Barrister Syed Emran Hossain :
The month of Ramzan is the month of Quran. This is the month of forgiveness. Many Muslims this month put their best endeavor to please Allah. They start the month with great zeal, enthusiasm and energy but unfortunately great majority cannot end the Ramzan with the same tone as they started.
Our Prophet (PBUH) said “when the month of Ramzan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained” [Sahih Al Bukhari: 1899]. In this month Allah forgives his slaves in multitudes. It is also narrated that “whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramzan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven” [Sahih Al Bukhari 1901]. On top of that Allah has blessed us with Night of Power (Lailatul Qadr) which is better than thousand nights [Al Quran 97:03] i.e. equivalent to 83 years. If one person can catch the Night of Power then in that very one night he can earn blessings equivalent to 83 years. Apart from that Allah has also allocated special moments, like just before breaking the fast, when Duas will be answered.
Some Muslims find it very difficult to fast and pray all the prayers specially the Taraweeh (Qiam-ul-Lail). Allah rightly said “…. and truly it (Salat) is extremely heavy and hard except for al-khashi’un (i.e. the true believers in Allah) [Al Quran 2:45]. Allah further warned them by saying “that is because they detest what Allah has revealed, so He has rendered their deeds void” [Al Quran 47:9].
The Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) used to take preparation for Ramzan six months before hand. So, before the commencement of Ramzan a believer should start making sincere and emotional Duas to Allah so that this month can be spent in ibadaah and devotion. A practical and strategic action plan is to be set for the entire month of Ramzan. One should set goals relating to Salah. For example, deciding to pray every Salah at Mashjeed or congregation. Not to miss any sunnah prayer. Try to pray Tarawee at Mashjeed where the recitation is slow and melodious. Try to learn the meaning of the Surahs which we often read in our regular prayers etc. We have to understand that due to outbreak of the 2nd wave of Covid-19 pandemic we may have to offer the Salah at home but in that case our sincerity should remain the same. We can pray in congregation at home with family members.
Specific plan should also be made with regard to Al Quran. Since Ramzan is the month of Quran, every one of us should build a relationship with Quran. This relationship with Quran should not last till the end of Ramzan, rather it should be a bonding throughout the life. The Quran has four rights upon a believer such as (i) one should know how to recite the Quran properly, (ii) trying to learn the meaning of the verses, (iii) implementing the commandants of Quran and (iv) make dawah about the message of Quran. We have to keep in mind that our Prophet (PBUH) said “this Quran will intercede on the Day of Judgment” [Sahih Muslim 804]. The Prophet (PBUH) also said, “The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it” [Sahih Bukhari 5027].
Another valuable act of Ibadaah is making Dua. Our Prophet (PBUH) said Dua is worship.” Then he recited the verse “And your Lord says, ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you.’ Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.” [Al Quran 40:60]. [Musnad-e-Ahmad 18352 and Sahih Al-Bukhaari (in al-Adab al-Mufrad) 714]. Therefore, we must increase our Dua drastically in the month of Ramzan. One should try to utilize the specific moments when Duas are answered like (i) just before breaking the fast, (ii) between the azan and ikamah (iii) on Friday and (iv) during the last one third of the night.
Making a lot of charity is also another important act of ibadah to be performed during the entire Ramzan. It is reported that the Prophet (PBUH) was the most generous of all the people and he used to become more generous in Ramzan [Sahih Al Bukhari 3554]. The charity is type of Ibadah which can bring us ultimate success in the hereafter. Allah says “Those who in charity spend of their goods by night and by day, in secret and in public, have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” [Al Quran 2:274]. We have to remember that Allah says in the Quran “Then you will be asked about the pleasures (you enjoyed in the world)” [Al Quran 102:8]. Therefore, we must try our best to give charity as much as possible in order to relieve people from distress. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said “Whoever relieves a Muslim of some worldly distress, Allah will relieve him of some of the distress of the Day of Resurrection” [Sunan Ibn Majah 225].
However, there is a big warning as well. One day the Prophet (PBUH) was standing in the Mimber at his Mashjid and he said Ameen. The companions asked Ya Rasool Allah to what did you say Ameen? He then replied, “Jibril came to me and said May he be disgraced, the person who lives to see the Ramzan and lives through the days of Ramzan and finishes Ramzan but does not have his sins forgiven by Allah, so I said Ameen” [reported as Sahih at At Tirmidhi].
(Barrister.Hossain is Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh)
