Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, we enter the final third of this blessed month of Ramadan. During these last 10 days, Allah and His beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) have taught us that there lies a night within, so magnificent that its blessings surpass those of 1,000 months.
Seeking the Blessed
Night:
Lailat-ul-Qadr (The Night of Destiny or The Night of Decree) is the
precious night when Allah first revealed the Quran to the Holy Prophet Hazrat
Muhammad (pbuh). This month, and especially this special night, as mentioned by
Allah in Surah Al-Qadr, is better than a thousand months that a person could
live on earth. This night is a true spiritual gift from Allah to all those who
love Him and seek closeness to Him. It serves as a means to multiply acts of
worship despite the relatively short duration of our lives, which are often
limited to 60 or 90 years. A thousand months of a person’s life equates to
approximately 83 years, and Allah is stating that this night is better than all
those years – 83 years – that a believer could live and engage in worship.
In comparison to previous
generations whose lifespan were much longer, Lailat-ul-Qadr is a unique
gift bestowed by Allah upon the Ummah of His beloved Prophet (pbuh), enabling
them to achieve excellent rewards as though they had lived long lives devoted
to worship, with their acts of worship and repentance accepted. It is such a
special night that even Ruh’il Quddus – the Holy Spirit, the Divine
Revelation – descends.
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has urged us
to seek this exceptional night during the odd nights of the last ten days of
Ramadan: the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th,
and 29th nights.
Signs of
Lailat-ul-Qadr and Its Spiritual Preparation:
One authentic sign of Lailat-ul-Qadr
is the presence of rain, as mentioned in a Hadith. This Hadith, narrated by
Hazrat Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (ra), states: “During Lailat-ul-Qadr, the Prophet
(pbuh) prostrated in mud and water, as rain had seeped through the roof of the
mosque, which was made of palm leaves.”
In another version (found in Sahih
Bukhari), Hazrat Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (ra) said: “The Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘I
was informed of the night of Lailat-ul-Qadr, then I was made to forget it (its
exact date). In my dream, I saw myself prostrating in mud and water.’ [Abu
Sa’id continued:] On the 21st night, there was rain, and water
entered the mosque through its roof of palm branches. I saw the Prophet (pbuh)
prostrating with mud on his forehead.”
The best way to fully benefit from
this night is to multiply good deeds while refraining from harsh words and
unpleasant actions that may tarnish and repel the blessings of Lailat-ul-Qadr
from its very beginning, as the last 10 days and nights of Ramadan begin.
Remember, gossip, inappropriate jokes, and other harmful speech, like
backbiting (Ribat), earn Allah’s displeasure.
The Recommended
Supplication to Recite During Lailat-ul-Qadr:
Hazrat Aisha (ra) asked the Holy
Prophet (pbuh) what Duah (invocation) she should recite if she
encounters this blessed night. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught her this Duah:
“Allahumma innaka ‘afuwun Tuhibbul ‘afwaa fa’fu anni” (O Allah, You are
Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness, so forgive me).
Increasing Acts of
Worship, Especially for Those in I’tikaaf (Spiritual Retreat):
Among the companions of the Holy
Prophet (pbuh), some would recite the Quran, others would spend the night in
prayer (Salat and Duahs), while others would give their Sadaqa
(charity) and their Zakat (purifying alms).
Bear in mind that during Ramadan in
general, and especially in the last 10 days, whether it be a believer observing
I’tikaaf (spiritual retreat) or one who is not in I’tikaaf, it is
necessary to limit frequent use of mobile phones. In today’s age, with
technology being pervasive – unlike during the time of the Holy Prophet (pbuh)
when such distractions did not exist – the use of mobile phones, particularly
smartphones, should be limited to essential needs or for carrying out work
related to Deen, which in itself is an act of worship. For those in I’tikaaf,
it is advisable to disconnect from the world and focus solely on their acts of
worship, so that Allah may bless them with the divine rewards of this special
promised night.
