Muslim Community, Gen. Hosp. Lagos

RAMADAAN DIGESTRAMADAAN DIGEST (1) “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you in order that you may attain Taqwaa (piety and self-righteousness).” (Soorah al-Baqarah [2]:183)

“The month of Ramadaan, in it was sent down the Qur’aan, a guidance for mankind and a clear proof for the guidance and the criterion [standard for distinguishing between right and wrong]. Whosoever of you witnesses the month should fast it, and whoever is ill or on a journey [and cannot fast], for him is the like number [to be made up] from other days. Allah desires for you ease and does not desire for you hardship; so you should complete the number and magnify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful.” (Soorah al-Baqarah [2]:185)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (2)The Prophet (SAW) said: “When the month of Ramadaan comes in, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell-Fire are closed, and the [major] devils are chained up.” (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (3) The Prophet (SAW) said: Allaah says: “Every good deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting, for it is for Me and I will reward it. He leaves his desires, food and drink for My Sake.” (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (4) The Prophet (SAW) said: “Indeed there is a gate in Paradise called ar-Rayyaan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection, and none besides them will enter through it. It will be said: ‘Where are those who used to observe fasts?’ So they will stand up. No one else will enter through it besides them. When they enter it, it will be closed and no one else will enter through it.” (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (5)The Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadaan, with faith in Allaah and hoping for His reward, his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever stands in night prayer during Ramadaan with faith in Allaah and hoping for His reward, his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever stands in night prayer during Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power) with faith in Allaah and hoping for His reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (6) The Prophet (SAW) said: “Fasting is a shield [protection]. If anyone of you is fasting, he should not use obscene language nor raise his voice or act foolishly. And if someone speaks abusively on him or wants to fight him, he should say: ‘I am fasting, I am fasting.’” (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (7) The Prophet (SAW) said: “By Him in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, the breath that comes out of the mouth of the one fasting is better to Allaah than the scent of musk. There are two times of joy for the fasting

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Muslim Community, Gen. Hosp. Lagos

person: When he breaks his fast, he is happy with the breaking of his fast; and when he meets his Lord, he is happy because of his fast.” (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (8) Have good intention (Niyyah) for the fast. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Every action is based on the intention…” The place of the intention is in the heart and pronouncing it with the tongue is an innovation and unnecessary burden. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever does not determine that he will fast before Fajr will have no fast.” (Aboo Daawood, at-Tirmidhee, an-Nasaa’ee) The Prophet (SAW) also said: “Whoever does not carry the intention at night for fasting will have no fast.” (an-Nasaa’ee, al-Bayhaqee)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (9)The Prophet (SAW) said: “Many a fasting person has nothing from his fasting except hunger and thirst; and many a fasting person standing in night prayer has nothing from his standing except wakefulness.” (Ibn Maajah, al-Haakim & Ibn Khuzaymah)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (10)Endeavour to eat your Sahoor (pre-dawn meal). The Prophet (SAW) said: “Take the Sahoor because in the Sahoor is Barakah (blessings).” (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim) The Prophet (SAW) also said: “Eating the Sahoor is blessed. Do not neglect it even if you take a gulp of water, because Allaah and His angels invoke blessings upon those who partake in the Sahoor.” (Ahmad)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (11)Endeavour to break your fast early at sunset and before Maghrib prayer as enjoined by the Prophet (SAW). The Prophet (SAW) said: “The people will not cease to be upon good so long as they hasten in breaking the fast.” (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (12)“The Prophet (SAW) used to break the fast before praying with fresh dates. But if there were no fresh dates, he used to break it with dry dates. And if there were no dry dates, he would take sips of water.” (at-Tirmidhee)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (13)Engage much in seeking forgiveness of Allaah saying Astaghfirullaah. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Jibreel came to me and said: ‘Whoever meets the month of Ramadan and his sins are not forgiven, may he enter the fire and may Allaah distant from him. Say Aameen.’ So I said Aameen…” (Ibn Hibbaan & Ibn Khuzaymah) The Prophet (SAW) also said: “Jibreel came to me and said: ‘O Muhammad! He is doomed he upon whom the month of Ramadan comes and then finishes and his sins are not forgiven. Say Aameen.’ So I said Aameen…” (Ahmad & at-Tabaraanee)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (14)The Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever does not abstain from false speech and acting upon that [false speech], Allaah is not in need of him leaving his food and his drink.” (al-Bukhaaree)

