First Pearl – The Month of Mercy
Many a secular person has gone and many pious saints have passed away,
but we that read this pamphlet have this opportunity once again to
correct our lives by following the sunnat of Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi
Wasallam and pleasing Allah. Ramadaan is for the Muslims a very great
favour from Allah. The reality of this favour can only be felt in our
lives and heart if we appreciate it, otherwise this blessed month of
Ramadaan will come and go without gaining anything.
Kab bin Ujrah (RadiAllahu Anhu) relates, that once while climbing the
pulpit (mimbar), Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “Amîn.” The
Sahabah asked, “O Rasul of Allah, today we have heard something that
we have never heard before.” Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said that
Jibraeel (Alaihis Salam) said, “Woe to him who found the blessed month
of Ramadaan and let it pass by without gaining forgiveness.” Upon that
I said “Amîn.”
Let us ask ourselves who is making the du’a and who is saying Amîn.
Now can we still let this month of Ramadaan go by idly or are we going
to spend it in accordance to the teachings of Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi
Wasallam?
Second Pearl – Fasting
Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (R.A.) reports that Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi
Wasallam said, “The du’a of a fasting person is not rejected until he
breaks his fast.” Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “Whoever eats
during one day of Ramadaan without a valid excuse, shall never be able
to recoup that day even by fasting for the rest of his life.”
Third Pearl – Sehri
Ibne Umar (R.A.) relates that Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“Verily Allah and his angels send mercy upon those who partake of
Sehri.”
Fourth Pearl – The Qur’an
There is a very great link between Ramadaan and the Quran. Ramadaan is
the month of the Quran. Therefore read as much Quran as possible.
Hadhrat Abdullah Ibne Umar (R.A.) narrated that Rasulullah Sallallahu
Alayhi Wasallam said, “The hearts become rusted as iron rusts with
water.” When someone asked, “What could cleanse the hearts again?”
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “Frequent remembrance of
death and recitation of the Quran.” The month of Ramadaan and the
Quran is with us. Let us use it to cleanse our hearts of rust.
Fifth Pearl – Taraweeh Salah
Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said that Allah made fasting fardh for
the day and Tarawîh sunnat for the night. Let us realize that through
our fasting we kill the desires of our Nafs (carnal self) and through
our Tarawîh we can reach Allah. What a blessing!
Sixth Pearl – Itikaf
In Kashful Ghummah, Allama Sha’rani relates a Hadith wherein
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “Whoever performs Itikaf
for the final ten days of Ramadaan, for him is the reward of two Haj
and two Umrahs and whoever performs Itikaf from Maghrib until Esha
doing nothing except performing Salat and reciting the Quran, Allah
will prepare a place for him in Jannah.”
Seventh Pearl – Laylatul Qadr
Amongst the nights of Ramadaan, Laylatul Qadr is one of the most
blessed. The Quran describes it as being greater in spiritual virtue
than a thousand months, which in turn means that it is more valuable
than 83 years and 4 months. Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (R.A.) reports that
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said “Whoever stands in worship
on the night of Qadr with complete faith and with sincere hope of
gaining reward, all his previous sins are forgiven.”
Hadhrat Ayesha (R.A.) reports that Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam
said, “Seek Laylatul Qadr among the odd numbered nights of the last
ten days of the month of Ramadaan.” Hadhrat Ayesha (R.A.) reports that
she said, “O Messenger of Allah, if I find Laylatul Qadr, what should
I read?” The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam replied, “Say, ‘O
Allah, thou art the one who grants pardon for sins, thou lovest to
pardon, so pardon me.”
