Moon
Sighting.
The New Moon - A Definition
To describe the objective and subjective merits
of the month of Ramadhan, which justify its higher rank over other
months, it is more suitable to refer to the words of the Almighty
Allah, and His Last Prophet.
The Holy Quran says:
O you who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed
for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil).
For a certain number of days; but whoever among you is sick or on
a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days; and
those who are not able to do it may effect a redemption by feeding
a poor man; so whoever does good spontaneously it is better for him;
and that you fast is better for you if you know.
The month of Ramazan is that in which the Quran
was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and
the distinction; therefore whoever of you is present in the month,
he shall fast therein, and whoever is sick or upon a journey, then
(he shall fast) a (like) number of other days; Allah desires ease
for you, and He does not desire for you difficulty, and (He desires)
that you should complete the number and that you should exalt the
greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give
thanks. (AL BAQARAH: 183 to 185)
It is made lawful to you to go into your wives
on the night of the fast; they are an apparel for you and you are
an apparel for them; Allah knew that you acted unfaithfully to yourselves,
so He has turned to you (mercifully) and removed from you (this burden);
so now be in contact with them and seek what Allah has ordained for
you, and eat and drink until the whiteness of the day becomes distinct
from the blackness of the night at dawn, then complete the fast till
night, and have not contact with them while you keep to the mosques;
these are the limits of Allah, so do not go near them. Thus does Allah
make clear His communications for men that they may guard (against
evil). (AL BAQARAH: 187)
And men who fast and women who fast
Allah has prepared for them
forgiveness and a vast reward. (AL AHZAAB: 35)
The Holy Quran was revealed to the Holy Prophet (S.A.) in the
month of Ramazaan.
Fasting throughout the month has been made
obligatory.
Fasting is one of the "Waajib" (obligatory)
rules of conduct laid down by Islam.
Shayk Suddooq (R.A.) quotes Imam Ali bin Moosa
Ar Riza (A.S.) that he received from his Holy ancestors, on the authority
of Imam Ali ibna Abi Taalib (A.S.), the text of the speech the Holy
Prophet used to deliver at the advent of the blessed month of Ramazan:
The Holy Prophet (S.A.) said:
"O men and women! Draws near unto you
the blessed month, overflowing with advantages, merciful, ready to
put up your sins of omission and commission to Allah for obtaining
His forgiveness. Its days, nights and hours, in the estimation of
Allah, are more select, refined and important than the days, nights
and hours of other months. It surpasses all months in merits and favors".
In this month you are the guests of Allah, enjoying His hospitality,
you are from among His favorites, your breathing is "praise of
Allah", your sleep is His worship, your prayers receive His approval,
your invocations are sanctioned. So, sincerely, free from evil and
sinful thoughts and actions, with clear conscience, pray and request
that He may give your heart and confidence to observe fast and recite
the Holy Quran and duaas throughout this month.
He who does not receive mercy and forgiveness
in this month is really an ill-fated unfortunate, condemned to everlasting
unhappiness and deprivation.
Thirst and hunger you undergo, feel and live
through, her and now, bring to your memory the severity and sharpness
of the drought and starvation that will be the order of the day on
the Day of Judgement.
Give alms to the poor and the destitute.
Treat your parents and elders with respect.
Be kind and loving to your children and juniors.
Take care of and look after your kith and kin.
Keep from giving tongue to that which should not even be whispered.
Shut your eyes to that which is indecent to have an eye for.
Turn a deaf ear to that which is too slanderous to be all ears.
Be compassionate, gentle and benign unto orphans so that after you,
your children, if need be, receive the same treatment from others.
Turn repentant to Allah and seek His nearness.
After every prayer recite duas to invoke
His mercy and forgiveness because the most suitable time to get fulfillment
of desires is when you have prayed a salat, the Almighty gives answer
to His servants who call Him in these moments.
O People! In truth and fact your bodies and
souls are held in pledge, strike a bargain to set them free by asking
forgiveness of Allah. Your backs are burdened with a hard to endure
load of sins, prostrate yourselves in adoration of Allah, a great
deal, to make the drag less heavy, because the Lord of the Worlds
has given His word, in the Name of His Might and Honor, not to take
to task those who pray and prostrate in this month, the flames of
the fire will not frighten them.
O People! Whoso provides a meal to a faithful,
at the time of breaking the fast, earns the recompense of setting
an enslaved human being free.
O People! In this month, whoso makes better
his or her morals will cross the "Bridge of Siraat" with
ease and finesse, where people, at every step, would stumble and fall;
whoso gives leisure and respite to his or her employees will receive
equivalent leniency on the Day of Reckoning; whoso takes care of and
looks after the orphans and relatives will be treated mercifully on
the Day of Judgement; whoso prays optional salats will get the immunity
from Hellfire, and praying of obligatory salats, in prime time, multiply
the good in leaps and bounds; whoso recites even one verse of the
Holy Quran, obtains the reward of a full recital of the whole
Book in the other months.
O People! In this month, beyond a shadow of
a doubt, the doors of the everlasting bliss and happiness are thrown
open, so beseech Allah not ever to shut them off to our face; and
the traps of the eternal curse are unhinged, so make a request to
Allah to remove them from your path for ever; the devils are held
in chains, so pray to Allah not to set them free for leading your
astray.
The month of Ramazan is very dear to
Allah. It is the most august of all months, pure, generous and merciful.
Do not let its nights go waste in slumber,
its days in careless omission or loss of remembrance of Allah.

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