Why must we be generous on Ramadan?
In the Name of Allah, Most
Gracious, Most Merciful
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Realms; and Prayers and
Peace of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon all his
family and companions.
Ibn Rajab, may Allah have
mercy upon him, said in Lata'if
Al-Ma'arif, addressing the increasing generosity of The
Prophet, Prayers and Peace of Allah be upon him, in the month of
Ramadan: It has many implications, including:
1- The honor of time and the reward for an act multiplied.
2- To assist the fasting, standing (at night in prayer), and those
who remember Allah to do their acts of worship, thereupon a reward
like theirs is assured to the assistant. It is narrated by Zayd Ibn
Khalid, may Allah be pleased with him, from The Prophet, Prayers
and Peace of Allah be upon him, that he said: «He, who serves food
to a fasting person to break his fast, receives a reward like his
reward, without reducing anything from the reward of the fasting
person.» [reported by At-Tirmizi and others]
حديث زيد بن خالد عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «من فطر صائماً كان له مثل أجره، غير أنه لا
ينقص من أجر الصائم شيئاً» أخرجه الترمذي وغيره.
3- During the month of Ramadan, Allah Almighty bestows generously
His mercy and forgiveness upon His servants, and emancipates slaves
in large quantities from the Hell-fire, especially on the night of
Al-Qadr (the night of decree). Allah bestows mercy upon those of
His servants who are merciful to others, as confirmed by The
Prophet, Prayers and Peace of Allah be upon him: «Verily, Allah
bestows mercy only upon those of His servants who are merciful to
others.» [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
قال صلى الله عليه وسلم: «إنما يرحم
الله من عباده الرحماء» رواه البخاري.
So, he, who gives generously to the servants of Allah, Allah
Almighty, subsequently, bestows generously upon him out of His
bounties, and it is known that the reward always is given from the
same kind of deed.
4- The combination of fasting and giving in charity is among the
things that guarantees Paradise. Along these lines, it is narrated
by 'Ali, May Allah be pleased with him, from The Prophet, Prayers
and Peace of Allah be upon him, that he said: «In paradise there
are rooms which their back are apparent from its front and its
front is apparent from the back», the companions asked: for whom
are these rooms 'Oh' Messenger of Allah? He said: «for those who
talk to the people kindly, feed the people, observed fast plenty,
and perform prayers when others are sleeping.»[reported by
At-Tirmizi]
كما في حديث علي رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال:
«إن في الجنة لغرفا يرى ظهورها من
بطونها وبطونها من ظهورها»، فقام إليه أعرابي، فقال: "لمن هي يا نبي
الله؟" قال: «هي لمن أطاب الكلام وأطعم الطعام وأدام الصيام وصلى لله
بالليل والناس نيام» أخرجه الترمذي.
All those characteristics gather in Ramadan, where the believer
observes fasts, stands (at night in prayer), gives in charity, and
speaks good and pleasant words, since the fasting person is
forbidden to engage in vain discourse and obscenity.
Furthermore, fasting, giving in charity and prayer convey him who
perform them to the presence of Allah Almighty.
One of the righteous
forefathers said: "Prayer conveys its doer to half the way,
fasting leads him to the gate of The Sovereign, and charity takes
him by his hand and admits him to the presence of The
Sovereign."
It is narrated by Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, The
Prophet, Prayers and Peace of Allah be upon him, that he said: «Who
among you has observed fast today?» Abu Bakr said:" I." he further
asked: «Who among you has followed a funeral today?» Abu Bakr
said:" I." he asked again: «Who among you has served food to a
needy today?» Abu Bakr said:" I." he asked: «Who among you has
given in charity?» Abu Bakr said: "I." he asked (for the fifth
time): «Who among you has visited a patient to inquire about his
health?» Abu Bakr said: "I." on that The Prophet, Prayers and Peace
of Allah be upon him, said: «Those (characteristics) never gather
in a man but that he will enter Paradise.» [Reported by
Muslim]
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال:
«أصبح منكم اليوم صائماً؟ قال أبو بكر
رضي الله عنه: أنا. قال: فمن تبع منكم اليوم جنازة؟ قال أبو بكر رضي
الله عنه: "أنا". قال: فمن أطعم منكم اليوم مسكيناً؟ قال أبو بكر رضي
الله عنه: "أنا". قال: فمن عاد منكم اليوم مريضاً؟. قال أبو بكر رضي
الله عنه: "أنا". فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما اجتمعن في
أمريء، إلا دخل الجنة». أخرجه مسلم
5- The combination of fasting and charity is more convenient to
expiate sins, safeguard, and keep one away from Hell-fire,
especially when voluntary night prayer is joined to them. It is
proven from The Messenger of Allah, Prayers and Peace of Allah be
upon him, that he said: «Fasting is a protective shield (from the
Hellfire).» [reported by Al-Bukhari]
عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال: «الصيام جنة» أخرجه البخاري.
According to another narration: «Fasting is as an armor of a
fasting person against Hellfire like one's armor in a battle»
[Reported by An-Nasa'i]
وفي رواية: «الصوم جنة من النار، كجنة
أحدكم من القتال» أخرجه النسائي.
