Virtues of Ramadan

Praise be to Allah.

Ramadan is one of the twelve Arabic months. It is a month which is venerated in the Islamic religion, and it is distinguished from the other months by a number of characteristics and virtues, including the following: 

1- Allah has made fasting this month the fourth pillar of Islam , as He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that month…” [al-Baqarah 2:185]

And it was narrated in al-Sahihayn (al-Bukhari, 8; Muslim, 16) from the hadith of Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Islam is built on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah; establishing prayer; paying zakah; fasting Ramadan; and Hajj to the House (the Ka’bah).” 

2- Allah revealed the Quran in this month, as He says in the verse quoted above (interpretation of the meaning): 

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)…” [al-Baqarah 2:185]

And Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Verily, We have sent it (this Quran) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree).” [al-Qadr 97:1]

3- Allah has made Laylat al-Qadr in this month, which is better than a thousand months, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Verily, We have sent it (this Quran) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree). And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months). Therein descend the angels and the Ruh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] by Allah’s Permission with all Decrees, (All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.” [al-Qadar 97:1-5] 

“We sent it (this Quran) down on a blessed night [(i.e. the Night of Al-Qadr) in the month of Ramadan — the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship].” [al-Dukhan 44:3]

Allah has blessed Ramadan with Laylat al-Qadr . Explaining the great status of this blessed night, Surat al-Qadr was revealed, and there are many ahadith which also speak of that, such as the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month which Allah has enjoined you to fast, during which the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the rebellious devils are chained up. In it there is a night which is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived.” (Narrated by al-Nasai, 2106; Ahmad, 8769, classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih al-Targhib, 999.)

And Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever spends Laylat al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, will be forgiven his previous sins.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 1910; Muslim, 760)

4- Allah has made fasting Ramadan and spending its nights in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward a means of forgiveness of sins, as was proven in al-Sahihayn (al-Bukhari, 2014; Muslim, 760) from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” 

Al-Bukhari (2008) and Muslim (174) also narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever spends the nights of Ramadan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” 

The Muslims are unanimously agreed that it is Sunnah to pray qiyam at night in Ramadan. Al-Nawawi said that what is meant by praying qiyam in Ramadan is to pray Tarawih, i.e., one achieves what is meant by qiyam by praying Tarawih. 

5- In this month, Allah opens the gates of Paradise and closes the gates of Hell , and chains up the devils, as is stated in al-Sahihayn (al-Bukhari, 1898; Muslim, 1079), from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.” 

6- Every night Allah has people whom He redeems from the Fire. Imam Ahmad (5/256) narrated from the hadith of Abu Umamah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “At every breaking of the fast, Allah has people whom He redeems.” Al-Mundhiri said: there is nothing wrong with its isnad; and it was classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih al-Targhib, 987. 

Al-Bazzar (Kashf 962) narrated that Abu Sa’id said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah has people whom He redeems every day and night – i.e., in Ramadan – and every Muslim every day and night has a prayer that is answered.” 

7- Fasting Ramadan is a means of expiation for the sins committed since the previous Ramadan, so long as one avoids major sins. It was proven in Sahih Muslim (233) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The five daily prayers, from one Jumu’ah to the next and from one Ramadan to the next are expiation for (sins committed) in between, so long as you avoid major sins.” 

8- Fasting in Ramadan is equivalent to fasting ten months, as is indicated by the hadith in Sahih Muslim (1164) narrated from Abu Ayyub al-Ansari: “Whoever fasts Ramadan then follows it with six days of Shawwal , it will be like fasting for a lifetime.”

Ahmad (21906) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan, a month is like ten months, and fasting six days after al-Fitr will complete the year.” 

9- Whoever prays qiyam in Ramadan with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer, because of the report narrated by Abu Dawud (1370) and others from the hadith of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever prays qiyam with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer.” (Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Salat al-Tarawih, p. 15)

10- ‘Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj . Al-Bukhari (1782) and Muslim (1256) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to a woman among the Ansar, “What kept you from doing Hajj with us?” She said, “We only had two camels that we used for bringing water.” So her husband and son had gone for Hajj on one camel, and he left the other for them to use for bringing water.” He said, “When Ramadan comes, go for ‘Umrah, for ‘Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj.” According to a report narrated by Muslim, “… is equivalent to doing Hajj with me.” 

11- It is Sunnah to observe i’tikaf (retreat for the purpose of worship) in Ramadan, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) always did that, as it was narrated in the hadith of ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to spend the last ten days of Ramadan in i’tikaf until he passed away, then his wives observed i’tikaf after him.” Narrated by al-Bukhari, 1922; Muslim, 1172. 

12- It is mustahabb in the sense of being strongly recommended in Ramadan to study the Quran together and to read it a great deal. You may study the Quran together by reciting it to someone else and by having someone else recite it to you. The evidence that this is mustahabb is the fact that Jibril used to meet the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) every night in Ramadan and study the Quran with him. (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 6; Muslim, 2308)

Reading Quran is mustahabb in general, but more so in Ramadan. 

13- It is mustahabb in Ramadan to offer iftar to those who are fasting , because of the hadith of Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever gives iftar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the fasting person’s reward in the slightest.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 807; Ibn Majah, 1746; classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih al-Tirmidhi, 647.)  

And Allah knows best.

REFERENCE:

https://islamqa.info/en/answers/13480/13-virtues-of-ramadan

Weakness of a hadeeth about the virtues of Ramadaan

Praise be to Allah.

This hadeeth was narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah in his Saheeh, 3/191, no. 1887. He said, “If the report is saheeh …” but the word ‘if’ was omitted in some references such as al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb by al-Mundhiri (2/95), so they thought that Ibn Khuzaymah said, “The report is saheeh,” although he did not state that. 

It was also narrated by al-Mahaamili in al-Amaali (293); by al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Eemaan (7/216); Fadaa’il al-Awqaat, p. 146, no. 37; by Abu’l-Shaykh Ibn Hibbaan in Kitaab al-Thawaab; it was attributed to him by al-Saa’aati in al-Fath al-Rabbaani (9/233); it was mentioned by al-Suyooti in al-Durr al-Manthoor, and he said, it was narrated by al-‘Aqeeli and he classed it as da’eef (weak); it was mentioned by al-Isbahaani in al-Targheeb, and by al-Munaqqi in Kanz al-‘Ummaal (8/477). All of them narrated it via Sa’eed ibn al-Musayyib from Salmaan al-Faarisi. The isnaad of the hadeeth is da’eef (weak) for two reasons, which are: 

1 – There is a break in the chain of narrators, because Sa’eed ibn al-Musayyib did not hear it from Salmaan al-Faarisi (may Allaah be pleased with him).

