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Author: Muhammad Hashim Bastawi

When Ramadan in 2024

In 2024, If the month of Sha’ban is 29 days long and the moon rises, then Ramadan will begin on ¹² March  and if the month of Sha’ban is 30 days long, then Ramadan will begin on ¹³ March.

Dear friends! The month of Ramadan is very blessed; there are many blessings about this month in the Quran and Hadiths, and those who keep fast get a lot of reward from Allah Almighty. In this article, we are going to tell you about the virtues of the month of Ramadan. And what rewards will we get from Allah in this month? So, first of all, let’s start this article with the virtues of Ramadan.

The virtues and Benefits of Ramadan in the Quran

The month of Ramadan, in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind, 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 you should complete the period, that you should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure you may be thankful.

Explanation of this verse

As far as the merit of this month is concerned, it has been said that Allah Almighty has chosen this month to reveal Scriptures. Consequently, the Holy Qur’an was revealed in this very month. According to a narration from the blessed Companion Wathilah ibn Asga’ appearing in the Musnad of Ahmad, the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that Abrahamic scriptures were revealed on the first of Ramadan, the Torah on the sixth, the Evangel on the thirteenth and the Qur’an on the twenty fourth of Ramadan. In another narration from the blessed Companion Sayyidna Jabir (رض) ، it appears that Zabur (the Book of Psalms) was revealed on the twelfth of Ramadan and the Evangel on the eighteenth. (Ibn Kathir)

All previous Books mentioned in the hadith cited above were revealed on dates given in their entirety. It is a peculiarity of the Holy Qur’an that it was sent from the Preserved Tablet down to the Firmament of the Earth in one night of the month of Ramadan, all of it. But, it was revealed to the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) gradually during a period of twenty three years.

The night of Ramadan when the Qur’an was revealed was the Night of Power as mentioned by the Qur’an itself when it said: إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ‌ (We have revealed it in the Laylatul ‘Qadr, the Night of Power). The hadith cited above places it on the twenty fourth of Ramadan and according to Sayyidna Hasan, the Night of Power falls on the night of twenty fourth which aligns this hadith with the statement of the Qur’an. Should this alignment be unacceptable, the fact remains that the statement of the Qur’an is above everything else, in which case, whatever night is the Night of Power that shall be regarded to be what the Qur’an intends.

The next sentence مَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ‌ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ‘ (those of you who witness the month must fast therein) carries many pointers to injunctions relating to fasting. The word, shahida is derived from shuhud شُهود which means presence. The word, al-shahr الشَّهْرَ‌means the month. It denotes the month of Ramadan here which has been identified above. The sentence, therefore, means that it is obligatory for one who is ‘present’ in the month of Ramadan that he fasts throughout that month. The general choice of paying ransom for not fasting, mentioned in the previous verse, was cancelled by this sentence and fasting is now the only alternative in force.

As for the ‘witnessing’ of the month or being ‘present’ in the month of Ramadan, it simply means that a person finds the blessed month of Ramadan with ability to fast. In other words, he or she should be a Muslim, sane, pubert, resident and well-purified from all impurities including those of menstruation and childbed. Therefore, the persons who lacked the initial ability to fast throughout the month, such as, the disbelievers, the minor, the insane, they are not subject to the obligation of fasting, because the verse obligating the fasts did not intend them. As for those who did have the personal ability but were compelled at some time by a legally acceptable excuse, such as, a woman in menstruation or childbed, or a sick person or one on a journey, these have, in a way, found the month of Ramadan in a state of ability, therefore, the injunction in the verse applies to them. However, because of temporal compulsion, relief from fasting has been granted at that particular time, but qada’ قضاء will be necessary later on.

