Slacking in acts of worship during Ramadan
Since 2012-12-23
Beware of slacking in acts of worship during the Month of Ramadan
Beware of slacking in acts of worship during the Month of Ramadan
By Sheikh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him.
All praise is due to Allah, much blessed praise. I bear witness that no one has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone having no partners.
And I bear witness that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger. Allah sent him with the guidance and the religion of truth, aided him against his enemies and thus he vanquished them with a severe vanquishing. So all the praise is for Allah, the Lord of all that exist and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, companions and all those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgment.
As for what follows:
O Mankind: How many of a people wish to reach the Month of Ramadan but do not reach?!
How many of a people were thinking about fasting Ramadan but did not get the chance to fast it?!
How many a people are in their grave(s) depending upon their deeds, incapable of adding a single good deed to his good deeds or able to diminish a single evil deed from his evil deeds?!
But you, Allah has favored you to reach this virtuous month, therefore take advantage of it by doing righteous actions that draw you closer to Allah! Seize this happening with a good intention and sincerity to Allah, ‘azza wa jall, and properly following His Messenger, sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam.
O Muslims! Indeed many of the people are (very) heedless in this Month. They spend their nights in senseless matters that do not contain any benefit in them. Rather, these matters could quite well be detrimental for them. They loiter around in the market places waiting for suhoor (pre-dawn meal) until when the time for suhoor comes; they eat and may even over sleep the fajr prayer. As regards their day(s), majority of them are spent sleeping. They don’t benefit from them. And this, by Allah, is (without question) bereavement. Certainly, this time period, rather this magnificent season is for gain and profit; the individual seizes this opportunity to get closer to Allah, ‘azza wa jall.
For indeed, the successful one is him who is able to turn habits into worship and the neglectful one turns his acts of worship into habits. (May Allah help us!!!) The successful one has the ability to turn his regular activities into acts of worship.
And I am going to present an example for you to tread upon its method:
This suhoor (pre-dawn meal) that the individual eats at the end of the night, many of the people eat it out of hunger and so they do not (fully) achieve that which is found contained in it from reward. However, if they were to ponder (about this) they would surely find in it much good.
From the many beneficial and good things that are found in this suhoor are:
Firstly: In it is implementation of the commandment of the Prophet, sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, where he said: “Eat the pre-dawn meal, for indeed in the suhoor is barakah (blessing).” [Agreed upon].
«تسحروا، فإن في السحور بركة» متفق عليه
Secondly: In it is following the Messenger of Allah, sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam. Because from his, sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, guidance is that (he used to eat the pre-dawn meal and he would delay his suhoor.) And Allah, ‘azza wa jall, has said: {Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.} [Al-Ahzaab 33:21].
{لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّـهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّـهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّـهَ كَثِيرًا} الأحزاب: 21
Transliteration: Laqad kana lakum fee rasooli Allahi oswatun hasanatun liman kana yarjoo Allaha waalyawma alakhira wathakara Allaha katheeran
Thirdly: (It is a separation between the fasting of the Muslims and the fast of the People of the Book from the Jews and Christians.) Because the Jews and Christians eat suhoor in the middle of the night (midnight). Because their days start at midnight. As for the Muslims then they eat the suhoor at the end of the night because their fasting begins when the day enters. Thus it is more favored for the pleasure of Allah, ‘azza wa jall, and coincides stronger with the truth. That is because fasting is only during the day and the day doesn’t commence except after the rising of the fajr. And from that which is well-known is that differentiating ourselves from the disbelievers is a desired matter. It is befitting for the Muslims to distinguish (themselves) from the disbelievers especially in the aspects worship and their objectives. This is why the Prophet, sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, said: “Whoever resembles a people he is from them.” [Authenticated by Al-Albani].
«من تشبه بقوم، فهو منهم» صححه الألباني
Fourthly: In this suhoor is taking enjoyment in the blessings of Allah, ‘azza wa jall, and taking enjoyment in the blessings of Allah is beloved to Allah. “Allah, The Most High, certainly: loves for His Slaves to show the traces of His blessings upon them.” [Declared Hasan (good) by At-Tirmidhi, and Al-Albani said: Hasan Sahih (good authentic)].
«إن الله يحب أن يرى أثر نعمته على عبده» حسنه الترمذي، وقال الألباني: حسن صحيح
And the trace of the blessings of Allah upon us with this food is for us to take pleasure and enjoyment in it.
Fifthly: In it is seeking assistance upon fasting which is one of the pillars of Islaam. And whatever is an assistant upon obedience is obedience itself.
So these five matters about suhoor, many of the people are remiss about them and do not pay heed to them nor do they perceive them. But rather, they eat the suhoor merely out of hunger. And for this reason, I hope from you all and I advise you all and myself that we be upon wakefulness and (in) remembrance and that we enjoy that which Allah has bestowed upon us and to keep in mind these beneficial things that are in them from goodness.
O Muslims! Verily a person “if he performs ablution in his home then leaves for the masjid and the only thing that brings him out is the prayer, he does not take a step except that Allah raises him by it a darajah (level/degree) and removes from him by it a sin.”
«...توضأ فأحسن الوضوء، ثم أتى المسجد لا يريد إلا الصلاة، لا ينهزه إلا الصلاة، لم يخط خطوة إلا رفع بها درجة، أو حطت عنه بها خطيئة...» رواه البخاري
How many are there of footsteps; and how many are there of levels and degrees; and how many are there of sins; however it is upon us to be conscious of this in our exiting from our homes going to the masaajid in order (for us) to seek the reward from Allah, ‘azza wa jall.
Indeed there is much good in this Month (i.e. of Ramadan) and in other than it so take (full) advantage of this opportunity, may Allah bless you all. Don’t waste away your time and lives in play and amusement. For indeed the intentions allow a person to reach lofty ranks.
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