1) Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is with me, He عَزَّوَجَلَّ is watching me
Imam Ahmad Raza Khanعَزَّوَجَلَّ stated: I once had a dream in Rajab (two months before Ramadan) in which I saw my father (Mufti Naqi Ali Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه). He was saying, ‘Ahmad Raza! You will fall ill in the coming Ramadan, and the illness will be severe. So, do not miss any fast.’ Imam Ahmad Raza Khanعَزَّوَجَلَّ further said: ‘I thank Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ that ever since the fasts became Fard [obligatory on me], I have never missed any fast in any condition, neither in travel nor in illness. (the specific prediction that Allah’s great saint, Mufti Naqi Ali Khanعَزَّوَجَلَّ made in the dream, came true.) I fell severely ill in the blessed month of Ramadan. However, with the grace of Allah Almighty, I did not miss any fast. (Malfuzaat-e-A’la Hadrat, p. 413, summarised) Dear children! We came to know from this parable that the righteous people are always ready to worship and they would not miss Salah, fasts, etc. even in the condition of illness. Today, we miss Salah, fasts, and Taraweeh, due to petty issues. We should worship Allah Almighty with all our hearts. However, if you are severely ill, you are not required to fast.
2)Did he not fast in Ramadan?
A righteous Muslim was martyred. (It means that he died while fighting in the battlefield, in order to please Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.) After one year, his brother also passed away. The Jannati companion, Sayyiduna Talhah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ had a dream in which he saw that his brother (who passed away one year later) was walking ahead of the martyr (brother) in Jannah. (It means that the reward of the one who passed away later was more than that of the martyr.) Sayyiduna Talhah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ explained the dream to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: Did the one who passed away later not fast for one more Ramadan? (It means that he fasted for one more month.) And did he not offer Salah for one more year?’ (The reward of the one who passed away later is greater, as he worshipped more than the martyr, and he also fasted for one more year.) (Musnad Ahmad, Musnad Abi Ishaq Abi Talhah Bin Abdullah, vol. 1, p. 344, Raqm1403, slightly amended) Dear children! We came to know from this parable that a long life is Allah’s blessing. If we have a long life, we can worship Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ even more. We should perform good deeds as much as possible in Ramadan. In this month, we should observe fasts everywhere. In addition to the five Salahs, we should offer Taraweeh (that is 20 Rak’ats offered after the Fard and Sunnahs of Isha Salah). We should also recite the Holy Quran and Durood Shareef as much as possible.
3) Habits of My Beloved Prophet ﷺ
It is narrated by Sayyiduna Ibn-e-Abbas رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا: The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was the most generous of all [when it regarded good purpose]. (He used to help the poor, etc.) When Sayyiduna Jibraeel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام met the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in Ramadan, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم used to be more generous to people. Sayyiduna Jibraeel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام used to meet the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم every night of Ramadan. Similarly, Sayyiduna Jibraeel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام used to come throughout the month. Our Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم used to recite the Holy Quran with him. When Sayyiduna Jibraeel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام met him, he (the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم) used to be more generous than the fast wind (regarding the welfare of the poor). (Sahih Bukhari, p. 148, Hadith 1902) Dear children! We came to know from this parable that the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and Sayyiduna Jibraeel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام used to recite the Holy Quran particularly in Ramadan, therefore we should also recite the Holy Quran abundantly during this month. Secondly, we also learn that we should increase the performance of good deeds as much as possible during this month, for this is the month when the reward of Nafl is given equal to that of Fard.
4) Satan and the breath of a fasting man
A righteous man was going towards the Masjid. He saw two men in the Masjid: one man was offering Salah and the other man was sleeping at the entrance of the Masjid. On the other hand, Satan was anxiously standing outside. The righteous man asked Satan: Why are you worried? Satan answered: In this Masjid, one man is offering Salah. Whenever I try to enter the Masjid so that I can whisper to him, the breathing of the (fasting) man, who is sleeping at the entrance of the Masjid, stop me from entering the Masjid. (Hikayatayn aur Nasiyyatayn, p. 85) Dear children! We came to know from this parable that Satan fears even the breaths of the one who fasts. Therefore, the one who fasts is very fortunate. At first, we should fast in the blessed Ramadan and in addition to this, besides Ramadan we should observe also the Nafl fasts in other months.