Rulings

1. The verse tells us that fasts of Ramadan become obligatory only on the condition that one finds the month of Ramadan in a state of ability to fulfill the obligation. Therefore, anyone who ‘finds’ the whole of Ramadan will come under obligation to fast during the entire month of Ramadan. Anyone who ‘finds’ somewhat less of it, he will fast for the number of days he finds in Ramadan. So, should a disbeliever embrace Islam in the middle of Ramadan, or a minor becomes pubert, they will have to fast from that point onwards; they will not do gada’ قضاء fasts for the previous days of Ramadan. However, the insane person, being a Muslim adult, does have the personal ability to observe fasts;
so, should he regain his sanity during any part of Ramadan, he shall become obligated to do qada’ قضاء fasts for the previous days of Ramadan. Similarly, should a woman in menstruation or childbed become purified in the middle of Ramadan, or a sick person becomes healthy, or a traveller becomes a resident, qada قضاء fasts for the previous days of Ramadan will become obligatory on them.
2. How does one ‘find’ or ‘witness’ the month of Ramadan? According to Islamic law, it is proved in either of the three ways:
a) One gets to have a sighting of the Ramadan moon with his own eyes.
b) The sighting of the moon is proved through some trustworthy witness.
c) In the absence of the two conditions cited above, thirty days of the month of Sha’ban will be completed following which the month of Ramadan will set in.
3. If, on the eve of the twenty ninth of Sha` ban, the new moon is not visible on the horizon because of clouds or bad weather conditions, and at the same time, there comes no witness of moon-sighting as admissible under Islamic law, the next day will be known as the ‘day of doubt’ یوم الشک (yawm al-shakk) because the possibility exists that the moon may have really been there on the horizon but could not become visible due to unclear horizon as it is also possible that the moon was just not there on the horizon. On such a day, since ‘the presence of the month’ or the ‘finding of Ramadan’ or being a ‘witness’ to it does not apply, therefore, fasting for that day is not obligatory, instead, it is makruh مکروہ (reprehensible) to fast on that day. It has been forbidden in the hadith so that fard فرض and nafl نفل ، (the obligatory and the supererogatory) do not get mixed up with each other (Jasss).

4. In countries where days and nights extend over months, the ‘finding of Ramadan’ does not, obviously, seem to apply. The situation would require that people living there should not fast. As far as Salah is concerned, al-Huluwani and al-Qabali from among the Hanafi jurists have ruled that such people will be bound to observe Salah in accordance with the timings of their own day and night. For instance, in a country where dawn follows immediately after maghrib, there the Salah of ` Isha’ will just not be obligatory. (shami) This makes it necessary that in an area where the day lasts for six months, people would have only five Salahs in six months and, for that matter, they will witness no Ramadan coming there, therefore, fasting will not become obligatory for them. Maulana Ashraf ` Ali-Thanavi (رح) has, in Imdad al-Fatawa, taken this very position.

Note:

In the sentence وَمَن كَانَ مَرِ‌يضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ‌ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَر (should anyone be sick, or on a journey, then, a number from other days), the sick and the travelling have been granted leave that they may not fast at that time. When the sick person regains his health and the traveller returns home, they can make up for the days they missed by doing qada’ قضاء fasts. It will be recalled that this injunction had appeared in the previous verse, but now that the choice of paying fidyah (ransom) for not fasting has been cancelled, a doubt could creep up in relation to the concession granted to the sick and the travelling, that it may have been abrogated as well, therefore, the provision was positively repeated. .[1]

The virtues and Benefits of Ramadan in Hadiths

Translation

Salman al-Farisi told of allah’s messenger saying in a sermon which he delivered to them on the last day of Sha’ban, “A great month, a blessed month, a month containing a night which is better than a thousand months has approached you people. God has appointed the observance of fasting during it as an obligatory duty, and the passing of its night in prayer as a voluntary practice.

If someone draws near to God during it with some good act he will be like one who fulfils an obligatory duty in another month, and he who fulfills an obligatory duty in it will be like one who fulfills seventy obligatory duties in another month. It is the month of endurance, and the reward of endurance is paradise.

It is the month of sharing with others, and a month in which the believer’s provision is increased. If someone gives one who has been fasting something with which to break his fast it will provide forgiveness of his sins and save him from hell, and he will have a reward equal to his without his reward being diminished in any respect.”

