رمضان کی ایک خصوصی فضیلت

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to say: "The five daily prayers, one Friday prayer to the next Friday, and one Ramadan to the next Ramadan are, if the major sins are avoided, an expiation for the sins committed between them."

Ramadan al-Mubarak has superiority over the other months in many respects, as is also learned from this noble hadith. The meaning of the noble hadith is that if a person observes the five daily prayers regularly, performs the Friday prayer with full etiquette, and likewise keeps the fasts of Ramadan, then the minor sins committed in between are all wiped away, except for the major sins. Major sins are not forgiven without repentance, and if they concern the rights of people, then along with repentance one must also seek the pardon of the person whose right was usurped, returning it to him and satisfying him. These three acts mentioned in the noble hadith have the power to erase and wipe out sins. Thus, if the sins are minor, these three erase them; otherwise, in place of each of them countless good deeds are recorded, by reason of which a raising in ranks is attained. Now let us reflect a little on what the purpose of the creation of man is, and we learn it from the Quran itself.

"And I did not create the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me." (Adh-Dhariyat: 56)

When the purpose of man's creation was established as worship alone, its demand was that when man comes into the world he should, from morning to evening, do nothing except worship, and he should not be permitted to do any other work. And if we had also been commanded by Allah to remain only in prostration from morning to evening, this command would not have been against justice, because he was created for worship. But Allah gave permission that you may eat, drink, earn, and also carry on the business of the world, but while acting upon the commands I have laid down, that is, with the prescribed rulings of worship, dealings, social conduct, morals and politics, and of the lawful and unlawful.

But Allah knew that when this man becomes occupied in the business and affairs of the world, gradually veils of heedlessness will fall over his heart and he will become lost in the business and affairs of the world; so, to remove this heedlessness, He appointed certain times from time to time, one of which is the month of Ramadan al-Mubarak. This is because for eleven months of the year we remain engaged in trade, in farming, in labour, and in the business and affairs of the world, in eating and earning and laughing and talking, and as a result a veil of heedlessness begins to fall upon the hearts. So Allah appointed one month for this task, that in this month you return to your real work for which you were created. In this month engage in the worship of Allah, and have forgiven the sins you committed over the eleven months, and have washed off the film that has come over the faculties of the heart, and lift up the veils of heedlessness that have fallen over the heart; for this task We have appointed this month.

Therefore we should regard this month as a treasure, keep the fasts of the whole month with great piety, stand in prayer at night, recite the Glorious Quran, the Praiseworthy Criterion, abundantly so that it may intercede for us on the Day of Gathering, and lay stress on charity, alms and voluntary prayers, for in this month the reward of a voluntary act equals that of an obligatory act on ordinary days; and in the last ten days of this month keep awake at night with the intention of earning reward. Encourage yourself, your family, and other Muslims towards it, so that the sins of the whole year may be forgiven and taqwa may be produced in the hearts, so that, having your soul cleansed, you may give your life a new form. May Allah grant all Muslims the ability to benefit from its blessings. Ameen!