2 – Its isnaad includes ‘Ali ibn Zayd ibn Jad’aan, of whom Ibn Sa’d said: “There is some weakness in him and he cannot be quoted as evidence. He was classed as da’eef (weak) by Ahmad, Ibn Ma’een, al-Nasaa’i, Ibn Khuzaymah, al-Jawzjaani and others, as it says in Siyar A’laam al-Nubala’, 5/207. 

Abu Haatim al-Raazi judged the hadeeth to be munkar (a kind of weak hadeeth). Al-‘Ayni said likewise in ‘Umdat al-Qaari’, 9/20, as did Shaykh al-Albaani in Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth al-Da’eefah wa’l-Mawdoo’ah, vol. 2/262. no. 871. So it becomes clear that the isnaad of this hadeeth and similar reports are all da’eef (weak), and that the muhadditheen (scholars of hadeeth) judged it to be munkar, in addition to the fact that it contains some phrases whose authenticity is subject to further examination, such as its dividing the month into three parts, saying that the first ten days are mercy, then forgiveness, then ransom from the Fire. There is no evidence for this, rather the bounty of Allaah is immense, all of Ramadaan is mercy and forgiveness, and there are those whom Allaah ransoms from the Fire every night and at the time of breaking the fast, as is proven by the ahaadeeth. 

Moreover, in this hadeeth it says, “Whoever draws near to Allaah during this month by doing some good deeds is like one who does an obligatory action.” There is no evidence for this, rather naafil actions are naafil and obligatory actions are obligatory in Ramadaan and at other times. This hadeeth also says, “and the one who does an obligatory action during this month is like one who does seventy obligatory actions at any other times.” This number is subject to further examination, because a good deed earns a reward between ten and seven hundred times in Ramadaan and at other times, and nothing is exempted from that apart from fasting, for its reward is immense and unlimited, because of the hadeeth qudsi: “Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except for fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it.” (Agreed upon; narrated from Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him). 

We must beware of da’eef (weak) hadeeth and make sure of their status before we speak of them. We must strive to find out the saheeh ahaadeeth about the virtues of Ramadaan. May Allaah grant us all strength and accept our fasting, night prayers and all our good deeds. 

And Allaah knows best. 

REFERENCE:

https://islamqa.info/en/answers/21364/weakness-of-a-hadeeth-about-the-virtues-of-ramadaan

 Preparing for Ramadan

Preparing for Ramadan: 1. Sincere repentance 2. Du’a (supplication) 3. Rejoicing at the approach of the blessed month 4. Discharging the duty of any outstanding obligatory fasts 5. Seeking knowledge 6. Hastening to complete any tasks that may distract you from doing acts of worship. 7. Sitting with one’s family members to tell them of the rulings on fasting. 8. Preparing some books to read 9. Fasting some of the month of Sha’ban 10. Reading Quran

REFERENCE

https://islamqa.info/en/answers/92748/10-tips-on-preparing-for-ramadan

The Virtues of Fasting

1. There is no deed like fasting:

أتيتُ رسولَ اللَّهِ صلَّى اللَّهُ عليْهِ وسلَّمَ فقلتُ مُرني بأمرٍ آخذُهُ عنْكَ قالَ عليْكَ بالصَّومِ ، فإنَّهُ لا مثلَ لَه

الراوي : أبو أمامة الباهلي | المحدث : الألباني | المصدر : صحيح النسائي | الصفحة أو الرقم : 2219 | خلاصة حكم المحدث : صحيح | التخريج : أخرجه النسائي (2220)

“Abu Umama (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he said, “O Messenger of Allah, give me a command so that I may strive in worship beyond the obligatory acts.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, “Maintain fasting, as there is no deed comparable to it.”

(Musnad Ahmad, Nasa’i, Ibn Hibban, Haakim) [Saheeh ul-Jami’ 4044] (Saheeh)

Narrator:Abu Umama(may Allah be pleased with him)

2. Fasting is a means of forgiveness:

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

– مَن صامَ رَمَضانَ إيمانًا واحْتِسابًا  [1] غُفِرَ له ما تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنْبِهِ، ومَن قامَ لَيْلَةَ القَدْرِ إيمانًا واحْتِسابًا غُفِرَ له ما تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنْبِهِ.

الراوي : أبو هريرة | المحدث : البخاري | المصدر : صحيح البخاري | الصفحة أو الرقم : 2014 | خلاصة حكم المحدث : [صحيح] | التخريج : أخرجه البخاري (2014)، ومسلم (760)

وقال المباركفوري رحمه الله تعالى: (قال الخطابي: “احتسابًا”؛ أي: نية وعزيمة، وهو أن يصومه على معنى الرغبة في ثوابه، طيبة نفسُه بذلك، غير كارهٍ له، ولا مستثقل لصيامه، ولا مستطيل لأيامه؛ ولكن يغتنم طول أيامه لعِظَم الثواب»؛ «مرعاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح، المباركفوري، (6/ 404)».

“Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, and hoping

to attain Allah’s reward, then all his past sins will be forgiven.”

[Bukhari: Al-Imaan 38, Muslim: Salatul Musafirin wa Kasriha 1268]

Narrator:Abu Hurairah(may Allah be pleased with him)

3. Fasting as means of freedom from Hellfire:

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

عَنْ جَابِرٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : ( إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ فِطْرٍ عُتَقَاءَ ، وَذَلِكَ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ )

. رواه أحمد (21698) وابن ماجه ( 1643 ) . وصححه الشيخ الألباني في ” صحيح ابن ماجه ” .

“Allah,the Almighty, sets some people free from Hellfire at every Iftar(breaking of fast), and this happens every night in Ramadan.”

Musnad Ahmad, Tabarani, Ibn Majah)[Saheeh ul-Jami’ 2170] (Hasan)

Narrator:Abu Umama(may Allah be pleased with him)

4. Fasting is Shield against Hellfire:

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

وعند أحمد بإسناد حسن عن جابر – رضي الله عنه – قال: قال رسول الله – صلى الله عليه وسلم -: “الصيام جُنَّة يستجن بها العبد من النار”

(صحيح الجامع)

“Fasting is the protective shield that guards a person against the Hellfire.”[1]

(Tabarani)[Saheeh ul-Jami’ 3867] (Hasan)

Narrator:Usman bin Abil Aas(may Allah be pleased with him)

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

وعند أحمد بسند حسن عن أبي هريرة – رضي الله عنه – عن النبي – صلى الله عليه وسلم – قال: “الصيام جُنَّة وحصن حصين من النار”

(صحيح الجامع: 3880).

“Fasting is a shield, a strong fortress to protect against Hell.”

(Musnad Ahmad, Sawbill Imaan lilBayhaqi)[Saheeh ul-Jami’ 3880] (Hasan)

Narrator:Abu Hurairah(may Allah be pleased with him)

5. Fasting is a remedy for the ailments of the soul and a means to attain Taqwa (God-consciousness):

Allah(the Exalted) says:

              يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ١٨٣

“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.”

