Blessed Nights
Every single moment of Ramadan offers opportunities of earning the mercy, love and acceptance of Allaah for the righteous Muslim. Both the nighttime and the daytime of Ramadan contain activities by which the sincere Muslim may earn the pleasure of Allaah.
The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) emphasized the virtues of night time when he said:
"Whoever prayed at night the whole month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allaah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven. (Bukhari)
He also emphasized the day thus:
Whoever fasts (the day of) Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allaah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven." (Bukhari)
The following are some of the righteous actions that are expected of one who intends to make a success of this month of Ramadan:
The first righteous deed that is required on the first night of Ramadan is to join the Muslims in looking out for the hilaal (crescent) of the month of Ramadan. It is not just the duty of some Muslims but that of every conscious believer. This is the way of the righteous predecessors.
lbn Umar (RA) narrated that people tried to sight the moon and he (ibn Umar) informed the Prophet (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) that he had seen it. So he fasted and commanded the people to fast." (Abu Dawud).
Even if you didn't join them in looking out for the crescent at the beginning, there is yet another opportunity as the fastingwinds to a close. The Prophet (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Fast upon its sighting and breakfast upon its sighting. If it is obscure for you then complete the count of Sha'ban until thirty days." (Bukhari)
If however, you did not sight the moon yourself, fast and breakfast with the majority of the Muslims ln your land once they have sighted the moon. It does not matter that you doubt their sighting. This is based on the statement of the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam):
"[True] fasting starts on the day that you start fasting; [true] Fitr (that is Eed) is on the day that you end your fasting; [true] Adhaa (that is Eed) is on the day that you offer your sacrifice" (Tirmidhi)
Iftar
Part of the righteous action of the night is iftar. The best iftar (breaking of the fast) is the one done just after the sun has set. Hastening to break earns the Muslim immense goodness. The Prophet (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"My Ummah will not cease to be upon good as long as they hasten in breaking the fast." (Bukhari)
Connected to iftar are two important good deeds: duaa (supplication) and dhikr (remembrance of Allaah). Du'aa'should be made before breaking the fast, because this combines weakness and humility, and because one is still fasting. All of these are means of having one's du'aa' answered.
Take a light iftar: The heavier the food you eat at iftar the slower and weaker your body is in carrying out the remaining acts of righteousness for the night. Our model, Muhammad Rasulullah (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) "used to break the fast with fresh dates before praying, and if not with fresh dates, then with older dates, and if not with dates then with some mouthfuls of water." (Ahmad)
After breaking the fast, the Prophet (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) recommended that we should say this dhikr:
"dhahaba-dh-dhama'u wabtallatil 'uruuq wa thabbatal ajr insha Allaah." (Thirst has gone, the veins are moist, and the reward is assured, if Allaah wills.)(Abu Dawud).
Sadaqah: The time of breaking the fast also present a means of immense reward. Invite someone to share from your food or fruits and your reward will be unquantifiable. The Prophet (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him, except that nothing will be reduced from the fasting person's reward." (Ahmad).
If you are invited to share in someone's else's meal, please do not forget to pray for them as the Prophet (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) recommended:
"Allaahumma baarik lahum feema razaqtahum, waghfir lahum warhamhum.' (0 Allaah! Bless them in what you have provided for them, forgive them, and have mercy on them)." (Muslim)
The obligatory salaat Maghrib and Ishaa are the two obligatory prayers of the night. These prayers should be prayed in congregation.
