The
Blessed Month of Romadaan
Prepared by: M.
Tahir Farrath([email protected])
Bis-Mil LAAHIR Rohmaanir Rohiim, wa Nahmaduhuu
wa Nusollii 'alaa Rosuulihil Kariim
Just
being able to reach Romadaan is a magnificent bounty in itself for the
one who reaches it, and sadly, there will always be those who are prevented
from fasting in it. They may have developed an illness or reached old age or
died before reaching it. Others have simply turned their backs on it, but that
would not be uncommon with people who never really made worshipping a part of
their lives. Then their turn will come when they too will face Reality as they
lie buried in the depths of the earth. Despite the negligent, those who are
deprived through illness and old age must together with the rest welcome this
month with joy and glorification. And give praise to their Lord for this
magnificent Bounty, as seen at various stages of each year, when every
opportunity is granted for them to turn to their Lord once again with obedience
and submission. They should all together exert themselves with good deeds,
supplicate for one another’s speedy recovery and make provisions for the
elderly to retire honourably. And invoke ALLAAH to Grant the rest with the
ability to fast a sound fast and further soundness to stand the Fard and
nightly prayer, both performed with seriousness, enthusiasm, strength and
energy. And that ALLAAH should Awaken them from heedless oversleeping or
lethargy during the day and night so as to take advantage of all the virtue and
goodness during this Mubaarok month, for the individual does not know if this
would be the last Romadaan he will ever see upon its completion.
The
pre-Islamic Arabs were the ones who named the various months, and because this
particular month was abnormally very hot, they called it Romadaan from
the word Romad, meaning scorching (of the ground with excessive heat).
Romadaan was chosen as a month for fasting, for ALLAAHU Subehaanahuu
wa Ta’aalaa Says in the Holy Qur-aan:
Shahru
Romadaanal lathii Unzila fii-hil Qur-aanu Hudan-lin-Naasi wa
Bayyinaatin minal Hudaayaa wal Furqaani, fa-man Shahida min-kumush Shahro
fal-Yasumhuu,…
“Romadaan is the month wherein the Qur-aan was
Revealed, a guidance to mankind and a clarity (to serve as) the guide and the
criterion, so, whoever witnesses among you the month shall fast in it,…”
According to Ibn Kathiir, fasting went through three
stages in its development. Firstly, when our Nabiy Muhammad, Sollal
LAAHU ‘alayhi wa Sallam, came to Madiinah, he used to fast for three days in
every month and the Muslimuun were not required at that stage to fast any more
days. Ibn ‘Abbaas, Rodiyal LAAHU ‘anh, interpreted the three days
as “…Ayyaaman- Ma’duudaatin (for
a fixed number of days)” as contained in the Holy Qur-aan. However,
some scholars differ and opine that it meant the month of Romadaan as
referred to below.
In addition to the three days, the Holy Prophet
noticed that the Jews of Madiinah observed their fast on the 10th day
of ‘Aashuuraa_ (It is also a custom among the Jews that if a significant thing
had occurred in their lives, then that particular day would become a memorial
day for them and they would fast thereon). Upon further enquiry, the Jews said
that God delivered Moses and his people on that day, to which the
Nabiy(S.A.W.S.) said: Muusaa is closer to me than he is to you! Then he
also observed the day for fasting and instructed the Muslimuun to do likewise.
(Later, the 9th day was included as a day of fasting as well.) But
when the fasting of Romadaan was prescribed on the 2nd Monday
of Sha’baan in the 2nd year of the Hijeroh, all of it were
abolished, and those who intended fasting these days, were not prevented from
doing so for the rest of the year.
