What to do toward the end of the
month of Ramadan
Dr. Mozammel Haque
The blessed month is approaching to the
end; only a few days and nights remain. Today is Monday, 29 Ramadan
corresponding to 8th of April, 2024.
It is reported that millions of worshippers filled the Grand Mosque in
Makkah and Madinah on the 27th night of Ramadan, considered by
many to be Laylatul Qadr, a blessed night on the Islamic calender.
An Interview with Dr. Ahmad
ibn Saifuddin Turkestani
I have already mentioned in my last week column the importance and
significance of the last ten days and nights of the month of Ramadan. What I am
going to write in today’s column seems to be repetition of the same but it is
not. It is actually an interview carried out a few years ago with a renowned
Islamic scholar, Professor Dr. Ahmad ibn Saifuddin al-Turkistani. He was a
Professor at the Imam Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As early
as early 80’s when the Saudi Television started the Second Channel in English,
there used to be an Islamic programme entitled “Islam In Focus” run by Dr.
Ahmad ibn Saifuddin every Friday just after the Jumah Prayer. It was very
popular to the English knowing immigrants, particularly in Jeddah, Hejaz. I was
one of them. I had the opportunity to meet him in London when he came here at
the Saudi Cultural Bureau, London. I conducted an interview with him at the
last week of the month of Ramadan a few years ago.
“This is one of the days that we
are so much happy to live, to observe. Today is Friday and Friday is the best
day the Sun has ever risen on and today is one of the days of the month of
Ramadan. Ramadan is the master of the months. This is a month of blessings,
favours on us. We should be thankful to Allah the Almighty for what he has
given us. We are many others deprived of not enjoying the mercy of the month of
Ramadan. So Alhamdolillah. Alhamdolillah, Alhamdolillah,” said
Professor Dr. Ahmad ibn Saifuddin Turkistani.
“It is nine days or ten days for more than 83 years what a bargain. Why
can you not use it brothers and sisters. This is what Allah Subhanahu
wa Taala has promised us. This stays until Fajr; until the
coming dawn; so we shall be very much interested in this. Anyone who misses
that he is a deprived one. Deprived. We shall not be deprived of this great
prize, a great opportunity,” said Professor Turkistani.
What a blessing! What a gift!
Professor Turkistani also mentioned what a bargain it is. He said, “Just
say a one good thing: SubhanAllah Alhamdo lillah La ilaha Illallah
Allahu Akbar. It is like you have done for 83 years and 4 months.
What a blessing; what a gift that is given to us this opportunity the biggest
bargain. I do not see any bargain better than that. You see that? Even when
people bargain, they go to stores and markets and online trying to buy the best
thing that they need and they dream of. They say ouh; this is the biggest
bargain; no, wallahe, the bargain is Lailatul Qadr.
This is the biggest bargain.”
Professor Turkistani urged people “Please do not let it go away without
cashing as much as you can; devote the rest of the time for Ibadah;
because that will affect the rest of your life. It should, if you surely coming
towards Allah with Taubah from your heart, from inside, then Allah will accept
you, Insha Allah and then Insha Allah, you would
be happy for the rest of your life. You would be guided on the straight path.
So you keep on the truck until you meet Allah Subhanahu wa Taala.
This is the time and that’s why Allah Subhanahu wa Taala promises
that you stand with imaan and Ihtesab. imaan believing
in Allah and believing in His Rewards and Ihtesaban seeking
the rewards from Allah Subhanahu wa Taala alone; not from any
one else and all your previous sins are forgiven. You fast the month of Ramadan
all your previous sins are forgiven if again if you stand up in Salah during
all the month of Ramadan and you should do it out of Imaan and Ihtesab and
all your previous sins are forgiven.”
Zakat-ul-Fitr
Professor Turkistani mentioned the first of those Ibadah is
the Zakat-ul-Fitr. He said, “Zakat-ul-Fitr is the
source of purification and feeding of the poor and the needy. It is a source of
purification for yourself in case you have committed some sins and who amongst
us has not committed something wrong in the month of Ramadan or any other time
and it is something to feed the poor and the needy.”
How Zakat-ul-Fitr is
estimated? Enquired Professor Turkistani and promptly answered, “It is
estimated Soa as in the Hadith of Abu Sayeed al-Khudri (RA)
follow the Rasoolullah peace be upon him. He gave examples, all these types of
food. So it means that we should give Zakat-ul-Fitr in food,
not in money. I know that Imam Abu Hanifah (Rahimullah) said it is permissible
to do in money but the Prophet peace be upon him and the Companions did not
give Zakat-ul-Fitr in money. They gave it in food. They could
have given in money; they would pay Zakat-ul-Maal or any type of Zakah from
wealth, from money. Zakat-ul-Fitr again so that the poor and
the needy have not to seek on the day of Eid, they should be happy; they should
enjoy with the rest of the Muslim community. That’s why, we should have to give
it in food.”
