RAMADAAN

IT IS AN ISLAAMIC OBLIGATION TO FAST IN RAMADAAN

OH YOU WHO BELIEVE! FASTING IS PRESCRIBED FOR YOU AS IT WAS PRESCRIBED FOR THOSE BEFORE YOU, THAT YOU MAY BECOME PIOUS. (SURAH BAQARAH 2:183)

ON THE AUTHORITY OS ABDULLAAH IBN UMAR, ON THE AUTHORITY OF THE PROPHET (MAY PEACE AND BLESSINGS OF ALLAAH BE UPON HIM) WHO SAID; "ISLAAM IS BASED ON FIVE PILLARS: TO BEAR WITNESS THAT NO GOD HAS THE RIGHT TO BE WORSHIPPED EXCEPT ALLAAH AND THAT MUHAMMAD IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAAH, ESTABLISH THE PRAYER, PAY THE ZAKAAH, FAST THE MONTH OF RAMADAAN AND MAKE THE PILGRIMAGE ".

THE VIRTUES OF RAMADAAN

the doors of paradise are opened

the doors of hell are closed

the devils are chained up

the past sins will be forgiven

ON THE AUTHORITY OF ABU HURAIRAH WHO SAID THAT THE MESSENGER OF ALLAAH (MAY THE PEACE AND BLESSINGS OF ALLAAH BE UPON HIM) SAID; "WHEN THE FIRST NIGHT OF RAMADAAN STARTS THE DOORS OF PARADISE ARE OPENED, THE DOORS OF HELL ARE CLOSED AND THE DEVILS ARE CHAINED UP". (COLLECTED BY BUKHAAREE AND MUSLIM)

ON THE AUTHORITY OF ABU HURAIRAH WHO SAID THAT THE MESSENGER OF ALLAAH (MAY THE PEACE AND BLESSINGS OF ALLAAH BE UPON HIM) SAID; "WHOEVER OBSERVES FASTING IN RAMADAAN, BY KNOWING OF ITS OBLIGATIONS, SINCERELY AND SOLELY FOR THE SAKE OF ALLAAH, THEN HIS PAST SINS WILL BE FORGIVEN". (COLLECTED BY BUKHAAREE AND MUSLIM)

THE FASTER MUST HAVE HIS INTENTION EACH NIGHT BEFORE THE FAJR/DAWN PRAYER

ON THE AUTHORITY OF HAFSAH, THE WIFE OF THE PROPHET (MAY THE PEACE AND BLESSINGS OF ALLAAH BE UPON HIM) SAID THAT THE MESSENGER OF ALLAAH (MAY THE PEACE AND BLESSINGS OF ALLAAH BE UPON HIM) SAID; "WHOEVER DOES NOT HAVE THE INTENTION TO FAST BEFORE FAJR/DAWN THEN THERE IS NO FAST FOR HIM". (COLLECTED BY ABU DAAWUD, TIRMITHEE, NASAAEE AND IBN MAAJAH. AL-ALBAANEE DECLARED THIS HADEETH AUTHENTIC.)

IT IS RECOMMENDED TO EAT SUHOOR, THE PRE DAWN MEAL

ON THE AUTHORITY OF ANAS IBN MAALIK THE PROPHET (MAY THE PEACE AND BLESSINGS OF ALLAAH BE UPON HIM) SAID; "TAKE SUHOOR AS THERE IS A BLESSING IN IT". (COLLECTED BY BUKHAAREE)

THE FAST BEGINS AT THE CALL TO FAJR/DAWN PRAYER AND NOT AT SUNRISE

ALLAAH SAYS; ".....AND EAT AND DRINK UNTIL THE WHITE THREAD OF DAWN BEOMES DISTINCT TO YOU FROM THE BLACK THREAD OF NIGHT. THEN COMPLETE YOUR FAST UNTIL THE NIGHT." (SURAH BAQARAH 2:187)

ON THE AUTHORITY OF ABU ADEE IBN HAATIM THE PROPHET (MAY THE PEACE AND BLESSINGS OF ALLAAH BE UPON HIM) SAID; "THIS VERSE MEANS THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT AND THE WHITENESS OF DAWN". (COLLECTED BY BUKHAAREE AND MUSLIM)

EATING, DRINKING, VOMITING AND MARITAL RELATIONS DONE INTENTIONALLY, BREAK THE FAST

STAY AWAY FROM INDECENT SPEECH AND ACTIONS, SHOUTING, OBSCENE LANGUAGE

ALLAAH WILL GRANT A SPECIAL REWARD FOR THE FASTER

the faster will enter a special door in paradise called ar-rayaan

the faster has two moments of happiness

a. breaking the fast each day

b. when he meets his lord

the breath of the faster is more pleasant to allaah than sweet musk

the supplication of faster is answered (bukhaaree and muslim)

THE FAST ENDS EACH DAY AT SUNSET AND ONE SHOULD BREAD HIS FAST RIGHT AWAY, ALTHOUGH IT IS STILL LIGHT OUT, BEFORE THE MAGHRIB/SUNSET PRAYER.

ON THE AUTHORITY OF UMAR WHO SAID THAT THE MESSENGER OF ALLAAH (MAY THE PEACE AND BLESSING OF ALLAAH BE UPON HIM) SAID; "WHEN THE NIGHT COMES FROM OVER HERE (THE WEST) AND THE DAY GOES AWAY FROM OVER THERE (THE EAST), THE SUN HAS SET AND THE THE ONE FASTING MUST BREAK HIS FAST". (COLLECTED BY BUKHAAREE AND MUSLIM)

RAMADAAN IS THE MONTH THAT THE QURAN CAME DOWN AND WAS REVEALED TO THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH, PROPHET MUHAMMAD IBN ABDULLAAH (MAY THE PEACE AND BLESSINGS BE UPON HIM) AND FOR THAT REASON WE OBSERVE READING THE ENTIRE QURAAN IN THE SACRED MONTH OF OURS. THE READING CAN BE DONE ALONE, WITH YOUR FAMILY, IN A GROUP OR IN THE CONGREGATION AT THE MASJID.

IT IS RECOMMENDED TO GO OUT TO THE MASJID TO PRAY THE TARAWIH PRAYER BEHIND THE IMAAM/LEADER. EACH NIGHT A 30TH OF THE QURAAN WILL BE READ BY THE IMAAM/LEADER WHILE THE PEOPLE STAND IN PRAYER LISTENING BEHIND

HIM.

IN SHA ALLAAH, I PRAY THAT WE ALL HAVE A BLESSED RAMAADAAN AND ALL OF THE GOOD THAT WE DO IN RAMAADAAN WILL BECOME A PERMANENT PART OF OUR LIVES AFTER RAMAADAAN. SUCH AS GIVING IN CHARITY, FEEDING THE PEOPLE, BEING KIND TO ONE ANOTHER, NOT BACKBITING AND SLANDERING ONE ANOTHER, NOT SMOKING AND USING INTOXICANTS OF ANY KIND AND STAYING AWAY FROM ALL THAT IS HARAAM/PROHIBITED AND ENJOINING ALL THAT IS HALAAL/GOOD; AMEEN!!!