Ramadan: A Call to
Mercy
Ramadan is a unique opportunity for
people to repent and get closer to their Creator. It is a chance for Allah to
erase one’s sins, granting a fresh start in one’s spiritual life, especially if
they have been negligent in their acts of worship in the past. By observing the
divine commandments and preparing oneself spiritually as required, every
believer can attain the mercy that Allah offers during this blessed time.
Now, a brief outline of
essential rulings (fatwas) for Ramadan:
1. Beginning
of Ramadan: As you may know, the
blessed month of Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon,
marking the end of the month of Sha’ban. If the moon is not visible, Sha’ban is
completed with 30 days (instead of 29), after which fasting (Roza)
begins. Here in Mauritius, the crescent moon was sighted on the evening of 29
Sha’ban (01 March 2025), so Ramadan began that same evening, with the first
fast observed the following day, 02 March 2025 (01 Ramadan 1446 AH).
2.
The Intention
(Niyyah): Making the intention (Niyyah)
to observe Ramadan and fast is very important. This intention is made by the person
who decides to fast during the blessed month, and this single Niyyah
suffices for the entire month. However, if fasting is interrupted due to valid
reasons, such as travel, illness, or other circumstances, it is necessary to
renew the Niyyah before resuming the fast. Therefore, it is advisable to
renew the intention each time before breaking the fast (Iftaar),
reciting: Wa bisawmi ghadin nawaytu min shahri Ramadan (I intend to
fast tomorrow for the month of Ramadan).
3.
Fasting
Hours (Roza): The fast begins at
dawn (Fajr), so eating must stop before the first light appears, before the
Fajr prayer. It is recommended to eat Sehri/ Suhur (pre-dawn
meal) up until the last moment before dawn, following the Sunnah of our beloved
Prophet (pbuh). For those who live far from a mosque, it is advisable to
complete Sehri earlier to allow sufficient time to travel and reach the
mosque for congregational prayers on time. For those living near a mosque, as
practiced by the Holy Prophet (pbuh), there is no issue eating up until the
last minute before the Fajr prayer. In some mosques nowadays, the Azaan
is called earlier (approximately 30 minutes before the congregational prayer)
to allow time for people to prepare and travel to the mosque. This is
acceptable, depending on the circumstances.
4. Rules for the
Body: Swallowing one’s saliva does not break
the fast. However, accumulated secretions, such as phlegm or water pooling in
the mouth, should ideally be spat out if possible, rather than swallowed. If
swallowed unintentionally, it is not a sin. Spitting is recommended.
For acts such as rinsing the mouth
during ablution (Wuzu) or for hygiene, it is permissible as long as no
water is swallowed. If water is accidentally (and genuinely unintentionally)
swallowed, it does not constitute a sin, but intentional swallowing breaks the
fast.
Injections for medical purposes
that are non-nutritive, whether intramuscular or intravenous, do
not invalidate the fast, even if a slight sensation is felt in the throat.
5. For
Special Cases: Those unable to fast
due to advanced age or chronic illness are permitted not to fast. It is
recommended, if they have the means, to provide food to a poor person for every
day of fasting missed.
6.
For Pregnant or
Breastfeeding Women: Women who feel they have
the energy and ability to fast may do so. However, if they find themselves
unwell or unable to fast due to pregnancy or the need to breastfeed and nourish
their child, they may break their fast and make up the missed days later when
they regain the ability to fast. Additionally, like those with illnesses, they
may provide food to a poor person for missed days to gain further blessings.
These are just some of the rulings
concerning Ramadan. There are more, and if Allah grants me the ability, I will
expound on them in the future. May Allah accept our fasts, sacrifices, and acts
of worship, and bless us with the special night of Lailat-ul-Qadr within
the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and the wider Ummah of Islam. Insha-Allah. Ameen.
[---Friday Sermon of 21 March 2025~ 20 Ramadan 1446 AH delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius'].