the excellence of fasting and night prayers in Ramadhaan

Från: Umm-Aicha (Ursprungligt meddelande) Skickat: 2005-03-06 20:29
Från: <NOBR>K_Nadia</NOBR> (Ursprungligt meddelande) Skickat: 2004-09-25 14:42
The excellence of fasting and night prayers in Ramadhaan

Taget från www.tazkiyah.org

Written by/Said by Shaykh Abdul Azeez bin Abdullaah bin Baaz (Rahimahullaah)

Taken from Risaalataan Mawjizataan fiz Zakaah was Siyaam

Translated by Editorial Staff at tazkiyah.org

Edited by Editorial Staff at tazkiyah.org

From Abdul Azeez bin Abdullaah bin Baaz to whoever sees this from the Muslims. Allaah has guided me and you all to the path of the people of eemaan. And He guided me and you all to the understanding of the Sunnah and the Qur'aan. Aameen.

Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakatuhu.

To proceed:

Then this is some brief advice relating to the excellence of fasting during Ramadhaan and performing Qiyaam (nightly prayers), the excellence (of Ramadhaan) is the racing (of the people) to do righteous deeds, with a clarification of important rulings that may not be apparent to some of the people.

It has been transmitted from the Prophet of Allaah (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) that he used to give glad tidings to his Companions upon the arrival of the month of Ramadhaan. And he ('Alayhis Salaam) would inform them: "It is a month in which the gates of Mercy are opened and the gates of Jannah are opened and the gates of Jahannam are closed and the devils are chained within it." (1)

And he (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) said: "And on the first night of Ramadhaan, the gates of Jannah are opened and not a single gate from it is locked. And the gates of Jahannam are locked and not a door from it is opened. And the devils are chained. And a caller calls out: 'O seeker of good come forward, and O seeker of evil withhold, and there are many whom Allaah frees from the Fire - and that is every night." (2)

And he ('Alayhis Salaam) said: "The month of Ramadhaan has come to you. It is the month of blessings. During this month, Allaah sends down mercy, ones mistakes are forgiven, supplications are answered and Allaah praises you in the presence of His angels, so show Allaah your virtues. For certainly the unfortunate individual is he who is prohibited from the mercy of Allaah." (3)

And he ('Alayhis Salaam) said: "Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allaah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allaah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven." (4)

And he ('Alayhis Salaam) said: "Allaah, 'Azza wa Jall, said: 'All the deeds of the son of Aadam are for himself; a good deed is equal to ten times it's equivalent except fasting, for certainly it is for Me, and I will give the reward for it. He left his desires, his food, his drink for My sake. There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord. The unpleasant smell coming from the mouth of a fasting person is more pleasant to Allaah than the smell of musk.'" (5)

And the ahadeeth regarding fasting during Ramadhaan and performing Qiyaam (during Ramadhaan) and the excellence of the various types of fasting are many.

And it is befitting for the believer to seize this opportunity, and it is what Allaah bestowed upon him to (allow him to) reach the month of Ramadhaan. So he should rush towards obedience (to Allaah) and he should beware of sins. And he should strive in the performance of what Allaah has obligated for him. And especially the five daily prayers for it is a pillar of Islaam. And it is the greatest obligation after the shahadatayn. And it is obligatory upon every Muslim (male or female) to safeguard the five daily prayers and to perform them in their correct times with submission and tranquility.

And from the most important obligations is for the men to perform the salaat in congregation in the houses of Allaah (in the masjid) where the adhaan is called and where His name is raised (with honor) and remembered. As Allaah ('Azza Wa Jall) has said:

"And perform As-Salaat (Iqaamat-as-Salaat), and give Zakaat, and Irka' (i.e. bow down or submit yourselves with obedience to Allaah) along with Ar-Raki'oon." [Al-Baqarah : 43]

And He, the Most High, said:

"Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawaat (the prayers) especially the middle Salaat (i.e. the best prayer - 'Asr). And stand before Allaah with obedience [and do not speak to others during the Salaat (prayers)]." [Al-Baqarah : 238]

And He ('Azza Wa Jall) said:

"Those who offer their Salaat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness." [Al-Mu'minun : 2]

Regarding that He ('Azza Wa Jall) said:

"And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory congregational) Salawaat (prayers) (at their fixed stated hours)." [Al-Mu'minun : 9]

And the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) said: "The covenant that seperates us (the Muslims) from them (the disbelievers) is the salaat. So whoever abandons it has disbelieved." (6)

And the most important obligation after salaat is giving the zakaat. As Allaah ('Azza Wa Jall) has said:

"And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allaah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salaat (Iqaamat-as-Salaat) and give Zakaat: and that is the right religion." [Al-Baiyinah : 5]

And Allaah said:

"And perform As-Salaat (Iqaamat-as-Salaat), and give Zakaat and obey the Messenger (Muhammad) that you may receive mercy (from Allaah)." [An-Nur : 56]

And the Book of Allaah, the Magnificent and the Sunnah of the noble Messenger have shown that one who does not pay the zakaat from his wealth will be punished on the day of judgement.

And the most important obligation after the salaat and the zakaat is fasting the month of Ramadhaan. And it is one of the five pillars of Islaam as mentioned by the speech of the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam): "Islaam is built upon five: Testifying that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, establishing the Salaah, paying the Zakaah, fasting in Ramadaan, and making pilgrimage to the House." (7)

And it is obligatory upon the Muslim to guard his Siyaam and his Qiyaam from that which Allaah has prohibited from speech and action. Because the purpose of fasting is obedience to Allaah and to glorify its sanctity. And the jihaad of the soul against its desires upon the obedience of its Lord. And becoming accustomed with patience about what Allaah has prohibited. And the purpose is not only the abondonment of food and drink and whatever breaks the fast. And about this, it has been authenticated that the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) said: "Fasting is a shield. If one of you is fasting, he should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should say, 'I am fasting.'" (8)

And it has been authenticated from him that he (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) said: "Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allaah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allaah will not accept his fasting.)" (9)

And know, based upon these texts and other than them, that it is obligatory for the fasting person to avoid everything that Allaah has forbidden for him and to safeguard all that He has obligated upon him. And with this he hopes for forgiveness and safety from the fire and the acceptance of the fasting and the Qiyaam.


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1 Recorded by an-Nasaa'ee and Ahmad. (go back)

2 Recorded by at-Tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah. (go back)

3 Reported by at-Tabaranee. (go back)

4 Reported by Bukhaari, Muslim, an-Nasaa'ee, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, and Ahmad. (go back)

5 Reported by Bukhaari and Muslim. (go back)

6 Reported by at-Tirmidhee, an-Nasaa'ee, Ibn Maajah, and Ahmad. (go back)

7 Reported by Bukhaari, Muslim, at-Tirmidhee, an-Nasaa'ee, and Ahmad. (go back)

8 Reported by Bukhaari and Muslim. (go back)

9 Reported by Bukhaari and at-Tirmidhee. (go back)