RAMADAN EXTRAORDINARY

 

The essence of time

WE are now in the month of RAMADAN. The day being FRIDAY and the date 5 Ramadan 1432H or 5 August 2011. August of course has its significance in Malaysia but Ramadan is extraordinary throughout the world. Especially to Muslim and Islam. Its the ninth month of Hijrah yet with all the extra significance attached to it. 

Today it has been the fifth day that Muslims in Malaysia have observed the 'fasting'; an obligation that comes with the return of Ramadan. We are blessed that we can greet Ramadan again and able to perform or fulfill the obligations that Allah has enjoined upon Muslims during this special month. We have another twenty five days to complete before we meet Shawal. To Muslims it will be a sad departing when Ramadan comes to its end. 

We recognized Allah has distinguished Ramadan from other months with many merits and virtues. Surah 2 'Al Baqarah' in the Koran verses 183, 184,185, 187 exemplifies.

" O you who believe! Observing AsSaum ( the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for for those before you, that you may become Al-Mutaqun ( the pious.)"

"Observing Saum (fasts) for a fixed number of days but if any of you is ill or on journey, the same number ( should be made up) from other days.. And as for those who can fast with difficulty (e.g an old man) they have ( a choice either to fast or ) to feed a 'Miskin' ( for every day) .....  but whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that your fast is better for you if only you know."

" The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs  for the guidance and the Criterion ( between right or wrong) .So whoever of you sights ( the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan, i.e is present at his home) he must observe Saum (fasts) that month ....


" It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of As Saum ( the fasts)

Other pointers to the goodness of Ramadan included  " the bad breath from the mouth of a fasting mouth is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of mask ... " 

"The angels ask forgiveness for those fasting until they break their fast.  "   " The devils are chained during this month.  "
" The doors of Paradise are opened while those of Hell are locked.  "
" The night, Laylatul al Qadr, which is better than a thousand months occurs in this month. Whoever is deprived of the good of this night has indeed been deprived of goodness altogether "


" Allah saves people from Hellfire during each night of Ramadan "

 Abu Hurairah related that the Prophet said  " If a person does not avoid false talk and false conduct during Siyam, then Allah does not care if he abstains from food and drink." and   "If anyone forget that he is fasting and eats or drinks he should complete his Siyam for it is Allah who has fed him and given him drink ".( Bukhari Muslim)


Zaid Ibn Khalid related that the Prophet said  " He who provides for breaking of the Siyam of another person earns the same merit as the one who was observing Siyam without diminishing in any way the reward of the latter  (Tirmidhi)



The above plus the atmosphere of the nights at the mosques or 'surau' surely make Ramadan a special month of the year. The prayer of twenty or eight rakaat as a jemaah could only be done during the month of Ramadan. That ascertain the mosques and 'surau' are frequented by males and females every night during Ramadan. No you will never see such crowd during other months and feel the friendly and devout atmosphere.

As the days and nights passed by, we can only hope Ramadan in 1433 will greet us again. InsyaAllah . May we all be blessed during Ramadan al Mubarak.