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Muslim Community, Gen. Hosp. Lagos

RAMADAAN DIGEST (15)Endeavour to provide food for your brothers/sisters to break their fasts. Invite others to join you in breaking the fasts. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever provides someone with something to break the fast, he would have the same blessings as the fasting person and this would not reduce the blessings of the fasting person in any way.” (Ahmad, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (16)Strive harder in the last ten days and nights following the example of the Prophet (SAW) so that you do not miss the blessings of Laylatul-Qadr. The Prophet (SAW) said: “This month has come to you, and it contains a night which is better than a 1,000 months. He who is deprived of it is deprived of all good, and none is deprived of it except those denied prosperity.” (Ibn Maajah)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (17)Strive harder in the last ten days and nights following the example of the Prophet (SAW) so that you do not miss the blessings of Laylatul-Qadr. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever stands in night prayer during Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Power) with faith in Allaah and hoping for His reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (18)Do not forget to give your Zakaat-ul-Fitr, giving it before the ‘Eed prayer. The Time when it is permissible to give Zakaat-ul-Fitr is one or two days before ‘Eed. Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “The Messenger of Allaah (SAW) made Zakaat-ul-Fitr obligatory as a means of purifying the fasting person from idle talk and foul language, and to feed the poor. Whoever pays it before the prayer, it is an accepted Zakaah, and whoever pays it after prayer, it is just a kind of charity (Sadaqah).” (Aboo Daawood)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (19)It is recommended that the one who fasts the month of Ramadaan to (also) fast six days in the month of Shawaal. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadaan and follows it up with six days in Shawaal, it is as if he has fasted the whole year.” (Muslim, Ahmad and others)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (20)The supplication of the fasting person is answered: The Prophet (SAW) said: “There are in the month of Ramadaan in every day and night those to whom Allah grants freedom from the Fire, and there is for every Muslim a supplication which he can make and will be granted.” (Ahmad & al-Bazzaar)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (21)The supplication of the fasting person is answered:

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Muslim Community, Gen. Hosp. Lagos

The Prophet (SAW) said: “The supplications of three groups of people are not rejected: the supplication of the fasting person when he is breaking his fast, the supplication of the just Imaam and the supplication of the oppressed.” (at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah & Ibn Hibbaan)

RAMADAAN DIGEST (22) "We have indeed revealed it (the Qur’aan) in the Night of Decree [Laylatil-Qadr]. And what will explain to you what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the spirit by Allaah’s permission with all Decrees: Peace! This until the appearance of dawn." (Surah al-Qadr [97]:1-5)

Night of Decree [Laylatul-Qadr]:The Blessed Night of revelation…

In the odd nights of the last 10 daysBetter than 1000 months…

Better than 83 years and 4 months...Better than 30,000 days and nights..

Better than 720,000 hours…Better than 43,200,000 minutes…

Better than 2,592,000,000 seconds…Yes, it is Laylatul-Qadr…

Yes, it is the Night of Majesty…Seek it and pursue it…

Stay awake and worship in it…

LAYLATUL-QADR: NIGHT OF MAJESTY: It is narrated from ‘Aaishah that she said: I said: “O Messenger of Allaah, if I know what night is the Night of al-Qadr what should I say?” He (SAW) said: “Say:

اللهم إنك عفو كريم تحب العفو فاعف عني

Allaahumma innaka ‘Afuwwun Kareemun. Tuhibbul ‘afwa, fa‘fu ‘annee.O Allaah, You are Forgiving, [Noble]. You love forgiveness; so forgive me.”

(Ahmad, Ibn Maajah, at-Tirmidhee and an-Nasaa’ee)

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