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AlMujtaba Islamic Articles > Holy Month of Ramadhan

AN EXTRACT FROM THE SUPPLICATION OF IMAM ALI BIN HUSAYN (AS)

This month stood among us in a standing place of praise, accompanied us with the companionship of one approved, and profited us with the most excellent profit of the world's creatures. Then it parted from us at the completion of its time, the end of its term, and the fulfillment of its number.

So we bid farewell to it with the farewell of one whose parting pains us, whose leaving fills us with gloom and loneliness, and to whom we have come to owe a safeguarded claim, an observed inviolability, and a discharged right. We say: Peace be upon thee, O greatest month of God! O festival of His friends!

HOLY RAMADHAN & SINCERITY

At the advent of the holy month of Ramadhan, The Holy Prophet (saww) delivered a sermon in which he (saww) said to the Muslims:

“O People! Verily the month of Allah has come to you with blessings, mercy and forgiveness. It is a month that is considered by Allah as the best of all months; its days are best of all days; its nights are best of all nights; and its hours are best of all hours. It is a month in which you have been invited to become guests of Allah and you have been made in it the favourites of Allah. Your breaths in this month are counted as glorifications (of God); your sleep is considered as worship; your (good) actions in it are accepted; and your invocations therein are sanctioned…”

HOLY RAMADHAN & ALMS

Once again the holy month of Ramadhan is approaching and God willing, we will once again be fortunate to witness and experience this great month, which the Holy Prophet (saww) has called it ‘Shahrullah’ meaning ‘the month of Allah’.

In this holy month, we all become the guests of Allah (SWT). In the sermon, which the Holy Prophet (saww) had delivered at the advent of Holy Ramadhan, he (saww) clearly specified, “It is the month in which you have been invited to become guests of Allah and you have been made in it as the favourites of Allah”.

It is customary that whenever we are invited to somebody’s house, we take gifts for the host. It is considered as impolite to go to people’s houses empty-handed. Since in the month of Ramadhan, we have been invited to become the guests of the Master of the universe, what shall we take as a gift for Him that will make Him happy?

LAYLATUL-QADR: THE NIGHT OF PREDESTINATION

"In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Verily We sent it (the Quran) down in the night of Qadr (power). What shall make you know what the night of predestination is? The night of Qadr is better than a thousand months. The angels and the (holy) spirit descend therein by the permission of their Lord, with (decrees) for all affairs. (It is all) peace, till the break of dawn". (Surah al-Qadr: Chapter 97)

S V Mir Ahmad Ali writes in his Tafseer:

HOLY RAMADHAN: THE MONTH OF ALLAH (SWT)

The month of Holy Ramadhan is known as Shahrullah meaning "the month of Allah". It is indeed the month of Barakah (Blessings), Rahmah (Mercy) and Maghfirah (Forgiveness). It is reported that at the advent of this great month, the Holy Prophet (saww) delivered a sermon to his followers in which he said:

"O people! Verily the month of Allah has come to you with Blessings, Mercy and Forgiveness. It is a month which is considered by Allah as the best of all months, its days are best of all days, its nights are best of all nights, and its hours are best of all hours.

KHUTBAH OF THE HOLY PROPHET (SAW)

Shaykh Sadooq (a.r) quoted Imam Ali ibn Moosa ar-Ridha (as) that he received from his Holy ancestors, on the authority of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as), the text of the speech the Holy Prophet (saw) used to deliver at the advent of the blessed month of Ramadhan.

The Holy Prophet (saw) said;

Invitation to the Party of Allah (SWT)

Amir al-Muminin Imam Ali (PBUH) narrates that one day the Prophet (PBUH&HP) read such sermon:

O' people the month of Allah has turned to you with blessings, mercy, and forgiveness; a month that its days are the best days, and its nights are the most valuable nights, and its moments are the most precious moments. Ramadan is the month that you have been invited to be the guest of Allah almighty, and in that month you have become closer to Allah. In this month your breath has the reward of remembering Allah, and your sleep has the reward of worshipping, your deeds are accepted and your prayers and wishes are answered. Therefore call upon Him with pure heart and intention so He may help you on fasting and reciting Quran, miserable are those whom do not take advantage of this month and miss His forgiveness.

