And what is obligatory for the Muslim regarding it? The Shaykh: Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and the Imam of the Righteous, and upon
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The questioner : And we are about to welcome this blessed month, the month of fasting, whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness, and whose end is release from the Fire. And we are about to welcome in it this blessed month in which supplications increase and good deeds increase. We would like from your eminence an introduction to this blessed month, and what is obligatory for the Muslim regarding it?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and the Imam of the Righteous, and upon his family and all his Companions.
This blessed month is the month of Ramadan. Allah the Exalted said regarding it:[Al-Baqarah 2:185] So Allah the Exalted singled it out by the fact that the great Qur'an was revealed in it.
And Allah the Exalted singled it out with a blessed night, which is the Night of Decree, about which Allah said:[Ad-Dukhan 44:3-8] And Allah the Exalted said about it: [Al-Qadr 97:1-5].
And Allah the Exalted singled it out by making its fasting obligatory upon this Ummah and making its fasting one of the pillars of Islam. And it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sahih Ibn Hibban 10:853.
And Allah Mighty and Majestic singled it out by making standing in its night a cause for the forgiveness of sins. For it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sahih al-Bukhari 37.
And for this reason, it is prescribed for the Muslims in the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to stand in the nights of Ramadan in congregation, praying in the mosques behind an imam. And it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)Jami` at-Tirmidhi 806Sahih (Darussalam).
And I urge my Muslim brothers to fast the fast of Ramadan, the fast by which their deeds are purified and their faith increases. It is the fast that its practitioner maintains until he achieves what fasting was legislated for. And Allah pointed to that in His saying:[Al-Baqarah 2:183] So Allah made clear the wisdom of making fasting obligatory, which is the mindfulness of Allah Mighty and Majestic. And it is established from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him) that he said: Bulugh al-Maram 5:14 So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) made clear in this hadith that the wisdom of fasting is that a person should leave off speaking falsehood and acting upon it, and ignorance. As for speaking falsehood, it is every forbidden statement, because every forbidden statement is falsehood in that it turns away from the straight path and deviates from it. And likewise, acting upon falsehood includes every forbidden action. As for ignorance, it is transgressing against people and wronging them in their persons, their wealth, their blood, and their honor.
I urge my Muslim brothers to take advantage of this month by caring for standing in its nights. For as we mentioned earlier,Jami` at-Tirmidhi 806Sahih (Darussalam) And standing in Ramadan, Allah forgives thereby what has passed of the standing person's sin.
And I emphasize to my brothers the imams who lead the people. I emphasize to them that they should stand for the people in a manner that includes tranquility and reciting the Qur'an with deliberation. And that they should not do as many imams do, hastening with a haste that does not allow the ma'mum to do what is recommended. Rather, sometimes they hasten with a haste that does not allow the ma'mum to do what is obligatory, such as tranquility and glorification, and the like. And the people of knowledge (may Allah have mercy on them) have stated that it is disliked for the imam to hasten with a speed that prevents the ma'mums from doing what is recommended. How much more so if he hastens with a speed that prevents the ma'mums from doing what is obligatory? He is responsible for those behind him to lead them in the complete prayer in the manner narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
And it is established in the authentic hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that she was asked how the standing of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was, or how the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was in Ramadan. So she said: If the imam limits himself to eleven or thirteen rak'ahs, as that came from the hadith of Ibn Abbas, but with deliberation, tranquility, and recitation of the Qur'an with measured pace, and humility in the bowing and prostration, and establishing the recommended dhikr, until he performs the prayer in the most perfect manner and those behind him are able to perform it likewise, then this is better than a large number without tranquility. And it is established in the two Sahihs from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah in the story of the one who spoiled his prayer, who came and prayed a prayer, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: He repeated that to him three times until he said: "By Him who sent you with the truth, I do not know how to do anything other than this. Teach me."
I urge my Muslim brothers to be generous in the days of Ramadan, generosity with the self and generosity with wealth. For the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was the most generous of people, and he was most generous in Ramadan when Jibril would meet him and review the Qur'an with him. So giving, spending, and doing good to creation in this month has a distinction over other months, because it is the month of doing good, and Allah the Exalted loves those who do good. It is the month of generosity, and Allah Mighty and Majestic is generous to His servants in this month with many abundant blessings.
I also urge my brothers to read the Qur'an in it with deliberation and reflection on its meanings, and to discuss what is difficult with the people of knowledge. For the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not pass ten verses until they learned them and the knowledge and action contained in them, so they learned the Qur'an, the knowledge, and the action all together.
And I warn my Muslim brothers from wasting the time of this blessed month, for its times are precious. I warn them from daring to wrong the servants of Allah by lying in buying and selling, and by cheating and deception in any transaction they engage in. For it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1315Sahih (Darussalam).
In summary, I urge my Muslim brothers to every good deed that brings them closer to Allah Mighty and Majestic, and I warn them from every bad deed that is a cause of their sins and the decrease of their faith. And I ask Allah the Exalted for me and for them success in what He loves and is pleased with, and avoidance of the causes of His anger and His disobedience.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and the Imam of the Righteous, and upon his family and all his Companions.