Some of them remarked to God’s messenger that they did not all have the means to give one who had been fasting something with which to break his fast, and he replied, “God gives this reward to him who gives one who has been fasting some milk mixed with water, or a date, or a drink of water with which to break his fast, and anyone who gives a full meal to one who has been fasting will be given a drink from any tank by God and will not thirst till he enters paradise. It is a month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness, and whose end is freedom from hell. If anyone makes things easy for his slave during it, God will forgive him and free him from hell.” [2]

Summary of hadith

In this hadith, there are many virtues of the month of Ramadan, where everything is present. In this, there is the reward of worship in Ramadan, and what should be done in Ramadan? And what will the servants of Allah get in return for Ramadan? Everything has been told in this hadith.

It is came in other hadith:

Abu Hurairah reported that Allah’s messenger is saying, “Every [good] deed a son of Adam does will be multiplied, a good deed receiving a tenfold to seven hundredfold reward. God has said, ‘With the exception of fasting, for it is done for my sake, and I give a reward for it. One abandons his passion and his food for my sake. The one who fasts has two occasions of joy: one when he breaks his fast and one when he meets his Lord. [3]

The doors of heaven are opened in Ramadan

Abu Hurairah reported Allah’s messenger as saying, “When Ramadan begins, the gates of heaven are opened.” A version says, “The gates of paradise are opened, the gates of Jahannam are locked, and the devils are chained.” Another has, “The gates of mercy are opened.”[4]

Explanation

This is done to honor and celebrate the month of Ramadan, so that the servants of Allah can worship Allah without being protected from satanic tricks.

An Important Question and answer

An important question here is: when all the devils have been banned by Allah, then no person should commit any sin during Ramadan? Since we see that those who commit sins continue to commit sins even in the month of Ramadan, then what is the benefit of locking up the devils?

The answer to this is that for people who become addicted to sins, their hearts become black, and their hearts do not accept even any good things, and neither are their ears hearing any good things, nor are their eyes seeing any good things, For such people, Ramadan and any other Ramadan are equal, there is no difference between them being a devil’s band and being open, The devil’s closure and opening make no difference to them, because now they themselves have become devils; hence, many such people do not desist from committing sins even in the holy month of Ramadan.

Blessings of Ramadan and our condition

Dear friends! From what we have just told about the month of Ramadan, it becomes clear that there are only blessings throughout the month of Ramadan, everyone can easily guess this for Iftar and food; whether a person is poor or rich, there are many items on everyone’s table, many people say that during Ramadan, Allah gives us things that we cannot even think of eating in other months, really, all this is the blessing of Ramadan, and it always remains during Ramadan.

Despite this blessing, mercy, and virtue, there are still many of our brothers, who remain deprived of the blessings and mercy of Allah during Ramadan, because in this season of fasting they do not keep fast, It is a matter of great regret for our young generation that the survey has revealed that today, 80% of the youth do not fast, which is very bad news for the future of Muslims, because if the trend continues like this, then one day no one will fast in Ramadan.

Appeal to friends

My appeal to those friends who have read the article is to fast themselves and tell their friends about the virtues of Ramadan so that they also fast, may Allah give us all the opportunity to benefit from the blessings of Ramadan and keep fast in the month of Ramadan. Ameen.

Spiritual, physiological and medical benefits of Fasting

Sawm or ‘fasting’ is an ` ibadah, an act of worship in Islam, regarded as its pillar and sign,  Allah  has made fasting obligatory on Muslims and has given orders for its obligation in verses 184-185  of Surah Al-Baqarah.

While fasting is the cause of spiritual development in a person, it is also very useful for physical health. Apparently, eating and drinking less reduces physical weakness, but food control over a period of time and within a few days produces extraordinary positive effects on human health. Allah almighty has explained the benefit of fasting with the obligation of it, لعلكم تتقون: that you may be pious so that you may be saved. This is to avoid physical diseases as well; a person can avoid them as a result of fasting.

