AMALAN SUNNAH SEMPENA AIDILFITRI
Islam adalah satu-satunya agama yang diredhai oleh Allah serta agama paling sempurna. Firman Allah S.W.T:
"Pada hari ini, Aku telah sempurnakan bagi kamu agama kamu dan Aku telah cukupkan nikmat-Ku kepadamu, dan Aku telah redha Islam itu menjadi agamamu." - Surah al-Maaidah: 3.
Kesempurnaan Islam itu terserlah apabila ia mampu menangani segala permasalahan manusia secara menyeluruh. Islam telah membicarakan isu-isu bersifat global seperti sistem ekonomi, sistem pemerintahan malah ia juga membicarakan sekecil-kecil perkaraseperti adab masuk ke tandas dan beristinjak. Oleh itu, tidak hairanlah sekiranya Islam juga telah memberikan garis panduan berkaitan tatacara menyambut hari-hari kebesarannya seperti hari raya Aidilfitri ini. Adalah penting bagi kita untuk sentiasa menjadikan al-Quran dan sunnah sebagai petunjuk dalam mengendalikan upacara sambutan Aidilfitri kerana inilah masa untuk kita semua membuktikan bahawa kita benar-benar telah menjadi seorang insan yang bertakwa setelah melalui bulan Ramadan kerana padanya terdapat ibadah puasa yang berupaya membentuk golongan muttaqin(orang yang bertakwa). Justeru itu, ada baiknya sekiranya kita mengetahui apakah amalan-amalan yang telah diajar oleh Rasulullah s.a.w sempena
menyambutketibaan hari lebaran Aidilfitri ini.
Apakah amalan-amalan Sunnah tersebut? Sila ke alamat :
http://akob73.blogspot.com/2008/09/amalan-amalan-sunnah-untuk-aidilfitri.html
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
BAB KELEBIHAN ORANG YANG BANGUN MALAM PADA BULAN RAMADHAN
Kuliah Maulana Mohd Asri Yusoff:
69. BAB KELEBIHAN ORANG YANG BANGUN MALAM PADA BULAN RAMADHAN
http://al-ahkam.net/home/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=44385
atau www.al-ahkam.net
69. BAB KELEBIHAN ORANG YANG BANGUN MALAM PADA BULAN RAMADHAN
http://al-ahkam.net/home/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=44385
atau www.al-ahkam.net
APABILA TIBA PENGHUJUNG RAMADHAN
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ - رضى الله عنها - قَالَتْ كَانَ النَّبِىُّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ شَدَّ مِئْزَرَهُ ، وَأَحْيَا لَيْلَهُ ، وَأَيْقَظَ أَهْلَهُ
Maksudnya:
Aisyah berkata: Sesungguhnya Nabi SAW apabila masuknya sepuluh malam akhir Ramadhan, mengikat kainnya, menghidupkan malamnya dan mengejutkan keluarganya.
(Hadith riwayat al-Bukhari – no.2024, Muslim – no.2844)
Huraian:
Hadith ini menunjukkan betapa Rasulullah SAW memberikan penekanan dan tumpuan yang lebih pada malam-malam akhir Ramadhan khusus untuk ibadah. Ini selaras dengan beberapa hadith lain yang memberitahu tentang kelebihan malam-malam akhir Ramadhan termasuklah kelebihan malam Lailatul Qadr.
MENGIKAT KAINNYA
Ibn Hajar dalam huraiannya terhadap Sahih al-Bukhari telah menyatakan bahawa para ulama mempunyai beberapa pendapat terhadap istilah ‘mengikat kainnya’. Di antara pendapat yang paling kuat ialah ia membawa dua maksud iaitu – tidak menghampiri isterinya (melakuka hubungan suami isteri) dan ini digambarkan dengan istilah ‘mengikat kainnya’. Manakala satu lagi maksud ialah bersungguh-sungguh dalam ibadah. Namun begitu kedua-duanya adalah tepat jika dilihat dari perbuatan Nabi SAW apabila tiba malam-malam akhir Ramadhan.
