Part 4

The mosques of our righteous predecessors used to be filled with food provided for the poor; to the extent that one could not find a hungry or needy person. Of course, it is quite amazing that all which a servant spends of his food, drink and clothes is of no consequence except that which was spent seeking the pleasure of Allah, the Sublime. He says in the Quran: ‘If you offer up to God a goodly loan, He will amply repay you for it, and will forgive you your sins: for God is ever responsive to gratitude, forbearing’

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O fasting person, know that by your sacrifice and giving you are actually giving a loan to your Lord for the day of your poverty and need. The Day of Indigence and Wretchedness. The Day of Loss and Gain. O fasting person, know that a drink of water, a taste of milk, a handful of dates, the little food, money, clothes and fruits that you give to the needy are all it takes to clear your way to Paradise. O fasting person, know by Allah, that nothing preserves wealth like charity. Nothing purifies wealth like the Zakaat. Many rich people have died and left wealth and treasures, tall buildings and palaces, the quantity of which only Allah knows. Yet, all of it became a source of regret and sorrow; because they never used their wealth in the right way. Tomorrow you will see the winners and the losers, and surely help is only from Allah.

Ramadan: the month of standing up at night

‘O thou enwrapped one! Keep awake [in prayer] at night, all but a small part. Of half thereof or make it a little less than that, or add to it [at will]; and [during that time] recite the Quran calmly and distinctly, with thy mind attuned to its meaning’ (73:1-3).

This is what Allah Almighty said to His Prophet. And, naturally, the noble messenger complied with the command of His Lord by standing long hours at night, crying profusely in all humiliation.

In the same manner, Allah ordered his beloved Prophet #8: ‘And rise from thy sleep and pray during part of the night [as well], as a free offering from thee, and thy Sustainer may well raise thee to a glorious station [in the life to come’ (17:79).

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Accordingly, in the same manner that your standing at night in this world will be glorious and honoured so too will it be on the Day of Judgement.

Ramadan is the month of fasting and standing at night. The sweetest nights and most precious hours are when the fasting people stand in the darkness of night.

I said to the night, is there a secret in your depth? Filled with conversation and unknown matters.

It said: I never throughout my life encountered finer words,than the words of my beloved in the early hours of the morning.

The nights of the fasting people are short because they are delightful. On the other extreme, the nights of the frivolous are long because they are unhealthy. The short ones are thus accompanied by extended concerns while the long ones contain momentary pleasures. Allah Almighty describes His righteous servants thus: ‘They would lie asleep during but a small part of the night’ (51:17).

And: ‘In the hours of early dawn they were found praying for forgiveness’ (51:18).

And: ‘Those who pray for forgiveness in the early hours of the morning’ (3:17).

The sound of weeping used to be heard from among the Prophet’s companions, Migrants (Mubajirun) and Helpers

(Ansars), whenever the darkness of night descended upon them. And, when day broke, they would become like bold and fearless lions. In other words they were like monks at night but when they met their enemies at day they were the bravest of the brave. The homes of the companions were, in fact, schools for training and the learning of how to recite the Quran. They became institutes of faith. Today the homes of many people have become barracks for music, vice, and refuges of perversion. May Allah save us from such evils.

When we lost the standing in prayer at night, our hearts became hard. Our tears dried up and our faith became weak. The Prophet # said: ‘Whoever stands the nights of Ramadan in faith and consciousness, all the sins which he sent forth will be forgiven.’ Among the things that help one to stand at night in prayer is the calling to mind of the Momentous Day: when people will stand before the Lord of the worlds. The day when the graves will turn out their contents and all that were buried in bosoms will be revealed.

There are besides, other factors that help in standing at night. They include remembrance of the great reward and forgiveness of sins and wrong-doing. The righteous predecessors preoccupied themselves with standing at night. Among them were those who spent the nights bowing, prostrating themselves or standing before Allah. Among them were those who recited crying, who contemplated and hoped, and who were thankful and considerate. For why have you made your homes desolate places without any standing and praying at night? Why have you made it empty of Quranic recitations? Why have our homes complained because of the lack of prayers in them at night?

