Ramadan brings us closer

Since 2012-11-19

Ramadan brings us closer… How sweet this saying is... How nice the words are... and how charming the letters are…Ramadan brings us closer… But from what does it bring us closer? From obedience or from disobedience? From righteousness or from debauchery? From good or from evil? From Paradise or from Hellire?

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 
All the praises and thanks be to Allah, and prayers and peace of Allah be upon the Messenger of Allah.
 
Ramadan brings us closer… Under this slogan a satellite TV channel promoted for its rotten commodities of the series, movies, quiz shows and trivial programs.
 
Ramadan brings us closer… How sweet this saying is... How nice the words are... and how charming the letters are…
 
Ramadan brings us closer… But from what does it bring us closer? From obedience or from disobedience? From righteousness or from debauchery? From good or from evil? From Paradise or from Hellire?
 
Ramadan brings us closer… does it bring us closer to the satisfaction and love of Allah or does it bring us closer to His anger and wrath?? By Allah, if we called Ramadan and asked it, “O Ramadan, from what are you bringing us closer? O Ramadan, what is the objective of your existence?” It will shout at us, “Do you not know? Do you not understand? Hear the words of Allah Almighty, {The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’ân, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:185]”
 
{شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْـزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ} البقرة: 185
 
Transliteration: Shahru ramadana allathee onzila feehi alquranu hudan lilnnasi wabayyinatin mina alhuda waalfurqani
 
It is the month of guidance... The month of obedience and worship... The month of the Quran and of fasting... The month of Taraweeh (Ramadan optional night prayers) and of staying up late at night for prayers and remembrances.
 
Ramadan brings us closer… it does not bring us closer from films or television series, quiz shows or competitions, neither from programs or trivialities. {Those (Al-Mushrikûn) invite you to the Fire, but Allâh invites (you) to Paradise and Forgiveness by His Leave,} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:221]
 
{أُولَئِكَ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ وَاللَّهُ يَدْعُو إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَالْمَغْفِرَةِ بِإِذْنِهِ} البقرة: 221
 
Transliteration: olaika yadAAoona ila alnnari waAllahu yadAAoo ila aljannati waalmaghfirati biithnihi 
 
Ramadan brings us closer to Allah… how far have you gone away from Him? How long have you gone astray from mentioning Him? How many times have you deserted His house (the mosque)? How often have you forgotten about His Messenger, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him? How many, how often and how long...?
 
How much have you lagged behind in performing the acts of worship of Allah? How much have you neglected obeying Him? He has said, {And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).} [Surat Adh-Dhâriyât 51:56]
 
{وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالإِنْسَ إِلا لِيَعْبُدُونِ} الذَّاريات: 56
 
 

 

Transliteration: Wama khalaqtu aljinna waalinsa illaliyaAAbudooni
 
Here is Ramadan; approaching near; live in its gifts and virtues. It was narrated from Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, that, “The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “In the first night of Ramadan, the devils and giant jinn are chained, the gates of Hellfire are closed so that not a gate is opened and the gates of Paradise are opened so that not a gate is closed. And a caller cries out, ‘O seeker of good, come forward, O seeker of evil, refrain.’ Allah frees some people from Hellfire, and that happens every night.” [Narrated by At-Tirmidhi 682 and It is authenticated by Al-Albani]
 
«إذا كان أول ليلة من شهر رمضان: صفِّدت الشَّياطين ومردة الجنّ، وغلقت أبواب النَّار فلم يفتح منها باب، وفتحت أبواب الجنَّة فلم يغلق منها باب، وينادي مناد يا باغي الخير أقبل، ويا باغي الشَّرِّ أقصر ولله عتقاء من النَّار، وذلك كلّ ليلةٍ» رواه التِّرمذي 682 وصحَّحه الألباني
 
O you lagging behind, O you negligent… O sinners -and we are all sinners- come forward to your Lord. Ramadan is a rare opportunity; it is precious and valuable. It contains mercy and forgiveness; they are easy to be obtained, the helpers are many and the factors for corruption are limited. The giant devils are chained and there are people freed from Hellfire by Allah every night. The gates of Heavens are opened and the gates of Hellfire are closed. {Allâh wishes to accept your repentance, but those who follow their lusts, wish that you (believers) should deviate tremendously away (from the Right Path).} [Surat An-Nisâ’ 4:27]
 
{وَاللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الشَّهَوَاتِ أَنْ تَمِيلُوا مَيْلا عَظِيمًا} النِّساء: 27
 
 

 

Transliteration: WaAllahu yureedu an yatooba AAalaykum wayureedu allatheena yattabiAAoona alshshahawati an tameeloo maylan AAatheeman
 
O ruthless heart… O negligent soul… O tearless eye… O disobedient young man… O distant young girl… O people… if mercy does not touch you now despite all of the previous, then when?
 
If someone is not worthy of forgiveness in this season, then when will he be worthy of it? Repent now... Supplicate now... Turn unto Allah now... if one plunges into the deep sea and does not get cleansed, what would cleanse him then?
 
O you whose sins in Rajab did not suffice him
that he disobeyed his Lord in Shaban
 
Ramadan has come after them
do not make it, as well, a month of disobedience
 
Recite the Quran and glorify diligently
it is a month of glorification and reciting the Quran
 
Burden your body if you wish its survival
how many bodies will be burnt in Hellfire
 
How many people who had fasted in yonder you know
family, neighbors and companions
 
They are dead but you are alive
how close you are from them
 
How many people are there who are dead? However, Allah has kept us alive to fast this month and to get closer to Him, glorified be He. How many young men and women, young and old are there who left our worldly life just one night before Ramadan? They may have had dreams and wishes. They may have wished to fast this month. They may have wished to pray the taraweeh prayers. They may have wished to recite the Quran. All this has gone with the wind when their souls departed. O our Lord, all praises and thanks are for You for what You have bestowed upon us of Your generosity.
 
To all those who disobeyed, lagged behind and became negligent
 
Take the glad tidings. Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Whoever observes fast during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards (not for showing off), then all his past sins will be forgiven. And whoever establishes the prayers on the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards (not to show off) then all his past sins will be forgiven.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari 2014 and Muslim, 760]
 
«من صام رمضان إيمانًا واحتسابًا غُفِر له ما تقدَّم من ذنبه، ومن قام ليلة القدر إيمانًا واحتسابًا غُفِر له ما تقدَّم من ذنبه» رواه البخاري 2014 ومسلم 760
 
O Lord, I used to commit adultery... I used to look (with lust) at the girls... I used to have affair with young men... I used to abuse drugs... I used to watch video clips... Will You forgive me all my sins?
 
By Allah, you will certainly be forgiven, O young men and women. Why not and He has said, {Say: “O ‘Ibâdî (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allâh: verily, Allâh forgives all sins. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} [Surat Az-Zummar 39:53]
 
{قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ} الزُّمر: 53
 
 

 

Transliteration: Qul ya AAibadiya allatheena asrafoo AAala anfusihim la taqnatoo min rahmati Allahi inna Allaha yaghfiru alththunooba jameeAAan innahu huwa alghafooru alrraheemu
 
O how Merciful Allah is! How Generous Allah is! How Bountiful Allah is! We disobey Him, we become negligent, we commit sins but He forgives and pardons us. {Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) to be affected by Allâh’s Reminder (this Qur’ân), and that which has been revealed of the truth} [Surat Al-Hadîd: 16]
 
{أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ} الحديد: 16
 
Transliteration: Alam yani lillatheena amanoo an takhshaAAa quloobuhum lithikri Allahi wama nazala mina alhaqqi
 
Listen to what is stranger than that, {Except those who repent and believe (in Islâmic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allâh will change their sins into good deeds, and Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} [Surat Al-Furqân 25:70]
 
{إِلا مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلا صَالِحًا فَأُولَئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا} الفرقان: 70
 
 

 

Transliteration: Illa man taba waamana waAAamila AAamalan salihan faolaika yubaddilu Allahu sayyiatihim hasanatin wakana Allahu ghafooran raheeman
 
By Allah my brothers, whoever is sincere in his repentance and turns unto his Lord, Allah will change their sins into good deeds even if they were as abundant as the foam of the sea.
 
