Ramadan is a blessed season, whose motto is, “Whoever sights the new moon of the month, let him fast it (that month).” Its age is a limited number of days. Its aim is that you become righteous. Its call is, “O seeker of good, proceed! O seeker of evil, desist!”
Amongst the favours and bounties of Allah The Almighty are that He has made great seasons and blessed days so that they may be fully utilised by sincere worshippers. He also made them a chance for the competitors of goodness to compete. Amongst such seasons is one about which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention), said that its nights and days are blessed and filled with righteousness: it is the month of Ramadan, the most honoured month and noblest in the sight of Allah The Almighty, filled with righteousness, great bounties and best virtues.
Encouragement and urging:
Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
“Each of these special blessed seasons involves some acts of worshipping Allah The Almighty which draw the slave closer to Him. Allah The Almighty bestows His blessings and favours on whom He wills and that, in fact, is out of His mercy and generosity to him. The fortunate person is he who makes the best use of these special months, days, and hours, and brings himself closer to His Lord by fulfilling such acts of worship. He is most likely to be touched by the blessings of Allah The Almighty so that he will be saved from the Hellfire and its scorching flames.” [Lataa’if Al-Ma‘aarif]
Ramadan is your chance to take part in the season of goodness, engage in lucrative market and be fortunate to do business with the Lord of the earth and the heavens.
These words are to guide you to one of the great fields of goodness and paved pathways to Paradise. They encourage you to perform acts of worship that will be rewarded doubly and have great virtues in a month that visits you once a year. Are you ready to conclude this deal and partake of the great bounties before the month comes to an end and bids you farewell to go on a long journey?
Do not forget that you are in the month of generosity and benevolence.
Your Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was the most generous person, and he would be even more so in the month of Ramadan when Jibreel (Gabriel), may Allah exalt his mention, met him to study the Qur’an with him. The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, would be more generous than the blowing wind in doing good as Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with them, narrated. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Does not your ultimate ideal and noblest role model encourage you in the way he doubled his goodness and open-handedness towards his household and the deserving in the month of Ramadan more than others, to do good deeds, help the needy, poor and weak, following and imitating his example? Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day.} [Qur’an 33: 21]
Does this not urge you to feed the hungry, give the needy or make the poor happy?
Does this not arouse your sympathy to bring a smile to the face of a deprived person or satisfy the hunger of a hungry person?
All that it takes is a drink of water, a sip of milk, a handful of dates, a measure of food, or a garment to clothe a naked person.
Be certain, be sure and rejoice.
By spending, you expose yourself to the supplication of the angels, “O Allah, give in compensation to the one who spends (in charity).” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim], you respond to the command of Allah The Almighty: “Spend, O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim], and you get prepared to enter the gate of the most beloved deeds to Allah The Almighty as the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “The most beloved of people to Allah is the one who brings most benefit to people, and the most beloved of deeds to Allah is making a Muslim happy, or relieving him of hardship, or paying off his debt, or warding off hunger from him.” [At-Tabaraani] [Al-Albaani: Hasan]
Make the most of the season
If business and trade has seasons of making good profits, then obedience too has its seasons of competition. If the people usually strive to double their activities in the seasons of business so that their profits may increase, then it is more appropriate for you to make the most of such seasons of worship to raise your rank in the sight of your Lord in the Hereafter.
Imam Ash-Shaafi‘i, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “It is better for men to be exceedingly generous during the blessed month of Ramadan, following the example of the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and because people have a need for such charity as many of them are too busy with fasting and praying to earn their livelihood in that month.”
Consequently, you will enjoy the gifts and graces of Allah The Almighty in this month, make the best of this noble time of the year and double your rewards in it before it comes to an end.
Strive to do a great deal of good deeds such as giving food for the fasting person to break his fast, feeding a hungry person, satisfying the needs of the poor, giving comfort to the deprived, helping the destitute and supporting the needy.
The fortunate person is he who makes the best use of these special months, days, and hours, and brings himself closer to His Lord by fulfilling such acts of worship. He is most likely to receive the blessings of Allah The Almighty so that he will be saved from Hellfire and its scorching flames.
Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/
Make the most of the season of blessings
