Ramazan: Time of Repentance and Regret on Our Sins

DUA for 1st ten Day (1st Ashra) O Allah Forgive Us, Keep Us Under Your Mercy, You Are Most Merciful

"The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Quran was sent down, a guidance for mankind, clear proofs for the guidance, the Criterion; so whoever amongst you witnesses this month, let him fast it." (cf. Surah al-Baqarah 2:185)

Ramazan is the name of a month of Islamic year, in which Allah sent down The Holy Quran to His beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W). In this Holy month Muslims all over the world observe fasts, say prayers, listen The Quran at night in Namaz e Tarahvi and special prayers to Allah.

We all have some weaknesses and shortcoming and we find ourselves committing sins out of ignorance or out of submission to our desires and whims and thus driving ourselves away from Allah darkening our heart and sealing them from guidance and overloading our books of bad deeds. However, Allah said of Himself that He is the Most Merciful the oft-Forgiving. As part of this infinite Mercy He made available for us various ways of achieving forgiveness and sin expiation. Among the most important and beneficial of these ways of forgiveness is fasting in general and in Ramadan in particular.

Let us discover this glad tiding (love) from the sweet words of the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam.

1. Abu Huraira narrated that Allah's Messenger said: "Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, and then all his past sins will be forgiven." [Bukhari]
2. "Whoever establishes prayers during the nights of Ramadan (and that is called Qiyam) faithfully out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards (not for showing off), all his past sins will be forgiven. [Bukhari]
3. Abu Hurairah also narrated that the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, climbed upon the mimbar (pulpit) and said: "Aameen [O Allah grant it], aameen, aameen". So it was said, "O Messenger of Allah, you climbed upon the mimbar and said: "aameen, aameen, aameen"? So he said:"Jibraa'eel, `alaihi assalam, came to me and said, 'Whoever reaches the month of Ramadan and does not have [his sins] forgiven and so enters Fire, then may Allah distance him, say aameen". So I said "aameen". [Ibn Khuzaimah, Ahmad and al-Baihaqui : Sahih]
4. Hudhaifah Ibn al-Yamaan reported that the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, said: "The evils caused for a man through his family, wealth and neighbor are expiated by prayer, fasting and charity." [Bukhari and Muslim]. In another narration in Sahih al-Jami`: "The evils caused for a man through his family, his wealth, himself, his children and his neighbor are expiated by fasting, prayer, charity, enjoining the good and forbidding the bad.

Now days we Pakistani are in big crisis, we are facing terrorism in whole country, flood affected a huge area of Pakistan, people were killing each other in Karachi etc there are more problems like this we are facing now. Allah is a great forgiver and most merciful. This is a great opportunity to repent on our sins and pray to Allah that please forgives us. Allah says whenever we commit sins, come to Allah and He would forgive us.

Nations are destroyed only when they pride on their economics. You can see the whole history of humankind you will find every old destroyed nation is fully developed and prosperous nation of that time. They invite the anger of Allah when people think that they are very prosperous and they didn’t need any one for them or people went to other people to solve their problems instead of Allah.

Now we go to Europe and America to help for flood affected people, ask them to do something to stop terrorism, ask for funds but we didn’t bow our self to Allah for help. Allah can help us more than any one but for His help we should be sincere and true.

Why do we fast?

Muslims do fast to please Allah, and they can please Allah only by obeying Him and practicing His religion. Thus, in answer to the question some ignorant may ask "Why do we fast ?" we respond that it is a directive and a clear order from Allah upon us and we have no other choice by to obey Allah and Please Him out of Love and Fear at the same time.

Allah says in the meaning of: "O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for people before you so that you will (learn how to) attain Taqwa" (Qur'an, al-Baqarah, 2:183)

Ibn 'Umar reports that Allah's Messenger said: Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):

1. To testify that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and Muhammad (S.A.W.) is Allah's Messenger.
2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly five times a day.
3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity)
4. To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca)
5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan. [Bukhari]

Abu Huraira narrates that one day while Allah's Messenger was sitting with the people, a man came to him walking and said, "O Allah's Messenger. What is Belief?" The Prophet said, "Belief is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Apostles, and the meeting with Him, and to believe in the Resurrection." The man asked, "O Allah's Apostle what is Islam?" The Prophet replied, "Islam is to worship Allah and not worship anything besides Him, to offer prayers perfectly, to pay the (compulsory) charity i.e. Zakat and to fast the month of Ramadan." [The narration of Muslim has Hajj as well]. The man again asked, "O Allah's Apostle What is Ihsan (i.e.. perfection or Benevolence)? The Prophet said, "Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah sees you." .... Then the man left. The Prophet said, "Call him back to me." They went to call him back but could not see him. The Prophet said, "That was Jibreel (Gabriel) who came to teach the people their religion." [Bukhari].

Since Islam means submission to Allah, we have no other choice but to submit ourselves to Allah and obey His commandments. It is from the mercy of Allah towards us that while He prescribed on us fasting He also showed us the greatness of fasting in this world and in the hereafter to make it beloved to us.