The month of Ramadan is the season of divine blessings. It is the onth of purification. It is meant for annual renovation of the inner spiritual qualities. It is a golden opportunity for every Muslim to strengthen his 'Iman, to purify his heart and soul and to remove the evil effects of the sins committed by him.

This month invites a Muslim to minimize his other mundane involvements and maximize the acts of worship. One should plan his schedule for this month, before-hand, so as to spare maximum time for 'ibadah. Here is a brief list of the acts which should be carried out in Ramadan with due care:

1) To Offer Every Prayer With Jama'ah [In Congregation] In A Masjid:

Sayyiduna Ibn `Umar (radiallaahu 'anhuma) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Salat in congregation is twenty-seven times more meritorious than a Salat performed individually.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "A man's Salat in congregation is twenty-five times more rewarding than his Salat at home or in his shop, and that is because when he performs his Wudu' properly and proceeds towards the mosque with the purpose of performing Salat in congregation, he does not take a step without being raised a degree (in rank) for it and having a sin remitted for it, till he enters the mosque. When he is performing Salat, the angels continue to invoke Blessings of Allah on him as long as he is in his place of worship in a state of Wudu'. They say: `O Allah! Have mercy on him! O Allah! Forgive him.' He is deemed to be engaged in Salat as long as he waits for it.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

This Hadith tells us that Salat in congregation is far more in reward than Salat offered alone. In the preceding Hadith it has been held 27 times and in the present, 25 times more rewarding. The reason for this variation offered by some `Ulama' is that at first it was told to the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) 25 times and then it was increased to 27 and he communicated to his Companions (radiallaahu 'anhum) what was revealed to him. Some other scholars have linked it with the form, spirit and concentration of the Salat. The more meticulous one is about its details, the greater will be the reward for it.

Another difference of opinion in this respect is regarding the nature of Salat in congregation. How does one become eligible for higher reward? Does he become eligible for it by performing Salat in congregation anywhere, i.e., at home, in business premises, at an open place, in the desert etc., or in that congregation which gathers in a mosque? Some `Ulama' go with the first opinion while others agree with the second. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahmatullaahi 'alaih) preferred the second view on the grounds that the words occuring in the text of this Hadith support this view.

2) To rise up a little earlier than the exact time of suhoor [time before Fajr spent having breakfast] and to offer the salah of Tahajjud. There is no prescribed number of the tahajjud prayer; yet, it is better to pray 8 rak'at:

Allah, the Exalted, says:

"And in some parts of the night (also) perform the Salat (prayer) with it (i.e., recite the Qur'an in the prayer) as an additional prayer (Tahajjud optional prayer - Nawafil) for you (O Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam)). It may be that your Rubb will raise you to Maqam Mahmud (a station of praise and glory, i.e., the honour of intercession on the Day of Resurrection).'' (17:79)

"Their sides forsake their beds...'' (32:16)

"They used to sleep but little by night [invoking their Rubb (Allah) and praying, with fear and hope].'' (51:17)

Sayyiduna`Abdullah ibn Salaam (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "O people, promote the greetings, feed (the poor and needy) and perform Salat when others are asleep so that you will enter Jannah safely.''
[At-Tirmidhi]

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "The best month for observing Saum (fasting) after Ramadan is Muharram, and the best Salat after the prescribed Salat is Salat at night.''
[Muslim]

Sayyiduna `Abdullah bin Mas`ud (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: Mention was made before the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) of a man who slept throughout the night till morning. The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) remarked, "He is a man in whose ears Satan urinated.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Sayyiduna `Abdullah ibn `Amr (radiallaahu 'anhuma) reported: The Messenger of Allah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "The Salat which is dearest to Allah is that of (Prophet) Dawood (alayhis salaam); and As-Saum (the fasting) which is dearest to Allah is that of (Prophet) Dawood. He used to sleep half the night, get up to perform Salat for one-third of it, then sleep through the remaining one-sixth of it; and he used to observe Saum on alternative days.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Sayyiduna Jabir (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) saying, "Every night there is a special time during which whatever a Muslim asks Allah of any good relating to this life or the Hereafter, it will be granted to him; and this moment comes every night.''
[Muslim]