The second stage had now begun and while the
new Ordinance was Announced in three Aayaat, the first two were Revealed
together, followed by the third later on. The first two verses State:
Yaa Ayyuhal lathiina Aamanuu Kutiba ‘alaykumus
Siyaamu kamaa Kutiba ‘alal lathiina min qobelikum la‘allakum
Tattaquun(a). Ayyaaman Ma’duudaatin, fa-man kaana min-kum-Mariidon aw
‘alaa Safarin fa-‘Iddatun min Ayyaamin U-khoro, wa ‘alal lathiina Utiiquunahuu
Fideyatun To’aamu Miskiinin, fa-man-Tatowwa’a khoyron fa-huwa
khoyrun-lahuu, wa An Tasuumuu khoyrun-lakum, In-kuntum Ta’lamuun(a)
“O you who believe, prescribed upon you is the
Fasting as prescribed on those before you that perchance you reach piety
(practice self-restraint, righteousness or become god-fearing). (Fast) for a
fixed number of days, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey shall
(fast an equal) number of days later on, and upon those who can do it
(but do not shall) redeem (themselves) by feeding a poor person, but whosoever
does good on his own accord, for him it is better therein, and that you fast is
better for you if you but only know”. (2.Baqorah:183-184)
In
the Aayatayn, whether a man was in good health or travelling, he had the choice
of fasting or not. Should he decide not to fast, he could then pay the Fideyah
for each day. Concerning this, the third Aayah followed thus:
Shahru
Romadaanal lathii Unzila fii-hil Qur-aanu Hudan-lin-Naasi wa
Bayyinaatin minal Hudaayaa wal Furqaani, fa-man Shahida min-kumush Shahro
fal-Yasumhuu, wa man-kaana Mariidon aw ‘alaa Safarin
fa-‘Iddatun-min Ayyaamin U-khoro, Yuriidul LAAHU bi-kumul Yusra wa laa Yuriidu
bi-kumul ‘Usro wa li-Tukmilul ‘Iddata wa li-Tukabbirul LAAHA ‘alaa maa Hadaakum
wa la-‘Allakum Tashkuruun(a)
“Romadaan is the month wherein the Qur-aan was
Revealed, a guidance to mankind and a clarity (to serve as) the guide and the
criterion, so, whoever witnesses among you the month shall fast in it, and
whosoever is sick or on a journey shall (fast an equal) number of days later
on. ALLAAH Desires ease for you and HE does not want to subject you to hardship
so that you could complete the prescribed period and that you may glorify
ALLAAH for having Guided you and perchance you shall be grateful”. (2.Baqorah:185)
No
mention is now made of those “who can do it”. Thus, this Aayah abrogated
the previous ruling, thereby abolishing the choice and making it obligatory on
the physically capable person to fast. The final stage dealt with
abstinence and indulgence. The believers not long before this were finding it
difficult to observe the fast during the day as well as at night for the
following reason:
Once
a man had finished his ‘Ishaa_ prayers, he had to abstain from food, drink and
women. If he fell asleep or woke up after these prayers, he simply had to
continue and abstain from any further indulgence until the next day.
This
was certainly an extreme condition to follow. It is reported that Qoys ibn
Sarmah al-Ansaarii(R.A.) spent the day working in the field. He returned
home at sunset, and as he rested his body, he fell asleep. In the meantime, his
wife was preparing his meal, and when ready, she found him sound asleep. When
he woke up, he had no other choice but to continue his fast. By midday he
fainted, and when the Holy Prophet was informed about it, ALLAAH Revealed:
Uhilla
la-kum Laylatas Siyaamir Rofa-thu ilaa Nisaa-ikum, Hunna Libaasun-la-kum
wa antum Libaasun-la-hunna, ‘Alimal LAAHU Annakum kuntum Takhtaanuuna Anfusakum
fa-Taaba ‘alaykum wa ‘Afaa ‘ankum, fal-Aana Baashiruuhunna wabe-Taghuu maa
Katabal LAAHU la-kum, wa Kuluu wash-Robuu hattaa Yatabayyana la-kumul
Khoytol Abeyadu minal Khoytil Aswadi minal Fajeri, thumma
Atimmus Siyaama ilal Layli, wa laa Tubaashiruuhunna wa antum ‘Aakifuuna
fil Masaajidi, Tilka Huduudul LAAHI fa-laa Taqerobuuhaa, ka-thaalika
Yubayyinul LAAHU Aayaatihii lin-Naasi la’allahum Tattaquun(a)
“It is lawful for you on the night of the fast to go unto your wives; they are a garment to you and you are a garment to them. ALLAAH Knows that you defraud yourselves therein, so HE Turned towards you with a Pardon for you. So now associate with them and seek what ALLAAH has ordained for you, and eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct from the black thread, then observe the fast till nightfall, and do not associate with them while you are in retreat in the Mosques. Such are the limits (Set) by ALLAAH, so do not go near it, thus does ALLAAH Manifest HIS Signs to people that perchance they reach piety (practice self-restraint, righteousness or become god-fearing).” (2.Baqorah:187)
The
believers were naturally overjoyed. The content of the above Aayah also places
the Imsak (starting the fast 5 - 10 minutes before Fajr) into dispute among the
‘Ulamaa_…but this issue is not a point for discussion at the moment. However,
two other issues in Aayah 183, as already quoted, require further comment. The
first part states:
Yaa
Ayyuhal lathiina Aamanuu Kutiba ‘alaykumus Siyaamu kamaa Kutiba
‘alal lathiina min qobelikum…
“O
you who believe, prescribed upon you is the Fasting as prescribed on those
before you…”
It
is evident that fasting was an ancient practice, and according to Muslim
history, it goes back to the time of Nabiy Aadam(A.S.). But what was
specifically meant by this section of the Aayah has caused the ‘Ulamaa_ to
differ in their opinions. Some hold that before this, the Jews and Christians
were also Commanded to fast during Romadaan, but they soon added other
days and then Romadaan became displaced over time. Others say that it
deals with the nature of fasting in its abstinence and the things considered
forbidden, while another group will say that as an obligatory act, the Jews,
Christians and Muslimuun are all required to observe the fast, but would differ
in its time and manner of observance. According to the Gospel, Jesus fasted for
40 days in the desert, and in the Bible, Nabiy Muusaa(A.S.) fasting for 40 days
on Mt. Sinai, which shows that it should have been a form of worship for the
Jews. What is greater than man communicating directly with God? Instead, the
Jews fast a week to mark the devastation of Jerusalem, perhaps having one meal
in every 24 hours. Other than providing the virtues of fasting and commending
the one who fast, no prescribed Ordinance is found in the Old Testament.
