounty for He is vast in granting and giving.  O Allah may peace and blessings upon your servant and prophet Muhammad, upon his family, companions, and those that follow them in perfection until the last day.

All praise is for Allah for His benevolence and I thank Him for granting success and His greatness.  I bear witness that there is no deity worshipped in truth except Allah who is alone and without partner in His godhead, lordship, and ruler ship and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger the aide to his religion and caller to His paradise and pleasure.  I send salutations of peace and blessings upon him, his family, companions, aides, and supporters.

As you have heard, whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days from Shawwal is like the one who fasts the entire year.  Thus, it is a must that these six days of Shawwal not be left by anyone as they are few in number and contain great virtue.  It is best for these days be fasted consecutively starting with the second day of Eid until they are completed as this is considered rushing to goodness, but if they are delayed or separated then there is no problem so long as the month has not ended.   It must also be known that anyone who has days to make up of Ramadan, the six days of Shawwal will be of no benefit before those days are made up as the prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it…” thusly whoever has days to make up from Ramadan is not to be considered as having finished and completed Ramadan and accordingly whoever has to make up days is to start with them first and then follow them with the six days of Shawwal.  If one finishes the days to be made up then finds some reason which prevents him from fasting such as sickness or travel and then makes up the six days of Shawwal in the following month then it is hoped that he will gain the reward as the days were not left except with a valid excuse.

Some of the common folk name the eighth day of this month the eid of the pious which is an incorrect naming as the 8th day is like the 7th day, it is not an eid for the pious nor the sinful as there is not found in the sunnah other than three legislated eids which are eid al-fitr, eid al-adha, and the weekly eid of Friday and all other holidays are innovations which Allah has replaced with that which is better, eid al-fitr and eid al-adha as the prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said.  The prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) entered Madinah and the residents had two days of play and joy and the prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Allah has replaced them for you with that which is better” meaning eid al-fitr and eid al-adha. O Muslims, fear Allah the Most High, worship Him, and thank Him so that you may be successful as Allah the Mist High said,

(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَاسْجُدُوا وَاعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَافْعَلُوا الْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ) (الحج:77)

O you who believe! Bow down, and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord and do good that you may be successful. (Al-Hajj 22:77)

Be devoted to doing goodness, be devoted to benevolence to the people and sparing them from harm for Allah the Most High loves those that are benevolent and know that the best speech is the book of Allah and the finest guidance is that of Muhammad (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam), the worst of affairs are newly invented, every newly invented affair in the religion of Allah is an innovation, every innovation is a going astray and every going astray is in the fire.  Stick to the main (orthodox) body of Muslims for Allah’s hand is over them and whoever strays, strays into the fire.  Know that Allah orders you with an order in which He began with Himself and said,

(إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيماً) (الأحزاب:56)

Allah sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy, etc.) on the Prophet (Muhammad (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam)) and also His angels too (ask Allah to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salât on (ask Allah to bless) him (Muhammad (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam)), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islamic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As­Salâmu ‘Alaikum). (Al-Ahzab 33:56)

O Allah, send your salutations of peace and blessings upon your servant and prophet Muhammad…

Translated by John ‘Eesa’ Starling

Found in:

Al-Qawlul Mufeed, October 2008

Al-Qawlul Mufeed, September 2008

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Rulings and Wisdom of Ramadan

Sep 5

Posted by J.Starling in Jurisprudence | No Comments

Kaaba1917Rulings of Fasting and Praying in Ramadan and the Wisdom behind its Obligation

A Friday Sermon By The Great Scholar

Shaikh Muhammad Salih Al-Uthaimeen (d. 1421 AH)

(رحمه اللّه)

All praise is for Allah, we seek His aid and forgiveness, and we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and sinful deeds.  Whoever Allah guides there is none to lead him astray and whoever Allah allows to stray there is none to guide him.  I bear witness that there is no deity worshiped in truth other than Allah, who is alone and without partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger may peace and blessings be upon him, his family, companions, and followers in perfection until the last day.  As to what proceeds;

