Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Presentation is loading. Please wait.

The WISDOM of Fasting in the Month of Ramadan

Similar presentations


Presentation on theme: "The WISDOM of Fasting in the Month of Ramadan"— Presentation transcript:

1 The WISDOM of Fasting in the Month of Ramadan
And whatsoever He has created for you on the earth of varying colors (qualities, botanical life & zoological life); Verily! in this is a Sign for people who remember. (Surat an-Nahl: 13)

2 (Laylatul-Qadri khayrum min ‘alfi Shahr. Q97:3)
The month of Ramadan is one of abundance, described in the Qur'an. In this lunar month, the Qur’an was sent down as a guide to all of mankind. In this month is the Night that is "better than a thousand months" or years of Ibadah (Surat al-Qadr: 3), the Night of Power (Allah’s [Swt] dominion and control of the universe). Throughout this month all the Muslims of the world carry out their fasting obligation as one and give thanks to their Lord for the blessings He has given them. (Laylatul-Qadri khayrum min ‘alfi Shahr. Q97:3)

3 Why the lunar month of Ramadan is more valuable than a thousand months
Why the lunar month of Ramadan is more valuable than a thousand months? Rasulullah [Saws] explains: Fasting is obligatory during the day & taraweeh is voluntary but prescribed by Allah [Swt]. Ramadan is a month of Patience which is the key to the door of Paradise and eternal happiness. Right Fasting inculcates in the hearts of Believers the real meaning of Sympathy and Compassion. The first 10 days of Ramadan brings Mercy, the second 10 days brings Forgiveness, and the last part of Ramadan brings Emancipation from the Fire of Hell.

4 The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'an was sent down as guidance for mankind, with Clear Signs containing guidance and discrimination. Any of you who are resident for the month should fast it. But any of you who are ill or on a journey should fast a number of other days. Allah desires ease for you; He does not desire difficulty for you. You should complete the number of days and proclaim Allah's greatness for the guidance He has given you so that hopefully you will be thankful. (Surat al-Baqara: 185)

5 A Hadith “Islam is based on five things: the Testimony that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is His servant and Messenger, the observance of Salah, the payment of Zakat, the Hajj to Makkah, the Fast during Ramadan. ” (Bukhari, Muslim)

6 The Wisdom of Ramadan: by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi from his Treatise of Light (Risale-i Nur) in 9 points 1st point-Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the Pillars in ISLAM and one of its greatest mark & observances. A manifestation of how Believers acknowledge the All Merciful’s dominion and Power over the whole creation; understands man’s social life, his weakness physically and spiritually; his constant need of aid and help from his Creator; and offers Thanks and Praise to the One True God-the Cherisher and Sustainer, Who granted and sustained all the bounties that mankind receives. 2nd point-Allah [Swt] spread countless bounties over the face of the earth for mankind and in return He wishes Thanks and Praise as the price of those bounties. The causes and possessors of these bounties are just tray-bearers, the true Owner is the Creator of all that exist, Who deserves to be paid its value. During Fasting in Ramadan the value or price of these various bounties & gifts from its True Owner is sincerely appreciated and recognized especially during Iftar. Fasting, in many ways is a key to gratitude, it being man’s fundamental duty to his Provider- the One True God.

7 3rd point-Compassion for one’s fellow human beings is the essence of true Thankfulness. Whoever a person is, there will always be someone poorer than himself in some respect. With this status differences, God the All Mighty invites the rich to assist the poor, so that through the hunger experienced during fasting, the rich can truly understand the pains and hunger which the poor suffers. 4th point-Fasting trains human’s instinctive soul from the richest to the poorest to understand that it does not own itself, but is totally owned; that it is not free, but is a slave. It understands that it has no power by itself but it is only the manifestation of the Will of the Greatest upon Whom Thanks and worship is due. This understanding includes that all the bounties is owned by God and only granted to mankind.