The Month of Ramadan

"O Ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you, As it was prescribed to those before you. That ye may (learn) Self Restraint..." (2: 183)

What is Ramadan?
It is the ninth lunar month of the year. It’s a chosen month by God to all Muslims. In this month one must fast from certain things both physically and spiritually. One must give his full faith to Allah and worship as much as possible. It’s a month where Muslims show their appreciation to the Almighty and show their strong faith and love to him. In this month, Muslims fast in their hearts as well as their mouths. They avoid evil actions, and thoughts and concentrate on doing good.

Laylatul Qadr ~ The Night of Power

Good actions in it (Laylatul Qadr), like prayer and charity and (other) types of goodness, are better than deeds of a thousands months in which there is no Laylatul Qadr. If Allah would not multiply the rewards of believers like this, they would not be able to reach (salvation), but Allah multiplies for them the reward for good deeds.

Daily Supplications for the Month of Ramathan

* These are best recited after the ritual mid-day prayer.

Day 1

O God, be pleased with my fast, in this month, as Thou gives credit to those who over-serve the fast; and [be pleased with] my special night prayers in this month, as Thou gives credit to those who pray in the night; direct me to be on guard and pay attention to free myself from the lethargy of forgetfulness; O God of the worlds overlook my wrong-doings, and grant amnesty to me, O He who shows sympathy to wrongdoers.

Enlightening Quotes

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said:
"Whoever backbites his Muslim brothers, his fasting will be invalid and his ablution null. Should he die in such a state, he will die like the one who decreed lawful what Allah has forbidden."

Fasting in Animals

Fasting of Ground Squirrels

There are many types of squirrels in the world. Some live in trees, while others live in underground burrows. The ground squirrels fast for days at a time in winter.

Frequently asked Questions about Ramadan

What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, which is based on the orbiting of the moon (lunar calendar), rather than the orbiting of the earth (solar calendar). It was in the month of Ramadan in which the Quran (Holy Book for Muslims) was first revealed.

Some Health Guidelines For Ramadhan

This article provides useful advice on how to avoid some common problems encountered in Ramadan. If followed, it would enable one to fast comfortably and enjoy fully the spiritual benefits of Ramadan.

Fasting - Key to Good Health

Fasting has its advantages from the point of view of health and hygiene. Islam wants a Muslim to be healthy, clean, alert, agile and energetic. "Fast to be healthy," had said the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.). And physicians today acknowledge the many benefits of fasting that ensure health and the soundness of one's body and mind. Some of these positive points have a direct influence on psychology and physique of the fasting individual.

Fasting and Purification

The Holy Qur'an refers to two features of fasting in Ramadan: mental and practical. These are like the wings of a bird on which man flies through the heavenly space of spirituality in the month of Ramadan.

The Qur'an says: "Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong)." (2:185)

A Definition of Fasting

Originally, in Arabic the word 'as-Sawm' meant 'al-Imsak', that is, to abstain totally from any act including eating, drinking, walking, speaking, etc. Thus, the Arabs used to refer to a horse refusing to run or to be fed, as 'Sa'im', that is, fasting. As is clear, the word 'Sawm' is ancient and was used in a different context by the Arabs before Islam. Then, however it did not have the specific meaning given to it by Islam as a term denoting a certain religious obligation. As an Islamic term, it means to refrain intentionally from what breaks fasting.

Seventeen Tips for Parents to present Ramadhan in your Child's Class

Parents talking to their children's principals, teachers and classmates in public schools about Ramadan are of immense importance. By doing so, Muslim children feel less awkward identifying themselves as Muslims, since someone in an authority position has discussed what they believe what they do. As a result, the children often feel more confident and secure.

Eight Tips on sharing Ramadhan with your neighbours

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "He is not a believer who eats his fill while his neighbor remains hungry by his side." (Baihaqi)

"By Allah, he has no faith (the Prophet [SAW] repeated it three times) whose neighbors are not safe from his wickedness." (Bukhari)

Ten Tips to prepare for your family in Ramadhan

01. Buy all necessities for the month of Ramadan before Ramadan so you can spend less time during the holy month rushing around. You can be more focused on your religious rituals and spiritual development. Everyone in the family, even the kids, can participate, writing a shopping list, preparing some meals to be stored in the freezer.

02. If you have gotten into bad sleeping habits throughout the year, start readjusting now so you can wake up for Fajr prayer.

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