Concept of Devil in Ramadan

The concept of devil in Ramadan is quiet confusing some people says that in Ramadan the devils are captured and chained up and they give the reference of Prophet(pbuh) hadith. But the question arises if the devils are captured then why do people commit sins. So the answer to their question is that, the perception which different people have regarding the devils is not correct which is proved by the prophet(pbuh) hadith that the devils are not present in the holy month of Ramadan.

Al-Bukhaari (1899) and Muslim (1079) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.”

Al_Qurtabi define this hadith as during the holy month of Ramadan the evil actions are reduced on the part of those who fast meeting all the condition of fasting and taking care of all the requirements that been required by Ramadan or it can be understandable like only some of devil are chained up namely those who are stronger then the rest but not all of them as we can hear from the people that the evil are reduce in the month it is noticeable here that ewer evils happen in this month than in others. If all of them were to be chained up that does not mean that evil and sin would not happen, because there are other causes of evil apart from the devils, such as evil souls, bad habits and human devils.

From Fath al-Baari.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen was asked in Fataawa al-Siyaam (p. 466):

That how can we settle the idea that the devils are chained up during the month but the fact is people are doing sin?

He answer to this question and said the fact that sin happen in Ramadan can not contradict that the devils are chained up in the month because the fact that they are chained up does not prevent them from moving, so according to prophet(pbuh) hadith “And the strong devils are chained up, and they cannot achieve what they usually achieve (at other times).” Narrated by Ahmad, 7857; this hadeeth was mentioned by al-Albaani in Da’eef al-Targheeb, 586; he said: it is da’eef jiddan (very weak).

So its mean that the evil are present in the month of Ramadan for those who do not fast as the conditions of fasting that’s why sin is done during the holy month.

Ramadan Month of Fasting

Muslims everywhere must fast this month for the sake of Allah. When this takes place then everything must be done during the day on an empty stomach. The Muslims have the perseverance to perform all their tasks from going to school, working, walking, whatever they need to do without eating. In the evening they return to their mosque to attend Tarawih with the feeling that they are fully nourished they are able to continue their daily tasks.

When you are fasting you are able to think much more clearly than when you are stuffing your stomach and are over fed. While you are in a state of fasting, you are enriched spiritually, physically and yes even intellectually. You have many new benefits because now you are able to think on a higher spiritual plane. Those who fast in faith believing in the power of Allah find that they are richly rewarded with more insight to life and a better intelligence in the things that they do.

The meaningful thing about Ramadan for Muslims is the fact that it teaches one how to control their emotions and how to make of yourself a perfect Muslim. Everyone needs to know the pathway to forgiveness. Ramadan shows us the pathway to forgiveness. Muslims abstain from any form of sin during the month of Ramadan.This is the time to make yourself clean and full of the grace of Allah.

It is now time to learn of the teachings of Muhammad and bask in the knowledge that is given to us for his sake of righteousness. Meditation is a vital part of the month of Ramadan. It is important to meditate along with fasting in order to reach the highest of spiritual awareness. When you meditate every day, you will be enlightened spiritually and start to understand more about the universe around you. We are all one in the universe and the universe is all around us and within us.

The Muslims use this month of fasting to find a new awareness in their life and to help them make changes that will affect their lives for the rest of the year. It is a promise to keep when you truly believe in your faith. Muslims follow the teachings of the Koran during the month of Ramadan. The Koran to the Muslims is like the Bible to those who are not of their faith but are of the Christian belief.

Those who are of different religious beliefs watch in awe as every year the world of Muslims take the month to fast, meditate and to learn more of their own teachings. The Muslims have a strong belief in the teachings and adhere to it with all their might. It is a good thing to follow the teachings of the Koran, fast, and meditate during the month of Ramadan. The results are a beautiful thing that the whole world could learn from and perhaps someday, we will all fast and learn more of our own religious teachings.

~This guest post was written by freelance writer Victoria. She is a stay at home mom and is also currently enjoying working on a project with Gulvafslibning Priser, a Danish floor sanding company.

Why Fasting is imposed on Muslims

Human the creation of Allah Almighty, Allah the most merciful has set some rules and norms while he was creating the human and ordered them to follow all those roles and norms as per wish of Allah Almighty, but when a human is overcome by a material desire and their worldly needs they become neglected by those rules and norms which have been imposed by Allah Almighty. To remind a human about their commitments which they have made with Allah Almighty before coming to this world Allah has made fasting mandatory once every year for a whole month and that month is called the holy month of Ramadan.

