Ramadhan thoughts 2012 (1433H)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Dispenser of Grace.

How time flies!  Before you know it, Eid Al-Fitr is looming ever nearer and the time of blessing is slipping away. In fact, today is the last day of Ramadhan (30/09 of the Islamic year 1433H) and tomorrow will be Eid.

Taqabballah minna wa min kum.  (May Allah accepts from us and from you (our good deeds)).  This past month, the month of Ramadhan, is a month where most Muslims increase their levels of good deeds - prayers, reading the Qur'an, charity etc.  Yet, no matter how much I do, I feel so inadequate in reaping the Rahmah (mercy) and Barakah (blessings) of this month.  But I bear this one point in mind - it is not on my own deeds that I would be protected from His Wrath and punishment of Hell nor that I would be granted His pleasure and entrance to Paradise but only through His Mercy...His Mercy that overlook His servant's shortcomings and His Mercy that rewards by many folds His servant's good deeds.  I therefore supplicate to the Most Merciful that we all will be counted amongst those who are ever grateful.

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “He is successful who has accepted Islam, who has been provided with sufficient for his wants and been made contented by Allah with what He has given him.” [Muslim]

At the end of this blessed month, I'm sure all of us are hoping that we have changed and that we come out of Ramadhan successful.  The above hadith came on my phone's app and it seemed so appropriate for the occasion.  In Ramadhan, I learn to make do with what is there at iftar (breaking fast) and sahur (pre-dawn meal) after experiencing the "deprivation" of the senses and I learn to appreciate just how sufficiently we've been provided by Allah.  This year, I am thankful for the food my landlady cooked and those that my neighbours and her friends gave us for iftar.  After working the whole day, being invited for iftar at various friends' places, it seems to be God-sent.  There always seems to be more than enough food, friendship and bonding around.  My Muslim community here in Edinburgh seemed to be blessed with more than what we need.

More than that, I realise that for many of us, especially myself, we've been given with so much.  There isn't a day that I go to bed without food in the fridge, clothes in the wardrobe, roof over my head, savings in the bank, safety and security of a peaceful neighbourhood and care and love of my family and friends.  This Ramadhan, I thought about the refuges all over the world without roof over their heads, the poor with not even a cent/penny to their name, the oppressed without the safety and security, and the people from all walks of life who have lost their love ones.  How can I not feel grateful?  Should I not feel contented even more so than the people list above?  

Most of all, Allah has allowed us to have the opportunity to meet and finish this Ramadhan with our faith strengthened when there are those who have fallen on the way side.  May Allah count us amongst those who are ever grateful.

What is a more beautiful of Allah's mercy to His servants than Ramadhan:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡڪُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِڪُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ (١٨٣)أَيَّامً۬ا مَّعۡدُودَٲتٍ۬‌ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ۬ فَعِدَّةٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ‌ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ ۥ فِدۡيَةٌ۬ طَعَامُ مِسۡكِينٍ۬‌ۖ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيۡرً۬ا فَهُوَ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّهُ ۥ‌ۚ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّڪُمۡ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ (١٨٤) شَہۡرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ هُدً۬ى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَٱلۡفُرۡقَانِ‌ۚ فَمَن شَہِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّہۡرَ فَلۡيَصُمۡهُ‌ۖ وَمَن ڪَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ۬ فَعِدَّةٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ‌ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِڪُمُ ٱلۡيُسۡرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِڪُمُ ٱلۡعُسۡرَ وَلِتُڪۡمِلُواْ ٱلۡعِدَّةَ وَلِتُڪَبِّرُواْ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَٮٰكُمۡ وَلَعَلَّڪُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ (١٨٥) وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ‌ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعۡوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ‌ۖ فَلۡيَسۡتَجِيبُواْ لِى وَلۡيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِى لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡشُدُونَ (١٨٦)أُحِلَّ لَڪُمۡ لَيۡلَةَ ٱلصِّيَامِ ٱلرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَآٮِٕكُمۡ‌ۚ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ لِبَاسٌ۬ لَّهُنَّ‌ۗ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّڪُمۡ كُنتُمۡ تَخۡتَانُونَ أَنفُسَڪُمۡ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَعَفَا عَنكُمۡ‌ۖ فَٱلۡـَٔـٰنَ بَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَٱبۡتَغُواْ مَا ڪَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ‌ۚ وَكُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡخَيۡطُ ٱلۡأَبۡيَضُ مِنَ ٱلۡخَيۡطِ ٱلۡأَسۡوَدِ مِنَ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ‌ۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّواْ ٱلصِّيَامَ إِلَى ٱلَّيۡلِ‌ۚ وَلَا تُبَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمۡ عَـٰكِفُونَ فِى ٱلۡمَسَـٰجِدِ‌ۗ تِلۡكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَقۡرَبُوهَا‌ۗ كَذَٲلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَّقُونَ (١٨٧)

