NECESSARY ADVICE FOR RAMADHAAN
1. It is Sunnah to break the fast with dates. This was the practice of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and the Sahaabah. It is unhealthy to break the Saum (Fast) with other kinds of food and to eat much at the time of Iftaar.
2. Maghrib Salaat should commence one or two minutes after the Athaan. There is therefore ample time to fulfil the Sunnah requirement of Iftaar. Begin Iftaar during the course of the Athaan. The time of Iftaar is not an occasion for feasting.
3. Eating at the time of Sehri ends with the advent of Subh Saadiq which is when Fajr time begins. It is preferable to stop eating a couple of minutes before the „Fast Begins‟ time given on some timetables.
4. Eating beyond the „Fast Begins‟ time invalidates the fast. Some people continue eating whilst the Fajr Athaan is in progress. The fast is invalid.
5. If by error a Fast is invalidated, then too it is not permissible to eat. Remain as a fasting person, and make Qadha of the invalid fast after Ramadhaan.
6. Whilst nonsensical, futile and abundant conversation does not invalidate the physical Fast, it utterly ruins the spiritual Fast. The spiritual benefits of the Fast are ruined by indulgence in futility, and the position is worse if the talk is gheebat (gossip and back-biting). Gheebat also makes the Fast physically difficult.
7. After Ramadhaan, i.e. during the month of Shawwaal, it is Sunnat to keep six Nafl Fasts. These may be kept all together or spread out over the month.
8. The reward of one good deed practised in Ramadhaan equals 70 such deeds practised in other months. By the same token, the evil of sin committed during Ramadhaan is also multiplied manifold.
9. Tilaawat of the Qur‟aan Shareef is of special importance and significance during Ramadhaan. Many khatams (complete recitations) of the Qur‟aan Majeed should be observed.
10. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has applied additional emphasis on abstaining from arguments during the month of Ramadhaan. If someone initiates an argument, maintain silence. In such silence is success.
THE EVIL OF TELEVISION At least during Ramadhaan, have mercy on your own soul by abstaining from the evil of television and the evil of the cellphone. The entire spiritual effect, benefit and reward of the wonderful Days of Ramadhaan are gushed down the satanic drain by viewing television and the evils on the cellphone.
THE AWAKE 1444 2023