[Surah al-Baqarah (2); Ayat-183]

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

عن الأعرابيِّ، قال: سَمِعتُ رسولَ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ يقولُ: صَومُ شَهرِ الصَّبرِ وثلاثةِ أيَّامٍ من كُلِّ شَهرٍ، يُذهِبْنَ وَحَرَ الصَّدرِ. [1]

الراوي : رجال من الصحابة | المحدث : شعيب الأرناؤوط | المصدر : تخريج المسند لشعيب | الصفحة أو الرقم : 23070 | خلاصة حكم المحدث : إسناده صحيح | التخريج : أخرجه أحمد (23070) واللفظ له، وابن أبي شيبة (37790)، وابن الجارود في ((المنتقى)) (1099)

( بِمَا يُذْهِبُ وَحَرَ الصَّدْرِ ) بِفَتْحَتَيْنِ قِيلَ غِشُّهُ وَوَسَاوِسُهُ وَقِيلَ حِقْده وَقِيلَ العداوة [لسان العرب وَحر]

“Fasting during the month of patience(Ramadan) and three fasts every month help eliminate shortcomings present in the chest(heart).”

 (Al-Baghawi, al-Bawardee,Tabaranee)[Saheeh ul-Jami’ 3804] (Saheeh)

6. The Virtue of fasting with sincerity(Ikhlaas):

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

يقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: إلَّا الصَّوْمَ؛ فإنَّه لي، وَأَنَا أَجْزِي به، يَدَعُ شَهْوَتَهُ وَطَعَامَهُ مِن أَجْلِي. لِلصَّائِمِ [1]  فَرْحَتَانِ: فَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ فِطْرِهِ، وَفَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ لِقَاءِ رَبِّهِ. وَلَخُلُوفُ فيه أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللهِ مِن رِيحِ المِسْكِ.

الراوي : أبو هريرة | المحدث : مسلم | المصدر : صحيح مسلم الصفحة أو الرقم: 1151 | خلاصة حكم المحدث : [صحيح] التخريج : أخرجه البخاري (7492) مختصراً، ومسلم (1151) واللفظ له.

الصِّيامُ جُنَّةٌ من النَّارِ ، كَجُنَّةِ أحدِكمْ من القِتالِ.

الراوي : عثمان بن أبي العاص الثقفي | المحدث : السيوطي | المصدر : الجامع الصغير | الصفحة أو الرقم : 5175 | خلاصة حكم المحدث : صحيح

“Allah said: The Fast is for Me and I will give the reward for it, as he (the one who observes the fast) leaves his sexual desire, food and drink for My Sake. Fasting is a screen (from Hell) and there are two pleasures for a fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord. And the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better in Allah’s Sight than the smell of musk.”

[Bukhari:al-Tawheed 7492; Muslim:al-Siwam 1946]

Narrator:Abu Hurairah(may Allah be pleased with him)

7. The Virtue of Suhoor(pre-dawn meal):

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

تَسَحَّرُوا فَإِنَّ فِي السَّحُورِ بَرَكَةً ‏”‌‏.‏

“Take Suhur as there is a blessing in it.”

[Bukhari: Al-Sawm 1923; Muslim:al-Siwam 1835]

Narrator:Anas bin Malik(may Allah be pleased with him)

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

السَّحورُ أُكْلةُ بَرَكةٍ، فلا تَدَعوه، ولو أنْ يَجرَعَ أَحَدُكم جُرْعةً من ماءٍ؛ فإنَّ اللهَ وملائكتَه يُصلُّونَ على المُتَسَحِّرينَ”.

الراوي : أبو سعيد الخدري | المحدث : شعيب الأرناؤوط | المصدر : تخريج المسند لشعيب | الصفحة أو الرقم : 11396 | خلاصة حكم المحدث : صحيح | التخريج : أخرجه أحمد (11396) واللفظ له. وأخرجه ابن أبي شيبة (9013)، والطبراني في ((المعجم الأوسط)) (8064) مختصراً بلفظ: ((تسحروا فإن في السحور بركة))

“Suhoor is a blessed meal, so do not omit it, even if one of you only takes a sip of water, for Allah and His angels send blessings on those who eat suhoor.”

(Musnad Ahmad:11003)[Saheeh ul-Jami’ 3683] (Hasan)

Narrator:Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri(may Allah be pleased with him)

8. There is no sin for someone who unintentionally eats or drink while fasting:

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ مَنْ أَكَلَ نَاسِيًا وَهْوَ صَائِمٌ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ، فَإِنَّمَا أَطْعَمَهُ اللَّهُ وَسَقَاهُ

“If somebody eats something forgetfully while he is fasting, then he should complete his fast, for Allah has made him eat and drink.”

[Bukhari: 6669; Muslim: al-Sawam 171-(1155)]

Narrator:Abu Hurairah(may Allah be pleased with him)

9. The Virtue of a person whose death occurs while fasting:

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

من خُتم له بصيام يوم دخل الجنة

“The one whose life concludes while observing a fast on any day will enter Paradise.”

(Al Bazzar)[Saheeh ul-Jami’ 6224] (Saheeh)

Narrator: Huzaifa(may Allah be pleased with him)

10. Those who fast will enter Paradise through the Gate of Rayyan:

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ بَابًا يُقَالُ لَهُ الرَّيَّانُ، يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ الصَّائِمُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، لاَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ يُقَالُ أَيْنَ الصَّائِمُونَ فَيَقُومُونَ، لاَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ، فَإِذَا دَخَلُوا أُغْلِقَ، فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ ‏”‌‏.‏

 “There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, ‘Where are those who used to observe fasts?’ They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it.”

[Bukhari: al-Saum 1896; Muslim: al-Siwam 1947]

Narrator: Sahl bin Saad(may Allah be pleased with him)

The Virtues of performing Qiyam

(night prayer) during Ramadan:

1. The Virtue of performing Qiyam during Ramadan:

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

مَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ»

“Whoever prayed at night the whole month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”

[Bukhari: Salat ut-Taraweeh 2009; Muslim: Salatul Musafirin wa Kasriha 1267]

Narrator:Abu Hurairah(may Allah be pleased with him)

2. The Virtue of Qiyam with the Imam during Ramadan:

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

“‏ إِنَّهُ مَنْ قَامَ مَعَ الإِمَامِ حَتَّى يَنْصَرِفَ كُتِبَ لَهُ قِيَامَ لَيْلَةٍ ‏”‏ [1]

“Indeed, whoever stands (praying) with the Imam until he finished, then it is recorded for him that he prayed the whole night”

