GOODBYE, O RAMADAN! (II)
The Noble Messenger of Allah Muhammad, upon whom be peace, in a Hadith by Hakim, once said to the Companions (Sahaba), “Come near the pulpit,” and they did. When he ascended the first step of the pulpit, he said, “Amin.” When he ascended the second step, he repeated, “Amin.” And when he ascended the third […]
The Noble Messenger of Allah Muhammad, upon whom be peace, in a Hadith by Hakim, once said to the Companions (Sahaba), “Come near the pulpit,” and they did. When he ascended the first step of the pulpit, he said, “Amin.” When he ascended the second step, he repeated, “Amin.” And when he ascended the third step, he once again said, “Amin.” When he descended, the Companions asked, “O Prophet of Allah! We have heard from you today something which we never heard before.”
The Prophet then said, “When I ascended the first step, Jibril [Archangel Gabriel, Jibra’eel, alaihis salam] appeared before me and said, ‘Woe unto him who found the blessed month of Ramadan and let it pass by without gaining [Allah’s] forgiveness.’ Upon that I said: Amin. When I ascended the second step, Jibril said, ‘Woe unto him before whom your [the Prophet’s] name is mentioned and he does not send blessings on you.’ I replied: Amin. When I ascended the third step Jibril said, ‘Woe unto him in whose presence his parents or either one of them attains old age, and (through failure to serve them) he does not obtain Paradise.’ I said: Amin.”
As for Jibril’s first woe prayer, that of Ramadan, we pray that may Allah have forgiven us, and may our Ramadan have been accepted. Amin. And as for Jibril’s second woe prayer (failure to praise the Prophet when his name is mentioned), let us recite salat alan nabiyy: “Allahumma salli wa sallim ala Sayyidina Muhammad, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma’in.” (O Allah! Bestow Your peace and blessings upon our Leader Muhammad, and upon his family and companions, amin.) And so, then, may we have escaped the second woe. Amin.
As for Jibril’s third woe prayer, birr al walidain, many of us may have lost both parents long ago. For those of us so afflicted, may we have parted with them in peace, and may Allah have accepted our relationship with them. Amin. (Note that you can still do good to departed parents by doing good to their surviving friends, according to our Teacher). And as for those with surviving parents, O how lucky they are! Paradise!
Now then, we ought to view Ramadan as a practical means of reforming ourselves rather than merely a religious duty, eagerly awaiting the time to free ourselves. It is imperative we review and see whether, using the following Ramadanian objectives, we can give ourselves pass mark. If we can check off most of the objectives, then we may say alhamdu lillah for a month well spent:
MODERATING EATING HABITS: Ramadan demands a strict and solid resolution to submit oneself to a special diet, which often corrects habits which may be harmful to health. No wonder the Holy Qur’an mentions patience, tolerance and perseverance as synonyms of Fasting. Imam al-Ghazali says, in his Inner Dimensions of Fasting, we should not over-indulge to the point of stuffing our bellies. Of what use is the Fast if at the time of breaking it one not only makes up for all one has missed during the daytime, but perhaps also indulges in a variety of extra foods?
RE-DISCOVERING THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF FASTING: Related to the above, many of us have had the unfortunate opportunity of having to submit to diagnostic medical tests using ‘fasting sugar’ as basis. Most ailments are never detected until the body is on empty. Fasting, it has been ascertained, activates the blood circulation and purifies heart and soul. Besides, modern medicine has proven that fasting is a remedy for diseases that affect the human of this century because of overeating and the variety of processed foods.
ENDURING HUNGER: Hunger is no joke. Many people suffer hunger all their lives, though it is so difficult for many of us to believe. That is why in Ramadan we are availed of the opportunity of feeling the difficult life of many of the poor. This feeling, so humane and compassionate, is much more expressive than a whole series of well-prepared speeches or well-organized public demonstrations. The pangs of hunger felt by the fasting person are a reminder.
INSTILLING DISCIPLINE THROUGH REGULARITY: During Ramadan, we acquire the habit of punctuality. We break our fast at a fixed time, and we abstain from eating and drinking for a regulated period. Becoming accustomed to regulation leads to the respect of time, of word and of promise. In Ramadan, we suddenly notice that the daylight hours are indeed long, the night so short! We cannot know the real value of happiness until we lose it.
SPREADING ASSISTANCE: Ramadan reinforces in us the spirit of giving and mutual help in society. Many of us do not remember the old woman down the road; she who had been the good friend of our long-departed grandmother, until it is Ramadan. We give her some sugar and some rice, and perhaps a piece of atamfa. Ramadan inspires love and tightens links among the family, both near and far.
CHARACTER REVOLUTION: Fasting, like any living thing, has a body and a soul. The required ‘abstinence’ from food, water, etc, is the body of the fast, while ‘piety’ is its soul. If we are not striving to refine our character by fasting, then our fast will be a body without soul. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be peace) once saw a woman who was fasting (on that particular day other than in Ramadan) abusing her maid-servant. The Prophet admonished her and told her to go break her fast. The woman protested: “But I am fasting today.” The Prophet said to her: “But was not your fast [already] broken by the abuses you were hurling upon that poor girl?”
Let us end with the message of His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto, through the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI): “The Sultan wishes to felicitate with the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria over the coming to end of the Ramadan fast. Muslims are reminded to give Zakatul Fitr (ordained alms-giving at the end of the Ramadan fast). This if done so that the poor among us may be able to also celebrate Sallah with happiness.
“In addition, Muslims are reminded of the recommended six days of extra fasting after Ramadan, the Sittu Shawwal, as recommended by the Prophet, upon whom be peace. Similarly, people travelling for Sallah should drive with caution, especially as we are in the rainy season when accidents are common. Muslims should again continue supplicating fervently for the peaceful co-existence of Nigeria. The Sultan wishes all Muslim faithful an accepted Ramadan fast and a joyous Sallah.”
Therefore, as we say Ma’assalam Ya Ramadan, may we have been fortunate to have witnessed Lailatul Qadr. Barka da Sallah!