When Ramadan comes some restriction on our eating and marital relationship has been imposed and we are asked to do worship to Allah Almighty to forgive our sin. Fasting is somewhat demanding because its original aim is to make us disciplined and to make our selves abstain from sin and follow the way which is described by the prophet(pbuh), and to achieve this objective it is mandatory to show full commitment with Ramadan and fast during the month as described by the Prophet(pbuh).

The one example of how Ramadan teach us to make control on our needs and wants is when we are having sehri or sahor and all of sudden we hear Adhan, we immediately stop eating how so ever strong our need for a certain thing but we stop doing what we were doing and we are not allowed to eat anything during fast we do not give to our wishes and temptation, this restriction of not eating and drinking remain till Maghrib until we cannot hear adhan and this timing is also appointed by Allah.

The month of Ramadan gives us lots of knowledge and we gain lot from fasting. The most important thing which we gain from fasting is that one’s soul is liberated from the shackles of his wishes and desires and moves a step forward towards knowledge and intellect, he moves a step closer to Allah by rising all above all ordinary needs. This is the purpose why fasting puts all restriction on all those things which results increase in our desires and incline us towards pleasure, when a person restrict such constrained then he is able to break his bond with this world and come closer to the lord of the world, towards his creator this is why Allah Almighty says that fasting is for Him and He alone will bestow the reward for it.

The Month to Forgive Others

Ramadan is the month in which Allah Almighty forgives humans and those sinful persons who neglected the orders of Allah. This month means to be forgiveness and those who forgive other human in the spiritual month Allah has many reward for them and apply mercy on them.

Once the holy Prophet(PBUH) said Musa, the son of Imran once asked, "Oh my Lord! Who is the most honorable of Your servants? And He replied, the person who forgives even when he is in a position of power" (Baihaqi). Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet.

So from this hadith we can imagine what forgiveness mean in the holy month of Ramadan, remember those time when you get in to argument with some one and when you know that your position is right but you have been neglected and insulted with rudeness and then you chose to hold a grudge, after all you have a right to, how can they treat you like this, why would you forgive? You were right on your saying and on your position so why should you forgive those who insulted you.

That’s what you would say and you may be right and you may be in position of power mentioned in hadith above, but you need to know that forgiving other (apart from those who hurt one physically) you should forgive them to become close to Allah and his mercy . How can we move up the ladder of spiritual development when we hold bitterness and anger towards another person? While we may have been in the right, is it worth sacrificing our energy on a grudge instead of on growth?

Is there not something strange about asking for God's forgiveness of our sins while withholding our forgiveness from someone who has hurt us? So remember one of the most important part of Ramadan is forging fellow human beings in the holy month so Allah forgive you for your mistake and sin which you have done, according to Prophet's hadith Ramadan is a month whose beginning is Mercy, whose middle is Forgiveness and whose end is freedom from the Hellfire. This makes it a great time to ask God for His Forgiveness. It's also a wonderful time to open our hearts and cleanse them of grudges and bitterness by forgiving others.

We have to understand that the part of getting Allah and his mercy is always paved with tests and difficulty no one can gain spiritual uplifting without proving their mettle this practice include facing all type of hardship including injustice at the hands of others.

The Pleasure of Ramadan

Ramadan the month which make every person happy and the joy that millions of us will feel happy when the month of Ramadan comes, those who are not Muslim can not imagine what Ramadan is really like. For them it must seem like a severe diet that lasts for a month. How, they say, can people look forward to going without food and drink between dawn and sunset for a whole month? Yes that Muslim who do, we Muslim look forward to whole year for the month of happiness, the month in which Allah him self asked us about our needs and fulfill those needs with his mercy. Muslims wait for whole year and prepare them for the month of mercy to fast.

The reason behind this is very simple, Muslims have been commanded by Allah to do so. According to the holy Quran O ye who believe. Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you. That ye may (learn) self-restraint.] (Al-Baqarah 2:183) The fast is done only for the sake of Allah Almighty, the happiness and the joy which a fast bring can not be describe in words and the rewards of doing fast for the sake of Allah is clearly defined and that is HEAVEN jannah.

For Muslims Ramadan is the month to make another beginning to obey the orders of Allah and his prophet (pbuh). This is the month to set ones priorities to come back to the religion after doing so much sin to ask the forginess to Allah Almighty to start a life as per the teaching of prophet(pbuh) to be faithful to prayers, to recite the Qur’an, to give thanks at all times to Allah for His goodness.

