O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you —as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful (of Allah.) [2:183]
Allah ta'ala addresses the people of faith, and through His ordained commands, He intends to grant them benefit in both this world and the Hereafter. Whenever He wishes to bestow rewards connected to the Hereafter, He addresses the believers with honour, despite their shortcomings and sins.
Why have we been commanded to fast?
The importance of this month is not due to the act of fasting or Quran recitation or Taraweeh prayer, nor is it the objective of this month.
If a person fasts during this month, recites Quran and prays Taraweeh, yet, fails to obtain the objective of this month, he will have wasted this entire month and achieved nothing. Allah ta'ala is not in need of
our hunger and thirst and these restrictions.
The purpose of this month is to safeguard ourselves from sins and to attain Taqwa. If we fail to refrain from sins, then we have achieved nothing from our fast besides hunger and thirst.
We should avoid backbiting, lying and all other evil actions. This conduct should not be limited to Ramadan alone, rather, we should live our entire lives in this manner.
Allah ta'ala has granted us this blessed month as a training ground, so that we may adopt this righteous lifestyle for the rest of our lives. He has made it easier for us by ordaining fasting, which helps a person restrain desires and abandon sins. If we discipline ourselves for these thirty days, will we remain disciplined throughout the rest of our lives.
When we abstain from eating and drinking, our
physical energy and strength decrease. Fasting weakens our desires, and it is these very desires that often lead us towards sin. Moreover, Allah ta'ala places a special light and spiritual strength in this blessed month, enabling us to restrain ourselves more easily from wrongdoing.
There are two types of sins. One are the inner sins, such as lying, harbouring malice and envy towards others and the other sins, are the external sins, such as oppression and murder. Both are considered major sins.
We should fear our inner sins the way we fear others to view our apparent sins. Allah ta'ala will expose all our hidden sins in the Hereafter.
We should fear our hidden, inner sins just as we fear people seeing our outward sins. A believer should be more concerned about Allah ta'ala's judgement over fearing the creation. If we do not repent, Allah ta'ala will expose even our concealed actions in the Hereafter. Therefore, we must purify ourselves internally and outwardly and seek to make amends f
rom those we have oppressed or wronged.
Allah ta'ala has divided this blessed month into three parts; the first is mercy, the second is forgiveness, and the third is freedom from the Hellfire.
It is through His mercy that we are granted the ability to sit in gatherings of dhikr and perform extra prayers during this blessed month. It is through His mercy that a person is able to abandon his bad actions and hasten towards good deeds. In reality, it is His mercy that draws us closer to Him.
The Atqiyāʾ are those individuals who live their lives with caution and consciousness, striving to please Allah ta'ala in all that they do. They are steadfast in performing their five daily prayers and are careful to abstain from sins. The Ashqiyāʾ, on the other hand, are those who do not live with such awareness and restraint. At times they pray, and at times they neglect their prayers, living without consistency or caution
Ramadan does not bring a great change for the Atqiyāʾ, for they were already living their lives in obedience, upholding the commands of Allah ta'ala throughout the year. In reality, Allah ta'ala begins this blessed month with mercy for the Ashqiyāʾ - those who were not consistent in their practice and lacked recognition of the Deen.
What is the mercy of Allah ta'ala?
Allah ta'ala draws us closer to His Deen.
He instils an enthusiasm and motivation within the hearts of the Ashqiyã and they begin to love prayer. They are granted encouragement and strength to perform good actions. Such people then attain the purpose of Ramadan which is to attain Taqwa. This is from the Mercy of Allah ta'ala.
If Allah ta'ala wills, He could guide every single person on this earth in an instant. He possesses complete power and capability. This life, however, is merely a test for us, to see who strives and obeys Him
Those who sp
end Ramadan properly are truly deserving of celebrating Eid at the end. Those who earn Allah ta'ala’s mercy during the first ten days by abstaining from sins and striving in obedience, will be granted forgiveness during the next ten days as a result of their fasting.
During these first ten days, we should make a list of all the sins we need to abandon and we should repent from each of them. We must strive hard to achieve this target. Only then will we be granted the reward of forgiveness during the next ten days.
Our fast aids in achieving our target and that is to attain Taqwa and safeguard ourselves from sins.
