Sadaqah / Charity Ramadan

Ibn ‘Abbas said: “The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬was the most generous of people, but he would be his most The Blessed Month of Fasting & Piety
generous during Ramaḍan when he would meet with the Angel Jibreel. He would meet with him
every night and recite the Qur’an. When Jibreel met him, he used to be more generous than a fast
wind.” (Bukhari) Welcoming Ramadan
The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said: “Indeed the month of Ramadan has come upon you, a month of blessings, in
Dua
which Allah has obligated fasting on you. In it the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of
The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said: “Supplications made by three people are not rejected: the father, the fasting Hellfire are closed, and the devils are chained. In it is a night that is better than a 1000 months, the
person and the traveller.” (Baihaqi) one who is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived.” (Musnad Ahmad)
Planning for Ramadan Fasting and Taqwa
The most efficient way to make the most of Ramadan is to plan for the activities before and during
Ramadan:
Before Ramadan During Ramadan
"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that
 Plan to be in Ramadan mode  Fast with Imaan & Ehtesaab you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).
 Set goals for this Ramadan  Pray Obligatory prayers in Masjid
 Adjust your daily schedule  Pray Taraweeh with Imaan & Ehtesaab (Fasting) for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number
 Plan Ramadan family time  Look for Lailat al-Qadr during odd nights during last (should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (i.e. an old man,
 Make the menu so that sisters too ten nights of Ramadan etc.), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person (for every day). But whoever does
can benefit from Ramadan  Read, Understand, Memorize the Quran good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast, it is better for you if only you know."
 Grocery shopping for the month  Offer all Sunnah and Nawafil prayers (Quran 2:183-84)
 Plan Iftar arrangements  Offer Tahajjud regularly
Ramadan and Quran
 Eid shopping in advance  Make lots of Azkaar (morning/evening, sleeping, etc.)
 Plan outreach / dawah activities  Make Dua at precious times when it is accepted
 Allocate a place at home to pray  Observe Itikaaf
during the blessed month  Give Zakat & keep a Sadaqa box at home "The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear
 Calculate your Zakat  Arrange Iftar for relatives, neighbours & friends proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the
 Make Ramadan timetable for all  Conduct daily Islamic cirlces at home crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan), he must fast that month, and whoever is ill
family members  Give gifts to non-Muslims: dates & Islamic literature or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not fast must be made up) from other
 Plan your days off from work for  Adopt good manners & character days. Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants
important occasions  Avoid vain talk and time wasters that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah for having
Dear Brothers / Sisters, guided you so that you may be grateful to Him". (Quran 2: 185)
AsSalamu Alaikum WRWB Exceptional reward for fasting
Indeed ahead of you is the blessed month of Allah. A month of blessing, mercy and forgiveness. A
Abu Huraira related that the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said: Allah the Majestic and Exalted said: "Every deed of
month which with Allah is the best of months. Its days, the best of days, its nights, the best of
man will receive ten to 700 times reward, except Siyam (fasting), for it is for Me and I shall reward
nights, and its hours, the best of hours.
it (as I like). There are two occasions of joy for one who fasts: one when he breaks the fast and the
It is the month which invites you to be the guests of Allah and invites you to be one of those near to other when he will meet his Lord". (Muslim)
Him. Each breath you take glorifies Him; your sleep is worship, your deeds are accepted and your
supplications are answered. Past sins are forgiven
So, ask Allah, your Lord; to give you a sound body and an enlightened heart so you may be able to Abu Huraira related that the Prophet ‫( ﷺ‬peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever fasts
fast and recite His book, for only he is unhappy who is devoid of Allah's forgiveness during this great during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.
month. Whoever prays during the nights in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have
Wishing you a happy and blessed Ramadan. his past sins forgiven. And he who passes Lailat al-Qadr in prayer with faith and seeking his reward
from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. (Bukhari, Muslim)
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Intercession on the Day of Resurrection Fasting during a journey
The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said: “Fasting and the Qur’an are two intercessors for the servant of Allah on the Aisha related that Rasulullah ‫ ﷺ‬was asked whether one should fast when on a journey, and he
Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: ‘O Lord, I prevented him from his food and desires during the replied: Fast if you like, or postpone it if you like. (Bukhari, Muslim)
day. Let me intercede for him.’ The Qur’an will say: ‘I prevented him from sleeping at night. Let me
intercede for him.’ And their intercession will be accepted." (Musnad Ahmad) Behaviour while fasting
Ar-Rayyan Abu Huraira related that the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said: If a person does not avoid false talk and false conduct
during fast, then Allah does not care if he abstains from food and drink. (Bukhari, Muslim)
The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said: “Indeed, there is a gate of Paradise called Ar-Rayyan. On the Day of
Resurrection those who fast will enter through it; no one enters it except for them, and when they The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said: “Fasting is a shield, therefore whoever is fasting should not resort to obscene
have entered, it is closed so that no one (else) enters it.” (Bukhari) language and immoral behaviour. If any person quarrels or abuses a person who is fasting, then the
one who is fasting should say: ‘I am fasting.’” (Bukhari)
A Shield
The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said: “Fasting is a shield with which a servant protects himself from the Fire.” Abu Huraira related that Rasulullah ‫ ﷺ‬said: Many people who fast get nothing from their fast
(Musnad Ahmad) except hunger and thirst, and many people who pray at night get nothing from it except
wakefulness. (Darimi)
Missed fast cannot be compensated
Lailat al-Qadr (the Night of Power)
Abu Huraira related that Rasulullah ‫ ﷺ‬said: If anyone omits his fast even for one day in Ramadan
without a concession or without being ill, then if he were to fast for the rest of his life he could not "Verily! We have sent it (this Quran) down in the night of Al-Qadr. And what will make you know
make up for it. (Bukhari) what the night of Al-Qadr is? The night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. Therein
descend the angels and the Ruh (Gabriel) by Allah's Permission with all Decrees. Peace! until the
When to start fasting appearance of dawn". (Quran 97:1-5)
Ibn Umar related that the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said: Do not start fasting unless you see the new moon, and Aisha related that the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said: Look for Lailat al-Qadr on an odd-numbered night during the
do not end fasting until you see it. If the weather is cloudy then calculate when it should appear. last ten nights of Ramadan. (Bukhari)
(Bukhari, Muslim)
Anas ibn Malik related that Rasulullah ‫ ﷺ‬said: When Lailat al-Qadr comes Gabriel descends with a
Du’a when sighting the new moon company of angels who ask for blessings on everyone who is remembering Allah, whether they are
sitting or standing. (Baihaqi)

