Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

All praises are due to Allah the Almighty and may His peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

What If This Is My Last Ramadan?

Al Hedaya Islamic Center, Level 6 December 9, 2012

REPETITION

Repetition is the way of the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam and whoever does not love the way of the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam has clearly gone astray.

Narrated by Anas: Whenever Allah's Apostle greeted somebody, he used to greet him three times, and if he spoke a sentence, he used to repeat it thrice. -Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 74, Number 261
Narrated by Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Adam and Moses argued with each other. Moses said to Adam. 'O Adam! You are our father who disappointed us and turned us out of Paradise.' Then Adam said to him, 'O Moses! Allah favored you with His talk (talked to you directly) and He wrote (the Torah) for you with His Own Hand. Do you blame me for action which Allah had written in my fate forty years before my creation?' So Adam confuted Moses, Adam confuted Moses," the Prophet added, repeating the Statement three times. Sahih Bukhari Volume 8, Book 77, Number 611 Narrated by 'Abdullah bin 'Amr: Once the Prophet remained behind us in a journey. He joined us while we were performing ablution for the prayer which was over-due. We were just passing wet hands over our feet (and not washing them properly) so the Prophet addressed us in a loud voice and said twice or thrice: "Save your heels from the fire. Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 3, Number 57

Repetition

REPETITION

When we hear something we have heard before, we shouldnt think in our minds that we have already heard this dont need to hear it again, especially if this things is about the deen of Islam.

Indeed this is the mentality of the world and the disbelievers. They always want something new. This is the reason why many are disbelievers. They do not believe that the commands given 1433 apply to them and they are always looking for something new or some new and easier way to worship the Lord, but there is only one way.
Additionally, the disbelievers, even when the signs are told to them over and over again continue to reject the Truths and not implement them in their lives. May Almighty Allah save us from such a condition.

We should say when we hear something we have learned before, Alhamdulillah Allaah subhanahu wa ta ala has given me the opportunity to hear something again, despite the fact that the first time we heard what was being said and did not implement it or failed to continue implementing it or ignored it all together. Perhaps this time we may be successful in practicing and implementing these things. This is the attitude of the learner and the believer.

Why Do We Think We Are Promised Moments?

1 in 5 of us will die of heart disease SOURCES: National Center for Health Statistics, CDC; American Cancer Society; National Safety Council; International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; World Health Organization; USGS; Clark Chapman, SwRI; David Morrison, NASA; Michael Paine, Planetary Society Australian Volunteers Based on the fact that 1 in 5 die of heart disease, then also, many could die a sudden death without any notice: Coronary Heart Disease: 50 percent of men and 63 percent of women who died suddenly of CHD had no previous symptoms of this disease. (FHS, NHLBI)

Congestive Heart Failure: In people diagnosed with CHF, sudden cardiac death occurs at 6-9 times the rate of the general population. (FHS, NHLBI)
FHS Framingham Heart Study; NHLBI National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Ibn Umar (Radhiallahu 'Anhum) said: Allh's Messenger (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) took me by my shoulder and said: "Be in this life as if you were a stranger or a traveler on a path." and Ibn Umar used to say, "If you reach the evening then do not expect to reach the morning, and if you reach the morning then do not expect to reach the evening. Take from your health before your sickness, and from your life before your death." - [Reported by alBukhr]

What If This Coming Ramadan Is My Last Ramadan?

Quran has even more of an important significance in the month of Ramadan, the month of fasting. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong) [Quran al-Baqarah 2:185] Jibreel used to come to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) every night in Ramadaan, and study the Quran with him. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5; Muslim, 4268. Hence the salaf used to read Quran a great deal during Ramadan, following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Qataadah (may Allah have mercy on him) used to complete the Quran every seven nights all the time, and every three nights in Ramadaan, and every two nights during the last ten days of Ramadaan. Ibraaheem al-Nakhai used to complete the Quran in Ramadaan every three nights, and in the last ten days every two nights.

We Should Read the Quran During This Ramadan?

