Let’s Save Ourselves and Our Family from The Fire (1)

By Misbahul Huda, New Age Islam

19 June 2017

The holy month of Ramadan begins with mercy; its middle is forgiveness and, ends with emancipation (salvation from Hellfire).

In Islamic scriptures (the Qur’an and the Sunnah), There are plenty of evidence on intrinsic supremacy of the Ramadan over all the other months of the Islamic calendar, and the same holds true for its last ten days (Asharah Akheerah) over its earlier two Asharas, as Laylatul Qadr, popularly known as The Night of Power falls on the odd nights (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th), of this Asharah, which is described batter then a thousand months, in the Holy Qur’an, Because in this night Qur’an was revealed to Prophet (PBUH), and the angels and the Spirit descend on earth.

Allah (SWT) says:

إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ۔ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ۔ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ۔ تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ۔ سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّى مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ۔ (القدر)

“Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.” (Tr. Sahih International, surah Al-Qadr)

It is reported in Muslim, narrated by Ayesha (RA) that:

 “Allah’s Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time”.

“The Prophet (PBUH) strove harder and took greater pains to observe prayer etc. during the third Asharah of Ramadan than other days” (Muslim)

“When the last ten days of Ramadan began the Prophet (PBUH) use to gird up the loins and keep awake in the nights. The Prophet (PBUH) also wakened the members of His family (So that they may spend the night in worship too)” (Bukhari)

‘‘Allah’s Apostle used to practice Itekaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, “Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan” (Bukhari)

“Whoever stays up (in prayer) on the Night of Qadr fully believing (in Allah’s promise of reward for that night) and hoping to seek reward (from Allah), he shall be forgiven for his past sins.” (Muslim)*

Since we all are observing the last Asharah of Ramadan, this Article will discuss what Allah (SWT) wants form us to fully observe it, in order to attain salvation from Hellfire.

According to Qur’an, the sole purpose of Ramadan, along with all the payers and good deeds, is to save ourselves and our family members from the Fire.

Allah (SWT) says:

يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَائِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ (التحریم:6)

O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.  (Tr. Sahih International)

In the aforementioned verse Allah (SWT) has clearly instructed that “O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from the Fire”, and He has sent Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) to us to preach exactly what he wants.  So it is necessary to know how to save ourselves from the Hellfire. Let’s start from the beginning, and we will be moving through the verses relating to the subject.

Allah (SWT) says in the opening verses of Qur’an:

اَلحمدُ لِلہِ رَبِّ العَالَمِین(الفاتحہ:1)

All praise is due to Allah (SWT).

As we know, this is one of the opening verses of the most repeated and the most recited Surah of the Qur’an, called Surah Al-fatiha. Have we ever considered why Allah (SWT) started the Holy Qur’an off, praising himself? In which He is mentioned as (Rab رب), which basically means “Lord of the entire Universe”. But if we take a deeper look, we find that the term (Rab رب ) means, the Creator, Sustainer, Cherisher, Master, Nourisher, provider, protector, curer, and the one in whose hand lies absolute control of every aspect of existence. So we must think what we would be achieving by praising Allah (SWT)? Praising Allah (SWT) upon all conditions plays a vital role in pleasing Allah, seeking His blessings and preserving His bounties. If we desist from praising and expressing gratitude to Allah, for what he has given us from His blessing and bounties, we might become ungrateful to Him. And when we show ingratitude towards Almighty Allah’s blessing and bounties he ceases to impart them to us.

Allah (SWT) says:

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ (سورة ابراهيم:7)

’’And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.’’ (Sahih International)

Now anyone can understand how praise and thankfulness is important to save ourselves from the wrath of Allah (SWT). That is why Prophet (PBUH) taught us to thank Allah (SWT) upon all conditions, whether, they are in our favour or otherwise. 

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was reported to have said:

عجبا لأمر المؤمن إن أمره كله خير وليس ذاك لأحد إلا للمؤمن إن أصابته سراء شكر فكان خيرا له وإن أصابته ضراء صبر فكان خيرا له (صحیح مسلم)

“Amazing is the affair of the believer, verily all of his affair is good and this is not for no one except the believer. If something of good/happiness befalls him he is grateful and that is good for him. If something of harm befalls him he is patient and that is good for him” (Saheeh Muslim #2999).

Allah (SWT) clearly says that all human beings are bound to be lasted, but glad tidings are unto those who bear patient.

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ۔( 2:155)

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient ( Sahih International).

Allah (SWT) further says:

لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا أَذًى كَثِيرًا ۚ وَإِن تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَإِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ(3:186)

“You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination” (Sahih International).

To be continued…..

A regular contributor to New Age Islam, Misbahul Huda is an Alim and Fazil (Classical Islamic scholar) with a Sufi background, and represent Khanqaah Baitul Anwar (A renowned Sufi Spiritual centre), in several Indian states like Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. He has completed the classical Islamic sciences (Alimiat) from a renowned Sufi Islamic seminary Jamia Amjadia Rizvia Mau, (U.P) and holds degree of Fazilat (master) in Tafseer, Hadith, theology, Tasawwuf, and Islamic jurisprudence from Jamia Manzar- e- Islam, Bareilly, U.P. He has authored a book “The Light Of Ethics And Moral Values In Islam”, published by New Age Islam Foundation, New Delhi, in February 2017.

*https://www.alquranclasses.com/the-third-ashra-of-ramadan/

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-society/let’s-save-ourselves-our-family/d/112480