MENGHIDUPKAN MALAMNYA
Perkataan yang digunakan oleh Aisyah iaitu ‘menghidupkan’ amat bermakna. Seolah malam yang tidak digunakan untuk beribadah adalah malam yang mati dan tidak hidup. Rasulullah SAW telah memberikan pedoman terbaik untuk kita agar mengubah malam yang kelihatan ‘mati’ itu dengan ‘menghidupkannya’ dengan ibadah di kala manusia nyenyak tidur.
MENGEJUTKAN KELUARGANYA
Dalam beribadah, Rasulullah SAW tidak melupakan keluarganya. Mungkin seorang suami lebih selesa untuk beribadah tanpa memperdulikan keluarganya kerana cenderung untuk bersendirian tanpa menyusahkan diri mengejutkan anak dan isteri. Tapi Rasulullah SAW telah menunjukkan contoh terbaik dan teladan ikutan kepada seluruh umatnya terutama ketua keluarga agar tidak mengabaikan keluarga walaupun dalam ibadah yang sunat sebegini.
Marilah kita sama-sama mengambil peluang malam-malam akhir Ramadhan ini untuk melakukan sesuatu agar diri kita berjaya di akhirat sebagaimana kita bersungguh untuk berjaya di dunia. Semoga Allah SWT mengampunkan dosa-dosa kita dan menerima taubat daripada hati-hati kita.
Selamat beribadah…
Dipetik dari www.al-ahkam.net
Maksudnya:
Aisyah berkata: Sesungguhnya Nabi SAW apabila masuknya sepuluh malam akhir Ramadhan, mengikat kainnya, menghidupkan malamnya dan mengejutkan keluarganya.
(Hadith riwayat al-Bukhari – no.2024, Muslim – no.2844)
Huraian:
Hadith ini menunjukkan betapa Rasulullah SAW memberikan penekanan dan tumpuan yang lebih pada malam-malam akhir Ramadhan khusus untuk ibadah. Ini selaras dengan beberapa hadith lain yang memberitahu tentang kelebihan malam-malam akhir Ramadhan termasuklah kelebihan malam Lailatul Qadr.
MENGIKAT KAINNYA
Ibn Hajar dalam huraiannya terhadap Sahih al-Bukhari telah menyatakan bahawa para ulama mempunyai beberapa pendapat terhadap istilah ‘mengikat kainnya’. Di antara pendapat yang paling kuat ialah ia membawa dua maksud iaitu – tidak menghampiri isterinya (melakuka hubungan suami isteri) dan ini digambarkan dengan istilah ‘mengikat kainnya’. Manakala satu lagi maksud ialah bersungguh-sungguh dalam ibadah. Namun begitu kedua-duanya adalah tepat jika dilihat dari perbuatan Nabi SAW apabila tiba malam-malam akhir Ramadhan.
MENGHIDUPKAN MALAMNYA
Perkataan yang digunakan oleh Aisyah iaitu ‘menghidupkan’ amat bermakna. Seolah malam yang tidak digunakan untuk beribadah adalah malam yang mati dan tidak hidup. Rasulullah SAW telah memberikan pedoman terbaik untuk kita agar mengubah malam yang kelihatan ‘mati’ itu dengan ‘menghidupkannya’ dengan ibadah di kala manusia nyenyak tidur.
MENGEJUTKAN KELUARGANYA
Dalam beribadah, Rasulullah SAW tidak melupakan keluarganya. Mungkin seorang suami lebih selesa untuk beribadah tanpa memperdulikan keluarganya kerana cenderung untuk bersendirian tanpa menyusahkan diri mengejutkan anak dan isteri. Tapi Rasulullah SAW telah menunjukkan contoh terbaik dan teladan ikutan kepada seluruh umatnya terutama ketua keluarga agar tidak mengabaikan keluarga walaupun dalam ibadah yang sunat sebegini.
Marilah kita sama-sama mengambil peluang malam-malam akhir Ramadhan ini untuk melakukan sesuatu agar diri kita berjaya di akhirat sebagaimana kita bersungguh untuk berjaya di dunia. Semoga Allah SWT mengampunkan dosa-dosa kita dan menerima taubat daripada hati-hati kita.
Selamat beribadah…
Dipetik dari www.al-ahkam.net
Islamic Youth Awakening (Sahwah) Campaign
This is YOUR Campaign Source:
http://www.usislam.org/IslamicYouth /islamic_youth.htm
Owning an Islamic user group is a big responsibly. I am truly amazed at some articles posted in Islamic User groups.