When each day fast is over it brings nice joy on the face of every Muslim and they thank Allah for keeping them alive to see the spiritual month of Ramadan, it is the time when Muslims all over the world share achievements and being a Muslim they fast for the sake of Allah and will only end the fast with the name of Allah when the Muezzin announce that it is the time to end the fast by the name of Allah Almighty. Radios will be turned on in anticipation of the call to Prayer. Throats thirsting for water will eagerly await the cry of “Allahu Akbar” to end the day’s fast.

The Purpose of Fasting

There are some reason behind every deed of a person every work which a person does and there are two component behind it one is the purpose for which a work is done and the second thing is a particular shape of that work which is chosen to achieve that purpose for example, lets take ones food we eat because we want to live our life healthy there is a defined method of eating meal first you take a morsel and put it in to your mouth, then you masticate it and push it below the throat. This method was adpote by you because this is most effective method to achieve your object but we know that the mean thing was the purpose for which the food has taken and not the form and procedure of this action What will you say if anybody were to make a morsel of saw-dust or cinder or mud, put it in his mouth, chew and gulp it? You will say only this that his brain is out of order. Why? Because this idiot did not understand the real purpose of eating and is suffering form the misunderstanding that only the aforesaid four component acts constitute eating. Likewise, you will call that person also mad who soon after taking the food vomits it by thrusting his fingers into his throat then complains that the benefits said to accrue from taking food have not been availed of by him and that, contrarily, he is daily getting lean and is on the verge of death. This fool blames the food for his growing weakness little realizing that it is due to his own stupidity.

know same case which we discussed above apply it on our fasting if we think that by going to all these four process of eating we have obtain our purpose of eating and we should have the benefit of all eating irrespective of whether he pushed down in his stomach mud and stone, or vomited the bread soon after eating it. The big mistake which we do in the month of Ramadan is we obey all the orders of Allah we fats for a whole day we apply prayer at the time of prayer and then we think that we completed our responsibility and know we will get the benefit but have we ever think that only having fast and applying prayer is the only thing and the only purpose of Ramadan? If you have a little sense then tell me how a man who is fasting and is thus engaged in the ‘Ibadat’ of Allah from morning till evening, can in the midst of that ‘Ibadat’ utter a lie and indulge in backbiting? Why does he quarrel at the slightest pretext and utter abuses from his mouth? How dare he encroach on other people’s rights? How does he indulge in acquiring illicit money and giving money to others illicitly? And having done all these thing, he still thinks that he has performed ‘Ibadat’ of Allah? Does this not resemble the work of that person who eats cinder and mud and thinks that by merely completing the four requirements of eating he has actually done the job of eating.Again Freedom From Restrictions After Ramadan.

we have to understand the real aim of fasting and by the grace of Allah his messenger has pointed out real aims of fasting according to one hadith of prophet (pbuh) "Whoever did not give up lying and practicing falsehood, Allah is in no need of his giving up food and water". In another Hadith he said : "Many are the fasters whose fasting does not bring them anything except hunger and thirst and many are those who keep standing in the night but their standing does not bring anything except being awake in the night". To understand the real purpose and aim of fasting we have to understand the hadith of prophet (pbuh) and live our life with the teaching of Islam.

The Objective of Muslims in Ramadan

Ramadan the holy month and the month in which Allah asks to his Sinful persons to get forgiveness and mercy through the grace of Allah Almighty. As we know that in every deed we people do in our life their should have a goal and a result of the thing we do and all we want to achieve the goal in a positive manner because we want our selves to be successful in our lives. This is for the whole humanity but for Muslims it is more important then the people of other religion because as a Muslim we have a belief that we have to give the answers of our act to Allah on the MAHSHAHER or the judgment day.

So based on this every true Muslim should have an objective for their whole life and their individual deeds during every minute that they stay on earth, we know that Allah Almighty designed and created the humanity to fulfill the objective for which they were originally created, which is defined by Allah Almighty in the holy Quran.