Likewise, nothing is contained in the New Testament, but that the one who fasts
should anoint his head and wash his face to remove all outward signs so as not
to resemble any of the hypocritical Jewish Pharisees. Certain Christians
precede Easter with a kind of fast called Lent in which they abstain only from
the most loved thing. However, various fasts are prescribed among the Churches,
which may include the avoidance of meat, fish, eggs and milk products or merely
just living off water. Fasting for some could also start at midnight, ending at
mid-day.
Even
the pagans were influenced to fast and it is known that the Egyptians passed it
on to the Greeks (who enforced it upon their women) and that the Romans also
took to fasting. To this day do certain Hindus observe it on their holy days,
and for various spiritual objectives, including a fast for the entire year and
breaking it once on the first day of every twelve months. Noteworthy among the
ancient people were the Sabeans and the Manoites, who both abstained from food
and drink for 30 days between sunrise and sunset.
Concerning
the other point in the Aayah, ALLAAH Says:
…la‘allakum
Tattaquun(a).
…that perchance you reach piety (practice self-restraint, righteousness or become god-fearing)
Siyaam means "to abstain from something" and
mention was made that such a fast was prescribed to the people of old, and in
the same Aayah, ALLAAH States that fasting becomes a means of achieving Taqewaa. Hence,
it is intended that the Muslimuun become Muttaquun, which is enhanced with the
acquisition of knowledge, as “none fears ALLAAH more than men of learning”. It
is true that other acts of worship are methods of achieving Taqewaa as well,
for ALLAAH Says:
Yaa Ayyahan Naasu’-buduu Robbakumul lathii
Kholaqokum wal lathiina min Qobelikum la’allakum Tattakuun(a)
"O mankind! Worship your Lord, Who created you
and those who were before you perchance you become Muttaquun." [2.Baqorah:21]
But while achieving ALLAAH’s Acceptance is not easy
on the believer, it is harder on the weaker Muslim and certainly extremely more
so on the hypocrite. It is also then necessary for the Muslimuun to ensure that
they are not among those formalists who are largely seen as putting up a front
instead, to which ALLAAH Says:
Inna-maa Yataqobbalul LAAHU
minal Muttakiin(a)
"Indeed, ALLAAH only Accepts from the (righteous
who fear HIM i.e. the) Muttaquun." [5.Maa-idah:30]
This applies to every aspect of life and equally to
the month of Romadaan as well. The Nabiy Muhammad(S.A.W.S.) said
in a Hadiith Qudesii that ALLAAH Says:
Os-Sowmu lii wa Ana
Ajezii bi-hii
“Fasting is done for ME,
and I will Reward through it (without measure).
Thus, when a believer knows that ALLAAH’s Contentment lies
in a thing - which in this case is abandoning those desires that he naturally
loves - he will give his Lord’s Contentment precedence over his desires. He
then abandons his desires no matter how much he longs and yearns for them
simply to find the necessary delight in his heart and the tranquility for his
soul as he abandons all else for the sake of ALLAAH. But there is more to it
than mere hunger because the Nabiy(S.A.W.S.) also said:
Man lam Yada’ Qowlaz Zuuri wal ‘Amala bi-hii
fa-laysal LAAHI Haajatun fii An Yada’a To’aamahuu wa Sharaabahuu
“Whoever does not give up false talk and
action with it, ALLAAH has no need of him giving up his food and his drink”.
As it is with all acts of
‘Ibaadah, achieving the desired Taqewaa demands a high degree of discipline.
