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 | Subject: How to Make the Best of Ramadan  Sun Jul 10, 2011 5:48 am | |
|   Preparation of the Winners in Ramadan
By: Sh. Ibrahim ad-Duwaysh
Adapted by islaam.com from the lecture "The Winners in Ramadan"
The following is a reminder of some matters that help one to be among the winners in Ramadan by using its days and nights properly. “Remind, for indeed reminding benefits the believers.” (51:55)
1. Mujaahadah: struggling against the nafs
“As for those who strive hard in Our Cause, We will surely guide them to Our Paths.” (29:69)
Do you want guidance? Do you want steadfastness? Struggle against your soul, for if we bring ourselves closer to Allah, Allah will come closer to us.
2. Having high aspiration and determination
Ibnul Jawzi said, "The sign of completion of the mind is high aspiration, for he who is satisfied with low aspiration is disgraceful, and I didn't see a severer shortcoming than that of people who are capable of completion yet don't aspire for it."
3. Knowing the virtues of the month and its distinguishing characteristics
He who knows something develops interest in it and preserves it. Even if there was nothing in Ramadan but Laylat ul-Qadr (the Night of Power), which is better than one thousand months, that would suffice.
4. Recognizing Ramadan's few days and its speed of departure
“A fixed number of days…” (2:184) [From the verse, “(Observing fast is) for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days”].
Yesterday we were congratulating each other for the beginning of Ramadan and today we give each other condolences for its departure. This is how both days and life are, passing quickly. So hurry up to benefit in Ramadan.
5. Competition of the righteous people in doing good deeds
The righteous people compete for good deeds, while the others are captives of their lusts and slaves to their desires.
“Then We gave the Book (the Qur'an) for inheritance to such of Our slaves whom We chose. Then of them are some who wrong their ownselves, and of them are some who follow a middle course, and of them are some who are, by Allah's Leave, foremost in good deeds. That is indeed a great grace.“ (35:32)
6. Remembering death and bewaring its suddenness
You might not reach another Ramadan, so watch for yourself!
http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=657
Ramadan Calls for the Preservation of Time
By:Shaykh `Aa'id Abdullah al-Qarnee
Thirty Lessons for those who Fast
© 1999 Message of Islam
Allah describes the discourse between Himself and the reckless and negligent on the Day of Judgement: '[And] He will ask [the doomed]: "What number of years have you spent on earth?" They will answer: "We have spent there a day, or part of a day; but ask those who [are able to] count time... .[Whereupon] He will say: "You have spent there but a short while: had you but known [how short it was to be]! Did you then think that We created you in mere idle play, and that you not have to return to Us? [Know,] then, [that] God is sublimely exalted, the Ultimate Sovereign, the Ultimate Truth: there is no deity save Him, the Sustainer, in bountiful almightiness enthroned!"' (23:112-16).
One of the righteous predecessors noted: life is short, do not shorten it with negligence. This is, certainly, true. Negligence shortens the hours and consumes the night. Hence the Prophet sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam said: 'Two favours that many people are deceived by: health and spare time.' The lesson being that many people are healthy and have a lot of time on their hands yet their lives pass by quickly before them without their using them or benefiting anyone. He also warned: 'The foot of a believer will not move on the Day of Judgement until he is asked about four things and mention his life span and how he utilized it.' Life is, undoubtedly, a treasure, whomsoever spends it in obedience to Allah will find his treasure on the Day when wealth and sons will be of no avail but instead only those who returned to Allah with clean hearts. Thus, those who spent their lives in negligence, disobedience and play will on that Day regret in such a manner that will never be equalled thereafter. They will say: 'Alas for us, that we disregarded our lives.'
In effect, both the night and day are like riding animals that transport man to either eternal happiness or loss. Our righteous forbears used to take every initiative to preserve their time. There are strange stories about them concerning this matter. There were among them those who used to read the Quran and they were on the threshold of death. Such an example was Junaid ibn Muhammad. His sons said to him, 'You are exhausting yourself.' He replied, 'And should there be among the people one who exerts himself more than me?'
Al Aswad ibn Yazid used to stand in prayer for most of the night. Some of his friends advised him to relax at least for a small portion of the night. He told them it is this very relaxation he is in search of; meaning in the Hereafter.
Sufiyan al Thowri once sat in the Sacred Mosque speaking to some people. Then suddenly he arose terrified and said; we are sitting here and the day is doing its work. There were among our forbears those who used to divide their days and nights into hours. Hence they allocated specific hours for prayers, recitation, remembrance, meditation, acquisition of knowledge, work and sleep. They ascribed no time for merriment.
As for their successors, they have been afflicted by the calamity of time-wasting. Except, of course, those to whom Allah has shown mercy. They indulge in excessive sleep, idleness, aimless wandering, spending on amusements and sittings in which there is no benefit; or in meetings which, if they do not involve disobedience, are definitely the cause of disobedience.
Among the greatest things that organize time and work are the five daily prayers. Allah the Sublime and Most Excellent Speaker affirms in the Quran: 'Verily, for all believers prayer is indeed a sacred duty linked to particular times [of day]' (4:104).
The month of Ramadan is a school in which the Muslim's time is organized and invested in matters that lead to closeness to Allah. Notwithstanding, some people do not know the meaning of fasting. They engage in ample negligence and deep slumber. They spend their days sleeping and their nights in wasted wakefulness.
O Allah! Preserve for us our lives. Plant our feet firmly on Your path, and make us obey You always. O Lord of all the worlds.
http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=516
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