It is also narrated by Mu'ath, may Allah be pleased with him, from
The Prophet, Prayers and Peace of Allah be upon him, that he said:
«No doubt, charity extinguishes (i.e. expiates) sins in the same
way as the water extinguishes fire; likewise, standing up at night
for voluntary night prayer.» [Reported by Al-Albani]
وفي حديث معاذ عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم «الصوم جنة، والصدقة تطفيء الخطيئة كما يطفيء
الماء النار، وصلاة الرجل من جوف الليل» أخرجه الألباني.
Abu Ad-Darda', may Allah be
pleased with him, used to say: "Pray two Rak'as in the darkness of
night (perchance their reward would illuminate) for your sake in
the darkness of the grave; and observe fast on a very hot day,
(perchance its reward would cool) for the heat of the Day of
Resurrection; and give charity (perchance its reward would remove)
for the evil of a severe day."
6- One could not flee from deficiency and shortcoming in fasting,
and in order for fasting to expiate sins, it is requisite for one
to refrain from the things he is required to ward off, as mentioned
in a Hadith reported by Ibn Hibban in his Sahih.
The laymen could hardly refrain from all such things in their
fasting, as it should be. For this reason, a man is forbidden to
say: "I have fasted the whole month of Ramadan," or "I have spent
all nights of Ramadan standing (in prayer)." Thus, charity comes to
mend that shortage and defect. This is why Zakat Al-Fitr has been
enjoined at the end of Ramadan, as a means to purify the fasting
person from vain discourse and obscenity.
Fasting and charity are functioned in expiations for oaths,
proscriptions of Ihram, and having sexual intercourse with one's
wife during the day of Ramadan. So, in the early days of Islam,
Allah Almighty gave Muslims the freedom to choose between fasting
and feeding the needy. However, this was abrogated, and feeding
remained an alternative only for him who has no power to fast, due
to his old age. Whoever delays to compensate the fasts of Ramadan
until the coming of the next Ramadan, it becomes incumbent upon him
to compensate it along with feeding a needy per day, as a means of
strengthening according to the majority of scholars. That is the
fatwa given by the companions, may Allah be pleased with them. The
same applies to him who breaks fast for the sake of another, like
the pregnant and the breastfeeding woman, according to the opinion
of a set of scholars.
7- The fasting person leaves his food and drink for the Sake of
Allah. So, if he aids fasting persons like him on their piety,
through serving them with food and drink, he then will be in the
position of him who leaves a desire for the Sake of Allah, and
gives others preference over him with it, or supports them from it.
For this reason, he is encouraged, at the time of breaking his
fast, to have fasting persons share with him the meal, for at that
time, food and drink are the dearest to him, and if he supports
them from it, he will be like those who give food to others, in
spite of their love for it. furthermore, by doing so, he will give
thanks to Allah for making food and drink permissible for him after
forbidding them to him (during fasting). This is a grace that is
not valued, except when deprived from it.
Some of the righteous
forefathers was asked: "Why has fasting been ordained?" he
said: "In order that the rich would taste hunger, thereby forget
not the hungry." That is indeed one of the wisdoms and merits of
fasting.
We have previously mentioned the traceable Hadith narrated by
Salman, may Allah be pleased with him, in which he said: "It
(Ramadan) is the month of equality. He, who could not give others
preference over himself, should not fail, at least, to be of these
who support others." Many righteous forefathers used to fast and
support others from, or give others preference over themselves with
their meals of breaking fast, and spend their days and nights with
their bellies empty. Whenever Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with
them, fasted, he would break his fast only with the needy. If his
family happened to prevent them from him one night, he would not
have his supper on that night. Whenever a beggar came to him while
he was getting his meal of breaking fast, he would take his share
of food and give it to him, and return to find his family having
finished the remaining food in the bowl, thereupon he would fast on
the coming day, without eating anything.
A righteous predecessor had a desire for a certain kind of food and
he was fasting. At the time of breaking fast, this food was
presented in front of him, but he heard a beggar saying: "Who is it
to give a goodly loan to (Allah) the respite giver, the faithful
Who is free of need?" he said: "His destitute servant who is
bankrupt of good deeds." He stood and carried out the bowl and came
out to him with it, and spent that night with his belly
empty.
On another occasion, a beggar came to Imam Ahmad, may Allah have
mercy upon him, and he gave him two loafs he had prepared for the
meal of breaking fast.
Al-Hasan, may Allah have mercy upon him, used to serve his brothers
(in religion) with food while he was fasting voluntarily, and sit
to comfort them while eating.
Ibn Al-Mubarak, may Allah have mercy upon him, used to serve his
brothers (in religion) when travelling with different kinds of
sweet and other edibles while he was fasting.
Allah's peace be upon those souls! Allah's mercy be upon those
spirits! Nothing remained of them but news and traditions. How
different are those who withhold the right that is due on them,
from those who give others preference over themselves (with all
they have)!
Do not compare our tales to
them***for the healthy when walks isn't like the
paralyzed
8- There are further implications: Ash-Shafe'i, may Allah have
mercy upon him, said: "It is better for one to increase his
generosity in the month of Ramadan, in imitation of The Messenger
of Allah, Prayers and Peace of Allah be upon him. People in it are
in need for what sustains them, as a lot of them engage in fasting
and prayers from their labors." That is the opinion of Al-Qadi Abu
Ya'la and a lot of our companions.
Prepared by: Dar
Al-Qasem
Revised to agree with authentic
hadeeth
Translated by Wathakker.netwebsite
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