5) The one who loved Ramadan
A man, named Muhammad would not offer Salah all through the year. However, when Ramadan arrived, he used to wear neat and clean clothes and offer Salah for five times. He used to offer the Qada of Salahs which he missed throughout the year. People asked him: Why do you do this? He said: This is the month of Rahmah [blessing] and Taubah [repentance]. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ may forgive me due to this. When he passed away, someone saw him in a dream and asked: What has Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ done with you? He replied: Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ forgave me as I showed respect to Ramadan. (Durrat-un-Nasiheen, p. 8) Dear children! We came to know from this parable that we should increase our frequency of worship in Ramadan. We should specifically offer all Fard Salahs. Keep yourself away from sins and recite the Holy Quran in abundance. Do the Zikr of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and recite Durood Shareef. This incident does not mean that we are now relieved of Salah all through the year and that we should fast or offer Salah only in Ramadan and directly enter into Jannah. Remember! Forgiving or punishing is in the control of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has stated: Translation: So He will forgive whomsoever He wills and will punish whomever He wills. And Allah is Powerful over all things. [Kanz-ul-Irfan (translation of Quran)] (Part 03, Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 284) Dear children! We came to know from this parable that we should hope for Allah’s blessing and fear His punishment as well. Remember! We should offer five times Salah throughout the year.
6)Fasting of children is just like that
A’la Hadrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khanعَزَّوَجَلَّ was very young. The month of Ramadan arrived while a program was arranged in connection with the very first fast observed by A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه. A lot of dishes were prepared for Iftar at home. In a room, the bowls of Feerni (a sweet dish made by boiling milk and rice) were placed to cool. It was very hot in the afternoon. A’la Hadrat’s father took him in that room and shut the door. His father picked up a bowl, gave it to him and said: ‘Eat this.’ A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, who was very young, replied: ‘I am fasting. How do I eat?’ His father said: ‘The fasting of children is just like that. Take it and eat it. I have shut the door. No one is watching.’ (Remember this ruling that if a child is fasting but asks for food, we have to provide food, etc. to him) A’la Hadratعَزَّوَجَلَّ said: ‘Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is the One for Whom I am fasting. Indeed, He is watching.’ Upon listening to this, A’la Hadrat’s father was reduced to tears (of happiness) and took him out of the room. (Hayat-e-A’la Hadrat, p. 87) Dear children! We came to know from this parable that if we really make up this mindset that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is watching us, we should commit ourselves to those acts that please Allah and keep ourselves away from those acts that displease Him. We also learnt that we should fast and offer Salah from childhood. A’la Hadratعَزَّوَجَلَّ said: ‘As soon as a child reaches the age of seven years, it is obligatory for his father to order the child to fast and offer Salah.’ (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 10, p. 345)
7)Blessing on a fire-worshipper
There lived a fire-worshipper in a city where Muslims lived as well. In the month of Ramadan, he and his son were once passing by a market. His son started to eat something in front of everyone. When the fire-worshipper saw that, he smacked him, scolded him severely and said: ‘Don’t you feel ashamed of yourself while eating in the Muslim market during the month of Ramadan?’ The boy said: ‘Dear father! You also eat during Ramadan.’ The father said: ‘I do not eat in front of Muslims, but privately at home.’ After some time, that fire-worshipper died. Someone saw him in a dream in which the fire-worshipper was walking around in Jannah. He surprisingly asked the fire-worshipper: ‘You would worship the fire. How did you enter into Jannah?’ The fire-worshipper said: ‘Really, I was a non-Muslim. However, as the time of my death arrived, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ blessed me with Iman (i.e. I became a Muslim) as I showed respect to the month of Ramadan. (Nuzhat-ul-Majalis, vol. 1, p. 217) Dear children! We came to know from this parable that a fire-worshipper became a Muslim and entered into Jannah as he showed respect to the month of Ramadan. Therefore, we Muslims should also show huge respect to the month of Ramadan.