 [1] عن أبي ذرٍّ قالَ : صُمنا معَ رسولِ اللَّهِ صلَّى اللَّه عليه وسلم رمضانَ فلم يقُم بنا شيئًا منَ الشَّهرِ حتَّى بقِيَ سبعٌ فقامَ بنا حتَّى ذَهبَ ثلثُ اللَّيلِ فلمَّا كانتِ السَّادسةُ لَم يقم بنا فلمَّا كانتِ الخامسةُ قامَ بنا حتَّى ذَهبَ شطرُ اللَّيلِ  فقلتُ: يا رسولَ اللَّهِ لو نفَّلتَنا قيامَ هذِهِ اللَّيلة. قالَ فقالَ: إنَّ الرَّجلَ إذا صلَّى معَ الإمامِ حتَّى ينصرِفَ حُسِبَ لَهُ قيامُ ليلةٍ. قالَ: فلمَّا كانتِ الرَّابعةُ لم يقُم فلمَّا كانتِ الثَّالثةُ جمعَ أَهلَهُ ونساءَهُ والنَّاسَ فقامَ بنا حتَّى خشِينا أن يفوتَنا الفلاحُ. قالَ قلتُ وما الفلاحُ قالَ السُّحورُ ثمَّ لم يقم بقيَّةَ الشَّهرِ

الراوي : أبو ذر الغفاري | المحدث : الألباني | المصدر : صحيح أبي داود | الصفحة أو الرقم : 1375 | خلاصة حكم المحدث : صحيح

[Sunan Tirmizi bitahqeeqil Albani 806; Irwa’ Volume: 2 Page: 193] (Saheeh)

 Narrator:Abu Dharr(may Allah be pleased with him)

3. The Virtue of arranging and performing Qiyam ul-Layl during Ramadan:

جاء رجلٌ من قُضاعةَ إلى رسولِ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم فقال إنِّي شهِدتُ أن لا إلهَ إلَّا اللهُ وأنَّك رسولُ اللهِ وصلَّيْتُ الصَّلواتِ الخمسَ وصمتُ رمضانَ وق متُه وآتيتُ الزَّكاةَ فقال رسولُ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم من مات على هذا كان من الصِّدِّيقين والشُّهداءِ

الراوي : عمرو بن مرة الجهني | المحدث : المنذري | المصدر : الترغيب والترهيب | الصفحة أو الرقم : 2/7 | خلاصة حكم المحدث : إسناده حسن | التخريج : أخرجه أحمد كما في ((مجمع الزوائد)) للهيثمي (8/150)، وابن خزيمة (2212)، وابن حبان (3438)

“Amr ibn Murrah al-Juhani (رضی اللہ عنہ) said: A man came to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) from Qadaa’ah and said to him: “O Messenger of Allah, what do you think if I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and that you are His Messenger, and I pray the five daily prayers, and fast the month (of Ramadan), and pray Qiyam in Ramadan, and pay zakaah?” The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Whoever dies doing that will be one of the Siddeeqs and martyrs.”

(Ibn Khuzaima, al-Bazzar, Ibn Hibban)[Sahih Ibn Khuzaima 2212; Saheeh ut-Targheeb 1003] (Hasan)

The Virtues of reciting the Qur’an during Ramadan:

1. On the Day of Judgment, fasting and the Qur’an will intercede on behalf of individuals:

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

الصيامُ والقرآنُ يَشْفَعانِ للعبدِ، يقولُ الصيامُ : أَيْ رَبِّ ! إني مَنَعْتُهُ الطعامَ والشهواتِ بالنهارِ، فشَفِّعْنِي فيه، ويقولُ القرآنُ : مَنَعْتُهُ النومَ بالليلِ، فشَفِّعْنِي فيه ؛ فيَشْفَعَانِ

الراوي : عبدالله بن عمرو | المحدث : الألباني | المصدر : هداية الرواة | الصفحة أو الرقم : 1904 | خلاصة حكم المحدث : حسن | التخريج : أخرجه أحمد (6626)، وابن المبارك في ((الزهد)) (2/114)، والطبراني (14/72) (14672)، والحاكم (2036)، والديلمي في ((الفردوس)) (3815) باختلاف يسير

“Fasting and the Quran will intercede for the servant on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: O Lord, I prevented him from food and desires during the day, so let me intercede for him. The Quran will say: O Lord, I prevented him from sleeping during the night, so let me intercede for him. Thus, they will both intercede for him.”

(Musnad Ahmad:6626, Tabarani, Haakim, Sawbill Imaan lil-Bayhaqi)[Saheeh ul-Jami’ 3882] (Saheeh)

Narrator:Abdullah ibn Amr(may Allah be pleased with him)

 2. Prophet Muhammad(peace and blessings upon him) used to engage in the recitation and teaching of Qur’an during the nights Ramadan:

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

إَنَّ جبريلَ كان يعارضُنِي القرآنَ كلَّ سَنَةٍ مرةً ، و إنَّهُ عارضَنِي العامَ مرتينِ ، و لا أراهُ إلَّا حضرَ أجلِي

الراوي : فاطمة بنت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم | المحدث : الألباني | المصدر : صحيح الجامع | الصفحة أو الرقم : 2054 | خلاصة حكم المحدث : صحيح

“Every year Gabriel used to revise the Qur’an with me once only, but this year he has done so twice. I think this portends my death”

[Bukhari: Manaqib 3624; Muslim: Fazail e Sahaba 4487]

Narrator: Aisha(may Allah be pleased with him)

The Virtues of making supplications(Dua) during Ramadan are significant:

1. The Supplication of a person who is fasting is accepted:

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

عن أَبي هُرَيْرَةَ  قالَ: قالَ رسولُ الله ﷺ: ثَلاثُ دَعَوَاتٍ مُسْتَجَابَاتٌ لا شَكَّ فِيهنَّ: دَعْوَةُ المَظْلُومِ، وَدَعْوَةُ المُسَافِرِ، وَدَعْوَةُ الوَالِدِ عَلى وَلدِهِ رواه أَبُو داود والترمذي وقال: حديثٌ حسنٌ.

“Three (3) types of supplications are accepted: the supplication of a fasting person, the supplication of the oppressed, and the supplication of a traveller.”

(Al-Uqaili Fee Az-Zou’fa, Al-Bayhaqi Fee Sawbill Imaan)[Saheeh ul-Jami’ 3030] (Saheeh)

Narrator:Abu Huraira(may Allah be pleased with him)

2. After the obligation of fasting, a reminder of the acceptance of Duaa!:

Allah(the Exalted) says:

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ ١٨٦

“And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.”

