Women

Value Ramadan

Umm-e-Milad Attariyyah

The month of Ramadan is an important month for Muslims. Just as a furnace purifies ore to produce pure metal, Ramadan purges sinners and elevates the ranks of the pious. Fortunate people eagerly await its advent, and when it does finally arrive, they value it by steeping each moment in worship, prayer, and supplication.

The Mother of all Believers, Sayyidah ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا explains the prophetic approach to this blessed month:

When the month of Ramadan would arrive, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would combine Salah and sleep in the first twenty nights. When the last 10 days would arrive, he would prepare himself for the worship of Allah Almighty. (Musnad Ahmad, vol. 9, p. 338, Hadith 24444)

In another version, She رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا remarked, ‘When the month of Ramadan would arrive, the blessed colour of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would change, he would worship abundantly and make a lot of supplications. (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 3, p. 310, Hadith 3625)

We too should organise our daily activities to accommodate fasting, obligatory prayers, supererogatory prayers such as Tahajjud, Ishraq, Chasht, and Awwabeen, recitation of the Quran, Zikr, prayers on the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and abundant supplications. The Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘In every night of Ramadan, an announcer (an angel making an announcement) calls out till dawn, ‘Seeker of goodness! Make a firm intention and be happy. And you who intends evil! Abandon evil. Is there anyone seeking forgiveness, so that his request can be fulfilled? Is there anyone repenting, so that his repentance can be accepted? Is there anyone supplicating, so that his supplication can be accepted? Is there any beggar, so that his need can be fulfilled?’ (Durr-e-Mansoor, vol. 1, p. 146)

My sisters, in this blessed month, do not neglect to pray for forgiveness, to repent sincerely in His court, and to seek the fulfilment of your needs. You will be able to perform these activities effectively if you can perform I’tikaf in the prayer area of your home. As well as being a Sunnah of the Prophets, I’tikaf is the practice of the Mothers of the Believers. Sayyidah ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا related that the final Prophet of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم observed I’tikaf during the last 10 days of Ramadan until his passing away. After him, his pure wives رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْھُن would perform I’tikaf. (Bukhari, vol. 1, p. 664, Hadith 2026)