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "When any one of you sleeps, Shaytaan ties three knots at the back of his neck. He recites this incantation at every knot: `You have a long night, so sleep.' If he awakes and remembers Allah, one knot is loosened. If he performs Wudu', the (second) knot is loosened; and if he performs prayer, (all) knots are loosened. He begins his morning in a happy and refreshed mood; otherwise, he gets up in bad spirits and sluggish state.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "May Allah show mercy to a man who gets up during the night and performs Salat, awakens his wife to pray and if she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face (to make her get up). May Allah show mercy to a woman who gets up during the night and performs Salat, awakens her husband for the same purpose; and if he refuses, she sprinkles water on his face.''
[Abu Dawud]

3) To offer the nafl [voluntary] prayers of Ishraq (two rak'at after sunrise), Duha (four rak'at which may be performed at anytime after Ishraq before noon) and Awwabeen (six rak'at after Maghrib):

Merits Of Salatul Ishraaq

The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is reported to have said, 'He who performs Fajr Salat with Jamaat and remains seated in the same place while engaging in Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) until after sunrise and thereafter performs 2 Rakaats Nafl Salat (Ishraaq), he will obtain the Thawaab (reward) of one Hajj and one 'Umrah.' (Tirmidhi)

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radiallaahu 'anh) relates that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) has said that "He who performs Ishraq prayer without fail shall have his lesser sins forgiven even though they may be as numerous as foam specks on the surface of the sea." (Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)

Merits Of Salatul Duhaa

Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "In the morning, charity is due on every joint bone of the body of everyone of you. Every utterance of Allah's Glorification (i.e., saying Subhan Allah) is an act of charity, and every utterance of His Praise (i.e., saying Al-hamdu lillah) is an act of charity and every utterance of declaration of His Greatness (i.e., saying La ilaha illAllah) is an act of charity; and enjoining Ma'roof (good) is an act of charity, and forbidding Munkar (evil) is an act of charity, and two Rak`ah Duha prayers which one performs in the forenoon is equal to all this (in reward).''
[Muslim]

"Charity is due from every joint bone" means that when a person gets up in the morning, it is obligatory for him to thank Allah for having every joint of his intact. Therefore, one must praise and glorify Allah. Since a single invocation of the words mentioned in this Hadith is equivalent to one Sadaqah, one must say these words for 360 times - a number which equals the number of joints in man's body.

Moreover, to enjoin someone to do what is good and dissuade somebody from vice constitutes Sadaqah. However, if one performs two Rak`ah of Duha prayer, it will serve for Sadaqah for all the joints of the body. Thus, this Hadith highlights the merits and importance of Duha prayer. We also learn from this Hadith that Sadaqah is not restricted to spending money alone but also has a vast meaning and covers all forms of virtues mentioned here.

"Whoever prays two rak'ahs of Duha is never written as negligent; whoever prays four is written as a worshipper; whoever prays six, it is sufficient for him that day; whoever prays eight is written from amongst the devout servants; whoever prays twelve, then Allah has built for him a house in Paradise, and there is not a day or night therein except that Allah graciously bestows upon His servant some reward, and what Allah gives to any of His servants is better than anything one can imagine." ['Sahih at-Targhib wat-Tarhib'; 1/351]

In Kitaab An-Naseehah, Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anh) related the following, which he ascribed to the Prophet (salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) "Verily, in Paradise there is a gate that is called Ad-Duha. A caller will call out, 'Where are the ones who would consistently perform the Duha prayer? This is your gate, so enter."' [Book of the End, Ibn Kathir (rahmatullahi alaih)]

Merits Of Salaatul Awabeen

The Prophet (salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) "Whoever performs 6 Rak’aats after Maghrib Salaat will earn the reward of 12 years of Nafl (optional) Ibaadah (worship)." (Tirmidhi)

to be continued inshaa Allaah...

» Posted by Seifeddine-M on 3rd August 2011

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