[Surah al-Baqarah(2); Ayat-186]

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ  (١٨٥)

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ  (١٨٦)

[Surah al-Baqarah(2); Ayat- 185, 186]

The Virtues of performing Umrah during Ramadan:

روى البخاري (1782) ومسلم (1256) عن ابْن عَبَّاسٍ قال : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِامْرَأَةٍ مِنْ الْأَنْصَارِ :

  ( مَا مَنَعَكِ أَنْ تَحُجِّي مَعَنَا ؟ قَالَتْ : لَمْ يَكُنْ لَنَا إِلَّا نَاضِحَانِ [بعيران] ، فَحَجَّ أَبُو وَلَدِهَا وَابْنُهَا عَلَى نَاضِحٍ ، وَتَرَكَ لَنَا نَاضِحًا نَنْضِحُ عَلَيْهِ [نسقي عليه] الأرض ، قَالَ : فَإِذَا جَاءَ رَمَضَانُ فَاعْتَمِرِي ، فَإِنَّ عُمْرَةً فِيهِ تَعْدِلُ حَجَّةً ) وفي رواية لمسلم : ( حجة معي ) .

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said to a woman from the Ansar (Umm Sinan):

“Perform `Umrah when Ramadan comes, for `Umrah in Ramadan is equal to Hajj (in reward).”

In another narration, it is mentioned, “It is equivalent to performing Hajj with me.”

[Bukhari: Al-Hajj 1782 – Muslim: Al-Hajj 221-(1256)]

Narrator:Ibn Abbas(may Allah be pleased with him)

The Virtues of Generosity during Ramadan:

1. During Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad(peace and blessings upon him) would become more generous:

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

كان رسولُ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلَّم أجودَ الناسِ بالخيرِ ، وكان أجودَ ما يكون في شهرِ رمضانَ حتى ينسلِخَ ، فيأتيه جبريلُ فيعرضُ عليه القرآنَ ، فإذا لقِيَه جبريلُ كان رسولُ اللهِ أجودَ بالخيرِ من الرِّيحِ الْمُرسَلَةِ

الراوي : عبدالله بن عباس | المحدث : الألباني | المصدر : مختصر الشمائل | الصفحة أو الرقم : 303 | خلاصة حكم المحدث : صحيح | التخريج : أخرجه البخاري (6)، ومسلم (2308) باختلاف يسير

“The Prophet (ﷺ) was the most generous amongst the people, and he used to be more so in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel visited him, and Gabriel used to meet him on every night of Ramadan till the end of the month. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite the Holy Qur’an to Gabriel, and when Gabriel met him, he used to be more generous than a fast wind (which causes rain and welfare).”

[Bukhari: as-Sawm 1902; Muslim: al-Fazaail 4268]

 2.The Virtue of providing Iftar to a person who is fasting:

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: “مَنْ فَطَّرَ صَائِمًا كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لاَ يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ شَيْئًا”

“Whoever gives iftaar to a fasting person will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the reward of the fasting person in the slightest.”

(Musnad Ahmad, Tirmizi, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban)[Saheeh ul-Jami’ 4615] (Saheeh)

Narrator: Zayd bin Khalid(may Allah be pleased with him)

The Virtues of Laylatul Qadr(the Night of Decree)

1. The Virtue of Laylatul Qadr in Qur’an:

Allah(the Exalted) says:

إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ ١ وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ ٢ لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍۢ ٣ تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍۢ ٤ سَلَـٰمٌ هِىَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ ٱلْفَجْرِ ٥

“Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree.And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.   Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.”

[Surah Al-Qadr]

2. The Virtue of Laylatul Qadr in Hadith:

إِنَّ هذا الشهرَ قدْ حضَرَكُمْ ، وَفيهِ ليلَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شهْرٍ ، مَنْ حُرِمَها فَقَدْ حُرِمَ الخيرَ كُلَّهُ ، ولَا يُحْرَمُ خيرَها إلَّا محرومٌ

الراوي : أنس بن مالك | المحدث : الألباني | المصدر : صحيح الجامع الصفحة أو الرقم : 2247 | خلاصة حكم المحدث : حسن

“Ramadan began, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘This month has come to you, and in it there is a night that is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of it is deprived of all goodness, and no one is deprived of its goodness except one who is truly deprived.”

(Ibn Majah)[Saheeh ul-Jami’ 2247] (Hasan)

Narrator:Anas bin Malik(may Allah be pleased with him)

3. The Virtue of standing in prayer(Qiyam) during Laylatul Qadr:

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: مَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

رواه البخاري (1901)، ومسلم (759)

 “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 Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”

[Bukhari: As-Saum 1901- Muslim: Salatul Musafireen wa Qasriha 1268]

Narrator:Abu Huraira(may Allah be pleased with him)

The Virtues of observing I’tikaf in Ramadan:

1. Ibrahim(peace be upon him) was commanded to keep the Kaaba clean for those who observe I’tikaf:

Allah(the Exalted) says:

وَعَهِدْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلْعَـٰكِفِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ ١٢٥

“And [mention] when We made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, [saying], “Purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer].”

[Surah Al-Baqarah 125]

2. The Prophet Muhammad(peace and blessings upon him) used to observe I’tikaf for 10 days in every Ramadan:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

    كانَ النبيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ يَعْتَكِفُ في كُلِّ رَمَضَانٍ عَشَرَةَ أيَّامٍ،[1] فَلَمَّا كانَ العَامُ الذي قُبِضَ فيه اعْتَكَفَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْمًا.

الراوي : أبو هريرة | المحدث : البخاري | المصدر : صحيح البخاري | الصفحة أو الرقم : 2044 | خلاصة حكم المحدث : [صحيح] | التخريج : أخرجه البخاري (2044)

كان إذا كان مقيماً اعْتَكَفَ الْعَشْرَ الأوَاخِرِ مِنَّ رَمضانَ وإذَ سَافَرَ اعُتَكَفَ مِنَ الْعَامِ المقبل عشرين (حم) عن أنس. [صحيح الجامع ٤٧٧٥] (صحيح)

“The Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform I`tikaf every year in the month of Ramadan for ten days, and when it was the year of his death, he stayed in I`tikaf for twenty days.”

[Bukhari: Al-I’tikaaf 2044]

الراوي : أنس بن مالك | المحدث : السفاريني الحنبلي | المصدر : شرح ثلاثيات المسند | الصفحة أو الرقم : 1/632 | خلاصة حكم المحدث : إسناده حسن | التخريج : أخرجه الترمذي (803)، وابن خزيمة

(2227)، والحاكم (1601) باختلاف يسير.

“Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: “When Allah’s Messenger, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, was settled (in Medina), he used to observe I’tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan. However, if he was on a journey, he observed I’tikaf for twenty days the following year.”