8) Misuse of the tongue
Sayyiduna Anas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ has stated: One day, Allah’s Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked the blessed companions to observe a fast and said, ‘Unless I give permission, none of you should do Iftar.’ People observed the fast. When it was dusk, all the blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم would come one by one and say, ‘O Prophet of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! I am fasting. Give me permission so that I can break my fast.’ The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would give permission. A companion came in and humbly said, ‘My Prophet! Two girls from my family are also fasting. Please give them permission to break their fast.’ The Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم turned his beautiful face away from him. The companion humbly asked again. The Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم turned his beautiful face away from him again. When the companion asked for the third time, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Those girls did not observe any fast. What kind of the fast did they observe? They have been eating human flesh throughout the day. Go and tell them that if they observed the fast, they should vomit.’ The companion went to the girls and explained everything to them. After that, both of them vomited, which had [flecks of] blood, etc. The companion went to the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and explained the incident. The Madani Prophet said, ‘If that remained in their stomachs, the fire would have burnt both of them’ as they had been backbiting. (Attargheeb Wattarheeb, vol. 3, p. 328, Hadith 15) Dear children! We came to know from this parable that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has also given knowledge of the unseen to His Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم knows everything about the Muslims. This is the reason why he revealed the news regarding the girls while he was sitting in the Masjid. We also learnt that backbiting [about weaknesses of the Muslims] and committing other sins while fasting can end up being very painful [for us]. (Faizan-e-Ramadan, pp. 95-96) A’la Hadrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khanعَزَّوَجَلَّ was very young. The month of Ramadan arrived while a program was arranged in connection with the very first fast observed by A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه. A lot of dishes were prepared for Iftar at home. In a room, the bowls of Feerni (a sweet dish made by boiling milk and rice) were placed to cool. It was very hot in the afternoon. A’la Hadrat’s father took him in that room and shut the door. His father picked up a bowl, gave it to him and said: ‘Eat this.’ A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, who was very young, replied: ‘I am fasting. How do I eat?’ His father said: ‘The fasting of children is just like that. Take it and eat it. I have shut the door. No one is watching.’ (Remember this ruling that if a child is fasting but asks for food, we have to provide food, etc. to him) A’la Hadratعَزَّوَجَلَّ said: ‘Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is the One for Whom I am fasting. Indeed, He is watching.’ Upon listening to this, A’la Hadrat’s father was reduced to tears (of happiness) and took him out of the room. (Hayat-e-A’la Hadrat, p. 87) Dear children! We came to know from this parable that if we really make up this mindset that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is watching us, we should commit ourselves to those acts that please Allah and keep ourselves away from those acts that displease Him. We also learnt that we should fast and offer Salah from childhood. A’la Hadratعَزَّوَجَلَّ said: ‘As soon as a child reaches the age of seven years, it is obligatory for his father to order the child to fast and offer Salah.’ (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 10, p. 345)
9) He would not drink his mother’s milk during the daytime
Shaykh Sayyid Abdul Qaadir Geelaniعَزَّوَجَلَّ was born in the blessed month of Ramadan and he was fasting on the very first day. He would not drink his mother’s milk from pre-dawn to dusk. His honorable mother narrated as follows: ‘When my son Abdul Qaadirعَزَّوَجَلَّ was born, he would not suck milk during the day in Ramadan.’ (Bahjat-ul-Asraar wa Ma’dan-ul-Anwar, p. 172) Dear children! We came to know from this parable that Ghaus Pak was born a Waliullah by the grace of Allah Almighty. This is the reason why he was fasting in Ramadan even in his infancy. We also learnt that there remained some pious saints for whom Allah Almighty instilled respect for Ramadan in their hearts during childhood. We should also show respect towards the month of Ramadan.