Allah ta'ala has not commanded us to stop sinning altogether as Shaytan and Nafs are always present with us and it is inevitable that we will commit a sin. Rather, Allah ta'ala has commanded us to constantly try to safeguard ourselves from sins and attractions which surround us. Ramadan is the training ground where we learn to achieve this. For example, while fasting, water may be placed right in front of us, yet it is our consciousness of Allah ta'ala that prevents us from taking even a single sip.
Similarly, this teaches us that by the end of Ramadan, when our desires attempt to lead us toward wrongdoing, we have learned to restrain ourselves and can overcome them through consciousness of Allah ta'ala and self-discipline
If we end up committing a sin, we should immediately seek forgiveness from Allah ta'ala and He will instantly forgive us.
If we fast while committing sins alongside, our fast loses its purpose and we risk being destined for Hellfire.
It is a shame that our lives revolve around chasing wealth and accumulating worldly assets, while we neglect the example of simplicity set by the Noble Companions. They possessed worldly knowledge, understood business, and knew how to pursue wealth, yet the Prophet ﷺ instilled such deep consciousness and fear of Allah ta'ala in their hearts, so their priorities remained aligned with the Hereafter.
Every day we should reflect over how many sins we have abandoned and how many people we have sought forgiveness from. We should not feel ashamed or proud in seeking forgiveness. Even if we have hurt a younger person or a child, we should seek forgiveness from
them. If we fail to seek forgiveness from those we wrong and oppress in this world, then they will be compensated in the Hereafter through our good deeds.
Even if someone has a complaint against you, yet you have not wronged or oppressed them, you should still seek their forgiveness. This act is a reflection of Taqwa.
Our desires often deceive us, making us think we are pious because of the great amount of worship we perform. In reality, Allah ta'ala expects us to abandon sins and this is the mark of genuine success. The true value of fasting lies in observing it with the purpose for which it was prescribed - to develop self-restraint and God consciousness.
Shyatan and Nafs use three things to make us commit wrongdoing. They seeks to deviate us through our eyes, our ears and our tongue.
At least during this month, we should seek to control these three things. In return, Allah ta'ala will forgive us and grant us rewards based upon our effort.
We should lower our gaze and safeguard ourselves from watching immoral things. We should protect our ears from listening to backbiting and other evil. If one is backbiting, we should abandon his company. We should avoid bad company at all costs, including those who gossip.
A person can also commit sins through gestures and expressions, not just through words or actions, so we should also remain wary of this.
If it is difficult to lower the gaze, then we should keep a handkerchief over your forehead and eyes so that we cannot see anyone or end up sinning.
It is a shame that womenfolk leave their home without observing Purdah. As a result, they are accumulating viewers and they will be punished in the Hereafter.
When the Prophet ﷺ initiated the propagation of Deen, there were only a very few amount of people who followed him. Similarly, those who speak the truth today, have very few followers. The reality is, that people do not like to listen to the truth today.
The truth is often bitter, and those who speak the truth, will find very few followers and few friends. People may consider them extreme or strict, simply because they remind others to uphold Allah ta'ala’s commands and encourage abandoning sins and wrongdoing.
Instead of utilising our eyes to gaze at immortality, we should gaze at that which Allah ta'ala likes, such as looking at the Quran, gazing at the friend of Allah and looking at the face of our parents.
Many sins arise from the tongue. We should not use our tongu
es without a purpose or need. Instead, we should keep our tongue busy in the remembrance of Allah ta'ala.
If we practice restraint regarding these three things, our Ramadan will be spent in an excellent manner and we will become a Muttaqi. If we fail to control these sins, our efforts of fasting will go to a waste.
Hadhrat Mu’adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه stated that, "The last words I heard from the Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) were, when I asked him: Which deeds are most favoured by Allah, He said: “To die and your tongue is moist with remembrance of Allah.” [Tabrani Shareef]
These Dhikr gatherings are immensely beneficial for us, so we should ensure we partake in all three gatherings. If we spend these first ten days correctly, then we will be granted protection and salvation during the next ten days.
