Ramadan is like age; it is short and passes by quickly. A wise person spends Ramadan engaged in doing what benefits him in the Hereafter – not in being preoccupied with something else until it ends, and then regretting his inaction when regret will not bring about any benefit. Sometimes, a person may reach middle age before he wakes up from his heedlessness and discovers that he has wasted long hours in useless things that will not benefit him before his Lord. In this case, what should he do?
Should he be afflicted with frustration and despair, lose all hope and kill the 100th man? (This refers to the Hadith (narration) of a man who killed 99 people and lost all hope of repentance due to a monk’s words, so he killed him too and completed a set of 100 victims) Or should he persist in seeking repentance, so that when he shows truthfulness and sincerity to Allah The Almighty, He directs him to the most knowledgeable person on earth in order to give him hope and guides him to the right path?
Regardless of one’s eagerness to do good deeds, each one of us is guilty of negligence to a certain extent, and thus, one should be determined to make up for the time he has wasted and strive harder.
Once, Al-Fudhayl ibn ‘Iyaadh, may Allah have mercy upon him, admonished a man with such eloquence that the man’s heart sank, and he asked Al-Fudhayl ‘What should I do, O Abu ‘Ali?’ ‘Pursue good deeds in what remains and your past negligence will be forgiven,’” replied Al-Fudhayl.
Yes, pursue good deeds to make up for your past negligence. Do not despair because of breaching your covenants with Allah The Almighty repeatedly; instead, be bashful before your Lord, and regard this feeling of remorse as a fuel that pushes you to do acts of obedience and prevent you from committing violations.
Do not look back; look ahead. Our great Lord wipes out misdeeds with the repentance of His slaves.
If you vowed to your Lord to give up smoking but you still smoke, never mind. Make a new pledge and give up smoking. If you pledged to your Lord to give up watching TV serials but you continue to do so, never mind. You can give up now. Despite whatever you did in the past, it is what is possible now that is more important.
You should wake up now and strive sincerely like the one who realises the merits of the remaining part of the month of Ramadan. You should strive like the one who realises that he would be ruined if the month passes and he does not receive the forgiveness of Allah The Almighty.
You should renew your intention and recharge the battery of your morale. You should stand up, bow, prostrate and supplicate Allah The Almighty as you have never done before. This is the key to salvation, the secret of happiness, the ultimate success and the only goal worth seeking.
Stand up and persistently entreat your Lord. If He helps you and grants you success, you will indeed be among the successful. You should stand up, for you will never succeed unless Allah The Almighty helps you and you will never be saved unless Allah The Almighty grants you succor. Stand up on the threshold of His door and say, “O Allah, You are the Beneficent, the Affectionate, the Merciful.” Stand up and repent for your misdeeds and your past sins.
Address Allah The Almighty,
“Your servants other than me are many, but I have no other lord but You. Help me and reform me. My Lord, God and Sustainer, I combat my soul, but it defeats me, I struggle with it but it overcomes me. So, help me overcome it. My heart is completely controlled by You, make obedience beloved to it and disobedience hateful to it. My soul is owned by You, turn it to Your worship and help me to be like the ones You love and are pleased with during the remaining part of Ramadan.
O Allah, allow me to witness Laylat Al-Qadr, save me from the Fire, grant me the sweetness of fasting, praying at night and reciting the Qur’an. If You will not help me, You will destroy me; and if You will entrust me to myself, You will entrust me to something weak, deficient and prone to evildoing. There is no power nor strength save in You. I entreat You in prayer, while I disobey You when I am alone. How grave is my sin but how great is Your tolerance! I supplicate You when I am in need of something, but I forget You when I am overcome by desires. How mean I am but how broad and comprehensive is Your mercy!”
Remember: what is possible now is better than what is past, by the permission of the Most Merciful.
Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/
Shariah Committee allows Zakat al-Fitr to be paid early
QNA/Doha
Qatar’s Ministry of Awqaf (Endowment) and Islamic Affairs’ Shariah Committee issued yesterday a decision allowing Zakat al-Fitr to be paid early.
The committee, chaired by Sheikh Dr Thaqil bin Sayer al-Shammari, said that the designated authorities can receive Zakat al-Fitr during Ramadan and are considered a representative of the state and the poor.
The committee’s statement said that the purpose of Zakat al-Fitr was to help the poor during Eid.
It added that it was possible to give the Zakat a day or two before Eid, so that a poor person can use it for Eid.
They noted however that Zakat al-Fitr cannot be given long before Eid, as needy people would probably spend it before Eid arrives. It cannot also be delayed after Eid, as people should give Zakat as soon as it is ready.
The committee concluded that based on these aspects they found it appropriate to give Zakat al-Fitr during Ramadan to the designated authorities.
It added that the money paid would still count as Zakat even if it reaches the poor after Eid, given the designated authorities act as a representative of the poor.
The committee added that the spending of Zakat before Eid or after was also possible if there is a reason to do so.
Awqaf Ministry distributes in-kind Zakat al-Fitr, Eid clothes to needy
The Ministry of Awqaf (Endowment) and Islamic Affairs started, through the Zakat Fund, to distribute in-kind Zakat al-Fitr to those in need in Qatar, and Eid clothes to needy people in co-operation with Hifz Al Naema Center.
The ministry launched the initiative by distributing 4,000 Zakat al-Fitr in kind to those who are registered with the Zakat Fund and the Hifz Al Naema Center, in addition to Eid clothes distributed to the eligible.
In-kind Zakat al-Fitr will be distributed to 1,500 families, 2,500 workers and Eid clothes to 1,500 families.