As an Example, article is posted emphasizing differences between different Islamic groups and which group we should follow.
Isn't that enough to say it loud and clear:
I am a Muslin?
Why promote differences among Muslims?
It is truly a great blessing for anyone to be a Muslim. Other User groups even allow porn material to be posted, which tells me that some owners or moderators don't even check the material they are posting.
Owning an Islamic user group is NOT a show business; It is an ISLAMIC business. As of today Yahoo has 39,696 Islamic user groups.I am so humbled to know many sincere Muslim brothers and sisters through user groups, and I like to pose some questions:
Don't the majority of Muslims understand the simple definition of a Muslim?
Don't the majority of Muslims understand that we are Ummah in trouble?
Don't the majority of Muslims understand that we live in a very serious time?
Don't the majority of Muslims understand that many of our youth are lost in the American pop culture?
Don't the majority of Muslims understand that some Muslim Youth convert to other religions?
Don't the majority of Muslims understand that some Muslim Youth are drug addicts and even drug dealers?
Don't the majority of Muslims understand the danger of fighting among each other?
Don't the majority of sincere Muslims understand that we all have to be involved in Islamic revival?
Islam will survive the present crisis with or without any human help. Because this is a promise from Allah Himself.
During third century, Christian were involved in Byzantine argument in Alexandria, Egypt, that was focusing on "who is God"? Is He one, two, or three? Is Jesus son of God or son of man? I feel that some Muslims are engaged in another type of Byzantine argument.
Many Muslims do not really understand our priorities. And the irony is, many Muslims claim they understand our priories. You will be amazed if you ask a Muslim about his or her first priority, and find out that Allah or Islam is not a top priority.
Many Muslims are in a state of denial. Many Muslims think that so long they live in a tent in the middle of desert and try to be good Muslims, then that is enough and they are OK.
When the Mongols swept the our Ummah, burning cities, slaughtering about 40 million Muslims, the last Caliph in Baghdad was doing business as usual convinced that he did not have to do anything, because Allah would take care of all calamities.
Muslims in Spain fought each other until we lost Spain. Read history, it was a fighting over another Byzantine argument. I feel sorry for those who are sitting in their Ivory tower and don't see the reality of our Ummah.
These are like someone in the midst of terrible hurricane and goes out with an umbrella and dark glasses. It seems the present old generation lost the battle of Islamic revival.
If this is the case, then we have at least prepare the next generation to regain our Islamic identity. This is really the least we can do.Islam is a religion of action and acting together. There are still very many bright spots.
When you see a mosque in the west during Friday prayer, and you see Muslims with diverse nationalities (From Indonesia to Chile) praying together side by side, you feel they all belong to one Ummah.
When you see Al Kaabah, and you see Muslims with diverse nationalities (From Indonesia to Chile) praying together side by side, you feel they all belong to one Ummah.
When you see Muslims with diverse nationalities (From Indonesia to Chile) fasting together, you feel they all belong to one Ummah.
When you see many converts to Islam with great enthusiasm and passion about Islam, you feel that they just maybe the future driving force of our Ummah. I hope that more born Muslims know more about converts to Islam.
When you read history books, and You know that each time this Ummah is in trouble, Allah always send sincere Muslim to steer this Ummah away from danger.
This great religion will never go down even if some try. Period, Full stop. What we need to do as a single Ummah is:
to go back to the basics of Islam that are manifested by the teachings of our beloved Prophet SAW, during his time.
to know our history, and remember great Muslim leaders who took it upon themselves to defend Islam from any danger.
to focus on our present and future situation to regain our lost civilization.
This is NOT my campaign. It is the campaign of all Islamic youth. This is YOUR Campaign. May Allah help us see our way through the darkness of our present situation. May Allah SWT guide Muslim Youth to be much better Muslim than existing generation.