O people fear Allah the most High, your Lord and thank Him for His blessings upon you from this season of goodness and blessing and what He has granted you from virtue and honor, for you are the best nation brought from mankind.  Thank Allah for this and glorify these seasons and recognize their importance and position with obedience, pious acts and refraining from sin and transgression, for these seasons have been made to forgive your evil deeds and increase your good deeds, to raise your position, and to energize you in doing righteous actions.  Servants of Allah, there has shaded us a noble month, a season of great reward, a month where the good deeds are multiplied and the evil deeds are greater, a month wherein the first part is mercy, the second is forgiveness, and the third is freedom from the fire.  We ask Allah to include all of us in His mercy, forgiveness, and freeing from the fire.  This is the month of Ramadan in which Allah the Mighty and Majestic chose to reveal the Quran, the book which He sent down to mankind,

هُدىً لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ

a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). (Al-Baqarah 2:185)

Allah has made fasting during its day obligatory and praying in its night voluntary.  Whoever fasts this month with faith, counting on the reward from Allah then He will forgive him what has proceeded of sin.  Likewise, whoever prays having faith and counting on His reward, Allah will forgive him from what has proceeded of sin and whoever performs Umrah in this month his reward will be that of Hajj.  In this month the doors of paradise are opened, the goods deeds are increased, the doors of the fire are locked and evil deeds of those who believe are decreased. (Bukhari & Muslim)  On the authority of Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu), the Prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, Allah the Mighty and Majestic said, “every deed of the son of Adam is for him except fasting which it is for Me and I reward for it”, and in another narration, “he leaves his food, drink, and desires for My sake”.  Fasting is a shield, it is a barrier from sin and the fire, so if someone is fasting then he is not to be obscene nor shout and if someone curses him or fights with him, he is to say, ‘I am fasting’ and is not to respond to the issue, he is to say I am fasting, I am fasting.   By the one whose hand Muhammad’s soul is in, the breath of the one fasting is better with Allah than the scent of Musk.  The fasting person has two times of happiness, happiness when he breaks his fast and happiness when he meets his Lord.  As for the happiness when he breaks his fast then he is happy by eating food from what Allah has bestowed upon him of that which He made permissible and the blessing of Allah of completing a day of fasting from the obligations of Islam. As for the happiness when he meets his Lord, may Allah make us of those who are happy when they meet their Lord, then he is happy with what Allah has prepared for him of reward and victory in the place of peace.  In Al-Bukhari the prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “In paradise there is a door called Ar-Rayaan, the people who fast will enter from it and no one else will enter from it, so if they enter, it will be locked and will not open for others”.  O Allah, make us from those that enter that door!  O Allah, make us from those that enter that door!  O Allah, make us from those that enter that door and those who you are pleased with! O Lord of the worlds!  Likewise the prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “three people will not have their supplication rejected; the one fasting until he breaks his fast, the just leader, and the oppressed, Allah raises it above the clouds and the doors of the heavens are opened for it and the Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, says, ‘by My Might and Majesty I will aid you even after some time’”.

O Muslims, how many are in the graveyards wishing to reach the month of Ramadan and they don’t see it?  How many people are on the verge of reaching it but never do?  How many people reach its beginning but never see its end?  Verily the fixed time and ages are in the hand of Allah and this life is the place of cultivation for the next life and the next life is the final destination and abode.  O brothers, do not let this life effect the next life thus losing this world and the next, rather let the next life effect this world as Allah the Mighty and Majestic said,

بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا  وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى

Nay, you prefer the life of this world; Although the Hereafter is better and more lasting. (Al-A’la 87:17)

O Muslims, the days and nights of Ramadan are numbered so take advantage of them by increasing in worship, prayer, reciting the Quran, the remembrance of Allah, being benevolent to the creation monetarily and physically, being forgiving, and overlooking anyone who does wrong to you for Allah is forgiving and loves forgiveness.  O brothers, seek to increase in four actions, two of which you will please your Lord and two you cannot do without.  As for the two which will please your Lord then they are witnessing that there is no deity worshiped in truth other than Allah and seeking His forgiveness.  And as for the two which you cannot do without then they are you asking Allah for paradise and seeking refuge with Him for the fire.  There is no deity worshiped in truth except Allah, we ask Allah for forgiveness and repent to Him, we ask for the paradise and seek refuge from the fire.