8 5th point-Fasting in the month of Ramadan awakens even the most heedless and obstinate to their weakness, impotence, and want. By means of hunger, they think of their stomach; they understand the need therein. They realize how unsound are their weak bodies, and perceive how needy they are for kindness and compassion. 6th point-On this chosen month of Ramadan, the All-Wise, Allah [Swt] sent down from the Highest Throne, His Speech- al-Qur’an al-Kareem to His chosen Prophet Muhammad [Saws]. The purpose of the Revelation is to shun the lower demands of the instinctive soul and trivialities and to resemble the angelic state by abstaining from food and drink in order to greet that heavenly address in the best manner. It is to attain a holy state by Fasting.

9 7th point-The Fast of Ramadan comes to this world in order to cultivate and trade for the Hereafter. The reward for action during the month of Ramadan is a thousand-fold. In the Hadith of Rasulullah [Saws], each word of the Qur’an has 10 merits and will yield ten fruits in Paradise. While during Ramadan, each word bears not just 10 fruits but a thousand and verses like Ayat al-Kursi 3,000 for each word, and on Fridays during the month of Ramadan it is even more. And on Layla al-Qadr, each word is counted 30,000 merits. Indeed, in the All-Wise’s Qur’an, each word yield 30,000 eternal fruits is like a luminous Tree of Tuba that gains for the Believers in Ramadan millions of those eternal fruits. So everyone is invited to look into this Sacred and Eternal profitable trade and consider and understand the infinite loss of those who do not appreciate the value of the Words of Allah [Swt] and Fasting. Simply, the month of Ramadan is an extremely profitable display and market for the trade of the Hereafter.

10 8th point-Ramadan, from the point of view of humans; it is a healing physically and a spiritual diet of the most important kind. Human’s instinctive soul eats and drink just as it pleases, it is both harmful for man’s physical life from the medical point of view, and when it hurls itself on everything it encounters without considering whether it is halal or haram, it just simply poisons his spiritual life. It becomes difficult for the soul to obey the heart and the spirit. The soul takes the control of all the bodily intentions and actions. By means of Fasting during the month of Ramadan, the soul is getting purified. It tries its best to ask help from Allah [Swt] to discipline itself and listen to the commands of his Lord by choosing Halal foods and deeds. The ability to obey the Lord and reason to avoid Haram foods and deeds shall cause the person’s spiritual being to be alive. Indeed, it is for this reason that in Ramadan the sincere Believers experience enlightenment, fruitfulness and spiritual joys.

11 9th point-Fasting in Ramadan shatters the instinctive soul’s imaginary dominicallity and making known its worship through pointing out its impotence. The instinctive soul do not want to recognize its Sustainer; it wants to be the lord of itself like the Pharaoh. Fasting during Ramadan strikes a direct blow to such a Pharoah-like souls. It makes it realize that it is a slave of God the All Mighty. Narration of Hadiths says: “God Almighty said to the instinctive soul: ‘What Am I and what are you?’ The soul replied: ‘I am myself and You are yourself.’ So He punished it and cast it to Hell, then asked again. Again it replied: ‘I am myself and You are Yourself.’ Many times He punished it, it did not give up its egotism. Finally He punish it with hunger. That is, He left it hungry. Then again He asked it: ‘Who am I and who are you?’ And the soul replied: “You are my Compassionate Sustainer and I am your impotent slave.” Yaa Allah! Yaa Rabbi, Grant blessing and peace to our master Muhammad [Saws], that will be pleasing to You and fulfill of his truth to the number of merits of the words of the Qur’an in the month of Ramadan, and to his family and Companions, and grant them peace.