Please Volunteer in Islamic Youth Awakening (Sahwah) Campaign is at:
http://www.usislam.org/IslamicYouth/volunteers.htm
Dr. Adel Elsaie
www.usislam.org
FREE ISLAMIC BOOK
Would you like to receive FREE Islamic books delivered to your doorstep? Kindly visit http://www.wisdomthruwords.blogspot.com
This offer is for EVERYONE! And the Islamic books will be delivered WORLDWIDE! Insya-allah
This offer is for EVERYONE! And the Islamic books will be delivered WORLDWIDE! Insya-allah
Saturday, September 20, 2008
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet.
He held up a sign which said: 'I am blind, please help.'
There were only a few coins in the hat.
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A man was walking by.
He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat.
He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words.
He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to fill up.
A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.
That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were.
The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, 'Were you the one who changed my sign this morning?
What did you write?'
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The man said, 'I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way.'
What he had written was: 'Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it.'
Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?
Of course both signs told people the boy was blind.
But the first sign simply said the boy was blind.
The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind.
Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?
For Latest And Cool Stuff Visit (Www.xcitefun.net)
Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively.
Invite others towards good with wisdom.
Live life with no excuse and love with no regrets.
When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile.
Face your past without regret.
Handle your present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear.
Great men say, 'Life has to be an incessant process of repair and reconstruction, of discarding evil and developing goodness.... In the journey of life, if you want to travel without fear, you must have the ticket of a good conscience.'
The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling...
And even more beautiful is, knowing that you are the reason behind it!!!
He held up a sign which said: 'I am blind, please help.'
There were only a few coins in the hat.
For Latest And Cool Stuff Visit (Www.xcitefun.net)
A man was walking by.
He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat.
He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words.
He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to fill up.
A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.
That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were.
The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, 'Were you the one who changed my sign this morning?
What did you write?'
For Latest And Cool Stuff Visit (Www.xcitefun.net)
The man said, 'I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way.'
What he had written was: 'Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it.'
Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?
Of course both signs told people the boy was blind.
But the first sign simply said the boy was blind.
The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind.
Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?
For Latest And Cool Stuff Visit (Www.xcitefun.net)
Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively.
Invite others towards good with wisdom.
Live life with no excuse and love with no regrets.
When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile.
Face your past without regret.
Handle your present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear.
Great men say, 'Life has to be an incessant process of repair and reconstruction, of discarding evil and developing goodness.... In the journey of life, if you want to travel without fear, you must have the ticket of a good conscience.'
The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling...
And even more beautiful is, knowing that you are the reason behind it!!!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Our Pious Predecessors in Ramadan
Our Pious Predecessors in Ramadan *
By Sheikh Salman Al-`Udah, Prominent Scholar—KSA
We should look to the example of the Prophet, his Companions, and the earliest generation of Muslims if we want to get the maximum benefit from this blessed month of Ramadan. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "The best of my Ummah would be those of the generation nearest to mine. Then [come] those nearest to them; then [come] those nearest to them" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
We will look at some of the things to which our pious predecessors used to pay extra attention during the month of Ramadan.
Reading the Qur'an
Almighty Allah says,
[The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur'an was revealed] (Al-Baqarah 2:185)
For that reason, our pious predecessors used to increase their recitation of the Qur'an in Ramadan. Al-Aswad ibn Yazid used to complete reading the entire Quran every two nights in Ramadan. He would sleep between Maghrib Prayer and `Isha' Prayer. Outside of Ramadan, he would complete reading the Qur'an every six nights.
Sa`id ibn Jubayr would also complete reading the Qur'an every two nights in Ramadan.
It is also narrated that Al-Walid used to normally complete reading the Qur'an every three nights, but in the month of Ramadan, he would entirely read it 17 times.
Qatadah used to read the whole Qur'an every seven days, but in Ramadan he would take three days to do so. During the last 10 nights of Ramadan, he would read the entire Qur'an every night.
Al-Qasim ibn `Ali described his father, Ibn `Asakir, author of The History of Damascus, as follows: "He used to always perform his Prayers in congregation, and he was consistent in reciting the Qur'an. He would always complete a reading of the entire Qur'an by Friday. However, in Ramadan, he would do so everyday and retreat to the eastern minaret of the mosque."
Describing Abu Barakat Hibatullah ibn Mahfuz, Adh-Dhahabi , the prominent scholar wrote, "He learned Islamic law and read the Qur'an. He was known for his charity and his good deeds. In the month of Ramadan, he would read the Qur'an 30 times."