[And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them (i.e. provision for themselves or for My creatures) nor do I ask that they should feed Me (i.e. feed themselves or My creatures).] (Adh-Dhariyat 51:56-57)

So for Muslims Allah Almighty gives another chance to come back to the religion and live their life as describe by the Prophet(pbuh) and Ramadan is the month in which Muslims get such opportunity to come back to Allah obey his order and ask for his mercy. Let your self to set some objective in the month of Ramadan and make sure that you will abstain your self from sin. These are some suggestion in order to the real objective in Ramadan.Let your objective this Ramadan be that you abstain from all that is prohibited for you by Allah. So do not cheat or lie or backbite or usurp others’ properties or gaze at what Allah has prohibited (the opposite sex). It is well-known that fasting is of three degrees:

1. Abstaining from food, drink, and intimate intercourse.

2. Keeping your ears, eyes, tongue, hands, and feet, and all other bodily organs free from sins.

3. Avoiding occupying your heart with unworthy concerns and worldly thoughts, and upholding nothing in your heart but Allah the Almighty.

So, what holds you back from drawing nearer to Allah and being one of those very few people who observe fasting of that third and special degree? So make your self ready for the Ramadan and try to follow all those practice which make Allah Almighty happy.

How to train a kid for Ramadan

Ramadan is the month of mercy and blessings there are many aspects of Ramadan like, fasting, prayers, moral values, charity and family with all these aspects, this is the month to train our kids whether they are your own kids or kids whom you teach. To educate and train a person is not a easy thing specially if we talk about children. Children don’t bring empty minds they ask question which should be answered by their elders. The process of training requires efforts, energy and a few of techniques to take it off.

According to our beloved Prophet (pbuh) “No father has given a greater gift to his children than good moral training.” (Tirmidhi)

So here are some training tips which we need to follow while we train kids.

1. Let them get their hands dirty:

According to one philosopher “The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action.” Herbert Spencer. We know that children learn by doing according to Brunmer, Jerome. Students retain 75% of a lesson when they learn through hands-on activities compared to 5% through a lecture or 10% through reading.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to bring his grandchildren Hassan and Hussein to the mosque as toddlers before they knew how to pray.

Hence a concept becomes real and acceptable for children only when they experience anything rather than only reading.

2. Involve their Emotions:

We know that children are emotional they take everything emotionally and get involved emotionally in everything they do. They really want to leave it as we can see video games tv shows targets the emotions of children and to be a teacher or a trainer we can also use the same technique for training.

2. Reveal the Purpose:

It is very important to tie a reward on every exercise which they do, we often hear students complain why should we do this? And we simple answer them because you have to do this. So this is the attitude which make the motivation level of a child zero and he will not do his work properly so to make a child do work properly you need to tie a reward on every action of a child.

Excessive competition and comparison can often result in helplessness and lack of motivation for children who learn in different ways or at a slower pace. Allow children to judge their own progress and compare themselves to their former level rather than that of others.

Make this Ramadan the beginning of a memorable and long-lasting training experience for you and your children!

Organizing time in Ramadan

The holy month of Ramadan is almost here and all of us are preparing for the spiritual month of Ramadan, so here are some suggestions which will help you in organizing your work during fasting. Many of us have a perception that the month of Ramadan is quit demanding and it requires a lot of energy so therefore it will be nice if they reduce many of activity and projects so that they can concentrate on the holy month of Ramadan, let me tell you this my friends there is a simple schedule to spend your month of Ramadan and do all your work which you do in your normal life.

These are the steps which can tell you how to make your schedule in the holy month of Ramadan.

Sleep Well:

It is mandatory to attend the tarawih not in Islam but it is the part of Ramadan so it is important to attend the prayer tarawih. So if you come back from tarawih at 10:00 or 10:30 pm try to sleep as early as possible in order to wake up early in the morning to eat a meal of sahur because it was the sunnah of Prophet (pbuh) to eat something before having a fast. One can go to sleep after fajir if you wish otherwise it would be better to close your eyes in afternoon.

Manage your time wisely:

To manage your time and work it is important to have a list of most important works of your day with their durations, for that you have to make a list of your every day work on priority basis. Make your most important phone calls early as you can catch people early at their desks and your work will not stop.

Manage your Energy wisely:

A person will be best in fasting if they control their anger, because anger can harm the core objective of fasting. Fasting teaches discipline and how to control yourself in different situations. It constantly reminds the individual of continuous abstinence and observance. Therefore, since the body stores different components of energy, it needs to be functioning according to what it can take during the hours from Fajr till Maghrib.

While managing your time, make sure that you do the most demanding jobs or activities early in the morning without exhausting yourself. Rest in between different tasks and breathe in enough oxygen at all times. As we know that most of the stress is caused by less breathing and more worry and unrest of a person so it is mandatory for everyone to control their anger and remain cool during fasting.