O Muslims, safeguard your fast from that which nullifies it.  Safeguard it from false vain speech, acting by it, and ignorance for whoever does not leave false speech and acting by it and ignorance then Allah is not in need of him to leave his food and drink.  Servants of Allah, do you think that Allah has prohibited eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse during the day of Ramadan, do you think that He has prohibited all of that to constrict and punish you with hunger, thirst, and abstention from women?  No, by Allah! He has done so  for that which is much greater and loftier which is none other than taqwa or fear of Allah the Mighty and Majestic so listen to your Lord the Most High,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious – see V.2:2).  (Al-Baqarah 2:183)

This is the wisdom behind the obligation of fasting upon the servants, so that they fear Allah the Mighty and Majestic.  Listen to what I have read to you from the statement of the Prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam), “whoever does not leave false and vain speech, acting by it, and ignorance then Allah has no need for him to leave his food and drink” meaning that Allah does not want from us to leave off food and drink (alone) but He wants us to leave false vain speech, acting by it, and ignorance.  False vain speech is every impermissible word such as cursing, lying, backbiting, slandering, and obscenity.  So have some dignity and do not make the days you fast and the days you do not fast the same.  As for acting by it then this is doing every impermissible act such as cheating, betrayal in buying and selling, usury and interest.  Safeguard your fast, may Allah have mercy on you, from listening to music. Do not be deceived from what some stations contain of programs that are designed to draw the Muslims away from worship and place them in that which is impermissible.  Stay away from all of this and do not listen to it.  Be aware of this great loss.

O Muslims, do that which Allah obligated upon you such as the prayer in congregation at its fixed time.  Do not be lazy in regards to the prayer, do not neglect it and miss out on it due to sleep for it is the pillar of the religion and there is no place in Islam for the one who leaves the prayer as the leader of the believers Umar Khattab said based upon the statement of the leader of the pious and seal of the prophets when he (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “the covenant which is between us and them is the prayer so whoever leaves it has disbelieved”.  Some people have failed as they fast and squander away the prayer.  They who stay up at night and sleep through the dawn prayer with the congregation have failed and it is possible that they do not pray the prayer until after the rising of the sun.  They have failed and lost.  How can they sleep during the obligatory prayer and not perform it in congregation?  How can they sleep during the obligatory prayer and not perform it in its fixed time.  So I say to those people, if they had hearts or if they would listen and they are witnesses I say to them, whoever delays the prayer on purpose without a valid excuse then it is not accepted by Allah even if he were to pray 1000 times for Allah the Mighty and Majestic has prescribed a specific time for the beginning of the prayer and the end and He the Mighty and Majestic said,

تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ… وَمَنْ يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ اللَّهِ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

These are the limits ordained by Allâh,… And whoever transgresses the limits ordained by Allâh, then such are the Zâlimûn (wrong-doers, etc.). (Al-Baqarah 2:229)