Night Vigil Prayer
As-Sa'ib ibn Yazid said, "`Umar ibn Al-Khattab ordered Ubayy ibn Ka`b and Tamim Ad-Dari to lead the people in Prayer in Ramadan. They would each read hundreds of verses at a go, until we had to support ourselves with canes because of the length of time we had to stand. We would only finish praying close to the time of Fajr Prayer" (Musannaf `Abdul Razzaq and Sunan Al-Bayhaqi).
`Abdullah ibn Abu Bakr narrated that he heard his father say, "By the time we finished our Prayers [i.e. Night Vigil Prayer] in Ramadan, the servants would have to rush to prepare food in fear of the coming of Fajr" (Al-Muwatta').
`Abdur-Rahman ibn Hurmuz said, "The reciters [leading the Prayers] would complete the reading of Surat Al-Baqarah in eight rak`ahs [units of Prayer]. When the reciters took 12 rak`ahs to complete it, the people regarded it as if the reciters were making things easy for them" (Musannaf `Abdul Razzaq and Sunan Al-Bayhaqi).
Nafi` reported that Ibn `Umar used to pray in his house during the month of Ramadan. When the people departed from the mosque, he would go off to the Prophet's Mosque with a flask of water. He would not leave the mosque again until after Fajr Prayer (Sunan Al-Bayhaqi).
`Imran ibn Hudayr narrated that Abu Mijlaz would lead the Prayers in Ramadan for the people in his neighborhood. He would recite the whole Qur'an in Prayer in the course of seven days (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah).
Generous Almsgiving
Ibn `Abbas reported, "Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was the most generous of all people in doing good, and he was at his most generosity during the month of Ramadan. Jibreel [Angel Gabriel] used to meet with him every year throughout the month of Ramadan, so that the Prophet could recite the Qur'an to him. Whenever Jibreel met with him, he [the Prophet] became more generous than a beneficial breeze" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Al-Muhallab, a famous Maliki scholar, explained this hadith, saying,
This shows the blessings of good works and shows that engaging in some good deeds opens the door to performing others. Doing some good deeds assists one in further good works. We can see here that the blessings of fasting and of meeting Jibreel increased the Prophet's generosity and charity, so much so that the Prophet became more generous than a beneficial breeze.
Az-Zayn ibn Al-Munir explained the description "beneficial breeze" as follows:
His charity and good treatment for those who are poor and needy, as well as for those who are well-off and possess sufficient means, are as general as the relief brought by a beneficial breeze.
After Maghrib Prayer, Ibn `Umar used to break his fast only in the company of the poor. Whenever someone came to him while he was eating and asked him for something, he would take from his food what he deemed to be the beggar's rightful share. Then he would stand up and leave the rest of the food for that person. He would then take what was in his hand and give it to his family, so that when he woke up in the next morning to resume his fast, he would not have eaten anything the night before.
During the month of Ramadan, Ibn Shihab Az-Zuhri would engage in nothing besides reciting the Qur'an and providing the poor with food.
Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman would take it upon himself to provide 500 people with food enough to break their fast, during the month of Ramadan. Then, on the day of `Eid Al-Fitr, he would give each of those people 100 pieces of silver.
Watching One's Tongue
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet said, "For those who do not abandon false speech and false acts, Allah has no need of their abandoning of food and drink" (Al-Bukhari).
Al-Muhallab made the following observation about this hadith :
This shows that fasting entails refraining from obscene and false speech, just as it entails refraining from food and drink. Those who engage in false or obscene speech detract from the value of their fast. They expose themselves to their Lord's displeasure and to the possibility of their fast to be unaccepted.
The Prophet said,
If someone of you starts off the day fasting, they should avoid obscene speech and ignorant behavior. If someone abuses them or starts to fight with them, they should reply by saying, "I am fasting; I am fasting." (Muslim)
Al-Maziri, the most prominent Maliki jurist of all time, had the following observation about this hadith, "It is possible that one is recommended to say, "I am fasting; I am fasting," only to remind him- or herself that he or she should refrain from getting engaged in the exchange of insults."