Applying perfume while fasting

Is it permissible to wash the body with water and soap during the day of Ramadan? Does having a wet dream invalidate Sawm (Fast)? Also, does applying perfume invalidate Sawm?

Firstly: It is permissible for the fasting person to wash their body during the day of Ramadan with water and soap. Secondly: If someone has a wet dream during the day of Ramadan while fasting, this does not invalidate their Sawm; but they should perform Ghusl (ritual bath following major ritual impurity) if Maniy (sperm/vaginal secretions) is ejaculated. Thirdly: Sawm is not invalidated by applying any kind of perfume during the day of Ramadan while fasting, but one should not inhale incense or powdered perfumes such as musk.

May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!

Requirements of Ramadhan

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has given guidance to the Muslims for each and every thing. He has given detailed instructions on when to start the month of Ramadhan and how to spend time during this month.

Beginning and Ending of Ramadhan: Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) has narrated that: "I heard the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saying that you should start fasting when you see the moon for the month of Ramadhan and stop fasting when you see the new moon" (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-ulSaum).

Forgetfulness while fasting: The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said: "if some mistakenly eats while fasting he should complete his fast till the evening because surely Allah made him eat and drink" (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Saum).

Importance of eating breakfast: Anas relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Take breakfast before the fast begins; there is blessing in breakfast" (Bokhari and Muslim), Zaid ibn Thabit relates: We ate breakfast during Ramadhan with the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him said: "The difference between our observance of the fast and that of the People of the Book is eating of breakfast" (Muslim).

Etiquettes of Sehri (food taken at dawn): Sehri is a blessed meal. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said: "This is truly a blessing. One strengthens in oneself the habit of getting up early in the morning and to worship Allah and one can offer humble prayers to Him." The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said: "Eat Sehri as there are blessings in eating Sehri" (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Saum).

At time of Iftar (opening the Fast): There are some times during the day that are more helpful and assist in prayers being answered, Allah accepts more prayers when the fast is opened. In one saying the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has reported to have said: "No prayer is rejected at the time of the opening of the fast that is offered by someone who has been fasting" (Sunan Ibn Maja, Al-Abwab Al-Dawat).

Rewards of Fasting

Every act of goodness is rewarded. Rewards are given based on the sincerity of the intention. Fasting is the only worship about which Allah has said that He Himself is the reward for it. This means that one develops such a close relationship with Allah that Allah Himself becomes the helper.

Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Allah, the Lord of Honor and glory says: All other deeds of man are for himself, but his fasting is purely for Me and I shall reward him for it. The fast is a shield. When any of you is fasting he should abstain from loose talk and noisy exchanges. Should anyone revile him or seek to pick a quarrel with him, he should respond with: I am observing a fast. By Him in Whose hands is the life of Muhammad, the breath of one who is fasting is purer in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of musk. One who fasts experiences two joys: he is joyful when he breaks his fast, and he is joyful by virtue of his fast when he meets his Lord" (Bukhari and Muslim).

Sa'ad ibn Sahl relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "There is a gate of Paradise called Rayyan through which only those will enter on the Day of Judgment who are regular in observing the fast and no one else. A call will go forth: Where are those who observed the fast regularly? And they will step forth and no one beside them will enter through that gate. After they shall have entered, the gate will be closed and no one else will enter thereby" (Bokhari and Muslim).

Abu Sa'id Khudri relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "When a servant of Allah observes the fast for a day for the sake of Allah, He thereby repels the Fire from him a distance of seventy years of journeying" (Bokhari and Muslim).

Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "He who observes the fast during Ramadhan out of sincerity of faith and in hope of earning merit will have his past sins forgiven him" (Bokhari and Muslim).

Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "When Ramadhan arrives the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of hell are locked up and satans are put in chains" (Bokhari and Muslim).

Blessings of the month of Ramadhanul Mubarak

Fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam. The word "Sawm " (meaning to stop or abstain) is used in Arabic for fasting. A fast then means that one refrains from eating, drinking and other physical things (all those things that are otherwise allowed) from dawn to sunset. This month comes every year to spread the blessings and mercy of Allah. We are thankful to Allah for providing physical forms of divine worship such as prayer, fasting, and pilgrimage to improve our moral and spiritual condition.

