Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Second Lesson on the Respect of Ramadan – Part 2
By Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam
(Translated into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi,
New Age Islam)
25 March 2023
Ramadan is a highly blessed and holy month. Those who
pay respect to this month and get its blessings are extremely fortunate.
In reference to the reverence of the month of Ramadan,
the beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
It is blessed that Ramadan has already begun. It is a
must for you to fast [during this month] as has been commanded by Allah
Almighty. The gates of hell are closed and the gates of heaven are opened
during this month. The disobedient devils are locked up. One night of Allah
known as "Shab-e-Qadr" occurs in this month and is more
revered than a thousand months. The person who is deprived of its goodness is
the one who actually lacks it. (Sunan Nasa'i, vol. 4, p. 921)
The fact that the doors of mercy are opened and the
devils are chained upon the start of Ramadan is unquestionably a symbol of
respect for the holy month. (Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari)
The drops of kindness and mercy begin to fall like
rain as soon as Ramadan begins. The spring wind of mercy, blessings, and
goodness starts to fill the hearts and minds of the sincere slaves of Allah.
Fire Worshipers In The Fold Of Mercy
The reverence of Ramadan enriches believers, but at
the same time, if a non-Muslim also respects this holy month, he will still
receive its blessing, as demonstrated by the following incident:
A Majusi (magi/fire worshipper) lived in
Bukhara. He once went shopping with his son in the Muslim bazaar during the
holy month of Ramadan. His son started to eat in public. When the Magi noticed
this, he smacked his son and reprimanded him, saying:
Are you not ashamed to eat in the Muslim market during
the month of Ramadan? Your action has hurt the hearts of Muslims and violated
the majesty of Ramadan. So never repeat such an action in the future.
Hearing all this, the obedient son seriously
questioned his father.
"Father! In the month of Ramadan, you eat and
drink as well." In response, his father said, "Yes, I do eat,
but I do so in private inside my home. I do not desecrate this holy month by
eating and drinking in public."
A while later, the man passed away. Someone who saw
him in his dream wondering about him while he was strolling through heaven
pondered how in heaven a Magi could be.
He said, "I was really a Zoroastrian
[fire-worshipper], but when the hour of my death neared, Allah blessed
me." As I had honoured Ramadan, Allah blessed me by elevating me with
the riches of faith, taking me to Paradise at the same time, and showering me
with His innumerable blessings. (Nuzhatul Majaalis, vol. 1. p. 712)
From this instance, it is understood that if a
Zoroastrian could receive a blessing by honouring the month of Ramadan, then
why can't a Muslim do the same if he respects and honours this month with all
of his heart and soul?
Why Sin When Satan Is In Prison?
Now the question arises: Why do individuals commit
sins during Ramadan if Satan is imprisoned according to the Hadith described
above?
The Islamic scholars [Ulama] respond to this by
stating that Iblis and his progeny are actually imprisoned. Now, whoever
commits sins in this month does so out of his own corrupt soul (Nafs-e-Ammara),
not as a result of the devil's trickery. The Holy Hadith is thus perfectly
appropriate. A man should fear the burden of his sins so that he is safeguarded
at all times. (Miraa'tul Manajeeh, Vol.3, p. 331)
Respecting Ramadan involves abstaining from sin during
it. In honour of Ramadan, one should refrain from lying, backbiting, and using
foul language. Simply stopping eating and drinking cannot be called perfect
respect for Ramadan. Respecting Ramadan is the real key to fulfilling Ramadan's
purpose. We pray for the ability to respect and observe the Ramadan fasts from
Allah, the Almighty.
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Mufti
Abdul Malik Misbahi is the author of multiple books. He has also lectured and
held positions such as Mufti, Shaykhul Hadith, president, founder, and
director at a number of institutions, including Dar Uloom
Ghousia in Hubli, Karnataka, and Darul Uoom Solemaniya Rahmaniya in
Bikaner Darul Uloom Reza-e-Mustafa, Bihar, Madrasa Shah
Khalid, Vanwa Libo Muslim League, Fiji (near Australia), Madina
Educational Society, Rajasthan. He currently holds the positions of Mufti
in the Sunni Darul Ifta in the Madina Masjid, General Secretary of
the Raza Foundation, Director of the Darain Academy, Founder
of the Afkar-e- Raza Institution, and Chief Editor of the Do-Maahi
Raza-e-Madina (Urdu, Hindi) in Azadnagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
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Part 1: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Welcome to Ramadan and
First Lesson on the Virtues of Ramadan
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/lessons-ramadan-respect-part-2---/d/129395
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