(Musnad Ahmad)[Saheeh ul-Jami’ 4775] (Saheeh)

The Virtues of Sadaqatul Fitr

Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said:

فَرَضَ رسولُ اللهِ صدقةَ الفطرِ طُهْرَةً لِلصَّائِمِ مِنَ اللَّغْوِ والرَّفثِ ، طُعْمَةً لِلْمَساكِينِ ، فمَنْ أَدَّاها قبلَ الصَّلاةِ ؛ فهيَ زَكَاةٌ مَقْبُولَةٌ ، ومَنْ أَدَّاها بعدَ الصَّلاةِ ؛ فهيَ صدقةٌ مِنَ الصدقةِ

“Zakatul Fitr is prescribed to purify the fasting person from any indecent act or speech and to provide for the poor. If given before the Eid prayer, it is an accepted charity, while if given after the prayer, it is considered a general act of charity.”

[Dar-Qutni, Sunan Bayhaqi)[Saheeh ul-Jami’ 3570](Saheeh)

Narrator:Ibn Abbas(may Allah be pleased with him)

 Innovations (Bid’ah);

Can we celebrate Laylat al-Qadr

With regard to bid’ah (innovation), it is not permissible either in Ramadan or at other times. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever innovates anything in this matter of ours [Islam] that is not part of it will have it rejected.” And he said: “Whoever does any action that is not part of this matter of ours will have it rejected.” 

With regard to the celebrations that are held on some nights of Ramadan, we know of no basis for that. The best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad and the worst of matters are those which are innovated. 

And Allah knows best.

Any Du’a for Finishing (Recitation of) the Quran?

Praise be to Allah.

Du’a for finishing the Quran: Recommended

Du’a for completing the Quran in the manner asked about here is a reprehensible innovation (bid’ah), which was not done by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) or by the righteous salaf (may Allah be pleased with them). If it had been something good, they would have done it before us. 

Rather what is narrated from the salaf is to make du’a after completing the Quran, without stipulating any specific du’a or any particular way of doing it. 

So if the Muslim completes reading the Noble Quran , whether in Ramadan or at other times, it is mustahabb for him to raise his hands and call upon Allah, asking Him for the best in this world and in the Hereafter. 

Is there a specific du’a for completing the Quran?

Shaykh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: 

Is there a specific du’a for completing the Quran? 

He said: 

There is no evidence that there is a specific du’a for finishing the Quran as far as I know. Hence it is permissible for a person to make du’a as he wishes and to choose beneficial supplications such as praying to be forgiven, to be granted Paradise and to be saved from Hell, seeking refuge with Allah from fitnah (temptation, tribulation), asking for help to understand the Quran in the manner that Allah is pleased with and to act upon it and memorize it, etc., because it was proven that Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) used to gather his family when he completed the Quran and make du’a.” (Majmu’ Fatawa Ibn Baz, 11/358) 

Reciting du’a over food and distributing it, and when someone dies and on Thursdays: Bid`ah?

With regard to reciting that over food and distributing it, and doing that when someone dies and on Thursdays, all of that is bid’ah (innovation).

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has commanded us to adhere to his Sunnah and the way of the Rightly-Guided caliphs, and he has forbidden us to introduce innovations into the religion. He has told us that this is misguidance, and that bid’ahs will be rejected and thrown back at the one who does them, and he will not be rewarded for them. 

Abu Dawud (4607) narrated from al-‘Irbad ibn Sariyah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever among you lives after I am gone will see great differences. I urge you to adhere to my Sunnah and the way of the Rightly-Guided caliphs. Adhere to it and cling firmly to it. And beware of newly-innovated matters, for every newly-innovated matter is a bid’ah, and every bid’ah is a going-astray.” Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud, 3851. 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever does any action that is not in accordance with this matter of ours (Islam) will have it rejected.” Narrated by Muslim, 1718. 

And Allah knows best.

https://islamqa.info/en/answers/37683/any-dua-for-finishing-recitation-of-the-quran

There is no specific du`a for each day and night of Ramadan

Praise be to Allah.

Firstly: 

Ibn Khuzaymah narrated in his Saheeh (1887) that Salmaan (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) addressed us on the last day of Sha‘baan and said: “O people, a great month has come upon you, a blessed month… It is a month the beginning of which is mercy, its middle is forgiveness and its end is ransom from the Fire.” 

In the answer to question no. 21364, we explained that this hadith is da‘eef (weak).  

The entire month of Ramadan is mercy from Allah; the entire month is also forgiveness and ransom from the Fire. None of these blessings is restricted to any one part of the month to the exclusion of any other part, and this is a reflection of the vastness of Allah’s mercy. 

Muslim (1079) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are fettered.” 

At-Tirmidhi (682) narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “When the first night of Ramadan comes, the devils and mischievous jinn are chained up, and the gates of Hell are closed, and none of its gates are opened. The gates of Paradise are opened and none of its gates are closed. And a caller cries out: ‘O seeker of good, proceed; O seeker of evil, desist.’ And Allah has people whom He frees (from the Fire), and that happens every day.”

Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Tirmidhi. 

Based on that, singling out the first third of Ramadan to pray for mercy, the second third to pray for forgiveness and the last third to pray for ransom from Hell is an innovation for which there is no basis in Islamic teachings. There is also no justification for singling out these times for these supplications, because all the days of Ramadan are equal in that regard. Rather the Muslim may pray for whatever he wants of goodness in this world and the hereafter throughout Ramadan; that includes asking Allah for mercy, forgiveness, ransom from the Fire and admission to Paradise. 

Secondly: 

The Muslim should offer a great deal of du`a, asking for goodness and mercy, especially in this month, making the most of this time of goodness and blessing (barakah), seeking the mercy and forgiveness of their Lord, may He be exalted. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright” [al-Baqarah 2:186]. 

Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

The fact that Allah, may He be exalted, mentions this verse, which encourages one to offer du`a, in the midst of the verses that speak of the rulings on fasting, indicates that one should strive hard in offering du`a at the end of the fast and, indeed, every time one breaks the fast. End quote from Tafseer Ibn Katheer (1/509) 

It is good for the one who offers du`a to follow proper etiquette and to recite many of the du`as that have been narrated from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and not to overstep the mark in offering du`a. He should observe the etiquette of du`a and recite often the du`as that it is recommended to recite a great deal in Ramadan and also at times other than Ramadan. These include the following: 

