GENEROSITY & CHARITY:
RasulAllah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) became even more generous in Ramadan than he already was.
Ramadan is a time for generosity and giving. It is a time when we think about those who have less than us as well as thank Allah for everything he has given us. Ramadan is an honourable and blessed month, and the rewards for generosity are multiplied in it.
The Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“The best charity is that given in Ramadan.”
[At-Tirmidhi]
The Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“He who feeds a fasting person will gain the same reward as he will, without decreasing from the fasting person’s rewards.”
[Ahmad]
Therefore we should get into the habit of giving in charity now so by the time Ramadan arrives we would increase in our generosity, giving to those less fortunate than ourselves. We should give whatever we can afford as Allah looks at our intentions.
Surely in there hereafter we will regret that which we did not spend in the path of Allah.
CONTROLLING THE TONGUE:
Ramadan is a time where we must control our desires (nafs) as well as our tongues:
The Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“Fasting is not (abstaining) from eating and drinking only, but also from vain speech and foul language. If one of you is being cursed or annoyed, he should say:
“I am Fasting, I am Fasting.”
[Ibn Khuzaymah; Ibn Hibbaan]
Therefore we must protect our tongue from vain speech and foul language. Protecting the tongue is preventing it from lying, back-biting, slander, tale-carrying, false speech and other things that have been forbidden in the Qur’an & Sunnah.
Those who control their tongue are the best of Muslims:
The Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) was asked:
“Which Muslim is best?”
He responded:
“One who other Muslims are safe from his tongue and his hand.”
[Tirmidhi #2504]
We must not deceive ourselves into thinking that by the time Ramadan comes we will all of a sudden break a lifetime habit and control our tongues. Again this is another big deception. We must start controlling our tongues now for we cannot for changing lifetime bad habits is not an overnight process.
So how can we begin to control our tongues? This can be done by ”THINKING BEFORE SAYING ANYTHING.” Not just talking without even thinking what we are going to say.
We must think before we speak and before saying anything we should think whether or not what we are going to say is going to please or displease Allah.
If we doubt that what we are about to say may anger or displease Allah then we should refrain from saying it. If we have nothing good to say then surely it is better NOT to say anything at all. Remember we WILL be accountable for everything we said in our lives so we MUST start taking responsiblity for what comes out of our mouths NOW otherwise we will regret it later when it is too late. Therefore we must get into the habit of “thinking before speaking”.
So let us begin to control our tongues now so that by the time Ramadan comes we would have adopted good habits and would have been used to controlling our tongues and refraining from saying anything which may anger or displease Allah.
REMEMBER: If we do not protect our tongues then our fasts will be in vain:
Rasulullah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said:
“Allah does not need the fast of one who does not abandon false speech or acting according to his false speech.”
[Al-Bukhari]
IMPRVING CHARACTER & MANNERS:
Rasulallah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) came to perfect the character of man and the best of this Ummah are those with the best of characters:
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) used to say:
“The best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character.”
[Al-Bukhari]
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said:
“There is none heavier in the scales of the Hereafter than good character.”
[At-Tirmidhi; Abu Dawud)
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) also said:
“The best loved by me and the nearest to me on the seats on the Day of Resurrection are those who have the best manners and conduct amongst you, who are intimate, are on good terms with others and are humble, and the most hated by me and who will be on the furthest seats from me are those who are talkative and arrogant.”
[Tirmidhi]
Again as with making any big change perfecting our character and manners cannot be done overnight but we must make a start now so that by the time Ramadan comes we would have gained momentum in making the necessery changes to our characters in order for us to be the best of this Ummah and those closest to Allah.
Surely if good character and manners are the heaviest on the scales then can you imagine how much more heavier they will be if we behave with good character and manners during Ramadan?
So let us strive to perfect our manners, character and conduct towards others and know that these good deeds will be of the heaviest on the scales and will enable us to reach the highest ranks of Jannah and the closest to Allah.
MODERATION IN EATING:
On the authority of Al-Miqdaam Ibn Maady-Khareed, who said: I heard Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) Say:
“No human ever filled a vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient for any son of Adam are some morsels to keep his back straight. But if it must be, then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath.”
[Tirmidhi; Ahmed]
Ibrahim Al-Naka’i, one of the teachers of Imam Abu Hanifa, May Allah have mercy on them both, mentioned:
“The people ruined before you were done in by three characteristics: too much talking, too much eating, and too much sleeping.”
There is no doubt that excessive eating is not only a cause of many diseases but is also a major factor in stopping us from maximising our worship to Allah.
As-Shaafai (Ra) said:
“I have not filled myself in sixteen years because filling oneself makes the body heavy, removes clear understanding, induces sleep and makes one weak for worship.”
Many of us fast during Ramadan fast during the day and after Iftaar make up for all the food we missed throughout the day by binge eating.
Surely this goes against the very purpose of Ramadan which is to be moderate in eating and to remember those who have less than us. How will we remember the unfortunate when we constantly over eating before and after our fasts?
By controlling what we eat now we will not only benefit our health in the short and long term but moderate eating will make us less heavier and enable us to maximise the amount of worship we do everyday during Ramadan and the rest of our lives.
Al Hassan al-Basri (Ra) said: “The test of Adam (AS) was food and it is your test until Qiyamah. ”
And it used to be said: ”Whoever takes control of his stomach gets control of all good deeds.”
And: ”Wisdom does not reside in a full stomach.”
One day Al-Hassan (RA) offered some food to his companion, Who said:
“I have eaten until I am no longer able to eat.”
To which Al-Hassan (RA) said:
“Subhaana Allah! Does a Muslim eat until he is no longer able to eat?”
IMPLEMENTING SUNNAH’S INTO DAILY LIFE:
“Say (O Muhammad to mankind): “If you (really) love Allah, then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic monotheism, follow the Quran and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
(3:31)
Surely if we follow the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) in every aspect of our lives then everything that we do will become a worship to Allah, even going to the toilet, having a bath, dressing and undressing etc
Reviving the Sunnah into our dsily lives:
The Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“Whoever revives an aspect of my Sunnah that is forgotten after my death, he will have a reward equivalent to that of the people who follow him, without it detracting in the least from their reward.”
[At-Tirmidhi]
The best habit we can ever have in our lives is to implement the Sunnah into EVERY aspect of our lives so that our whole life and everything we do during it can become a worship to Allah.
We can do this by gradually learning all of the Sunnah’s and dua’s of every aspect of our day waking up, leaving and entering the Masjid and house, dressing and undressing etc. So let us get into the habit right now of implementing every Sunnah’s into our daily lives so by the time Ramadan comes we can continue to implement Sunnah’s and gain even more rewards for them.
May Allah enable us to make the best of this Ramadan and make it a salvation for us in the Hereafter. Ameen!!!