Derived Benefits From Majaalis Sharu Ramadaan Of Shaikh Fawzaan

[Salafi-Markaz.Manch.]

Being Happy and Pleased With the Approach of the Month of Ramadan



We praise Allaah [The Most High] for granting us the blessing of reaching this month [i.e. we have lived to witness this month]; and we ask Him for aid and assistance (in order that) we are (able) to perform righteous deeds in this month; and that we complete this month whilst being upon goodness and righteous actions.


The Muslim is always upon good; especially when Allaah blesses him with the witnessing of the month of Ramadan and other months and days; and he is granted the ability to greatly benefit and to complete that which is legislated in those [blessed days and months]; as opposed to the people of deprivation--those whose lives are that of (loss and harm) upon them. The days and months of goodness pass by them, whilst they are in a (state) of heedlessness and turning away from (the remembrance of Allaah).



So the human being either utilizes his time in good, so that he is benefitted in return; or he utilizes his time in evil and is harmed in return; as the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) stated in the hadeeth collected by Imaam Muslim that:



''Every person starts his day and is a vendor of his soul—he either frees it or brings about its ruin/destruction''


A person is responsible for his soul, and he is (obligated to act) in order to maintain his (soul) upon righteousness. If he nurtures his soul upon goodness and purifies it through obedience to Allaah and upon that which is of benefit to it; then (indeed) this is the best of nurturing.


Therefore, a person nurtures himself first, and then he strives to nurture others. However, if he loses himself, he cannot nurture others. If he leaves himself to what he wishes of disobedience and laziness, he will ruin himself, and when he ruins himself, then what else can preserve him after that.



And for that reason Allaah [The Most High] has stated:


''And by Nafs (Adam or a person or a soul, etc.), and Him Who perfected him in proportion; Then He showed him what is wrong for him and what is right for him; Indeed he succeeds who purifies his own self. ‘’And indeed he fails who corrupts his own self’’ [Ash-Shams]


So the person purifies his soul from disobedience and sins, and seeks to perfect it through obedience and good deeds, or he corrupts it with sins, disobedience and evil deeds........



So, O you Muslim! Allaah has opened doors for you in this month; and has made easy for you paths/ways towards paradise, as the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) stated in the hadeeth collected by Imaam Bukhaari that:


''When the month of Ramadan comes, the doors of the hell fire are locked and the doors of paradise are opened and the devils are chained.''


The doors of paradise are opened for the believers in this month and the doors of hell fire are locked; they come close towards obedience to Allaah and the doors of paradise are opened for them.


As for the wretched people, the doors of the hell fire are always opened for them, because they neither recognise this month of Ramadan nor other months of (virtue); rather what they give importance to is their stomachs (by eating haram), their desires, and that which helps them to obtain their share of this quick fading worldly life.


For such people, this month (of Ramadaan) or other than it is of no importance to them, rather all their days and months are a loss upon them. And despite the fact that they have been given the blessing of intellect, hearing, and sight, and have been shown the right way; however they are blinded away from it. They have hearts, hearing and sight that do not benefit them. That is why Allaah has informed us that the likes of these people will say on Yaumul Qiyaamah:



''And they will say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire! Then they will confess their sin. So, away with the dwellers of the blazing Fire.''


They heard that which was to be accepted, and that which was (easily) understood whilst they had intellect and hearing, but it did not benefit them. It was as if their (intellects, hearing and eye sights) were non-existent.


Therefore, O Muslim! This (month) is a great opportunity in your life; utilize it to gain much benefit and ask Allaah to grant you His aid and assistance so that you perform righteous deeds. Ask Allaah to increase His favours upon you; for indeed the one who witnesses the month of Ramadan and is enabled to benefit from it, then indeed he is one whom Allaah has favoured with a great blessing, which nothing else can be equal to.


By Allaah, the millionaires and the owners of buildings are not equal to the one whom Allaah has blessed with this month even if he has nothing of this worldly life. If Allaah blesses you with this month, then indeed you are successful; you are truly the successful business man; you are truly the rich person.


The rich person is not the one who possesses the things of the worldly life; because if he loses the afterlife, he loses both the worldly life and the afterlife. The worldly life does not belong to anyone; rather it passes on and is passed on; it does not belong to anyone, rather it is like a road through which all the people go through and leave it for others.

So we ask Allaah to grant us benefit and that we hasten towards obedience to Him, and that we repent for our sins and evil deeds......


To be continued......Inshaa-Allaah

[For futher details: See Majaalis Sharu Ramadaan of Shaikh Fawzaan: page:4-7]