Pearls of Ramadān - Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat

[ummtaalib]

Pearls of Ramadān (1)

 

Guidance and advice for the Blessed Month from Hadrat Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh

 

 

Yearning For Ramadān

Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam used to make du‘ā in Rajab to be given the opportunity to live until Ramadān. Having already seen Allāh ta‘ālā during the night of mi‘rāj, it is beyond imagination how much desire he sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam had to leave this world and meet Allāh ta‘ālā.

Despite this, when he sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam would find himself only two months away from the blessed month of Ramadān, he sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam would desire to be given leave in this world in order to benefit from the innumerable bounties and blessings of Ramadān. This should help us understand the extraordinary nature of the blessings of Ramadān and encourage us to yearn for it and benefit from it.

 

True Appreciation of Ramadān

My honourable father rahimahullāh would eagerly anticipate the arrival of Ramadān and express immense happiness upon its commencement.  You could tell from his behaviour that it was the month of Ramadān; he would talk very little and be constantly engaged in good deeds. He would value every moment. The atmosphere at home was like i‘tikāf throughout the month of Ramadān. When the blessed month would end he would shed tears of sorrow. All this was because he had understood the value of Ramadān. We should follow this example to truly value each and every moment of Ramadān.  

 

Valuing Ramadān

The month of Ramadān is a month of blessings, mercy and forgiveness. If we fail to utilise it correctly, it will pass without us realising what valuable and precious moments we have wasted. What has passed cannot return, and what is lost cannot be re-acquired.

 

Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam has said:

 

This is a month, the first (10 days) of which is mercy, the middle (10 days) of which is forgiveness and the last (10 days) of which is deliverance from the Fire of Jahannam. (Al-Bayhaqī)

 

From the first of Ramadān, the Mercy of Allāh ta‘ālā descends upon those very pious servants who have no sins in their book of deeds.

 

As far as the sinners are concerned, they are of two types: sinners of a lesser degree, and those who are so engrossed in sin that were they to die in their present condition they would go straight into the Fire of Jahannam.

 

The sins of the first category of sinners are forgiven after their striving during the first 10 days of Ramadān. As for the sinners of the second category upon whom Jahannam is incumbent, after striving for 20 days, Allāh’s ta‘ālā forgiveness enshrouds them and they too are granted deliverance from the Fire of Jahannam. How merciful is Allāh ta‘ālā!

 

We ask Allāh ta‘ālā that He grant us Jannat-ul-Firdaws with His eternal Pleasure and save us from the Fire of Jahannam. Āmīn.

 

Counting Days

We should spend the month of Ramadān with enthusiasm. Unfortunately, many people regard it as a burden, and eagerly count down the days for it to finish.

 

Our pious predecessors used to feel grief and sadness at the passing of each day of Ramadān, whereas we feel a burden is being lifted with each day that goes by. They would say in sorrow: “Only 15 days left now, Only 14 days left now...” while we say the same out of relief.

 

Memorable Ramadān

Make this Ramadān a memorable one. Make it a Ramadān you will remember for the rest of your life and inshā’allāh, even in Jannah you will say that it was this Ramadān in which Allāh ta‘ālā made me His walī, and the point from when my life changed for the better.

 

In order to do this two things are necessary:

 

1. Abstain from every sin, be it minor or major. Do not even think about sinning.

2. Stay away from every futile activity that neither benefits in this world nor the hereafter.

 

In order to achieve the above, three things are necessary:

 

1. Stay away from impious company and sinful environments.

2. Avoid gatherings and mixing with people. 

3. Safeguard your tongue, eyes and ears. Speak only when it is absolutely necessary and listen and look at only those things which are permissible.

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[ummtaalib]

Pearls of Ramadān (2)

Guidance and advice for the Blessed Month from Hadrat Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh

 

 

Time for Taqwā

The common definition of taqwā is to abstain from the disobedience to Allāh ta‘ālā, be it minor or major. In the initial stages, this may seem difficult to carry out.

 

However, when one strives and compels his nafs to obey Allāh ta‘ālā, then as a result he will achieve the actual taqwā wherein Allāh ta‘ālā will enlighten the heart with the light of taqwā. Once this happens, one will no longer have to struggle to the same extent to avoid sins as before; rather the heart will develop a disliking for them. 

