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(i) Al-Hisnul-Hasin -By Allamah
al-Jazri.
(ii) Munajat-e-Maqbool - By Maulana Ashraf
Ali Thanvi.
7. Sadaqah (charity): Apart from paying
Zakah, which is obligatory, one should also pay optional
sadaqah in Ramadan according to his best ability. It is
reported in authentic Ahadith that the Holy Prophet (SAW)
used to pay special attention in Ramadan to look after
the poor end to help them financially. Therefore, a
Muslim Should give as much money in Sadaqah as be can
afford.
WHAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN
RAMADAN
All sinful acts should be avoided
completely during the month of Ramadan. Although the
sinful acts are totally prohibited in Shari'ah, whether
in Ramadan or at any other time, but their prohibition
becomes more severe in this month. It is evident that
every Muslim avoids certain lawful acts, like eating and
drinking, during the fasts. If he continues to commit
sins in Ramadan, it will be a mockery to avoid lawful
things and yet be engaged in unlawful acts never allowed
in Shari'ah. Thus, the abstinence from sins becomes all
the more necessary in this month.
Specially the following acts should be
avoided totally:
Telling a lie.
Gheebah or backbiting (i.e. condemnation of a person in his
absence.)
Quarrelling - The Holy Prophet (SAW) has particularly forbidden
from it when one is in the state of fasting. He has directed us
that, if someone wants to quarrel in Ramadan, we should tell
him that we are fasting, hence we are not prepared to indulge
in any quarrel.
Eating unlawful things.
Earning through unlawful means.
Any act which may harm a person without a valid cause.
Burdening one's servants or employees with a toilsome job
beyond their ability, without providing them facilities to
carry it out.
In short, one should try his best to refrain from all kinds of
sins, and protect his eyes, ears, tongue and all other organs
from indulging in an unlawful activity.
Once a Muslim spends the month of Ramadan
in this way, he will insha Allah, find himself equipped
with a spiritual strength which will facilitate for him
to conduct a good Islamic life in accordance with the
pleasure of Allah.
RULES OF
FASTING
Fasting in the days of Ramadan is
obligatory (Fard) on every Muslim. The one who does not
believe it to be obligatory is not a Muslim, and the one
who, without a valid excuse, does not fast in a. day of
Ramadan is a sinner.
"Fast" means "to refrain from eating,
drinking and having sexual intercourse throughout the
day, right from the break of dawn upto sunset, with a
clear intention of seeking the pleasure of Allah." If
somebody refrains from food, drink and sex for any reason
other than seeking the pleasure of Allah, it cannot be
called a "fast" in the terminology of the Shari'ah. It is
thus necessary that there should be an intention which is
called the "Niyyah".
For the fasts of Ramadan it is advisable
that the "Niyyah" be made in the night (i.e. before the
commencement of the fast). However, if a person had no
intention of keeping fast before dawn, he can also make
"Niyyah" in the morning at any time before midday, i.e.
about one and a half hours before Zawal (noon). But this
rule is applicable only for the fast of Ramadan and for
the Nafl (optional) fasts. As for fasts of Qada' it is
always necessary to make niyyah before dawn.
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