May Allah ta'ala allow us to implement these precious pearls. Ameen
يٰٓـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا كُتِبَ عَلَيۡکُمُ الصِّيَامُ کَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِيۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِکُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُوۡنَۙ
O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you —as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful (of Allah.) [2:183]
Allah ta'ala addresses the people of faith, and through His ordained commands, He intends to grant them benefit in both this world and the Hereafter. Whenever He wishes to bestow rewards connected to the Hereafter, He addresses the believers with honour, despite their shortcomings and sins.
Why have we been commanded to fast?
The importance of this month is not due to the act of fasting or Quran recitation or Taraweeh prayer, nor is it the objective of this month.
If a person fasts during this month, recites Quran and prays Taraweeh, yet, fails to obtain the objective of this month, he will have wasted this entire month and achieved nothing. Allah ta'ala is not in need of
our hunger and thirst and these restrictions.
The purpose of this month is to safeguard ourselves from sins and to attain Taqwa. If we fail to refrain from sins, then we have achieved nothing from our fast besides hunger and thirst.
We should avoid backbiting, lying and all other evil actions. This conduct should not be limited to Ramadan alone, rather, we should live our entire lives in this manner.
Allah ta'ala has granted us this blessed month as a training ground, so that we may adopt this righteous lifestyle for the rest of our lives. He has made it easier for us by ordaining fasting, which helps a person restrain desires and abandon sins. If we discipline ourselves for these thirty days, will we remain disciplined throughout the rest of our lives.
When we abstain from eating and drinking, our
physical energy and strength decrease. Fasting weakens our desires, and it is these very desires that often lead us towards sin. Moreover, Allah ta'ala places a special light and spiritual strength in this blessed month, enabling us to restrain ourselves more easily from wrongdoing.
There are two types of sins. One are the inner sins, such as lying, harbouring malice and envy towards others and the other sins, are the external sins, such as oppression and murder. Both are considered major sins.
We should fear our inner sins the way we fear others to view our apparent sins. Allah ta'ala will expose all our hidden sins in the Hereafter.
We should fear our hidden, inner sins just as we fear people seeing our outward sins. A believer should be more concerned about Allah ta'ala's judgement over fearing the creation. If we do not repent, Allah ta'ala will expose even our concealed actions in the Hereafter. Therefore, we must purify ourselves internally and outwardly and seek to make amends f
rom those we have oppressed or wronged.
Allah ta'ala has divided this blessed month into three parts; the first is mercy, the second is forgiveness, and the third is freedom from the Hellfire.
It is through His mercy that we are granted the ability to sit in gatherings of dhikr and perform extra prayers during this blessed month. It is through His mercy that a person is able to abandon his bad actions and hasten towards good deeds. In reality, it is His mercy that draws us closer to Him.
The Atqiyāʾ are those individuals who live their lives with caution and consciousness, striving to please Allah ta'ala in all that they do. They are steadfast in performing their five daily prayers and are careful to abstain from sins. The Ashqiyāʾ, on the other hand, are those who do not live with such awareness and restraint. At times they pray, and at times they neglect their prayers, living without consistency or caution
Ramadan does not bring a great change for the Atqiyāʾ, for they were already living their lives in obedience, upholding the commands of Allah ta'ala throughout the year. In reality, Allah ta'ala begins this blessed month with mercy for the Ashqiyāʾ - those who were not consistent in their practice and lacked recognition of the Deen.
What is the mercy of Allah ta'ala?
Allah ta'ala draws us closer to His Deen.
He instils an enthusiasm and motivation within the hearts of the Ashqiyã and they begin to love prayer. They are granted encouragement and strength to perform good actions. Such people then attain the purpose of Ramadan which is to attain Taqwa. This is from the Mercy of Allah ta'ala.
If Allah ta'ala wills, He could guide every single person on this earth in an instant. He possesses complete power and capability. This life, however, is merely a test for us, to see who strives and obeys Him
Those who sp
end Ramadan properly are truly deserving of celebrating Eid at the end. Those who earn Allah ta'ala’s mercy during the first ten days by abstaining from sins and striving in obedience, will be granted forgiveness during the next ten days as a result of their fasting.
During these first ten days, we should make a list of all the sins we need to abandon and we should repent from each of them. We must strive hard to achieve this target. Only then will we be granted the reward of forgiveness during the next ten days.