 

It is like the prospect of walking through a narrow alleyway with damp and filthy walls. You will be repulsed at the very thought, but even if you were compelled to walk through it and some filth touches your clothing, you will not be able to rest until it is washed off. Similarly, the person whose heart is enlightened with taqwā will have an aversion to sins, and even if he were to slip and commit a sin, he will not be able to rest until he repents and purifies his heart from the filth of sin.

 

There is no better time to adorn the heart with true taqwā than the precious moments of Ramadān. If you truly value Ramadān, inshā’allāh, you will become a true muttaqī.

 

Precious, Precious Moments

Every moment of our life is very precious, as each second can potentially be used to acquire the pleasure of Allāh ta‘ālā and earn great reward.

 

However, during Ramadān these moments become even more precious. This is why we should take great care to use the very precious moments of Ramadān wisely.

 

Value Time

The last ten days of Ramadān are the cream of Ramadān. Make the most of them. Value every moment; for who knows, you may not be here next year. In order to make these days more productive follow these simple advices:

 

• Perform as much ‘ibādah as possible.

• Spend as much time in the masjid as possible.

• Avoid every sinful activity. A large tank full of milk with a few drops of urine or alcohol mixed in is completely useless. Similarly, a tank full of ‘ibādah mixed with a few ‘drops’ of sin will have no value.

• Stay away from the internet. Many people use the internet with good intentions and for good reasons, and end up on sites that cause them to sin. We move from site to site without even realising that we are committing sins. For example, how often do we see an image of a non-mahram on the internet? Even that is a sin. Furthermore, the internet is such a "time waster" that we log on for only a few minutes, but hours pass by without us even realising.

• Emails can also waste time. Stay away from answering unnecessary emails; they can wait until after Ramadān.

• Try to minimise mixing with people.

 

Overtime in Ramadān

When we have the opportunity to do overtime at work and earn time and a half or double pay, we ensure we do not miss out on the additional income.

 

In Ramadān, a fard action is worth seventy times its value and a nafl action is worth the same as a fard action on a normal day. Despite the huge increase in rewards, we do not find the zeal to do anything extra for our ākhirah; in stark contrast to our readiness to do overtime for financial gain.

 

Ramadān Festivals

Sometimes, Ramadān or ‘Īd festivals are organised during the last ten days of Ramadān. As a result, people waste precious moments and lose out on the blessings of the last ten days of Ramadān. Often these events take place at the time of tarāwīh and are for sisters only, resulting in them missing tarāwīh and also the opportunity to find Laylat-ul-Qadr. We should refrain from such events as they are nothing but a deceit of Shaytān in order to divert us from our true goal. 

 

Special Offers

Some people frequent restaurants and takeaways during the night, attracted by special offers. Such offers deprive them of the great treasures offered by Allāh ta‘ālā for performing tarāwīh and tahajjud. In addition, many involve themselves in sin and lā ya‘nī (futile activities) and waste any spiritual benefits they had gained that day.
 

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What Ramadān Teaches

 

“After the month of Ramadān passes, we should contemplate that during Ramadān we were able to abstain from food and drink, which are necessities of life, for the entire day solely for the sake of Allāh ta‘ālā. If we were able to leave necessities, then surely we have the ability to forsake anything and everything, including base desires, for the sake of our Rabb.”

 

Words of wisdom from Shaykh Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh

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[ummtaalib]

Pearls of Ramadān (3)

Guidance and advice for the Blessed Month from Hadrat Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh

 

 

News of ‘Īd

The following two advices will help to maintain the momentum of Ramadān and safeguard us from wasting the remaining precious moments of Ramadān, due to the excitement of the advent of ‘Īd. 

 

1)

 

On the 29th of Ramadān remain occupied in devotions to Allāh ta‘ālā, as the precious moments are slipping away quickly. Do not endeavour to find out before Maghrib whether the moon has been sighted or not.

 

2)

 

If however you learn before Maghrib that the moon has been sighted, then do not inform others until after Maghrib so that they are not distracted and become negligent. Keep yourself engaged in ‘ibādah (worship), as for you it is still Ramadān until Maghrib.

 

Presentation Night (Laylat-ul-Jā’izah)

The whole of Ramadān was a spiritual tournament and the night of ‘Īd (i.e. the night before ‘Īd day) is when the winning team is awarded their prize.

 

If you are given the ability to worship Allāh ta‘ālā during this auspicious night then it is an indication that you are in the winning team.

 

In order to be eligible for a prize the least we should do is to refrain from every sin and engage in a little bit of extra ‘ibādah for a while during this night. 

 

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