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off (evil); (183) (Fast) a certain number of days; and (for) him who is sick among you, or on a journey, (the same) number of other days; and for those who can afford it there is a ransom: the feeding of a man in need - but whoso doeth good of his own accord, it is better for him: and that ye fast is better for you if ye did but know - (184) The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; and (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful. (185) And when My servants question thee concerning Me, then surely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he crieth unto Me. So let them hear My call and let them trust in Me, in order that they may be led aright. (186) It is made lawful for you to go unto your wives on the night of the fast. They are raiment for you and ye are raiment for them. Allah is Aware that ye were deceiving yourselves in this respect and He hath turned in mercy toward you and relieved you. So hold intercourse with them and seek that which Allah hath ordained for you, and eat and drink until the white thread becometh distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then strictly observe the fast till nightfall and touch them not, but be at your devotions in the mosques. These are the limits imposed by Allah, so approach them not. Thus Allah expoundeth His revelation to mankind that they may ward off (evil). (187) 

Amidst the verses on fasting in Surah Al-Baqarah is a gem, i.e. that of supplication to Allah.  I have to ask myself why Allah has included this verse amongst the verses on fasting.  What is the wisdom behind this inclusion?  Again, this is a gift from Allah in this blessed month...that it is not only a month of fasting and deprivation but also a month that we turn to Him for all of our needs.  Sayyid Qutb puts it beautifully:

How kind and compassionate God truly is! Any hardship encountered in keeping
the fast fades in comparison with this friendly and gentle reassurance. The choice of
words creates an atmosphere of intimacy and accessibility, with God Himself stating
a direct contact between Him and His servants. He does not give instructions to His
Messenger, the Prophet Muĥammad on how to answer believers’ questions about
Him. He gives the answer Himself: “I am near.” His closeness is not only to listen but
also for immediate response: “I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he calls to Me.”
(Verse 186)
This verse fills a believer’s heart with love, confidence and utter reassurance. In
this atmosphere of friendliness and compassion, God, who has no need for anyone,
directs believers to respond to Him and believe in Him, in the hope that this will
guide them to wisdom and righteousness. “Let them then respond to Me, and believe in
Me, so that they may follow the right way.” (Verse 186) By earning God’s generosity and
guidance, believers end up winners on all counts.

A month where our needs are fulfilled whenever we turn to Him, whereby there were so many opportunities and great occasions for us to supplicate with the whole of our hearts and know that He will not refuse our supplication:

Salmān, the Persian, a Companion of the Prophet, quotes the Prophet as saying: “God would not like to see His servant holding out his arms pleading for help and turn him away empty handed.” [Related by Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī and Ibn Mājah]

Again, I ask myself - how can I not be amongst those who are grateful...how can my heart be hardened towards the One who Reaches Out.  I think if there is one thing I take away from this Ramadhan, it is to be grateful for everything in my life. 

But how do a servant show his/her gratitude to One who is the Self-Sufficient?  That is a question that the Qur'an answers in myriad of ways and is a topic for another entry in this blog, insya Allah.

Eid Mubarak to all my Muslim family and friends!

Seerah of the Prophet s.a.w. - The Orphan Part 2

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Dispenser of Grace

In the last post, we touched upon the Prophet's s.a.w. status as an orphan.  In this post, we will discuss about his role in defending the rights of orphans.

Even before the advent of Islam, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. was actively looking after orphans, namely his stepchildren from Khadijah r.a. whose fathers have passed away.  His stepson, Hind ibn Abu Halah, was brought up in his household from a young age and one of the first to embrace Islam.  Hind r.a. was one of those companions who gave a description of the Prophet. s.a.w. and his words showed his affection for his stepfather.

Clearly his own orphanhood made the Prophet s.a.w. sensitive to the orphans around him.  In fact, Surah Ad-Dhuha came about to remind us through the Prophet s.a.w. of such:

Did He not find you an orphan, and give you shelter?...Therefore. as for orphan, do not oppress him.

Ibn Majah also narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that Prophet Muhammad said:

The best Muslim house is a house in which an orphan is well treated; and the worst Muslim house is a house in which an orphan is badly treated.

And certainly the Prophet's household was the best of households with his stepchildren from his wives r.a. being cared for by him. 