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may ward off the evil; [Al Baqarah: 184]

By saying لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ (so that you be God-fearing), the text has pointed out to the inherent quality of fasting which contributes significantly to one’s ability to become abstaining from the sins and God-fearing. Fasting grows into man a power which helps him control his desires, which is really the foundation of Taqwa تقویٰ , the very special term of the Holy Qur’an which has been tentatively translated as fear of God, abstinence, and the warding of evil.[1]

Spiritual Benefits of Fasting During Ramadan

Fasting is a means of attaining great spiritual benefits, and through it, a person can set the ladder of spiritual progress by creating an extraordinary spiritual revolution. Some of the spiritual benefits of fasting are mentioned below.

    1-   Achieving a meeting with

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Allah said, ‘Every good deed of Adam’s son is for him except fasting; it is for Me. and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it.’ Verily, the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk.”[2]

    2 –   Shield against evils

Fasting protects a person from evil and protect against satanic attack, It is mentioned in another hadith:

It was narrated that Muadh bin Jabal said: “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Fasting is a shield”. [3]

   3 –   Occasions of reciting the Holy Quran

There is a close connection between Ramadan and the Quran; the Qur’an was revealed in this blessed month. Gabriel used to study the Quran one time with the prophet during Ramadan, and in the last Ramadan, he used to study the Quran two times with him. In Ramadan, there is an opportunity to recite a lot. According to the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet, everyone should do at least one round of the Qur’an. The Caliphs have also repeatedly drawn our attention to this matter.

There is a hadith about the mutual relationship between Ramadan and the Qur’an:

Abdullah Bin Amr reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Fasting and the Qur’an intercede for a man. Fasting says, ‘O my Lord, I have kept him away from his food and his passions by day, so accept my intercession for him.’ The Qur’an says, ‘I have kept him away from sleep by night, so accept my intercession for him.’ Then their intercession is accepted”.[4]

  4 –  Patience and endurance

One of the spiritual benefits of fasting is that it develops patience, courage, tolerance and endurance in a person.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: Fasting is a protection, [i.e. from acts of disobedience in this world and from hell in the next. Pt. vi.] and when the day of the fast of any of you comes he must not use vile language or raise his voice, and if anyone reviles him or tries to fight with him he should tell him he is fasting.”[5]

This hadith tells us that the fasting person should also avoid quarreling, and if someone quarrels with him, he should only say that I will not quarrel because I am fasting. It teaches patience and tolerance. That is why the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) called the month of Ramadan the month of patience and said: “that the reward of patience is paradise”. [6]

  5 –  source of self-accountability and self-examination

One of the spiritual benefits of Ramadan is that fasting becomes a means of self-examination:

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger (ﷺ) as saying, “He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven.

So if we spend Ramadan in a state of accountability, then the benefit of it is that past sins will be forgiven and the desire for future good deeds will increase.[7]

   6 –  The habit of spending for Allah’s sake

The month of Ramadan gives us the habit of spending for the sake of Allah,  It was mentioned in a hadith:

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s messenger (ﷺ) was the most generous of men, and he was as generous as possible in Ramadan. Gabriel used to meet him every night in Ramadan and the Prophet would go over the Qur’an to him. When Gabriel met him he was more generous than the wind which blows freely.[8]

Also there is a hadith that the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ) used to release all the prisoners in the month of Ramadan and would reward every needy person with rewards.

The habit of spending also guarantees the rights of the people. Thus, we learn the lesson about the rights of people through charity in Ramadan.