Fasting should therefore enable one to show obedience to all of ALLAAH’s Laws
and to worship HIM whole-heartedly. Since man is his own master, he is at
liberty to openly enjoy whatever Haraam or Halaal food and drink
he likes among those unknown to him, or in secret, and away from those known to
him. And this will not be unusual with him as far as all the other acts of
‘Ibaadah are concerned as well. If he is fearful of sinning, knowing well that
ALLAAH is Observing him, he will instead be steadfast and have Sobr.
Fasting should also enable one to control those desires, lusts, indulgence,
cravings and greed, channelling them towards the attainment of what ALLAAH has
Prepared for him in the Hereafter. Fasting should then enable one to love what
ALLAAH Loves, to love caring for the poor and needy, to love protecting orphans
and the rights of others, to love rescuing those who are treated unjustly and
not to misappropriate another’s inheritance. Fasting should enable one to show
generosity, compassion, sympathy and mercy when in the grips of niggardliness
and miserliness, to afford the poor and meek prosperity among the rich and
mighty and not to covet another’s possessions. Fasting should enable one to
lower the gaze and divert the step, ears, tongue, senses and other organs from
that which leads to Haraam - for they are all in a state of fasting - to
show humility inwardly and outwardly, to prevent discord, Fitnah, dishonesty,
harm and injury to others. Fasting should overcome one’s boastfulness, anger,
attitude, intolerance, abusive language, bad tempers and manners, and when
provoked to say: Ana Saa-im (I am fasting).
Fasting should increase sincerity, and remove the screen that thwarts one’s
Iimaan from reaching higher spiritual levels. Fasting should cause one to
regularly seek repentance, to seek a new beginning, to seek ALLAAH’s Grace and
Mercy, and to be thankful for HIS Bounties.
As the month of Romadaan
progresses through its three phases (of 10 days each - the first is said to
concern ALLAAH’s Rohmah, the second HIS Maghfiroh, and the third
“freedom from the Fire” for the believers), so should it motivate the limbs
with maximum activity. ‘Ibaadah is of two kinds - directly to ALLAAH (i.e. the
formalities or rituals) and indirectly for the sake of ALLAAH (i.e. all other
acts that may appear mundane) - which together complete the act of worship. The
significance of Romadaan, therefore, is for one to maintain a balance
between both the direct and indirect forms of worship, but when the month
enters its last phase, the direct acts should outweigh the indirect ones. This
calls for an acceleration in spiritual acts, Tilaawah, Thikr and Du’aa_.
The time has then arrived to actively seek out Laylatul Qodr, it is time for
I’tikaaf, it is time for Zakaatul Fitr, it is time for Tahajjud as well, it is
time to complete the recitation of the Qur-aan for the month, and the time has
come to bid the Mubaarok month farewell.
Then lastly, we should ask,
have we excelled in anything in this month? Are we feeling sufficiently
refreshed, reformed and rejuvenated till the next Romadaan? It was
reported by Ka’b bin Ujeroh(R.A.), who said: The Messenger of ALLAAH summoned
the people’s presence at the Minbar. They were present at the Masjid as he
ascended the Minbar. When he climbed the first step he said: Aamiin…(repeating
this till the third step). After he completed the sermon and descended, we
asked: O Messenger of ALLAAH, we heard from you today things never heard of
before. The Holy Prophet said:
Inna Jiberiila, ‘alayhis
Salaam, ‘Arodo lii fa-Qaal(a): Ba’uda man Aderok Romadaana, fa-lam
Yughfar la-huu. Qult(u): Aamiin.
Truly, (Angel) Jiberiil,
alayhis Salaam, appeared to me and said: Banished (from ALLAAH’s Mercy) is the
one who attained Romadaan but he was not Forgiven. I said: Aamiin.
Fa-lammaa Roqiituth
Thaaniyata, Qaal(a): Ba’uda man Thukirta ‘indahuu, fa-lam Yusolli
‘alayk(a). Fa-Qult(u): Aamiin.
When I ascended the second
step, he said: Banished (from ALLAAH’s Mercy) is he who (hears) your name being
mentioned near him, and he does not send blessings upon you. I said: Aamiin.
Fa-lammaa Roqiituth Thaalithat(a),
Qaal(a): Ba’uda man Aderoka Abawayhil Kibaru ‘indahuu Aw Ahaduhumaa,
fa-lam Yude-khilaahul Jannat(a). Fa-Qult(u): Aamiin.
When I ascended the third
step, he said: Banished (from ALLAAH’s Mercy) is he who (is afforded an
opportunity to have) both parents at old age or one of them, and (through them)
he will not enter Paradise. I said: Aamiin.
Wa Aakhiru Da’waanaa Anil Hamdu
lil-LAAHI Robbil ‘Aalamiin.