So how can Allah accept from the one who is an oppressor and oversteps that which Allah has set regarding the time of the prayer.  It has also been reported that the prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Whoever does an action which has not been ordered by me then it is rejected”.  There is no doubt that whoever delays the prayer without a valid excuse then he has done a deed which has not been ordered by Allah and His messenger (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) thus it is rejected.  O brother, fear Allah!  How do you fast and not pray?  How can you imagine that you will be rewarded for your fasting and you are wasting that which is greater than it with Allah and higher in rank in the pillars of Islam?  Truly the prayer is greater than the fast.  The prayer, if left is disbelief and there is no deed that if left is disbelief other than the prayer.  So fear Allah O servants of Allah and recognize the wisdom behind fasting for the servants for it is a pillar from the pillars of Islam whoever denies its obligation then he is a disbeliever in Allah and a liar with Allah and His messenger (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) outside of the Muslims, so it is an obligation upon every sane mature Muslim who is a capable male of female except she who is experiencing her menstrual cycle or post-natal bleeding in which is to be made up and as for the young child who has not reached the age of puberty then he or she does not have to fast but is ordered to do so it he or she is capable in order to become accustomed to it.  The companions (radi Allahu `anhum)  would make their young fast so much so that they would cry from hunger and be given a toy to be distracted until the sunset.  Puberty is obtained by three things; reaching the age of 15, the growth of pubic hair, and the release of seminal fluid while sleeping etc. and for females, a fourth is added being the menstrual cycle.  Thus whenever one of these mentioned things occurs, the person has reached puberty and the obligations of Allah have become binding so if pubic hair grows then he or she is mature regardless if they have reached 15 years of age or not and if the female has her menstrual cycle then she has become mature even if she has reached 15 years of age or not and even if she is 10 years old she is pubescent.  From what I hear is that there are some females who have their menstrual cycle at an early age and are shy to tell their parents which is incorrect as it is obligatory that the girl tell her family of these things so that they will be insightful regarding her situation.  As for the one who has lost their reasoning then he or she does not have to fast regardless if the reasoning was lost due to insanity, old age, or an accident, accordingly the old senile person does not have to fast nor pray as he has no reasoning likewise is the one who has had an accident and lost their reasoning and intellect and does not know what he says or what is said to him nor does he have to feed the poor due to his not fasting.  As for the old aged sane person who if is able to fast then he must fast and if he is not able to fast due to weakness in old age then he is to feed a single poor person 5 Sa`as of rice or wheat for every day which was not fasted and it is better to include with the rice or wheat some meat or fat and this feeding must be given to a poor person for every day missed so if the month was 29 days then 29 people must be fed and if the month was 30 days then 30 poor must be fed and it is not permissible to give all of the food to one person as it is an obligation to feed one poor person for every one day.  Whoever is unable to fast due to an incurable illness then the ruling is that of the old person feeding the poor like the one who has diabetes who is not able to wait to drink water or the person with cancer etc. from the un-curable diseases then he is feed a poor person for every day missed.    As for the sick person who hopes to be cured then he is to wait until he is better and make up the missed days according to the statement of Allah,

وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضاً أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ

and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days. (Al-Baqarah 2:185)

As for the sick who is able to fast without great difficulty or harm then it is obligatory for him to fast and not permissible to break it unless the sickness is increased due to fasting or the healing is delayed then he is to break his fast.  Likewise the pregnant woman who has a baby in her womb and faces difficulty in fasting due to weakness or a heavy pregnancy then it is permissible for her to break her fast and then make up the missed days just as the one breast feeding who finds difficulty in fasting or fears that her milk supply will decrease then she too is allowed to break the fast and make up the days.  Also the traveler who does not intend with his travels trickery or deception in his fasting so that he can intentionally break his fast then it is permissible to break the fast and is to choose between fasting and breaking the fast and should take the easier of the two and if the two are equal in terms of easiness then fasting is better as that is the action of the prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) as him fasting with the people in general was easier for him than making up days and it was a quicker route to clearing the conscience as one fasts in the term appointed by Allah and if he found fasting to be difficult during travels then it was disliked for him and if it was very difficult then it was impermissible for him, for the prophet r went out to Makkah in the year of the opening in Ramadan and fasted and it was said to him, “O messenger of Allah! Some of the people have found difficulty in fasting and they are waiting to see what you do.  So he (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) called for some water after the Asr prayer and raised it until the people looked to him and then it was said to him that some people fasted and said, ‘they are the sinners, they are the sinners’” (Muslim, on the authority of Jabir Abdullah).  And there is no difference between the travel of those who always travel such as drivers who are allowed to break their fast and make up the days in the winter time for they are travelers and if the time was like this for the most part the time is moderate as the day is short for they whose travels are constant and are away from their land and family which is the nature of travel.  The women experiencing her menstrual cycle or post-partum bleeding do not have to fast rather the fasting is not accepted from them until after they have become pure before the dawn prayer even by a second thus the fast being binding even if they performed the ritual bathing after sunrise.  It is also binding that they make up the missed days and with this issue I bring to your attention the fact that some women become pure or clean before the dawn prayer and do not fast thinking that it is not correct except after they have had a bath which is incorrect as it is obligatory upon her to fast and to take a bath after the arrival of the dawn prayer.  Also the one who is in a state of sexual impurity, he is to fast even if he does not have a bath until after the arrival of the dawn prayer.  I ask Allah the Blessed and High to make me and you from those that fast and pray the month of Ramadan having faith in Allah and relying upon Him for reward.  O Allah! Make us of those who fast the month of Ramadan having faith in You and relying upon You for reward.  O Allah! Make us of those who fast the month of Ramadan having faith in You and relying upon You for reward.  O Allah! Aid us in this month with righteous deeds and keep us from evil impermissible actions.  O Lord of the worlds! O Allah! Make it a witness for us and not against us for you are the Most Generous.  All praise is for Allah and may peace and blessings be our prophet Muhammad, upon his family and companions.