This blessed month is the month of Ramadan. Allah the Exalted said regarding it:
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion
شهر رمضان الذي أنزل فيه القرآن هدىً للناس وبينات من الهدى والفرقانAnd Allah the Exalted singled it out with a blessed night, which is the Night of Decree, about which Allah said:
(3) Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind]. (4) On that night is made distinct every precise matter - (5) [Every] matter [proceeding] from Us. Indeed, We were to send [a messenger] (6) As mercy from your Lord. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing. (7) Lord of the heavens and the earth and that between them, if you would be certain. (8) There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death. [He is] your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers.
إنا أنزلناه في ليلة مباركة إنا كنا منذرين فيها يفرق كل أمر حكيم أمراً من عندنا إنا كنا مرسلين رحمة من ربك إنه هو السميع العليم رب السماوات والأرض وما بينهما إن كنتم موقنين لا إله إلا هو يحيي ويميت ربكم ورب آبائكم الأولين(1) Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree. (2) And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? (3) The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. (4) The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. (5) Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.
إنا أنزلناه في ليلة القدر ، وما أدراك ما ليلة القدر ، ليلة القدر خير من ألف شهر تنزل الملائكة والروح فيها بإذن ربهم من كل أمر سلام هي حتى مطلع الفجرAnd Allah the Exalted singled it out by making its fasting obligatory upon this Ummah and making its fasting one of the pillars of Islam. And it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, Allah will forgive him what has passed of his sins.
من صام رمضان إيماناً واحتساباً غفر الله له ما تقدم من ذهبهAnd Allah Mighty and Majestic singled it out by making standing in its night a cause for the forgiveness of sins. For it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Whoever establishes prayers during the nights of Ramadan faithfully out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards (not for showing off), all his past sins will be forgiven.
من قام رمضان إيماناً واحتساباً غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبهAnd for this reason, it is prescribed for the Muslims in the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to stand in the nights of Ramadan in congregation, praying in the mosques behind an imam. And it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
Indeed, whoever stands (praying) with the Imam until he finished, then it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night.
أنه من قام مع الإمام حتى ينصرف كتب له قيام ليلةAnd I urge my Muslim brothers to fast the fast of Ramadan, the fast by which their deeds are purified and their faith increases. It is the fast that its practitioner maintains until he achieves what fasting was legislated for. And Allah pointed to that in His saying:
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous -
يا أيها الذين آمنوا كتب عليكم الصيام كما كتب على الذين من قبلكم لعلكم تتقونWhoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions and does not abandon foolishness, Allah is not in need of his leaving food and drink
من لم يدع قول الزور والعمل به والجهل فليس لله حاجة في أن يدع طعامه وشرابهI urge my Muslim brothers to take advantage of this month by caring for standing in its nights. For as we mentioned earlier,
Indeed, whoever stands (praying) with the Imam until he finished, then it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night.
من قام مع الإمام حتى ينصرف كتب له قيام ليلةAnd I emphasize to my brothers the imams who lead the people. I emphasize to them that they should stand for the people in a manner that includes tranquility and reciting the Qur'an with deliberation. And that they should not do as many imams do, hastening with a haste that does not allow the ma'mum to do what is recommended. Rather, sometimes they hasten with a haste that does not allow the ma'mum to do what is obligatory, such as tranquility and glorification, and the like. And the people of knowledge (may Allah have mercy on them) have stated that it is disliked for the imam to hasten with a speed that prevents the ma'mums from doing what is recommended. How much more so if he hastens with a speed that prevents the ma'mums from doing what is obligatory?
And the imam is a guarantor.
والإمام ضامنAnd it is established in the authentic hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that she was asked how the standing of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was, or how the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was in Ramadan. So she said:
He used not to exceed eleven rak'ahs in Ramadan or in any other month.
كان لا يزيد في رمضان ولا على غيره على إحدى عشرة ركعةGo back and pray, for you have not prayed.
ارجع فصلي فإنك لم تصلI urge my Muslim brothers to be generous in the days of Ramadan, generosity with the self and generosity with wealth. For the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was the most generous of people, and he was most generous in Ramadan when Jibril would meet him and review the Qur'an with him. So giving, spending, and doing good to creation in this month has a distinction over other months, because it is the month of doing good, and Allah the Exalted loves those who do good. It is the month of generosity, and Allah Mighty and Majestic is generous to His servants in this month with many abundant blessings.
I also urge my brothers to read the Qur'an in it with deliberation and reflection on its meanings, and to discuss what is difficult with the people of knowledge. For the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not pass ten verses until they learned them and the knowledge and action contained in them, so they learned the Qur'an, the knowledge, and the action all together.
And I warn my Muslim brothers from wasting the time of this blessed month, for its times are precious. I warn them from daring to wrong the servants of Allah by lying in buying and selling, and by cheating and deception in any transaction they engage in. For it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Whoever cheats, he is not one of us.
من غش فليس مناIn summary, I urge my Muslim brothers to every good deed that brings them closer to Allah Mighty and Majestic, and I warn them from every bad deed that is a cause of their sins and the decrease of their faith. And I ask Allah the Exalted for me and for them success in what He loves and is pleased with, and avoidance of the causes of His anger and His disobedience.