`Umar ibn Al-Khattab said, "[In Ramadan] one does not abstain only from eating and drinking but also from lying, from uttering falsehood, from engaging in vain talk, and from swearing" (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah).
`Ali ibn Abi Talib said, "Fasting is not to leave off food and drink but rather to leave off lying, uttering falsehood, and engaging in vain talk" (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah).
Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleases with him) said, "When you fast, be on your guard as mush as possible." (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah).
Jabir ibn `Abullah said, "When you fast, your hearing, your vision, and your tongue should also fast by avoiding lies and sins. You should not abuse your servant. You should maintain your composure and dignity on the day you fast. Do not make your fasting day the same as your normal day" (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah).
Abu Hurairah said, "When you fast, do not act in an ignorant manner and do not insult people. If someone acts ignorantly toward you, say, 'I am fasting'" (Musannaf `Abdul Razzaq).
Mujahid said, "If you avoid two things, then your fast will be all right. You must avoid backbiting and lying." Abu Al-`Aaliyah added, "A fasting person is engaged in worship as long as he or she does not backbite someone."
Excerpted from islamtoday.com
Sheikh Salman Al-`Udah Al-Oadah is a prominent Saudi scholar. He supervises the website Islam Today (www.islamtoday.com).
By Sheikh Salman Al-`Udah, Prominent Scholar—KSA
We should look to the example of the Prophet, his Companions, and the earliest generation of Muslims if we want to get the maximum benefit from this blessed month of Ramadan. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "The best of my Ummah would be those of the generation nearest to mine. Then [come] those nearest to them; then [come] those nearest to them" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
We will look at some of the things to which our pious predecessors used to pay extra attention during the month of Ramadan.
Reading the Qur'an
Almighty Allah says,
[The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur'an was revealed] (Al-Baqarah 2:185)
For that reason, our pious predecessors used to increase their recitation of the Qur'an in Ramadan. Al-Aswad ibn Yazid used to complete reading the entire Quran every two nights in Ramadan. He would sleep between Maghrib Prayer and `Isha' Prayer. Outside of Ramadan, he would complete reading the Qur'an every six nights.
Sa`id ibn Jubayr would also complete reading the Qur'an every two nights in Ramadan.
It is also narrated that Al-Walid used to normally complete reading the Qur'an every three nights, but in the month of Ramadan, he would entirely read it 17 times.
Qatadah used to read the whole Qur'an every seven days, but in Ramadan he would take three days to do so. During the last 10 nights of Ramadan, he would read the entire Qur'an every night.
Al-Qasim ibn `Ali described his father, Ibn `Asakir, author of The History of Damascus, as follows: "He used to always perform his Prayers in congregation, and he was consistent in reciting the Qur'an. He would always complete a reading of the entire Qur'an by Friday. However, in Ramadan, he would do so everyday and retreat to the eastern minaret of the mosque."
Describing Abu Barakat Hibatullah ibn Mahfuz, Adh-Dhahabi , the prominent scholar wrote, "He learned Islamic law and read the Qur'an. He was known for his charity and his good deeds. In the month of Ramadan, he would read the Qur'an 30 times."
Night Vigil Prayer
As-Sa'ib ibn Yazid said, "`Umar ibn Al-Khattab ordered Ubayy ibn Ka`b and Tamim Ad-Dari to lead the people in Prayer in Ramadan. They would each read hundreds of verses at a go, until we had to support ourselves with canes because of the length of time we had to stand. We would only finish praying close to the time of Fajr Prayer" (Musannaf `Abdul Razzaq and Sunan Al-Bayhaqi).
`Abdullah ibn Abu Bakr narrated that he heard his father say, "By the time we finished our Prayers [i.e. Night Vigil Prayer] in Ramadan, the servants would have to rush to prepare food in fear of the coming of Fajr" (Al-Muwatta').
`Abdur-Rahman ibn Hurmuz said, "The reciters [leading the Prayers] would complete the reading of Surat Al-Baqarah in eight rak`ahs [units of Prayer]. When the reciters took 12 rak`ahs to complete it, the people regarded it as if the reciters were making things easy for them" (Musannaf `Abdul Razzaq and Sunan Al-Bayhaqi).