Allah praise is for Allah and I bear witness that there is do deity worshipped in truth except Allah who is alone and has no partner, a witness in which I hope for happiness on the day we meet Him.  Likewise I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the chosen one and His close friend, may peace and blessing be upon him his family, companions, and those that follow his guidance.  As to what proceeds;

The prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said about fasting, “If you see it, the crescent, then fast and if you see it then stop fasting and if it is concealed from you then complete the period” meaning 30 days of Shaban or the period of Ramadan and if it is at the end of the month then the one to sees the crescent on the 30th night of Shaban must report it to the proper authorities so that he can be a cause of goodness for the Islamic nation having it fast a day by his sighting and there is no doubt that whoever points others to good then he is like those that do good.  Likewise it is not permissible to delay reporting his witness is he sighted it with certainty as informing the people of this news is a communal obligation no one is to rely on the other is it is from that which Allah has blessed one with such as strong vision and knowledge of the moons locations in the sky.  The prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) has prohibited that the person proceed Ramadan with a day or two of fasting as he said, “do not proceed Ramadan by fasting a day or two except he who fasts those days regularly” meaning that whoever fasts the day or two days which fall before Ramadan he may fast them.  So whoever habitually fasts Thursday for example and it coincides with the day before Ramadan then there is no sin upon him to fast it.   Likewise is the one who habitually fasts three days of every month and it is not easy for him to fast before the end of the month then he may fast them even if they are before Ramadan by a day or two and as you have heard in the sermon whoever performs Umrah in Ramadan he is as the one who has performed the pilgrimage but the Umrah must be performed from its state of ihram to the end of it in the month of Ramadan so whoever enters into the state of ihram before the setting of the Sun on the last day of Shaban and then performs all the required actions in Ramadan then it is not counted as having been performed in Ramadan and due to that whoever wished to gain this reward then he is not to enter into the state of Ihram at the meeqat until after the month of Ramadan has officially started.  Likewise is the person who enters into the state of Ihram before the sunset of the last day of Ramadan and then performs the remaining actions of Umrah in the night of Eid then it will not be counted as being performed in Ramadan.