If nights set in, the hearts of the negligent sleep and the spirits of the playful die while the hearts of the believers come to life with wide awakened and fearful eyes. How can one who remembers the repose of the grave, the gath-

ering of mankind and the decisive manifestation ever sleep? Surely no one ever expected that a generation of Muslims would spend their nights shamelessly in playing chess and listening to music. The Prophet &% said: ‘O servant of Allah, do not be like such and such a person. He used to stand in prayer at nights and then he abandoned this practice.’

The Islamic home in Ramadan

Allah, the Exalted and Power says: ‘Which then, is better: he who has founded his building on God-consciousness and [a desire for] His goodly acceptance — or he who has founded his building on the edge of a water-worn, crumbling river-bank, so that it [is bound to] tumble down with him into the fire of hell? For God does not grace with His guidance people who [deliberately] do wrong’ (9:109).

The Islamic home is one that is founded on God-consciousness. Its pillars are the fear of Allah. Its foundations are good deeds; its garden is obedience to the commands of Allah. He says: ‘O you who have attained to faith! Ward off from yourselves and those who are close to you that fire [of the hereafter] whose fuel is human beings and stones: [lording] over it are angelic powers awesome [and] severe’

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The home is a trust, a responsibility and a stewardship. Are there not shepherds who are conscious of their flock? The Prophet 4 said: ‘Every one of you is a shepherd and each one of you is responsible for that which is under his care.’ The stewardship of the home in Ramadan and out of Ramadan entails the ordering of its members to pray. Allah Almighty says: ‘He used to enjoin upon his people prayer and charity, and found favour in his Sustainer’s sight’

The most pressing need of a Muslim home is an upright father and believing mother who undertake the upbringing of their offspring. ‘Behold, God bids you to deliver all that

you have been entrusted with unto those who are entitled thereto’ (4:58).

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Surely among the greatest trusts is that of improving the home. The Islamic home, therefore, passes Ramadan in remembrance, recitation, humility and fear of Allah. It is filled with the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad 4 in food and drink, coming and going, sleeping and waking. The Islamic home respects and observes the ethics of separation and covering. It worships Allah through this

means and considers it a source of honour and dignity for the Muslim woman. Allah will reward its observance abundantly. Many homes have been tested with wealth. It corrupted the hearts of its members, ruined their future and undermined their power.

When wealth entered some homes, remembrance, inner peace, shame and dignity departed from them. Allah says: ‘But among men there is many a one that prefers a mere play with words [to divine guidance], so as to lead {those] without knowledge astray from the path of God’

Ghee let ha ya Reveraes) Sa sI opie 85 5 D Bye, sess engrclie A assiys According to the scholars the play with words here refers to music. How many examples are there in which music has abused values, derided principles and exhausted minds? The Islamic home arises with the remembrance of Allah and sleeps with His remembrance, far from vain and idle talk. The Noble Quran describes them as those ‘who turn away from all that is frivolous’ (23:3).

The Islamic home has a sense of shame before Allah. Hence the Prophet && said: ‘O people, be chaste and modest before Allah. And true modesty before Allah is to control one’s mind and its consciousness, to protect one’s stomach and that which it collects and whoever remembers the trials will abandon the ornaments of life and this world.’

O how good it would be if the knowledge of religion were to enter the precincts of our Islamic homes to become gardens for forgiveness and acknowledgement. The home

is in dire nced of some important features. Foremost among them is the establishment of the five prayers at their appointed times bowing and prostrating in humility and spirituality. It needs also the recitation of the Quran during the night and at the extremes of the day. It needs the remembrance of Allah at daybreak and at dusk. It needs the revival of the traditions of the Prophet & at every moment and opportunity. And it needs the expulsion of every folly and the avoidance of vain talk and bearing of false witness. Allah Almighty says: ‘Behold, as for those who say, “Our Sustainer is God”, and then steadfastly pursue the right way - upon them do angels often descend, [saying:] “Fear not and grieve not, but receive the glad tidings of that Paradise which has been promised to you!”’

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And: ‘God grants firmness unto those who have attained to faith through the word that is unshakeably true in the life of this world as well as in the life to come; but the wrongdoers He lets go astray: for God does whatever He