In Madina, the Prophet established the laws that defended the rights of the orphans.  The verses in Surah 4 states these rights:

Give unto orphans their wealth. Exchange not the good for the bad (in your management thereof) nor absorb their wealth into your own wealth. Lo! that would be a great sin. (2) And if ye fear that ye will not deal fairly by the orphans, marry of the women, who seem good to you, two or three or four; and if ye fear that ye cannot do justice (to so many) then one (only) or (the captives) that your right hands possess. Thus it is more likely that ye will not do injustice. (3) And give unto the women (whom ye marry) free gift of their marriage portions; but if they of their own accord remit unto you a part thereof, then ye are welcome to absorb it (in your wealth). (4) Give not unto the foolish (what is in) your (keeping of their) wealth, which Allah hath given you to maintain; but feed and clothe them from it, and speak kindly unto them. (5) Prove orphans till they reach the marriageable age; then, if ye find them of sound judgment, deliver over unto them their fortune; and devour it not by squandering and in haste lest they should grow up Whoso (of the guardians) is rich, let him abstain generously (from taking of the property of orphans); and whoso is poor let him take thereof in reason (for his guardianship). And when ye deliver up their fortune unto orphans, have (the transaction) witnessed in their presence. Allah sufficeth as a Reckoner. (6) 

Before these laws were established, the conditions for the orphans, especially girl orphans were terrible.  In the Shade of the Qur'an by Sayyid Qut'b, he wrote:

We see addressed the rights of orphans, particularly girls, plundered by the very relatives and guardians who were supposed to look after them; what property theirs was good and valuable being substituted with foul and less valuable thing. The good of their inheritance being quickly consumed lest these orphans come of age and demand what was rightfully theirs. Young and rich orphaned girls were detained at home until they could be married to their guardians, not because the latter loved them, but rather because they wanted their money. Alternatively, they might be forced to marry their guardians’ sons so as to achieve the same end. We see a society in which the young and vulnerable, as also women, were wronged and not given their rightful share of any inheritance. Strong-bodied men who were able to fight in war got away with the largest share of any inheritance, whilst the weak and vulnerable were left with only a meagre portion. Yet it was for such miserly shares that young orphan girls and widowed women were detained so that they would be married to either the guardians themselves or to whom the latter so chose. The reason for that was simply to ensure that their property would not fall into the hands of strangers.

In a span of a few years in Madina, the Prophet s.a.w. was able to establish the rights of the orphans and in later generations it was codified into the Shariah.  This was due to the strength of faith that the Prophet s.a.w. and the Companions had and the Tarbiyyah (the inculcation of values) that they went through such that they feared Allah's wrath and wanted His approval, such as when Allah warned them in Surah 4

 Allah sufficeth as a Reckoner. (6)...And when kinsfolk and orphans and the needy are present at the division (of the heritage), bestow on them therefrom and speak kindly unto them. (8) ... So let them mind their duty to Allah, and speak justly. (9) Lo! Those who devour the wealth of orphans wrongfully, they do but swallow fire into their bellies, and they will be exposed to burning flame. (10)

As with any of Allah's commands, the laws are established only when the foundations are strong.  Thus we see Allah's Tarbiyyah in action through the various verses in the Quran such as Surah Al-Ma’un 107:1-7

Have you seen the one who rejects [the true spirit] of religion? That is he who repels the orphan. And does not advocate for the feeding of the very poor. Woe to you worshipers! Those who pray yet are heedless. Who only pray to be seen [by men]. But neglect even neighbourly needs.

which shows the prominence Islam gives to helping the needy and uplifting the poor. Anyone who prays with no attention to helping orphans and the needy is spoken of as denying the entire religion. And in Surah 2:177 where Allah says

It is not piety, that you turn your faces to the East and to the West. True piety is this: to believe in Allah, and the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the Prophets, to give of one’s substance, however cherished, to kinsmen, and orphans, the needy, the traveller, beggars, and to ransom the slave, to perform the prayer, to pay the alms. And they who fulfil their covenant when they have engaged in a covenant, and endure with fortitude misfortune, hardship and peril, these are they who are true in their faith, these are the truly God-fearing.

The Prophet himself instructed his Companions as when he said:

Would you like that your heart becomes soft and that you acquire what you need? Be merciful with the orphan, pat his head and feed him from what you eat. This will soften your heart, and enable you to get what you need. ( At-Tabaranee As-Silsilah as Saheehah).

or when he said:

The one who looks after and works for a widow and for a poor person, is like a warrior fighting for Allah’s Cause or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all the night.  (Saheeh Al Bukhari :: Book 8 :: Volume 73 :: Hadith 35)

or:

I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like this, putting his index and middle fingers together. (Saheeh Al Bukhari ::Book 8 :: Volume 73 :: Hadith 34 )

Is it therefore not our duty as Muslims to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet s.a.w. and the Companions to defend and uphold the rights of the orphans?  With Eid Al-Fitr around the corner and the last ten days of Ramadhan rushing past by us, should we not grab the opportunity afforded to us this Ramadhan to do exactly that?  

Here are some links if you want to grab the opportunity:
Islamic-Relief for Orphans
Save The Children - Children-in-need-of-care
World Vision - child-sponsorship
Rahma Mercy - orphan sponsorship

May you be rewarded for your good works.  Ameen.