Our fast aids in achieving our target and that is to attain Taqwa and safeguard ourselves from sins.
Allah ta'ala has not commanded us to stop sinning altogether as Shaytan and Nafs are always present with us and it is inevitable that we will commit a sin. Rather, Allah ta'ala has commanded us to constantly try to safeguard ourselves from sins and attractions which surround us. Ramadan is the training ground where we learn to achieve this. For example, while fasting, water may be placed right in front of us, yet it is our consciousness of Allah ta'ala that prevents us from taking even a single sip.
Similarly, this teaches us that by the end of Ramadan, when our desires attempt to lead us toward wrongdoing, we have learned to restrain ourselves and can overcome them through consciousness of Allah ta'ala and self-discipline
If we end up committing a sin, we should immediately seek forgiveness from Allah ta'ala and He will instantly forgive us.
If we fast while committing sins alongside, our fast loses its purpose and we risk being destined for Hellfire.
It is a shame that our lives revolve around chasing wealth and accumulating worldly assets, while we neglect the example of simplicity set by the Noble Companions. They possessed worldly knowledge, understood business, and knew how to pursue wealth, yet the Prophet ﷺ instilled such deep consciousness and fear of Allah ta'ala in their hearts, so their priorities remained aligned with the Hereafter.
Every day we should reflect over how many sins we have abandoned and how many people we have sought forgiveness from. We should not feel ashamed or proud in seeking forgiveness. Even if we have hurt a younger person or a child, we should seek forgiveness from
them. If we fail to seek forgiveness from those we wrong and oppress in this world, then they will be compensated in the Hereafter through our good deeds.
Even if someone has a complaint against you, yet you have not wronged or oppressed them, you should still seek their forgiveness. This act is a reflection of Taqwa.
Our desires often deceive us, making us think we are pious because of the great amount of worship we perform. In reality, Allah ta'ala expects us to abandon sins and this is the mark of genuine success. The true value of fasting lies in observing it with the purpose for which it was prescribed - to develop self-restraint and God consciousness.
Shyatan and Nafs use three things to make us commit wrongdoing. They seeks to deviate us through our eyes, our ears and our tongue.
At least during this month, we should seek to control these three things. In return, Allah ta'ala will forgive us and grant us rewards based upon our effort.
We should lower our gaze and safeguard ourselves from watching immoral things. We should protect our ears from listening to backbiting and other evil. If one is backbiting, we should abandon his company. We should avoid bad company at all costs, including those who gossip.
A person can also commit sins through gestures and expressions, not just through words or actions, so we should also remain wary of this.
If it is difficult to lower the gaze, then we should keep a handkerchief over your forehead and eyes so that we cannot see anyone or end up sinning.
It is a shame that womenfolk leave their home without observing Purdah. As a result, they are accumulating viewers and they will be punished in the Hereafter.
When the Prophet ﷺ initiated the propagation of Deen, there were only a very few amount of people who followed him. Similarly, those who speak the truth today, have very few followers. The reality is, that people do not like to listen to the truth today.
The truth is often bitter, and those who speak the truth, will find very few followers and few friends. People may consider them extreme or strict, simply because they remind others to uphold Allah ta'ala’s commands and encourage abandoning sins and wrongdoing.
Instead of utilising our eyes to gaze at immortality, we should gaze at that which Allah ta'ala likes, such as looking at the Quran, gazing at the friend of Allah and looking at the face of our parents.
Many sins arise from the tongue. We should not use our tongu
es without a purpose or need. Instead, we should keep our tongue busy in the remembrance of Allah ta'ala.
If we practice restraint regarding these three things, our Ramadan will be spent in an excellent manner and we will become a Muttaqi. If we fail to control these sins, our efforts of fasting will go to a waste.
Hadhrat Mu’adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه stated that, "The last words I heard from the Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) were, when I asked him: Which deeds are most favoured by Allah, He said: “To die and your tongue is moist with remembrance of Allah.” [Tabrani Shareef]
These Dhikr gatherings are immensely beneficial for us, so we should ensure we partake in all three gatherings. If we spend these first ten days correctly, then we will be granted protection and salvation during the next ten days.
May Allah ta'ala allow us to implement these precious pearls. Ameen