The Prophet said: The Quran is an

intercessor, something given permission to intercede, and it is rightfully believed in. Whoever puts it in front of him, it will lead him to Paradise; whoever puts it behind him, it will steer him to the Hellfire. [An authentic hadith found in At-Tabaraanee, on the authority of Abdullaah ibn Masood]

We Should Focus on Our Worship Being Accepted During This Ramadan

Fasting is a type of worship that draws one closer to Allah. Allah has prescribed it to purify the soul and to train it in good deeds. The fasting person must be on guard against any act that may cause him to lose the benefits of his fast. Fasting is not just refraining from eating and drinking, but it is also refraining from everything else that Allaah subhanahu wa ta ala has forbidden. Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet said: "Fasting is not [abstaining] from eating and drinking only, but also from vain speech and foul language. If one of you is being cursed or annoyed, he should say: "I am fasting, I am fasting." [Ibn Khuzaimah, Ibn Hibban, and al-Hakim; Sahih]. Abu Hurairah also reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Allah does not need the fast of one who does not abandon false speech or acting according to his false speech [Bukhari and others]

He also reported the Prophet (peace be upon him) as saying: "Whoever does not abandon falsehood in word and action, then Allah Mighty and Majestic has no need [i.e. will not accept] that he should leave his food and drink". [Bukhari]
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said: "Perhaps a fasting person will get nothing from his fast save hunger, and perhaps the one who stands to pray at night will get nothing from his standing except sleeplessness." [an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and al-Hakim / Sahih al-Jami`]. In another Narration "It may be that a fasting person attains nothing but hunger and thirst from his fasting". [Ibn Majah, Darimi, Ahmad and al-Baihaqee; Sahih]

We Must Be Generous During the Month of Ramadan

On the authority of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father: The Messenger of Allah, peace upon him, was the most generous of people. He was especially generous in Ramadan when the Angel Gabriel would come and review the Quran with him. Gabriel would to review the Quran with him every night during the month of Ramadan. Verily, when Gabriel would come and review the Quran with him in Ramadan, the Messenger of Allah was more generous than the free-blowing wind. [Bukhari and Muslim] Imam Ahmad records this hadith with the additional words at its end, He was not asked for anything except that he gave it. [We read] in the compilation of Imam al-Tirmidhi, from the transmissions of Sad bin Abi Waqqas, that the Prophet, peace upon him, said, Allah is generous, He loves generosity; He is noble, He loves nobility. His compilation also mentions, on the authority of Abu Dharr, on the authority of the Prophet, peace upon him, narrating directly from his Lord: O my servants! If the first of you, the last of you; the living of you, the dead of you; the intact of you, the decomposed of you; were to gather in a vast plain, and every individual were to ask of me his wildest dream, and I were to grant everyone what he asked, that would not decrease my dominion as much as [the water taken from] an ocean one of you were to pass by and dip a needle into it and then extract it. That is because I am generous, extant, and glorious. I do what I please. My giving is a word and my punishment is a word. My command to something when I desire it is but to say, Be, and it is! In a hadith mentioned by Imam al-Tirmidhi and others, the Prophet, peace upon him mentioned, During it (Ramadan) a caller cries out, Those desiring good come forward, and those desiring evil stay away. Allah has those He liberates from Hell, and that occurs every night [during Ramadan]. Al-Tirmidhi, 682

It is related in the compilations of al-Bukhari and Muslim, from Anas, The Messenger of Allah was the nicest, bravest, and most generous of all people.
Anas also relates, After Islam, the Messenger of Allah was never asked for anything except he gave it. A man came to him and asked him for a valley filled with livestock and he gave it to him. He returned to his people and said. O People! Become Muslim, for Muhammad gives like a man who does not fear poverty. [Muslim]

The Prophet (sallaAllahu 'aleihi was-sallam) said, "The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that We Really absorbed rain water and brought forth vegetation and grass in Should Strive abundance. (And) another portion of it was hard and held the rain water and Allah benefited the people with it and they utilized it for to Gain drinking, making their animals drink from it and for irrigation of the Knowledge land for cultivation. (And) a portion of it was barren which could This neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation (then that land gave no benefits). The first is the example of the person who Ramadan comprehends Allah's religion and gets benefit (from the knowledge) which Allah has revealed through me (the Prophet ) and learns and then teaches others. The last example is that of a person who does 3 Categories of people of not care for it and does not take Allah's guidance revealed through me Knowledge from Imaam Ibnu Qayyim's Discussions (He is like that barren land.)" [Bukhari, Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadeeth 79].