O Allah, bring us the new moon with security and faith, with peace and in Islam, and in harmony Ayesha said: I asked Rasulullah ‫ﷺ‬, “O Rasulullah ‫ﷺ‬, if I find the Lailat al-Qadr, what shall I say?”
with what our Lord loves and what pleases Him. Our Lord and your Lord is Allah. (Tirmidhi) Rasulullah ‫ ﷺ‬replied: “say: O Allah, You are the most forgiving, You love forgiveness, so forgive
me”. (Tirmidhi)
The Suhoor meal (which is eaten before dawn)
Anas related that Rasulullah ‫ ﷺ‬said: Take the Suhoor meal, for there is blessing in it. (Bukhari)

Breaking the fast (Iftar) Itikaaf

Salman ibn Amir Dhabi related that the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said: Break your fast with dates, or else with Aisha said: The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬used to observe I’tikaf in the last 10 days of Ramadan till he returned to
water, for it is pure. (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi) Almighty. Then his wives observed I’tikaaf after him. (Bukhari, Muslim)

Providing Iftar for the one who is fasting Limits

Zaid ibn Khalid Juhni related that the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said: He who provides for the breaking of the fast "It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives. They are
of another person earns the same merit as the one who was observing fast without diminishing in clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so
any way the reward of the latter. (Tirmidhi) He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that
which Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct
Forgetfully eating or drinking while fasting to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset. And do not have
relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set
Abu Huraira related that Rasulullah ‫ ﷺ‬said: If anyone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks he
by] Allah, so do not approach them. Thus does Allah make clear His ordinances to the people that
should complete his fast, for it is Allah who has fed him and given him drink. (Bukhari, Muslim)
they may become righteous." (Quran 2:187)
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