Ramadan & Fasting- 2

  

O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil). (Al-Baqara 2: 184)

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, we have entered the blessed month of Ramadan, and today I continue the second part of my Friday sermon that I started last Friday.

 

Hadith: Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has said: “Fasting is a protection and a powerful fortress.” (Ahmad, Baihaqi).

 

As I have mentioned last week, the month of Ramadan is a month wherein a Mumin (believer) must make a lot of sacrifice. The sacrifice he has to make is that he has to get up early in the morning to do the Salaat-ul-Tahajjud and take the Sehri. In my last week’s sermon I quoted this Hadith which shows the importance of Sehri. I also said that Roza [fasting] keeps us healthy. Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Keep the fast and you will stay healthy.” (Tibrani).

Ramadan & Fasting- 1

 

O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil). (Al-Baqara 2: 184)

 

Before I begin, I wish all my brothers and sisters in Islam, as well as my disciples across the world, a Ramadhan-ul-Mubarak -for the month of fasting is behind the door [i.e. close] - so that we let go of all our routines and focus more on Ibaadat and multiply our good deeds.

 

First of all, what is fasting (Roza)? In Quran and Hadiths the word which defines fasting is “Sawm” which means “to abstain”. In our common parlance, this means that we do not drink and eat, and abstain from sexual relations from the beginning of dawn until sunset.

Promised Messiah: Prophecies & Signs

 

On the occasion of the Massih Maoud Day, on 23 March 2022~ 20 Shabaan 1443 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius made an illuminating discourse on a very important spiritual issue. Expounding on the great Muslim spiritual expectation concerning the advent of a great Divine soul among the people in the Later Days, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) describes how these historic prophecies stand fulfilled through the advent of the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) in the previous era, and also the heavenly signs that have magnificently testified to the veracity of the spiritual claims.  Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) further notes that the heavenly promises and signs have once again stand fulfilled in this era when Allah (swt) raised him, with Divine revelations, to reform and revive the pure teachings and practices of Sahih Al Islam. Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) further notes that the heavenly promises and signs have once again stand fulfilled in this era when Allah (swt) raised him, with Divine revelations, to reform and revive the pure teachings and practices of Sahih Al Islam. Read the Special Discourse Below:  

The Signs of the Hour- I

 

(He is the) Knower of the unseen, disclosing none of it to anyone, Except a messenger whom He has chosen: and then He makes a band of watchers march before him and behind him.---(Al-Jinn, 72: 27-28)

 

The trust that Allah (swt) places on His prophet is that He sends His messages upon him from heaven and Allah wants His prophet to spread the message of his Creator to all mankind, in the four corners of the world. The sacred duty of this prophet is to spread the divine message in the name of Allah and it is this verily that will lead [people] to the right path.

 

O humanity! Do you not see how Allah created the seven heavens one above the other and placed the moon therein as a light and made the sun as a lamp?

When Ramadan Arrives

 

Alhamdulillah, Muslims around the world are entering into the holy month of Ramadan, observing fasting from dawn to dusk and also channelizing their time and inner resources for the contemplation of the Divine, in devotional worship and supplications to the Lord of Mercy, Summa Alhamdulillah. Ramadan is also a time to reform our impulses by getting rid of greediness and covetousness, and enlarge one's moral compass by standing up for the promotion of the common good, through pious works and charitable deeds that empower the indigent and other less-fortunate ones in society. Along with good deeds, the believers seek to gain the bounties of Divine blessings and favours of special nearness through sincere worship and fervent supplications throughout the Holy Month. Reproduced below are the Qur'anic commandments and Prophetic Traditions (Ahadith) on fasting in the month of Ramadan, forming the foundational values of the Muslim devotional practice and spiritual expectations of Divine approval and sublime rewards, Insha Allah, Aameen.           

Qur’an on Fasting 

In Surah Al Baqarah, Allah (swt) says: 

'You who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be mindful of God. 

Fast for a specific number of days, but if one of you is ill, or on a journey, on other days later. For those who can fast only with extreme difficulty, there is a way to compensate– feed a needy person. But if anyone does good of his own accord, it is better for him, and fasting is better for you, if only you knew. 

 

It was in the month of Ramadan that the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind, clear messages giving guidance and distinguishing between right and wrong. So any one of you who is present that month should fast, and anyone who is ill or on a journey should make up for the lost days by fasting on other days later. God wants ease for you, not hardship. He wants you to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him for having guided you, so that you may be thankful.

An Inspired Poem: 'Ramadan'

 

O Allah! 

Your poor servants have come 

to inquire about Your favours. 

May they inherit Paradise 

by virtue of the blessings of fasting.

That they may have the honour 

of gazing at You in Paradise, 

thus soothing their aching hearts.

May You forgive us all our sins 

through the blessings of Taraawih. 

May You thus keep the Ummah of Muhammad (pbuh) 

under Your protection.

Have mercy on us, 

O the One filled with mercy. 

Soften our hearts 

with the blessings of fasting.

It is certainly the most glorious month 

among all other months, 

the month in which 

Allah revealed the Holy Book (Qur'an).

O Allah! 

By the benefits of the reading of the Qur'an, 

Protect the believers 

against daily misfortunes.

Grant the will to all Muslims 

to observe fasting in the holy month.

Humanity in Danger- II

 

Innii lakum Naziirum-Mubiin

I have come to you as a plain Warner. 

Innii ‘akhaafu alaykum Azaaba yaw-min Alim.

I fear for you the torment of a painful. in Warner. 

Innii ‘akhaafu alaykum Azaaba yaw-min Alim.

I fear for you the torment of a painful.

 

Yaa- Qawmi ‘ara-aytum in-kuntum ‘alaa Bayyinatim-mir-Rabbii wa ‘aataa-nii Rahmatam-min ‘Indihii fa-ummi yat ‘alaykum? ‘Anul-zimuku muuhaa wa ‘antum lahaa kaari-huun?

“O my people! Consider if I stand on a clear proof from my Lord and He has blessed me with a mercy (i.e. prophethood) from Himself, which you fail to see. Should we (then) force it on you against your will?”