The physiological and medical benefits of fasting During Ramadan

While fasting is the cause of spiritual development in a person, it is also very useful for physical health. Apparently, eating and drinking less reduces physical weakness, but food control over a period of time and within a few days produces extraordinary positive effects on human health. Allah almighty has explained the benefit of fasting with the obligation of it, لعلكم تتقون: that you may be pious so that you may be saved. This is to avoid physical diseases as well; a person can avoid them as a result of fasting.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad said:

On the authority of Abu Hurairah, he said: The Messenger of Allah, صلى الله عليه وسلم, said: “Fast and you will be healthy.” (ِAl Mua’jam Al Ausat by Tabrani: 8312)

It is minted in other hadiths:

On the authority of Anas Bin Malik, The Messenger of Allah, صلى الله عليه وسلم, said, “The fasting reduces fats.” (ِAl Mua’jam Al Ausat by Tabrani: 9443)

Fasting has numerous medical benefits; some of them are here:

1. Fasting reduces obesity and eliminates excess fat.
2. Fasting reduces the risk of skin cancer and breast cancer.
3. Fasting cures stomach problems and diseases and improves the digestive system.
4. Fasting has a moderately high sugar level, cholesterol, and blood pressure, and due to this, there is no risk of a heart attack.
5. Due to fasting, the blood circulation decreases and the heart relaxes.
6. Fasting eliminates physical stress, mental stress, depression, and psychological diseases.
7. The body of a fasting person has more resistance power compared to others.
8. Fasting reduces the use of insulin.
9. During the fast, a person stays away from bad thoughts, and their mind remains clear.
10. Fat accumulation around the liver is reduced during fasting.
11. During fasting, the compounds that cause irritation in the body are reduced.
12. Fasting improves nervous diseases.

Testimony of various experts regarding the efficacy of fasting:

The efficacy of fasting has been recognized by many non-Muslim doctors, even in some countries. People are kept hungry for hours for the treatment of various diseases, and it has a good effect on the patient.

Let’s read some ideas about fasting:

1.  A non-Muslim religious leader says that I was very impressed by the fasting of Ramadan in Islam.
2. A doctor says that fasting has the power to prevent diseases.
3.  Another doctor says that fasting is a deterrent to physical and spiritual disorders.

Liver and fasting:

It is a very important organ in our body. Its function is to digest the food, spread it throughout the body, and expel unnecessary substances. Whenever we eat something, the liver has to start working immediately. While we keep eating something or another from time to time, the liver gets very little rest. Due to fasting, we stop eating for a long time, and this process lasts for a month, during which the liver gets enough rest. Understand that the liver gets refreshed in a month and prepares itself for the future.

In summary, fasting in Ramadan has both physical and spiritual benefits. May Allah Ta’ala grant us all to fast in Ramadan.

When Eid in 2024?

 In 2024, the holy month Ramadan may start on March 12th, Tuesday. If the sighting of the crescent moon of Shawwal is on the 29th, then Eid ul Fitr can be celebrated on April 10th. But there is a high possibility that the sighting of the crescent moon of Shawwal is on the 30th, so according to this, Eid will be on Thursday, April 11th.

What is Eid ul-Fitr?

Eid al-Fitr is a combination of two words: Eid and Fitr. Eid is an Arabic word that means the one who returns again and again, the day of happiness that comes again and again, and Fitr is also an Arabic word that means to leave and give ransom.

What kind of festival is Eid ul-Fitr?

Eid ul-Fitr is the most important and religious festival of all Muslims living in the world, which Muslims celebrate on the first date of the month of Shawwal after fasting for 29 or 30 days of holy Ramadan. The month of Shawwal is the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. Before this, Muslims fasted during the entire month of holy Ramadan; they did not eat or drink anything during the day, and this ban ended on the day of Eid, so they got double happiness. Since Islamic dates are based on the Hijri calendar, Since Islamic history is based on the moon, and the moon rises one day after or before in different parts of the world, Eid is celebrated one day before or after in different countries of the world.

Sadaqah al-Fitr

Sadaqah al-Fitr means fasting charity; this charity is necessary for every person on whom Zakat is obligatory. This order was given by the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) before the obligation of Zakat in the year in which the fasting of holy Ramadan became obligatory. If a Muslim is wealthy and on whom Zakat is obligatory, it is necessary to give Sadaqah al-Fitr; this sadaqah is obligatory on the wealthy person on behalf of himself and his minor children; this sadaqah is given to the poor and needy so that they can also share in the joys of Eid. This charity is also called Fitrana. Its amount, or one person’s Sadaqa al-Fitr, is (1.636 KG) one kilogram, six hundred and thirty-six grams of wheat, or (3.272 KG) three kilograms, two hundred seventy-two grams of barley, raisins, or dates, or its value.