10) Pious predecessors (righteous people)
Long ago there was a pious saint, Sayyiduna Sham’oon رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, who worshipped for a thousand years in such a way that he used to worship at night and fast during the day. In order to spread the religion of Allah Almighty, he used to engage in Jihad against the non-Muslims as well. He was so strong that he used to break iron with his hands. The non-Muslims tried their best to murder him, but they did not succeed. They then trapped his wife by tempting her with a lot of money and told her that when her husband fell asleep, she should tie him up and inform them. When he fell asleep, she tied him up with ropes. When he woke up, he moved his body and all the ropes tore apart. He then asked his wife: Who tied me up? She said: I only wanted to test your strength to see how you break free from these ropes. The second time when he fell asleep, she tied him up firmly with the chains. When he woke up, he instantly broke free from the chains. The wife said the same thing that she only wanted to test his strength. Sayyiduna Sham’oonعَزَّوَجَلَّ told his wife that he had a great blessing of Allah, there was nothing in the world that could tie him up except the hair on his head. The third time when he fell asleep, she tied him up with his own hair. When he woke up, he was unable to get out of bed. That woman immediately informed his enemies. The cruel non-Muslims tied him up to a pillar. They brutally cut his nose and ears, and removed his eyes. Upon this, by the command of Allah Almighty, the earth swallowed those non-Muslims, and that wife was struck by lightning. (Mukashafa-tul-Quloob, p. 306; Faizan-e-Ramadan, p. 184) When the blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم came to know about this incident, they humbly asked the Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم: O Allah’s Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Our age is very short. Even in this short age, we spend some time sleeping, earning, eating and doing other things. We cannot worship as much and so Bani Israel will worship more than we will do. The Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, who loved his Ummah, became anxious to hear that. Sayyiduna Jibraeel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام immediately brought the Surah of the Holy Quran, Surah Qadr (Complete). اِنَّاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنٰہُ فِیۡ لَیۡلَۃِ الۡقَدۡرِ ۚ﴿ۖ۱﴾ Which includes the following: Your Ummah is awarded one night every year that if they spend in the worship of Allah Almighty, it will be even more than a thousand years of worship performed by Sayyiduna Sham’oon رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه. (And that is the Night of Qadr.) (Tafseer-e-‘Azeezi, vol. 4, p. 434; Faizan-e-Ramadan, p. 183) Dear children! We came to know from this parable that when Allah Almighty makes someone His friend and Wali, his strength becomes more than the ordinary people. Secondly, we also learn that our Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم loves us dearly, and Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has done us a great favour that He has given us a night, the Night of Qadr, which is better than a thousand months. If we worship on this night, we will get the reward of worshipping for more than a thousand months. Some of the Islamic scholars have stated that this night is [found] in the last ten days of Ramadan, whereas others have stated that this night is on the 27th night of Ramadan. Therefore, we should worship Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ abundantly throughout Ramadan and especially during the last ten nights of Ramadan.
11) Sermon on the last Friday of Ramadan
On the last Friday of Ramadan, a pious saint went to a pious bondsman of Allah Almighty, Sayyiduna Mansoor Bin Ammarعَزَّوَجَلَّ while he was delivering a sermon on the reward of fasting and worshipping during the nights in the month of Ramadan. After that, Sayyiduna Mansoor Bin Ammarعَزَّوَجَلَّ said: O people! Is this not the month of Taubah [repentance]? Is this not the month of getting forgiveness? Are the gates of Jannah not opened in this blessed month? Are the gates of Jahannam not closed in this month? Is Satan not locked in this month? So, what has happened to you? Why are you away from this huge reward? And why do you commit sins instead of performing good deeds? Repent to Allah Almighty. Upon listening to this, all the people burst into tears. A young man while crying said: Tell me if my fasts have been accepted. Tell me if my worship [offering Salah, offering Taraweeh, reciting the Holy Quran, listening to the Holy Quran] in the nights of Ramadan has been accepted. I have committed a lot of sins as well. Sayyiduna Mansoor Bin Ammarعَزَّوَجَلَّ said: O boy! Repent to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ as He has ordained this in the Holy Quran. Upon listening to that, he screamed aloud and said: Allah’s favour kept reaching me but I kept on committing sins. Having said that, he screamed again and passed away. Dear children! From this incident we learn that those who commit sins are also forgiven during the month of Ramadan. Therefore, we should love this month, become happy on its arrival and feel sad regarding its departure.
12) Eid of a prince
As Sayyiduna Umar Farooq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ saw his son wearing an old shirt on an Eid day, he moved to tears. The son said: Dear father! Why are you crying? Sayyiduna Umar Farooq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said: My dear son! If boys see you wearing this old shirt on the Eid day today, I fear that you will be disheartened. The son said: The one who could not perform the deeds to please Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ or the one who did not comply with his parents’ fair commands, will be disheartened. I hope that you are pleased with me and so Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will be pleased with me. Upon listening to that, Sayyiduna Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ hugged his son and made Du’a for him. (Mukashafa-tul-Quloob, p. 308; Faizan-e-Ramadan, p. 307) Dear children! We came to learn from this parable that we should spend the month of Ramadan particularly in performing the deeds which please Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. If we please our parents by responding to their fair commands, there is a hope that Allah Almighty will be pleased as well. We also came to learn that if we do not get the new clothes on Eid, it is not a big deal. Keep Allah’s mercy in mind as the real Eid is for the one who has pleased Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.