Sami Fakhra Jadran-Ireland, Maryland, USA
As a child, I remember going to the Ahmadiyya Hall in Saddar, Karachi, during Ramadan with my siblings and mother. We would listen to the dars, break our fast there and perform our tarawih prayers. I also recall some days when we broke our fast at home, and our grandmother would read prayers from a prayer book. We children would say “amin” after each du‘a (prayer).
Allah the Almighty states in the Holy Quran:
“O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.184)
While many of the youth are familiar with the cultural aspects and practices of their families during Ramadan, I would like to share the guidance of Allah found in the Holy Quran, the narrations of Prophet Muhammadsa, and the advice of the Promised Messiahas, as reminded in various sermons by our beloved Khalifatul Masih V, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa.
Salat, Tahajjud and recitation of the Holy Quran
It is narrated that the Holy Prophetsa once said that two Fridays or two Ramadans become a means of expiation for the sins carried out in between, so long as a person abstains from committing grave sins. (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-taharah, Hadith 233c)
Of course, the true essence of worship is prayer. The Promised Messiahas states that we must offer prayer in the manner which the Holy Prophetsa offered it, which is to pray in one’s language after reciting the prescribed recitations and prayers. (Malfuzat, 2022, Vol. 3, p. 58)
It should be remembered that not seeking repentance for one’s faults and sins also falls under great sins; hence, seeking forgiveness is of the utmost importance.
Huzooraa stated in his sermon on 29 April 2022 that another way of joining one Ramadan with the next is to focus on the recitation of the Holy Quran. In this regard, Huzooraa quoted the Promised Messiahas who has explained that the word ‘Quran’ carries in it a great prophecy which is that this Book alone is worthy of reading, and there would come a time when it would become of even more importance to hold fast to reading this Book. (Malfuzat, Vol. 3 [English], pp. 9-10)
The Promised Messiahas has also advised that every Ahmadi should strive to offer Tahujjud [pre-dawn voluntary prayer], should offer the five daily prayers, avoid all things that displease God, eliminate anger, establish forbearance and adopt excellent morals. In essence, every Ahmadi must pray, seek forgiveness, and give alms that God may have mercy on you. (Malfuzat [English], Vol. 1, pp. 215-216)
Durood and its importance
The Holy Quran tells us: “Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! you [also] should invoke blessings on him and salute [him] with the salutation of peace.” (Surah al-Ahzab, Ch.33: V.57)
We find many narrations which explain the necessity of sending durood [invoking salutations upon the Holy Prophetsa]. It is narrated that the Holy Prophetsa said that one who abandons sending salutations upon him, abandons the path leading to Paradise. (Sunan Ibn Majah, Kitab iqamat al-salah wa al-sunnah fiha, Bab al-salah ‘ala al-Nabi, Hadith 908)
On another occasion, the Holy Prophetsa said that God would send ten salutations upon the person that sends salutations upon him, and would raise them ten ranks and record ten good deeds under their name. (Kitab-ul-Sunan Al-Kubra Li-Al-Nisai, Kitab amal-ul-yaum wa lailah, Riwayat 9892, Dar-ul-Kutb Al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut 1991)
This tells us how important it is to send salutations upon the Holy Prophetsa.
Lailatul-Qadr: The Night of Destiny
The Holy Quran speaks about Laylatul Qadr – the Night of Destiny, Decree, or Dignity. (Surah al-Qadr, Ch. 97) In another Surah, we learn that the Holy Quran was revealed during this blessed night. Allah states:
“Truly, We revealed it in a blessed Night. Truly, We have [ever] been warning [against evil].” (Surah ad-Dukhan, Ch. 44: V.4)
The Holy Prophetsa said that one who fasts with fervour of belief and to gain pleasure of God, has his/her previous sins forgiven and one who wakes up for Laylatul Qadr with a passion of belief will have his/her previous sins forgiven. (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab fadl laylat al-qadr, Bab fadl laylat al-qadr, Hadith 2014)
In his Friday sermon on 27 August 2010, Huzooraa explained that whoever experiences Laylatul Qadr does so due to a very special blessing of God. It is most important to value this experience, and this can be done by continually developing one’s spirituality. The worship of this one night is better than a 1000 months.
Huzooraa said 83 years make up 1000 months. Thus, if one experiences it, one’s lifetime’s prayers – that are good for a believer – are accepted. All prayers made are not good in God’s sight; He thus accepts what He deems good. This night also gives a believer a higher spiritual status, and the descent of angels brings a revolutionary change in a believer’s connection with God. (Khutbat-e-Masroor, Vol. 8, p. 446)
Eid-ul-Fitr prayer and Zakat-ul-Fitr
Eid Salat is also an important part of worship in Islam. Muslims around the world gather in the mosque to offer it on 1 Shawwal. It is a day for increased worship. Where there are normally five obligatory prayers in a day, on Eid, there are six.
Thus, Eid holds special significance. The Holy Prophetsa has stated that one who offers prayers on the nights of two Eids, his heart will be granted eternal life. (Sunan Ibn-e-Majah, Kitab al-siyam, Bab fiman qama laylatay al-‘idayn, Hadith 1782)
On this day, there are special prayers, known as takbirat, which are recited from sunset on the last day of Ramadan (i.e., the first day of the month of Shawwal) until the Imam rises to lead the prayer of Eid. The prayer is:
اَللہُ اَکَبَرُ اَللہُ اَکْبَرُ لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللہُ وَ اللہُ اَکْبَرُ اَللہُ اَکْبَرُ وَ لِلّٰهِ الْحَمْدُ
“Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. There is none worthy of being worshipped but Allah; Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and to Him belongs all praise.”
There is also a mandatory financial contribution for this day, known as Sadaqat-ul-Fitr or Zakat-ul-Fitr. Allah has commanded every Muslim who has more food than he needs for the day and night of the feast to give a measure of one Sa (approximately three liters) of food – such as wheat or rice – or its equivalent in money to needy Muslims so that no one is left without food on this day. The amount should be paid or distributed before the sermon of Eid starts. (“The Fourth Pillar of Islam: Saum, The Islamic Fast”, www.reviewofreligions.org, 25 October 2020)
Six fasts of Shawwal
Muslims are forbidden to fast on Eid. However, one may follow the day of Eid-ul-Fitr with six days of voluntary fasting during the Islamic month of Shawwal. The Holy Prophetsa is reported to have said that whosoever does so will be rewarded as if they had fasted perpetually. (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-siyam, Bab istihbab sawm sittat ayamin min Shawwal ittiba‘an li-Ramadan, 1164a)
I hope and pray that this Ramadan brings abundant blessings to all who fast and follow the Prophet Muhammad’ssa sunnah and the way of worship during Ramadan. May Allah make this Eid-ul-Fitr blissful for everyone, and may He grant us the strength to observe six days of voluntary fasting in Shawwal. Amin!