12 "Oh people. A great month has come over you; a blessed month
"Oh people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month... month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time... It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven or Paradise. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer's sustenance is increased..." (Ibn Khuzaymah)

13 Allah reveals the obligatory nature of fasting in Surat al-Baqara:
O You who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you, as it was prescribed to those before you, so that you may (learn) self-restraint. (Surat al-Baqara: 183)

14 Advice from Prophet Muhammad [Saws] regarding Fasting, Brotherhood and proper Moral Values during Ramadan An Ayat: “Allah bears witness that there is no deity but Him, as do the angels and the people of knowledge, upholding justice. There is no deity but Him, the Almighty, the All-Wise.” (Surah Al -Imran:18 A Hadith “Do not envy one another, do not hate one another, do not turn your back on one another (in discontent), and be the servants of Allah like brothers. ” (Bukhari, Muslim

15 Many people across the world will be entering this month Ramadan afflicted by conflict, poverty, hunger and various diseases. These peoples- one of their greatest desires is to live their lives free from anxiety in an environment in which peace and stability have been established. The month of Ramadan is a most important time when mutual aid and solidarity among Muslims come to the fore. For that reason, the entire Islamic world must regard the month of Ramadan as a means of setting aside differences of opinion and disagreements and of coming together as a single body. In the same way that this solidarity displayed by Muslims will lead to the elimination of all perverted ideologies that are causes of oppression, it will also be the greatest support for Muslims living in difficulty and need.

16 The Faith in Islam is Simplicity
1. (The Prophet of Allah) said, “The faith is counsel/sincerity.“ “In whom, O Prophet? “ we asked. He replied, “For Allah, the Book, the Prophet, Muslims’ leaders and for all Muslims.“ (Muslim) 2. Make it easy, not difficult, impart glad tidings and do not cause people to hate it. (Bukhari) 3. Islam is moral virtue. (Kanz al Ummal, 3/17, Hadith No: 5225)

17 Moral Virtue 4. A Muslim is someone whose hand and word people are sure of (or safe with). (Tirmidhi) 5. It is certain that honesty leads to goodness. And goodness leads to Paradise. It is written that by telling the truth a person tells the truth in the sight of Allah. Falsehood leads to wickedness. And wickedness leads to Hell. It is written that by telling lies a person is a great liar in the sight of Allah. (Bukhari) 6. Avoid opposing Allah, wherever you may be: perform a good deed in the wake of an evil one so that the one may eliminate the other. Treat others with proper moral values. (Tirmidhi) 7. Allah is pleased by the work, labor and duty performed by one of you being sound and good. (at-Tabarani)

18 8. One who is a vehicle for good is like one who does good. (Tirmidhi)
9. No father can give his child a greater gift than a proper upbringing in Islam. (Tirmidhi) 10. Let he who has faith in Allah and the Day of Judgement not wrong his neighbour. Let he who has faith in Allah and the Day of Judgement offer refreshments to his guest. Let he who has faith in Allah and the Day of Judgement either speak good words or be silent. (Bukhari)

19 The Month of Ramadan & The Night of Power
11. The most virtuous word spoken by me and the prophets before me is “There is no other deity than Allah. He is the One and Only, He has no equal, all belongs to Him, thanks are due to Him. He is Almighty.” (Tirmidhi) 12. The blessed Aisha (ra) relates: “O Prophet of Allah” I said, “How may I pray to be in harmony with the Night of Power?” He told me to recite this prayer: “My God! You are the Most Forgiving, You love Forgiveness, forgive me!” (Tirmidhi)

20 Brotherhood 13. A Muslim is one who wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself. (Bukhari) 14. A Muslim is a Muslim’s brother. He does not oppress him or hand him over (to his enemy). Allah will meet the need of him who meets the need of his brother (a believer). He who rescues a Muslim from difficulty will be rescued from difficulty by Allah on the Day of Judgment. And on the Day of Judgment Allah will cover up (the flaws of) him who covers up (the flaws of) a Muslim. (Bukhari) 15. Do not squabble with your Muslim brother, do not make jokes he will not like and do not promise him something you cannot perform. (Tirmidhi) 16. Smiling at your brother (a believer) is giving alms. Commanding what is good and forbidding what is evil is giving alms. Removing and throwing away things like stones, thorns and bones from the road is alms for you. (Tirmidhi) end-

21 And Peace be upon us all…
Wa Salaaam!!! And Peace be upon us all…


Download ppt "The WISDOM of Fasting in the Month of Ramadan"

Similar presentations


Ads by Google