The Sunnah of Eid al-Fitr

(1) Brushing; (2) Bathing; (3) Praying Fajr in the mosque of your neighborhood; (4) Wearing the best of your clothes; (5) Applying perfume (6) Paying Sadaqah al-Fitr before the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer. (6) Going to the place of Eid (Eid-gah) on foot; (7) Changing the route on the way back after the Eid prayer (8) Reciting Takbeer while going to the Eid prayer and coming back: Allahu akbar, allahu akbar, la ihlaha illallahu wallahu akbar, allahu akbar, walillahil hamd ﺍﻟﻠﻪ أﻛﺒﺮ، ﺍﻟﻠﻪ أﻛﺒﺮ، ﻻ إله إﻻ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ والله أكبر ﺍﻟﻠﻪ أﻛﺒﺮ ﻭﻟﻠﻪ ﺍﻟﺤﻤﺪ. (reciting takbeer slowly on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr and reciting takbeer loudly on the day of Eid-ul-Adha) and finishing the takbeer after reaching the prayer place of Eid-ul-Fitr. (10) Eating something sweet before the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer or eating an odd number of dry dates is more rewarding.

Eid prayer

On the day of Eid, one and a half hours after sunrise, two rakat prayers are offered. It is also called “Do gana” in India.  It is necessary in the thought of the school of hanafi, while it is the Sunnah in the Shafi’i and Maliki.

Eid prayer method

The way to perform it in the thought of the school of Hanafi is that when his congregation starts to stand up for prayer, he intends to recite the two rakat Eid prayers with six takbir.
After saying Takbeer, “الله أكبر Allahu akbar,” tie your hands below the navel and recite Sana.
After that, say three more takbeer with the imam. In two takbirs, raise your hands up to your ears and leave them, and on the third takbir, raise your hands and tie them below the navel.
After that, the Imam should recite and do Qirat in a loud voice.
After completing the recitation, perform ruku and sajdah, etc., in the same way as they do in other prayers.
Then, at the beginning of the second rakat, the imam should recite in a loud voice.
After that, say three more takbir, raising your hands to your ears in all three takbir and leaving them.
Then, without raising your hands, go into Ruku after saying the fourth Takbeer, and then, do Ruku and sajda like the other prayers; after two Sajdahs, recite Al-Tahiyat, Durood Sharif, and Duay e Mathura, and then recite Salam and complete the Eid prayer.
Then, after completing the prayer, the Imam gives two sermons and sits for a while between the two sermons.
Like prayer, these sermons are also necessary, and it is also necessary to listen to them.

Eid ul-Fitr Message

Of course, the day of Eid is a day of joy and happiness for Muslims; every house is settled, everyone looks happy, people are wearing new and bright clothes, there is variety in eating and drinking, people wish Eid Mubarak to their neighbors, relatives, and friends, alright, and it should happen, but at the same time, on this occasion of happiness, we should also think about the poor and destitute Muslims, the helpless and forced widows, and the unfortunate, destitute orphans who are sobbing with hunger. There is no one to turn the hand of compassion on their heads, whose hearts are broken seeing our happiness. Eid knocks in their houses, but there is neither a grain of food in their houses nor any clothes to wear. and other accessories are beyond their imagination, but it is a pity that we forget them on the occasion of such happiness. It is the moral and religious duty of all wealthy Muslims to pay attention to these helpless and forced people on such a happy occasion and fulfill their needs.

References

[1] Ma’ariful Quran by Mufti Taqi Uthmani

[2] Sahih Ibne Khuzimah (1887)

[3] Sahih Muslim (1151)

[4] Sahih Bukhari (1899) Sahih Muslim (1079)