• “Rabbana aatina fi’l-dunya hasanah wa fi’l-aakhirah hasanah wa qina ‘adhaab al-naar (Our Lord, give us that which is good in this world and that which is good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire),” [al-Baqarah 2:201]
• “Rabbana hab lana min azwaajina wa dhurriyyaatina qurrata a‘yunin waj‘alna lil-muttaqeena imaama (Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the Muttaqoon (the pious))” [al-Furqaan 25:74].
• “Rabb ij‘alni muqeema as-salaati wa min dhurriyyati Rabbana wa taqabbal du`a. Rabbana ighfir li wa li waalidayya wa lil-mu’mineena yawma yaqoom ul-hisaab (O my Lord! Make me one who performs As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and (also) from my offspring, our Lord! And accept my invocation. Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established)” [Ibraaheem 14:40-41].
• Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibb al-‘afwa fa’affu ‘anni (O Allah, You are forgiving and You love forgiveness, so forgive me).
• Allahumma inni as’aluka min al-khayri kullihi ‘aajilihi wa aajilihi, ma ‘alimtu minhu wa ma lam a‘lam, wa a‘oodhu bika min ash-sharri kullihi ‘aajilihi wa aajilihi, ma ‘alimtu minhu wa ma lam a‘lam. Allahumma inni as’aluka min khayri ma sa’alaka ‘abduka wa nabiyyuka, wa a‘oodhu bika min sharri ma ‘aadha minhu ‘abduka wa nabiyyuka. Allahumma inni as’aluka al-jannata wa ma qarraba ilayha min qawlin aw ‘amal, wa a‘oodhu bika min an-naari wa ma qarraba ilayha min qawlin aw ‘amal, wa as’aluka an taj‘ala kulla qada’in qadaytahu li khayran (O Allah, verily I ask you for all that is good in this world and the hereafter, what I know of it and what I do not know, and I seek refuge with You from all that is evil in this world and the hereafter, what I know of it and what I do not know. O Allah, verily I ask You for the good of that which Your slave and Prophet asked of You, and I seek refuge with You from the evil of that from which Your slave and Prophet sought refuge with You. O Allah, verily I ask you for Paradise and that which will bring me nearer to it of words and deeds, and I seek refuge with You from Hell and that which would bring me nearer to it of words and deeds. I ask You to make everything You decree for me good).
• Allahumma inni as’aluka al-‘aafiyata fi’d-dunya wa’l-aakhirah. Allahumma inni as’aluka al-‘afwa wa’l-‘aafiyata fi deeni wa dunyaaya wa ahli wa maali. Allahumma astur ‘awraati wa aamin raw‘aati. Allahumma ihfazni min bayna yadayya wa min khalfi wa ‘an yameeni wa ‘an shimaali, wa min fawqi, wa a‘oodhu bi ‘azamatika an ughtaala min tahti (O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in my religious and worldly affairs, my family and my wealth. O Allah, conceal my faults and protect me from that which causes me to worry. O Allah, protect me from before me and from behind me, from my right and from my left, and from above me, and I seek refuge in Your greatness lest I be destroyed from beneath me).

Similarly, it is recommended to recite general du`as from the Quran and Sunnah, any du`a is good in which the individual strives hard, beseeching his Lord. None of that is limited to Ramadan only. 

It is also mustahabb to say after breaking the fast: “Dhahaba al-zama’ wa abtalat al-‘urooq wa thabata al-ajr in sha Allah (Thirst is gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is certain if Allah wills).”

Please see also the answer to question no. 14103 and 26879. 

One should strive hard in du`a in the last third of the night in particular, every night. 

During the last ten days, one should recite a great deal the words: “Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwan tuhibb ul-‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, You are forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me).”

Please see the answer to question no. 36832. 

Please see the answer to question no. 36902 for more information on the etiquette of du`a. 

And Allah knows best.

https://islamqa.info/en/answers/220647/there-is-no-specific-dua-for-each-day-and-night-of-ramadan

Is Prayer on Last Friday of Ramadan Expiation for Missing Prayers?

Praise be to Allah.

The obligation to make up missed prayers

Whoever omits an obligatory prayer until the time for it has ended, one of the following must be the case: either he omitted it for a legitimate reason such as falling asleep or forgetting, or he omitted it without any excuse.

If a person omits a prayer for a legitimate reason, there is no sin on him, but he must offer it when he wakes up or remembers. If a person omits it deliberately, then he has committed a grave sin and he must make it up according to many scholars; others favoured the view that he cannot make it up, but he is required to repent, pray for forgiveness, regret it, and do a lot of righteous deeds. 

Is there any special prayer on the last Friday of Ramadan?

The report that speaks of a prayer that may be offered by one who omitted a prayer deliberately until the time for it ended, so that it may be an expiation for his deeds, is a lie and is falsely attributed to Islamic teaching. There follow some comments of the scholars concerning that: 

1. Ash-Shawkani (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

“The hadith “Whoever prays the five obligatory prayers of the night and day on the last Friday of Ramadan, that will make up for what he missed of prayers during that year” is undoubtedly mawdu‘ (fabricated). I could not find it in any of the books in which the authors compiled fabricated hadiths, but it is well-known among a group of people who claim to have knowledge in the city of San‘a nowadays, and many of them do that! I do not know who fabricated it and told it to them; may Allah curse the liars.” (Al-Ahadith al-Mawdu‘ah, p. 54) 

2. The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas said: 

“Prayer is an act of worship and the basic principle concerning it is tawqif i.e., stopping at what has been narrated in Shari‘ah (and not introducing anything new); the issue of making up the prayers and details of how to do that is something to be learned from texts and it is not valid to refer to anything in this regard except the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and the consensus based on both of them or one of them. 

There is no proof from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), or from his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), or from the leaders of guidance (may Allah have mercy on them) that they offered this prayer or instructed or encouraged others to do so. 

If it was something established, then his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would have known about it and would have transmitted it to us, and the leaders of guidance after them would have guided us to it. But there is no proof to that effect from any of them in word or in deed. 

That indicates that what is mentioned in the question about the “prayer to make up for the prayers of a lifetime (salat al-qada al-‘umri)” is a bid‘ah that has been introduced into Islam for which Allah has not prescribed. It is proven from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that he said: “Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected.” (Agreed upon). Rather what the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) instructed us to do is to make up the prayers that one misses because of falling asleep or forgetting until the time for them ends, and he explained to us that we should offer those prayers as they are usually offered when we wake up or remember, not on the last Friday of Ramadan.” (Fatawa al-Lajnah ad-Daimah, 8/167, 168) Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz, Shaykh ‘Abd ar-Razzaq ‘Afifi, Shaykh ‘Abdullah ibn Ghadyan, Shaykh ‘Abdullah ibn Qa‘ud 

3. Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: 

There is a group of people who have a custom in Ramadan, which is to offer the five obligatory prayers after a prayer on the last Friday (of Ramadan), and they say that this is to make up for any obligatory prayers that a person did not offer or that he forgot in Ramadan. What is the ruling on this prayer? 

He replied: 

“The ruling concerning this prayer is that it is an innovation (bid‘ah) and it has no basis in Islamic teachings; it will only take a person further away from his Lord, because the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance will be in the Fire.” No matter how much the followers of an innovation like it and regard it as good in their own minds, it is something bad before Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, because His Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance will be in the Fire.” These five daily prayers that a person makes up on the last Friday of Ramadan have no basis in Islamic teaching. Moreover, we say: has this person missed only five prayers? Perhaps he missed a number of days, not a number of prayers? 

