Are You Ready for Ramadan?
Only a few weeks remain before a noble guest arrives a month for which the righteous predecessors used to prepare six months in advance. It is a blessed month in which the Qur’an was revealed.
Allah the Exalted says: “The month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.” (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:185)
Within it is a night whose worship is better than the worship of a thousand months.
Allah says: “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” (Surah al-Qadr, 97:3)
So what have you prepared for this month?
Many people prepare by purchasing food and drink and arranging lavish iftar tables. However, this is contrary to what is more appropriate; for what truly deserves preparation is the heart before the stomach.
In this brief message, I will address several matters that assist in preparing the heart and purifying the soul. Know, my dear brothers and sisters, that purification precedes adornment. In order to experience the sweetness of fasting and night prayer, one must purify the soul from base desires. Therefore, I remind myself and you of the following:
First: Sincere and Genuine Repentance (al-Tawbah al-Nasūh)
True repentance consists of:
- Sincerity to Allah
- Genuine remorse over the sin
- Firm resolve not to return to it
If the sin involves the rights of others, then those rights must be returned to their rightful owners. There are sins that are not erased by abundant pilgrimage, fasting, or night prayer namely, violations of people’s rights.
Allah the Exalted says:
“O you who believe, repent to Allah with sincere repentance. Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds.”(Surah al-Tahrīm, 66:8)
And, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that Allah said: “A servant committed a sin and said: ‘O Allah, forgive my sin.’ Allah said: ‘My servant has committed a sin and knows that he has a Lord who forgives sins and holds accountable.’ Then he sinned again and said: ‘My Lord, forgive my sin.’ Allah said: ‘My servant knows he has a Lord who forgives sins and holds accountable. Do whatever you wish; I have forgiven you.’” ( Sahih al-Bukhari 7507)
Among the causes of steadfastness upon repentance is maintaining a righteous environment, which is only achieved by choosing good companionship and distancing oneself from places of sin. Withdraw from environments of temptation, immerse yourself in an atmosphere of faith, and choose righteous companions.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“The example of a righteous companion is like a perfume seller: either you buy from him, or you benefit from his fragrance. The example of an evil companion is like a blacksmith: either he burns your clothes or you smell an offensive odor.” (Muslim 2628)
Allah the Exalted also warns against corrupt companionship:
“Close friends on that Day will be enemies to one another, except for the righteous.”
(Surah al-Zukhruf, 43:67)
Second: Reconciliation and Mending Relationships (Islāh Dhāt al-Bayn)
Before Ramadan begins, strive to reconcile with your brothers and sisters.
Allah says:
“Indeed the believers are brothers, so make reconciliation between your brothers.”
(Surah al-Hujurāt, 49:10)
And He says:
“And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute lest you lose courage and your strength departs; and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
(Surah al-Anfāl, 8:46)
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“The believers, in their mutual love, mercy, and compassion, are like a single body: when one limb suffers, the whole body responds with sleeplessness and fever.” (Agreed upon: al-Bukhārī 6011, Muslim 2586)
He صلى الله عليه وسلم also warned:
“It is not permissible for a Muslim to boycott his brother for more than three days… and the better of the two is the one who initiates the greeting of peace.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6237)
Reconciliation is خيرٌ (good) for Muslims. Begin Ramadan with a sound heart, a purified soul, and free yourself from grudges and disputes.
Third: Dutifulness to Parents (Birr al-Wālidayn)
If Allah has blessed you with the presence of one or both of your parents, then you are upon great goodness. Be dutiful to them in their lives, and after their death through charity on their behalf and supplication for them.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“When the son of Adam dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who supplicates for him.” (Muslim 1631)
He صلى الله عليه وسلم also said:
“His nose was rubbed in dust (May he be humiliated)… the one who reaches his parents in old age, one or both of them, and does not enter Paradise.” ( Sahih Muslim 2551a)
So go to them and humbly kiss their feet, as an expression of utmost dutifulness and reverence; if they are in another land, call them and bring joy to their hearts.
A man once came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم seeking permission for migration, having left his parents weeping. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Return to them and make them laugh as you made them cry.”
(Abū Dāwūd 2528)
Fourth: Charity (Sadaqah)
Allocate for yourself a share of Sadaqah (voluntary charity) in this blessed month.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Charity extinguishes sin just as water extinguishes fire.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 4210)
And he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Charity is a proof.” (Muslim 4 223).
It is proof of sincere faith, love of Allah and His Messenger, and eagerness for righteous deeds. The best charity is feeding those who fast. Seek ways to provide food for fasting people, for the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever guides to goodness has the same reward as the one who performs it.” (Sahih Muslim 1893a)
Allah has favored certain times with blessing, and Ramadan is among the greatest. Within it is Laylat al-Qadr, whose worship is better than a thousand months. Charity given during it carries multiplied reward, as understood from the Qur’anic context. It is also recommended to hasten the payment of Zakāt in Ramadan to attain its blessing and assist the poor and needy.
Fifth: Training the Soul in Worship ( Ibadah)
Begin training yourself for worship ( Ibadah) from now. Establish a daily portion of Qur’an, even if small, but be consistent. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if small.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6464.)
Devote time to night prayer, even two units, and supplication, for the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“Allah descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the first part of the night is over and says: I am the Lord; I am the Lord: who is there to supplicate Me so that I answer him? Who is there to beg of Me so that I grant him? Who is there to beg forgiveness from Me so that I forgive him? He continues like this till the day breaks. ( Muslim : 758)
Train yourself to fast, especially Mondays and Thursdays, and three days of each lunar month. Increase fasting in the sacred months, as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم advised fasting in the sacred months.
Sixth: Learning the Jurisprudence of Fasting and Zakāt
Ask yourself: if you were to start a new job requiring specific skills, what would you do? You would undoubtedly pursue training and study to perform your duties correctly. And as you are now approaching the month of fasting, and may also be giving the Zakāt of your wealth along with Zakāt al-Fiṭr at the end of the month , it becomes incumbent upon you to seek the path of knowledge and to remove ignorance from yourself by learning the jurisprudence of fasting and Zakāt, so that you may perform these acts of worship with clarity, insight, and sound understanding. Here lies the responsibility of scholars and students of knowledge to educate the public through accessible lessons and clear explanations, enabling people to worship Allah upon sound knowledge.
Conclusion
We ask Allah to allow us to reach Ramadan, to grant us its fasting and night prayer, completion of the Qur’an, and generosity therein, and to grant us success in that which He loves and is pleased with.