O brothers!  Truly the most important action that any person can do from the voluntary acts is praying in the night for the prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam), “whoever stands in prayer having faith in Allah and relying upon him for the reward, that which has proceeded from his sins will be forgiven”.  Many of the common people have understood this praying to be that which occurs in the last 10 nights which is an incorrect understanding and due to this you find them in the last ten saying, “I prayed taraweeh with so and so and then prayed the night prayer with so and so” thusly distinguishing between the two and the reality is that taraweeh is from the praying in Ramadan (mentioned in the hadeeth).  Accordingly, it is a must that every individual be aware of this and to intend that the taraweeh is the praying in Ramadan which is a confirmed sunnah which was performed by the prophet r 3 nights with his companions and due to his compassion and mercy for his nation and feared that it would be made obligatory so he stopped praying it with them for the remaining day of the month as he was afraid that it would be made an obligation upon the Muslim nation and they would be unable to perform it.  Thusly it is an authentic sunnah according to the guidance of the prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) and not as many people think being a sunnah of Umar ibn Al-Khattab and for arguments sake even if it was a sunnah of Umar then Umar is from the rightly guided predecessors who was granted success in agreement with the truth so much so that in the life of the prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) he would suggest something for the Muslims and then revelation would be sent down in agreement to his suggestion.  The important thing is that this taraweeh prayer in congregation is a practice from our prophet’s (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) sunnah which he left fearing it would become obligatory so when he (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) passed away were secure from it being obligatory for there is no revelation after the death of the messenger (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) and it remained that way during the leadership of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq which was a short period of two years and a few months in which they prayed alone or in small groups of two or three then in the time of Umar ibn Al-Khattab, he held the opinion that it was better and more befitting to join the people behing one Imam thusly ordering Ubai ibn Kab and Taym Ad-Dari to lead the people in 11 units of prayer.  Later he went out one night and people were praying and he said, “what a good innovation this is” and called it an innovation because it was left for some time and then later reestablished making it a relative innovation and an innovation in the religion as the prophet r legislated it for his nation.

O Brothers! Have concern and care for the taraweeh, perform it slowly and relaxed with fear and submission to Allah.  Follow the bowing and glorify your Lord and follow the prostration and strive hard in it with supplication for the prophet r, when the statement of Allah the Most High,

فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ

Then glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.  (Al-Waqi’ah 56:74)

he said, “make it in the bowing” and when the verse,

سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى

Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High, (Al-A’la 87:1)

he said, “make it in your prostration”.  In accordance with this, I encourage myself and you to pay attention to this affair, that the person should say, “Glory to Allah the Great” in the bowing position being conscious that he is following the order of Allah and His messenger (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam), following the order of Allah as He the Most High said,

فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ

Then glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.  (Al-Waqi’ah 56:74)

And following the order of the command of the messenger of Allah when he specified this statement in this position of the prayer and in the prostration so that the individual can be in compliance with the order of Allah and following the messenger of Allah (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) according to his specifying the position in the prayer.  Increase in glorifying Allah in the bowing.  The messenger (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said , “Indeed I have prohibited you from reading the Quran while bowing or prostrating, as for the bowing then glorify your Lord in it and as for the prostration then strive hard in it with supplication and be assured so that you will be answered”.  And he (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “The closest the servant is to his Lord is when he is prostrating”.  Pay attention to these great affairs and wise sacraments.  Do not squander them from yourselves and do not make your prayer as if it is just movements that you perform for verily it is a connection with you and Allah.  I ask Allah to aid you and I in actualizing this.

O brothers!  Be devoted to performing the taraweeh.  O leaders!  Fear Allah the Most High in yourselves and fear Allah the Most High regarding those behind you as you may not see another Ramadan after this year so pray in the manner which the Muslims find tranquility, glorify Allah in your bowing and make much supplication in prostration.  Pray the prayer which frees you of your obligation for you do not pray for yourselves rather you are praying for other than you and if you lead the people in the prayer then try hard to make your prayer in accordance with what has been related on the prophet r and beware of the Shaitan luring you into rushing in the bowing and prostration positions and recitation so that the people will increase in number behind you for the point is that the how is not your concern.  I ask Allah to aid you in that which contains our guidance and goodness.

