Etiquettes of Ramadan (1/2)

1. Start preparing your mind from the month of Sha'ban for according a befitting reception to Ramadan. Keep fasts frequently before the Month of Sha'ban. Sayeda 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) relates; "The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to keep fasts more often in Shaban than in any other month".

2. Make an effort to sight the Ramadan moon with full attention and eagerness and say this prayer on sighting the moon:

“God is the Greatest! O God! Do make the appearance of this moon a token of peace, faith, salvation and Islam (obedience) for us. Do make this moon arise as a favour to us so that we may perform deeds which conform to Thy Will and are dear to Thee. Our Lord and thy Lord is God!"

And say the same prayer on sighting the moon of each month. (Reported by Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban, etc.)

3.  Do take special interest in offering devotions during the month of Ramadan. In addition to obligatory prayers, make it a point to observe supererogatory prayers (Nawafil) also, Make a firm resolve to win the maximum favour of God. God has reserved His special favours and blessings for this great and propitious month. On the final day of Sha'ban, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in a discourse on the blessings of the month of Ramadan affirmed:

"O people! A great and blessed month is going to set in on you. Each night of this month is better than a thousand months. God has made fasting obligatory during this month and has ordained Taravih as a supplementary prayer. Any man who performs a good deed during this month of his own free volition will receive a reward equal to the reward for obligatory deeds performed during other months. And any man who performs a single obligatory act during this month, he shall receive a reward equal to the reward of seventy obligatory acts during other months.”

4. Keep fasts whole of the month with deep eagerness and zeal. Even if you can't observe fast due to some serious illness or for any other reason permissible in shariah, strictly avoid eating before others out of respect for the sanctity of Ramadan. To all intents and purposes, you must appear as if you are fasting.

5. Make it a point to recite the Holy Qur’an. The month of Ramadan has a special connection with the Holy Qur'an. The Holy Qur'an was revealed in this month and the other Divine Books also descended in the same month. Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) received scriptures on the first or the third day of this month. Zabur descended on Prophet Dawud (peace be upon him) on the twelfth or eighteenth day of this month. Torah was revealed to Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) on the sixth day of this propitious month. On the twelfth or thirteenth day of the same blessed month, the Bible was transmitted to Prophet Isa (peace be upon him). Hence recite Qur'an as many times as possible in the course of this month. Angel Gabriel (peace be upon him) used to recite the Holy Qur'an to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and also heard recitation of the Qur'an from the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) every year during the month of Ramadan. In the final year of the Holy Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) earthly life angel Gabriel (peace be upon him) completed the whole text of the Qur'an twice during the month of Ramadan.

6. Try to recite the Qur'an distinctly and with understanding. Along with frequent recitation, be careful to grasp the meaning of the Holy Qur'an with a clear impact of its message on your mind and heart.

7. During ‘Taravih' do listen to the recitation of the whole text of the Qur'an. The Holy Prophet used to listen to the whole text of the Holy Qur'an at least once during Ramadan.

8. Say 'Taravih' prayers with humility, eagerness and devotion. Do not just complete the number of Rak'ahs in a mechanical fashion. Offer prayers with understanding and devotion so that your life may be influenced by the propitious influence of the Namaz (Salat) and your devotion to God may become firm and deep. Do offer Tahajjud prayers also by the favour of God.

9. Give charity and spend whatever you can in the way of Allah. Look after the needs of the poor, the widows and the orphans and arrange provisions for them for 'Sahri' and ‘Iftari'. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has affirmed: "This is a month of Mawasat"[1].

Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports: "The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was by nature generous and munificent, but his munificence (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) knew no bounds during the month of Ramadan. When Gabriel (peace be upon him) visited the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) each night and recited the Holy Qur'an to the Prophet and heard the recitation of the Holy Book from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), during that period the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) became even more generous than the blowing wind.”

(Continued)