Choice Ramadan Thoughts

Previous years we have spoken about Ramadan and this time I was wondering what to write. Then I started to wonder about time; time is something that we become aware of during Ramadan.

Time is something that we do not think about until we see the month come around again then we wonder where did the time go?

Have we used the time in-between well? If we did then would it come around so fast? Ramadan is time to remind ourselves of the place that we are going to go one day, the grave. The length of these fasts will begin at longest time and then it will slowly ease off. Also note that because of the Lunar cycle we will miss ten days of the longest days and the remainder will be shorter. So despite the length of these fasts the coming fasts will not be so long.

Although, we should not be concerned about the time we have to fast because the longer we fast the more reward will we get, if Allah facilitates. Does anyone have a problem with getting more reward? Difficulty will be replaced with riches; so do not concern yourself and know that even at the longest fast in this climate; it will only be ten days in any one period of fasting.

Time is something that we have to use well because the time in Ramadan is unlike any other time during the year. The reward of this time we will never receive again and this may be our last Ramadan. Who knows if we will see next year’s Ramadan? We may not even live through this year!

Time is something that we have wasted and not realised the blessing that we could have attained in time that is lost.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with) states that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “There are two blessings which many people lose; Health and free time.” (Bukhari 76:421)

Time means so much more in Ramadan; more so that the rest of the year. The blessings in this month are greater than those of the previous months. The jurists remind us that if we miss a day of fasting that we can never make up for the blessings of that day even though we can make the number. Once it is lost, it is gone, gone forever.

Ibn Abu Shayba reports in his al-Musnad from Anas that: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was ascending the pulpit. He climbed a step and said, “Amin.” Then he climbed a second and said, “Amin.” Then he climbed a third and said, “Amin.” He reached the top and sat down. A companion asked, “Prophet of Allah, Why did you say Amin three times?” He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Jibril came to me and said, ‘Disaster befalls the one who knows that both or one of his parents are alive and does not enter Heaven (through serving them). I said, “Amin.” “Disaster befalls the one who exits Ramadan and did not attain forgiveness. I said, “Amin.” Then he said, ‘Disaster befalls the one who hears your name mentioned and does not say, Peace upon you.’ So I said, “Amin.” (`Asqalani al-Matalib al-A`liyya 3/223, Ibn Hibban 2/140 (409), Tabarani 11/67)

Use your time well because you never know this may be your last Ramadan and what a loser that person will be who did not attain from Ramadan the maximum. Time is ticking away!!!

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was the most generous of all the people, and he used to become more generous in Ramadan. When Gabriel met him, Gabriel used to meet him every night during Ramadan, to revise the Qur'an with him. The Messenger of Allah was more generous than a steady breeze." (Bukhari V4/bk 56/No 754 and Muslim)

This narration made me ponder to why the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was more generous in Ramadan that other months. Here are three possible meanings:

1. He was more generous because he is a teacher and he had to teach us.

2. To share in the generosity shown to him by Allah (mighty and exalted).

3. He knew the value of this month and increased his generosity accordingly.

He showed us the way and Ramadan is the time that even people who are religious all year around need to increase their actions. The reference to the breeze is metaphorical in that the generosity of the wind knows no bounds. This is one of the beauties of this narration; just because we pray normally does not mean we are exempt from performing more actions. In fact if a religious person does not perform more actions this month, then this is like a normal month for them and they have lost the special benefits.


Use your time well my friend before you come to a time in which you’ll wish you did.

Ramadan Karim everyone and make dua for this lost soul.


Other posts from previous years

Imam Al-Ghazali section on fasting
http://sheikhynotes.blogspot.com/2007/08/imam-ghazali-mysteries-of-fasting.html

Considered Ramadan thoughts
http://sheikhynotes.blogspot.com/2008/09/considered-ramadan-thoughts.html

Random Ramadan thoughts
http://sheikhynotes.blogspot.com/2007/09/random-ramadan-thoughts.html

(Please click on Ramadan label for other posts on Ramadan.)