Taraweeh
After the Ishaa prayer, join the rest of the Muslims in observing SalaatuTaraweeh. The taraweeh of the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wasallam) would not exceed eleven rak'ahs. Aisha (RA) said:
"The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu alayhi .wa sallam) never prayed more than eleven rak'ahs (of qiyam), whether during Ramadan or any other time. He would pray four, and don't ask me how beautiful or how long they were. Then he would pray four, and don't ask me how beautiful or how long they were. Then he would pray three." (Bukhari)
The best taraweeh is the one that is prayed with a fairly long qiyaam (standing and recitation) and a little late into the night. However, if none of these features exist in your masjid, still it is better to join the congregation than to pray alone, for the Rasul (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: 'If a man prays with the Imaam until he finishes, it will be counted as if he prayed the whole night.' (Saheeh Abu Dawud)
Bed time virtues
Sleep early, soon after the Taraweeh. Go to bed, with clear and conscious intention of fasting the next day, as well as with the intention of getting up early for sabur. The Prophet (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"He who does not intend during the night to fast, then there is no fast for him." (Nasa'ee)
It forms part of good manners to perform ablution while going to bed. Narrated Al-Bara bin Azib (RA): 'Allaah's Messenger (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said to me:
"When you wal'!t to go to bed, perform ablution as you do for prayer, then lie down on your right side ... " (Bukhari).
Make Du'aa (Supplications)
There are several authentic supplications from the Prophet (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) which can be found in sound books. However some of them have stated benefits. As you go to bed, recite Ayat-al-Kursi. Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) confirmed that:
"If you do so, Allaah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you, and no Shaytaan will comenear you till the morning." (Bukhari)
Also no one recites the last three surahs of the Qur'aan While going to bed and at other times, except that he will be protected. Uqbah bin Amir (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"No person beseeches with anything like these and no person seeks refuge with anything like these." (An-Nasaae).
lbn Aabis al-Juhani (RA) also related that the Prophet (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said to him: "O Ibn Aabis! Shall I not guide you to or inform you of the best thing that those who seek protection use for protection? He said: "Yes O Messenger of Allaah! The Prophet (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Qul audhu bi rabbil falaq (Say I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn) and Qul audhu bi rabbi! Nas. (Say I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind). These two surahs are the best protection." (An-Nasaae)
Narrated Hudhaifa bin al-Yaman (RA): Whenever the Prophet (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) intended to go to bed, he would recite:
"Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya (With Your name. O Allaah, I die and I live)." And when he woke up from his sleep, he would say: "Al-hamdu lillahil-ladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana; wa ilaihi an-nushur (All the Praises are for Allaah Who has made us alive after He made us die (sleep) and unto Him is the Resurrection)." (Bukhari)
Don't miss the sahur
Don't miss the sahur for it is a blessed meal that is taken at a blessed time. Abdullah ibn al-Harith narrated from a man of the companions of the Prophet (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) who said:
"I entered upon the Prophet (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) and he was taking the sahur and he said: "It is a blessing which Allaah has given to you. so do not leave it." (Jaami-u-sagheer) It marks a difference between our own fast and those of others. The Prophet (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "The distinction between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is the taking of sahur." (Muslim)
Perhaps the greatest blessing of sahur is that Allaah covers those who partake in it with His forgiveness for them and sends His Mercy upon them. The Prophet (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"The sahur is a meal of blessings, so do not leave it. even if one of you just takes a (gulp) of water since Allaah sends mercy and His angels seek forgiveness for those who take the suhur." (Ahmad)
The time of the sahur ends at the appearance of true dawn and this is, signified by the second Adhan for fajr salaat (This is where the masjid is one that observes the true appearance of the dawn rather than follow a fixed time regardless of change in weather).
However, if you are still eating while the adhan is called, finish your food and resume your fasting. Take time to supplicate the sahur also occurs at a time in which supplication is accepted. The Prophet (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down to the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: 'Is there anyone to invoke Me, 'so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him? "(Bukhari)
So remember to ask Allaah for your needs and seek His forgiveness for your sins.
Laylatul Qadr
Take special care of this period of the night during the last ten' days of Ramadan in anticipation of witnessing Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Decree), Aisha (RA) said, Allaah's Messenger (salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) used to exert himself in the last ten nights more than he would at other times." (Muslim)
At this time, the best supplication is what she reported from the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam):
"Allaahumma innaka 'affuwwun tuhibbul 'afWa fa'fu annee." (O Allaah, You are the One Who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon. so pardon me.) (Muslim)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited