Topic: Beneficial lecture regarding Ramadaan, Taqwa and the neglected Sunnah in Ramadaan
This is a lecture that was given by Ustaz Hammad Billaah (حفظه الله) on the 27th of Sha'baan 1436AH (corresponding to 14th of June, 2015).
Short Summary of the audio:
1) We thank Allaah for keeping us upon good health and upon guidence since many were healthy and upon guidence last Ramadaan yet perhaps this year, they are not.
2) Ustaz explains various ahadith of Rasoolillaah صلى الله عليه وسلم recorded in Sahih al-Tirmidhi and Sahih Al- Bukhari
3) If a person is truthful regarding their emaan and fasting and stands in prayers at night in salaah, then Allaah سبحانه وتعالى will forgive all his past sins.
4) A fasting person is not able to show off fasting like other actions such as salaah.
5) Siyaam and the Qur'aan will intercede on behalf of the servant on the Day of Judgement to Allaah.
6) Tafir of the ayat from Soorah Al Baqarah: 183: يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may acquire Taqwa"
7) Saum is not only to refrain from sexual activities, drink and food. Rather, the phrase لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ("that you may acquire Taqwa") means to refrain and save oneself from everything that Allaah سبحانه وتعالى has made forbidden.
8) Explanation of the scholars related to two categories (ways) of breaking fast: material things and non-material things. Ustaz gives a detailed explanation.
9) Reason for fasting is to attain taqwa.
10) Discussion from Imaam Al-Albaani's (رحمه الله) article: "Sunnah Neglected in Ramadaan" related to ifar and suhoor.
11) Some common mistakes: delaying Magrib salaah and also making suhoor early. A narration from rasoolillaah صلى الله عليه وسلم related to iftar: "My Ummah will continue to be upon good as long as they hasten to break the fast" and "they delay the pre-dawn meal".
12) Its from the sunnah to call adhaan as soon as the sun sets rather than delaying. We need to revive this sunnah which is disappearing from our society.
13) Its from the sunnah to delay the suhoor meal until very near the fajr prayer. Allaah mentioned: وَكُلُواْ وَاشْرَبُواْ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّواْ الصِّيَامَ إِلَى الَّيْلِ
"eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your fast till the nightfall."
14) If the adhaan is called while the person is eating then he should not leave that food; rather he filfils his need from it. A hadith from rasoolillaah صلى الله عليه وسلم related to this topic: "If one of you hears the call to prayer and the vessel is in the hand of one of you, then let him not put it down until he fulfils his need from it".
15) Allaah wants to make things easy for the servants related to fasting. As mentioned in Soorah Al Baqarah:185- يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ
"Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you"
16) Many muslims make a verbal statement proclaiming the intention and this is incorrect and a Bid'ah. Intention is to be done through the heart and not through speech.
17) It's upon us to follow the sunnah regarding fasting and not to trick the people, lie, curse and other types of sins.
Few questions that were answered after the class:
1) In the month of Ramadan, is it better to perform supererogatory ibadaah (supererogatory prayers, reading the quran, etc) or seek religious knowledge?
2) If someone wants to feed the poor but such a poor person (who is able to fast but does not have money) can not be found, then can someone else can be fed who is isn't poor? The brother wants to do this to receive the reward for feeding a fasting person.
3) Time of suhoor and iftar are available on many mobile/digital devices. Does this go against the sunnah? (please note: Adhan are performed few minutes later than its original time in the masajid of Bangladesh for iftar)