It is the wisdom of Allah, which required making this worldly life a farm of the Hereafter and an arena for competition. It was from His bounty and generosity -Glorified and Exalted- on His slaves, to reward a lot for the little, to multiply the reward for good deeds, and to make seasons for His slaves where these multiplications are maximized. The happy one is he who seizes these seasons, months, days and hours, and to try to be closer to the Lord of the earth and the heavens. He hopes to gain a gift that brings him the happiness after which he will be safe from entering the Hellfire and from its scorching heat.
 
But, beware! Jabir ibn Samra, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Jibril (Gabriel) came to me and said, ‘O Muhammad, he who has reached one of his parents (in their old age) and died and did not enter Paradise then may Allah distance him. Say Amen.’ I said, ‘Amen.’ He said, ‘O Muhammad, he who has reached Ramadan and died and was not forgiven and was admitted to Hellfire, then may Allah distance him. Say Amen.’ I said, ‘Amen.’ He said, ‘If you are mentioned in the presence of someone and he did not ask Allah to send His blessings upon you and he died and was admitted to Hellfire, then may Allah distance him. Say Amen.’ I said, ‘Amen.’” [Authenticated by Al-Albani 75 in Sahih Aj-Jami’ (the Authentic Collection)]
 
«أتاني جبريل، فقال: يا محمَّد! من أدرك أحد والديه فمات فدخل النَّار فأبعده الله، قُل: آمين، فقلت: آمين، قال: يا محمَّد، من أدرك شهر رمضان فمات فلم يغفر له فأُدخل النَّار فأبعده الله، قُل: آمين، فقلت: آمين، قال : ومن ذُكِرت عنده فلم يصلِّ عليك فمات فدخل النَّار فأبعده الله، قُل: آمين، فقلت : آمين» صحَّحه الألباني 75 في صحيح الجامع
 
What do you think of the invocation of the trustworthy of Heavens (Gabriel, peace be upon him), to which the trustworthy of earth (Muhammad, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) has said Amen. He is really a loser who reaches Ramadan and is not forgiven.
 
Beware! Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Whoever does not give up forged speech, evil actions and ignorance, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)” [Narrated by Al-Bukhâri 6057]
 
«من لم يدع قول الزُّور والعمل به والجهل، فليس لله حاجة أن يدع طعامه وشرابه» رواه البخاري 6057
 
Whoever does not give up backbiting and gossip, insults and curses and lies, listening to music, watching movies and TV series, smoking and abusing drugs, looking lustfully at women, staying up late at night in coffee shops and entertainment tents, in that case Allah has no need of his leaving his food and drink! Where are the traders? Where are the investors? Where are the businessmen? The market has been held and it is high time to trade with Allah. {O you who believe! Shall I guide you to a trade that will save you from a painful torment? (10) That you believe in Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad) and that you strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allâh with your wealth and your lives: that will be better for you, if you but know!} [Surat As-Saf 61:10-11]
 
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى تِجَارَةٍ تُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ (10) تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ} الصَّفّ: 10-11
 
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo hal adullukum AAala tijaratin tunjeekum min AAathabin aleemin (10) Tuminoona biAllahi warasoolihi watujahidoona fee sabeeli Allahi biamwalikum waanfusikum thalikum khayrun lakum in kuntum taAAlamoona 
 
By Allah, it is a profitable, profitable, profitable trade.
 
What prevents you from profiting while the market is held? The time is open and the price is affordable. Allah has aroused your interest and the Prophet has guided you. Life is short, and there is no available chance such as this one; lustrous desires are absent, guidance is present, the devils are chained up, the honored angels are coming along, the rewards for good deeds are multiplied, supplications are answered, a large number of people are freed from Hellfire, the virtues of the night of Al-Qadr, and other good things, is there anyone who is preparing himself for that?
 
O the merchandise of the Most Merciful, where is the buyer
you have been offered with the best prices
 
O the merchandise of the Most Merciful you are not obtained
but by one or two in a thousand
 
I ask Allah the Great, the Lord of the Holy Throne to bless us with success in Ramadan, to place us away from Hellfire and to bless us with Paradise. The last of our supplication is that all the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of mankind, jinn and all that exists.
 
 
Prepared by Ahmed Al-Manzalawi
Fadl House