O Muslims!  Praying in Ramadan is not restricted to a specific number of units in the prayer but the best number for any person to pray is 11 or 13 as our Imam and messenger of Allah, Muhammad (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) did.  The mother of the believers Aisha, the most knowledgeable of the mothers of the believers regarding the condition of the prophet r and was higher ranked than many of the men, was asked about the prayer of the prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) in Ramadan and she said, “He used not to exceed upon 11 units of prayer in the month of Ramadan and out of Ramadan and would pray 4 then he would pray 4 and then he would pray three all beautiful and lengthy”.  Her saying that he prayed 4 does not mean 4 with one tasleem as it has been authentically reported from her that he would pray 2 with one tasleem and that he would pray four and then rest then pray four and rest, both sets of four having 2 tasleems each.  In accordance with this, the righteous predecessors that came before used to lengthen the taraweeh prayer and if they completed four units they would rest so as to re-energize for the remainder of the prayer and for this reason it was named ‘taraweeh’ as the people seek rest after every four units of prayer.  Strive hard in these prayers and whoever prays more that this then he is not to be blamed, prohibited, or called an innovator for this affair is vast and all praise is for Allah.  The prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) was asked about the night prayer and he said, “the night prayer is two by two and if you fear the coming of dawn then you are to pray one to close what you have prayed” and he did not specify a number rather he said to one of his companions when he said, “I ask you messenger of Allah to be in your company in paradise” and he (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “aid yourself by increasing in prostration”.  Thus the one who increases upon 11 units or 13 units is not to be shamed, claimed to be astray, or made an innovator.  The affair in totality is vast, and all praise if or Allah, and I am amazed at people who pray in the Holy Mosque of Makkah or the Prophet’s Mosque and sit without praying after they have finished 5 sets and the Muslims are praying asking Allah the Mighty and Majestic while they are sitting cutting the rows and there is not one of those praying next to them preventing them.  There are even some of them that have coffee and tea that sit and drink and perhaps converse with others distracting the people.  Verily they are in opposition to the way of the righteous predecessors for they loved joining and hated splitting.  So I say to you brothers and hope that none of you do this fore mentioned things, do you not know that the leader of the believers Uthamn ibn Affan the third to rule over the Muslims for 12 years prayed for 6 or 8 years in Mina 2 units then 2 units of 4 sets and then prayed 4 units with 4 sets and it was said to some of the companions that Uthman has completed or perfected which reached Abdullah ibn Masood who replied, “verily to Allah we belong and Him we return. I prayed behind the prophet r, Abu Bakr, and Umar and none of them exceeded 2 units and there are no 2 units more beloved to me than four” and with this he used to pray with Uthman 4 units and he would exceed that with 2 units and Abdullah would see that as not being from the sunnah but he would pray behind him in Ramadan fearing to cause splitting and tribulation.  So it was said to him, “O Abu Abdur-Rahman how can you pray behind Uthman 4 units” and he replied, “Verily differing is evil”.  So be aware, O brothers, of this great statement that differing is evil.  Likewise the prophet r sent Muath ibn Jabal and Abu Musa Al-Ashari to Yemen and ordered them to obey one another and seek advice from one another which means that one obeys the other and does not oppose him and there is no doubt that joining is good so I advise those and hope that my speech reaches them to fear Allah the Mighty and Majestic and to follow the Imam and they will be upon goodness until they achieve what the prophet (sall-Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “whoever stands with the Imam until he leaves, the reward of praying the entire night will be written for him”.  So I advise you Muslims to not neglect the taraweeh prayer by praying only 2 or 3 tasleems in this mosque or others wasting your time but if you enter a mosque and pray the night prayer and continue until the Imam finishes from the taraweeh prayer so that you may obtain this great reward having the reward of praying the entire night written for him.  He will have this reward even if he is sleeping in his bed or enjoying the intimate company of his wife so all praise if for Allah the Lord of the Worlds.  O Allah bless us with thanking your for you bounties and your perfect worship.  O Allah bless us with thanking your for you bounties and your perfect worship. I say this and seek forgiveness with Allah for me, you, and all the Muslims from every sin.  Seek forgiveness from Him for He is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

Translated by John ‘Eesa’ Starling

Found in:

Al-Qawlul Mufeed, May 2009

Al-Qawlul Mufeed, June 2009

Al-Qawlul Mufeed, July 2009

Al-Qawlul Mufeed, August 2009

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