in his Classical Miftaahu Daari-s-Sa'aadah Click the document to download

CATEGORY 1: Ahlul-hifthi-wal-Faham (People of Memorization and Understanding)

They are those who memorize, understand the meanings, deduct the aspects of rulings, the wisdoms therein, and the benefits. Their example is like the land which accepts the rain water (memory absorbing knowledge) and brings forth vegetation and grass in abundance. This vegetation and grass is the fahm (the understanding) and ability to deduce. This is the example of those who kept what they memorized and understood it. They are the people of texts and understanding.

CATEGORY 2: Ahlul-hifth (People of Memorization Only)

Those are able to memorize and relate in precision, but they do not have the ability to understand the meanings, nor to deduct or address the wisdoms and benefits therein.

They are like those who recite the Qur'aan, memorize it, precisely recite and pronounce the letters and hold to the grammar, but without comprehending it.
On the other hand people vary to great extents in terms of their understanding of the texts spoken by Allaah subhanahu wa ta ala and (or) by His Messenger. Some may understand a ruling or two while others may deduce from the same text one hundred or two hundred rulings. The example of these two categories as mentioned in the hadeeth is like the land which has the water. People can benefit from it: drinking, giving it to others to drink, arrogation, and so forth.

The first two categories, are the happy ones, and the first category is higher in rank. This is the Favour of Allah: This is the Grace of Allah, which He bestows on whom He wills. And Allah is the Owner of Mighty Grace. [Qur'aan 62:4].

CATEGORY 3: Ahlul-hifth (People of Memorization Only)

This category has no knowledge nor teaching. They are the ones who have no share in memorization nor in understanding. Their similitude in the hadeeth is that of the barren land, which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation. Hence no produce (no benefit), and these are the wicked ones. What a calamity to be among these types of people during the month of Ramadan?

We Need to Be Mindful Not to Eat Too Much During this Ramadan

Too much food or drink is one of the main obstacles that make one lazy and negligent of Qiyaam al-Layl. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: Man fills no vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to have a few mouthfuls to give him the strength he needs. If he has to fill his stomach, then let him leave onethird for food, one-third for drink and one-third for air. [Reported by at-Tirmidhee and Ibn Majah. Saheeh al-Jamee (5674)] Abu Juhayfah (radhi allahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said to a man who burped in his presence: Stop your burping, for the people who eat the most in this life will be the most hungry on the Day of Resurrection. [Reported by al-Hakim. Saheeh al-Jamee (1190)]

We Need to Take Advantage of Qiyaam al-Layl

The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: You should pray Qiyaam al-Layl, for it is the habit of the righteous people who came before you, and it will bring you closer to your Lord, expiate for bad deeds, prevent sin, and expel disease from the body. [At-Tirmidhee and Musnad Ahmad] Narrated Mu'adh Ibn Jabal (radhi allahu anhu): 'The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said to him: May I show you the gates of goodness?' (they are), (a) Fasting is screen from Hell, (b) As-Sadaqah extinguishes the sins, as water extinguishes fire, (c) Standing in Salaat (prayer) by a slave of Allah during the last third part of a night. Then the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) recited the verse: Their (believer's) sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope; and they spend out of what We have bestowed on them.' [Abu Dawood and atTirmidhee] Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) reported that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: May Allah have mercy on a man who wakes up at night, prays, and wakes his wife to pray; and if she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face. And may Allah have mercy on a woman who wakes up at night, prays, and wakes her husband to pray; and if he refuses, she sprinkles water on his face. [(Hasan) Abu Dawood ]

We Must Seek Laylatul Qadr

Aisha (Ra) said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.' "Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee" (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi) Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said: Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Action Steps Insha-Allah

Evaluate your past Ramadan. Actually write down your experience. Would Allaah subhanahu wa ta ala be pleased with our actions, our thoughts and all that we strove for during this month? Think sincerely about what if this upcoming Ramadan is your last Ramadan? Start to prepare now for Ramadan before it arrives so that you may get the most out of the month, Insha-Allah.

How perfect You are O Allaah, and I praise You. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped except You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.