Nafi` reported that Ibn `Umar used to pray in his house during the month of Ramadan. When the people departed from the mosque, he would go off to the Prophet's Mosque with a flask of water. He would not leave the mosque again until after Fajr Prayer (Sunan Al-Bayhaqi).
`Imran ibn Hudayr narrated that Abu Mijlaz would lead the Prayers in Ramadan for the people in his neighborhood. He would recite the whole Qur'an in Prayer in the course of seven days (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah).
Generous Almsgiving
Ibn `Abbas reported, "Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was the most generous of all people in doing good, and he was at his most generosity during the month of Ramadan. Jibreel [Angel Gabriel] used to meet with him every year throughout the month of Ramadan, so that the Prophet could recite the Qur'an to him. Whenever Jibreel met with him, he [the Prophet] became more generous than a beneficial breeze" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Al-Muhallab, a famous Maliki scholar, explained this hadith, saying,
This shows the blessings of good works and shows that engaging in some good deeds opens the door to performing others. Doing some good deeds assists one in further good works. We can see here that the blessings of fasting and of meeting Jibreel increased the Prophet's generosity and charity, so much so that the Prophet became more generous than a beneficial breeze.
Az-Zayn ibn Al-Munir explained the description "beneficial breeze" as follows:
His charity and good treatment for those who are poor and needy, as well as for those who are well-off and possess sufficient means, are as general as the relief brought by a beneficial breeze.
After Maghrib Prayer, Ibn `Umar used to break his fast only in the company of the poor. Whenever someone came to him while he was eating and asked him for something, he would take from his food what he deemed to be the beggar's rightful share. Then he would stand up and leave the rest of the food for that person. He would then take what was in his hand and give it to his family, so that when he woke up in the next morning to resume his fast, he would not have eaten anything the night before.
During the month of Ramadan, Ibn Shihab Az-Zuhri would engage in nothing besides reciting the Qur'an and providing the poor with food.
Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman would take it upon himself to provide 500 people with food enough to break their fast, during the month of Ramadan. Then, on the day of `Eid Al-Fitr, he would give each of those people 100 pieces of silver.
Watching One's Tongue
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet said, "For those who do not abandon false speech and false acts, Allah has no need of their abandoning of food and drink" (Al-Bukhari).
Al-Muhallab made the following observation about this hadith :
This shows that fasting entails refraining from obscene and false speech, just as it entails refraining from food and drink. Those who engage in false or obscene speech detract from the value of their fast. They expose themselves to their Lord's displeasure and to the possibility of their fast to be unaccepted.
The Prophet said,
If someone of you starts off the day fasting, they should avoid obscene speech and ignorant behavior. If someone abuses them or starts to fight with them, they should reply by saying, "I am fasting; I am fasting." (Muslim)
Al-Maziri, the most prominent Maliki jurist of all time, had the following observation about this hadith, "It is possible that one is recommended to say, "I am fasting; I am fasting," only to remind him- or herself that he or she should refrain from getting engaged in the exchange of insults."
`Umar ibn Al-Khattab said, "[In Ramadan] one does not abstain only from eating and drinking but also from lying, from uttering falsehood, from engaging in vain talk, and from swearing" (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah).
`Ali ibn Abi Talib said, "Fasting is not to leave off food and drink but rather to leave off lying, uttering falsehood, and engaging in vain talk" (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah).
Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleases with him) said, "When you fast, be on your guard as mush as possible." (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah).
Jabir ibn `Abullah said, "When you fast, your hearing, your vision, and your tongue should also fast by avoiding lies and sins. You should not abuse your servant. You should maintain your composure and dignity on the day you fast. Do not make your fasting day the same as your normal day" (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah).
Abu Hurairah said, "When you fast, do not act in an ignorant manner and do not insult people. If someone acts ignorantly toward you, say, 'I am fasting'" (Musannaf `Abdul Razzaq).
Mujahid said, "If you avoid two things, then your fast will be all right. You must avoid backbiting and lying." Abu Al-`Aaliyah added, "A fasting person is engaged in worship as long as he or she does not backbite someone."
Excerpted from islamtoday.com
Sheikh Salman Al-`Udah Al-Oadah is a prominent Saudi scholar. He supervises the website Islam Today (www.islamtoday.com).
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