Welcoming the Month of Ramadhan: The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said: "The month of Ramadhan comes to you. This is a blessed month" (Kitab-ul-Saum). The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has declared this month as the "month of Allah" because one abandons all otherwise "lawful" things in the way of Allah. He has also declared this month as the "Chief of the months." Worship during this month gains more blessings so one should fast with sincere intentions and worship should be performed to win Allah's pleasure.

Ramadhan - Anniversary of the Holy Quran: Ramadhan is that blessed month in which the Holy Quran was first revealed to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). In this regard this month celebrates the birthday of the Holy Quran. To render our dues we should recite the Holy Quran as much as possible. During this month, at night, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) use to recite the Holy Quran in its entirety with the Angel Gabriel (Jibraeel).

Opening the doors to heaven: Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) has narrated that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "When the month of Ramadhan starts, the doors of heaven are opened, the doors of the hell are closed, and Satan is put into chains" (Sahih Muslim Kitab-ulSaum). In this saying the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has promised a high place in heaven for one who observess the fast because a believer is enjoined to perform such deeds that please Allah and stay away from bad things.

Ramadhan's Special relationship with Tahajjud Prayers: Hazrat Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "A person who gets up at night for Prayer and fulfills all requirements of his faith with an intention of receiving blessing during the Month of Ramadhan, is forgiven all his past sins."

Charity during Ramadhan: Ibn Abbas relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, was the most generous of men and he was at his most bountiful during Ramadhan when Gabriel visited him every night and recited the Quran to him. During this period the bounty of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, waxed faster than the rain-bearing breeze (Bokhari and Muslim).

Prayers: Allah forgives all previous sins of a person who sincerely worships Allah during the month of Ramadhan. During this month Allah's mercy and blessings are at their peak. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said that during Ramadhan: "Allah says: 'Is there anyone who calls on me so that I can accept his prayers? Is there anyone who asks for anything so that I can fulfill his desires? Is there anyone who asks for forgiveness so that I can forgive" (Sahih Bukhafi - Kitab-ul-Tauheed).

Last Ten days of Ramadhan: Hazrat Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that, during the month of Ramadhan, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to develop a new vigor, staying awake alI night and also waking members of his family for worship" (Sahih Bukhail, Kitab-ul-Saum). During the month of Ramadhan worship reaches its peak in the form of I'tikaaf (retirement for Allah's worship). The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to retire to the Mosque in the last ten days of the Ramadhan. He would go to a corner in the Masjid-e-Nabwee (Prophet's Mosque) to worship Allah in seclusion.

Ramadhan and Lailatul Qadr (Night of Decree): Hazrat Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "O Allah's Prophet, if I know which night is the Lailatul Qadr then what should I pray? He replied: 'you should pray: 'O Allah, you are very forgiving and love those who forgive others. So bestow your blessings on me and forgive me"' (Jamiah Tirmidhi, Kitab-Al-Dawat). Lailatul Qadr is such a night that the Holy Quran has declared it to be better than a thousand months. May Allah enable us to be the recipients of Lailatul Qadr that we truly benefit from the coming month of Ramadhan. May Allah accept our prayers. Ameen.

The Holy Quran on fasting

"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous.

"The prescribed fasting is for a fixed number of days, but whoso among you is sick or is on a journey shall fast the same number of other days; and of those who are able to fast only with great difficulty is an expiation - the feeding of a poor man. And whoso performs a good work with willing obedience, it is better for him. And fasting is good for you, if you only knew.

"The month of Ramadhan is that in which the Quran was sent down as a guidance for mankind with clear proofs of guidance and discrimination. Therefore, whosoever of you is present at home in this month, let him fast therein. But whoso is sick or is on a journey, shall fast the same number of other days. Allah desires to give you facility and He desires not hardship for you, and that you me complete the number, and that you may exalt Allah for His having guided you and that you may be grateful.

"And when My servants ask thee about Me, say: I am near. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he prays to Me. So they should hearken to Me and believe in Me, that they may follow the right way.

"It is made lawful for you to go in unto your wives on the night of the fast. They are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them. Allah knows that you have been acting unjustly to yourselves, wherefore He has turned to you with mercy and afforded you relief. So you may now go in unto them and seek what Allah has ordained for you; and eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then complete the fast till nightfall and do not go in unto them while you remain in the Mosques for devotion. These are the limits fixed by Allah, so approach them not. Thus Allah make His commandments clear to men that they become secure against all evil." (2:183-187)