What matters is that so long as a person is aware that he has missed prayers, he must make them up when he realises that, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever sleeps and misses a prayer or forgets it, let him offer it when he remembers it” (Agreed upon). But if a person does these five prayers to be on the safe side – as they claim – that is something reprehensible and is not permitted.” (Majmu‘ Fatawa ash-Shaykh al-‘Uthaymin, 12/227, 228) 

4. Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan (may Allah preserve him) was asked: 

I read a hadith from the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in which he said: “Whoever misses a prayer during his life and cannot remember what it was, let him get up on the last Friday of Ramadan and pray four rak‘ahs with one tashahhud, reciting in each rak‘ah the Opening of the Book (i.e., al-Fatihah) and Surat al-Qadr fifteen times, and Surat al-Kawthar the same number of times, and let him say in his intention: I intend to pray four rak‘ahs as expiation for what I have missed of prayers.” How sound is this hadith? 

He replied: 

“There is no basis for this in the Sunnah of the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). What is proven from the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is that he said: “Whoever forgets a prayer or sleeps and misses it, let him offer it when he remembers it. There is no expiation for that except this” (agreed upon). With regard to the prayers that you missed previously, if you missed them because of sleep – for example – or because you were unconscious, or for some excuse that you thought made it permissible for you to delay them, then what you must do is make them up and offer them in order. If you missed them deliberately, then the more correct of the two scholarly views is that you must repent to Allah, because the one who misses prayer deliberately is in a grave position, even if he does not deny that they are obligatory. The correct view is that he has become a disbeliever by doing that. So you must repent to Allah if you missed them deliberately, and you must persist in offering prayers regularly in the future, and may Allah accept your repentance. 

But if you missed them because of sleep or unconsciousness, or something else that prevented you from offering them on time, then you have no choice but to make them up. As for offering this prayer that you mentioned at the end of Ramadan in this manner, there is no basis for that in the Islamic religion, and it will not make up for the prayers that you missed.”

And Allah knows best.

https://islamqa.info/en/answers/157541/is-prayer-on-last-friday-of-ramadan-expiation-for-missing-prayers

Mistakes made on Eid

Praise be to Allah.

As Eid is approaching, we would like to point out some things that some people do out of ignorance of the laws of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). These include the following: 

1 – The belief of some that it is prescribed to spend the night of Eid in worship. 

Some people believe that it is prescribed to spend the night of Eid in worship. This is a kind of innovation (bid’ah) that is not proven from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Rather it was narrated in a da’eef (weak) hadeeth which says, “Whoever stays up on the night of Eid, his heart will not die on the day when hearts die.” This hadeeth is not saheeh. It was narrated via two isnaads, one of which is mawdoo’ (fabricated) and the other is da’eef jiddan (very weak). See Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth al-Da’eefah wa’l-Mawdoo’ah by al-Albaani, 520, 521. 

It is not prescribed to single out the night of Eid to pray qiyaam to the exclusion of all other nights, unlike the one whose habit it is to pray qiyaam, in which case there is nothing wrong with him praying qiyaam on the night of Eid. 

2 – Visiting graves on the two Eid days. 

This is contrary to the purpose of Eid which is to express joy and happiness, and it goes against the teaching of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the actions of the salaf. It comes under the general meaning of the Prophet’s prohibition on visiting graves on a specific day and making that like a festival, as the scholars stated. 

See Ahkaam al-Janaa’iz wa Bida’uha by al-Albaani, p. 219, 258. 

3 – Forsaking the jamaa’ah and sleeping late and missing the prayer. 

Unfortunately you see some of the Muslims missing the prayer and forsaking the jamaa’ah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:  “The covenant that stands between us and them is the prayer; whoever forsakes it is a kaafir.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2621; al-Nasaa’i, 463; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi. 

And he said: “The most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are the ‘Isha’ and Fajr prayers. If they knew (what goodness) there is in them, they would come to them even if they had to crawl. I had thought of ordering the call to prayer to be given, then I would tell a man to lead the people in prayer, then I would go, taking some men with me carrying bundles of wood, to people who do not attend the prayer, and would burn their houses down around them.” Narrated by Muslim, 651. 

4 – Women mixing with men in the prayer place, the streets and elsewhere, and crowding together with men in those places. 

This is a source of great fitnah (temptation) and serious danger. Both women and men should be warned against that, and the necessary means should be taken to prevent that as much as possible. Men and youth should not leave the prayer place or the mosque until after the women have dispersed completely. 

5 – Some women going out wearing perfume and makeup, and without veils. 

This is a problem which is widespread, and many people take this matter lightly. Allah is the One Whose help we seek. Some women – may Allah guide them – even dress up in their finest clothes and put on the best perfume when they go to the mosque to pray Taraaweeh or go to the Eid prayers, etc. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Any woman who puts on perfume and passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance, is an adulteress.” Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 5126; al-Tirmidhi, 2783; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb, 2019. 

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There are two types of the people of Hell whom I have not seen. People with whips like the tails of cattle with which they beat the people, and women who are clothed yet naked, going astray and leading others astray, with their heads looking like the humps of camels, leaning to one side. They will not enter Paradise nor even smell its fragrance, although its fragrance may be detected from such and such a distance.” Narrated by Muslim, 2128. 

The guardians of women must fear Allah with regard to those who are under their care, and fulfil the duty of protecting and maintaining that Allah has enjoined upon them, because, 

“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other”

[al-Nisa’ 4:34 – interpretation of the meaning]

So they must guide them and show them that which will lead to their salvation and their safety in this world and in the Hereafter, by means of keeping away from that which Allah has forbidden and striving for that which will bring them closer to Allah. 

6 – Listening to singing and haram things. 

Among the evil things that are widespread in these times is music and singing.  They have become very widespread and people take this matter lightly. It is on TV and radio, in cars, homes and marketplaces. There is no power and no strength except with Allah. Even cell phones are not free of this evil. There are companies which compete in putting the latest music on the ringers of their cell phones, and in this way music has even reached the mosques, may Allah protect us… This is a great problem and a great evil whereby music is heard in the houses of Allah. See question no. 34217 . This confirms the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), “There will be among my ummah people who will regard adultery, silk, alcohol and musical instruments as permissible.” Narrated by al-Bukhari.

 See questions no. 5000 , 34432 .

 The Muslim has to fear Allah and realize that the blessing of Allah means that he is obliged to give thanks to Him. It is not gratitude for the Muslim to disobey his Lord, when He is the One Who has bestowed this blessing upon him.

 One of the righteous passed by some people who were engaged in idle entertainment on the day of Eid and said to them, “If you did well in Ramadan, this is not the way to give thanks for that. If you did badly in Ramadan, this is not the way that the one who did badly should behave.”

 And Allah knows best.

https://islamqa.info/en/answers/36856/mistakes-made-on-eid