Again, Professor Turkistani enquired,
“How do we do it?” and answered, “Well, lets seek the poor and the needy in our
community. If we have someone we know who is in need we shall give Zakat-ul-Fitr to
these people. If we do not know people, then we shall give the money to the
trusted charities and organisations that collect the money, buy the food and
give it to the poor and the needy on your behalf. If not in this country; if
this country would not have poor people to the extent that they can be
receiving Zakat-ul-Fitr, there are many people up there, in Africa,
Asia and throughout the Muslim World who need this food who cannot buy who stay
at night starving.”
Now today the situation is worse in
Gaza and Palestine than any other place in the planet. But few years ago when I
interviewed Dr. Turkistani the situation in Syria was very bad. That’s why he
mentioned, “In Syria, for example, as you have heard from your brothers,
telling you that the Ulema in that country in their Fatwa people eat cats and
rats because they do not have the food to eat. Situations because of the war
going on in Syria; and the same thing with other people who are starving and do
not have the food. This is the way to express your own sympathy with your
brothers. This is something that you need to do and Zakat-ul-Fitr is
a must. It’s not a choice and it is for everyone in the household, everyone.
Even those who think they are poor; if they have a food for a day and a night,
they should give out Zakat-ul-Fitr. If they have enough for one
day, they should give Zakah to other poor people and the needy people and that
would be a Saa,” said Professor Turkistani in his Khutba (Sermon).
How that would be translated into
today’s measurement? Professor Turkistani asked and promptly replied, “It would
be about two kilogram and a quarter. If you pay three kilograms of any types of
food, rice, dates, barley, anything that people eat, which is an edible thing;
something they can keep and preserve. You cannot give out, in meat, for
example, or something that can be immediately consumed; cooked food, for
example. It has to be a food that the poor and the needy can save and can
prepare their own meals. For everyone in the household, young or old, male or
female, the newly born, anyone born before the sun set of the last day of the
month of Ramadan has to be given Zakat-ul-Fitr and it is the
responsibility of the head of the household; those who spent is the man who is
earning and even if it is the woman who is earning and spending in the family
then it is their responsibility to pay.”
When shall we pay it? Professor
Turkistani again enquired and said, “Not until before Eid day; at least two
days before Eid and it shall be given out before Salat-ul-Eid, otherwise it
would not be Zakat-ul-Fitr; it would be sadaqah. And it
would not do its purpose unless it is done and given to the poor and the needy
so that they can go for the Eid prayer and happy. They feel that they have
enough and they can share with the Muslim community. Nice occasion and
celebrate Eid along with them.”
Think about the people of Gaza and Palestine who became homeless due to Israeli
war. Help those people with whatever you have and whatever you can give either
food, clothes, material and donations. At this stage, this charity, this
donation is most important and they deserve to have your Zakat, alms-giving and
charity.
That was for Zakat-ul-Fitr. The second form of Ibadah
is Takbeer. Professor Turkistani mentioned, “It is a Sunnah to
do Takbeer starting from the Maghreb of the night of Eid until
Eid prayer. How do we say, what do we say? Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
La Ilaha Illallah Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar walillahe wal Hamd. Any form
of Takbeer is good to announce this and to obey Allah
Subhanahu wa Taala as Allah said so you shall complete the number of days
fasting and announce Takbeer. That’s why it is Sunnah to do Takbeer from
the Maghreb to the Salat-ul-Eid in congregation. You say on yourself, you say
it among Muslims, you say in the Masjid, in the house, anywhere wherever it is
possible to pronounce loudly just to inform Muslims around you that this is the
time of praising Allah and celebrate Eid.”
The third form of Ibadah during the end of the month of Ramadan is Salat-ul-Eid.
Professor Turkistani mentioned, “We need to come to Salat-ul-Eid. Salat-ul-Eid is
an obligation upon the whole community, but for every individual it is
something strongly recommended. Some people choose to sleep on the morning of
Eid and miss the prizes because during the day of Eid as people are coming to
the prayer the Angels are standing at the doors giving prizes. You wouldn’t see
them but belief me, if you have done well in the month of Ramadan you receive
prize on the day of Eid. That’s why it is important to come to Eid prayer and
to receive the prize and look and see that prize on the day of Eid. So on the
Eid, take complete bath and then wear the must you have, put on perfume for
man, but not for woman because you will attract the opposite gender, and then
come to Salatul Eid to attend and celebrate with the rest of the community Eid.
Everyone, man and woman, young or old, shall come to Eid prayer; without
exception, even women who are having the menstruation. But they should avoid
area of prayer, area of musalla. But they should come and be among the
community to enjoy this occasion along with the rest of the Muslims. This is
the third Ibadah.”
Fasting is prohibited on the day of Eid. “We need to break on the day of
Eid of fast because it is prohibited to fast on the day of Eid,” said Professor
Turkistani and added, “It is a gift from Allah and we shall receive it and how
do we break we break it with date, one or three or five or more, eat single or
odd number of dates on the day of Eid in your home before you come out. And it
is Sunnah to go from one way and to return another way in order to meet as many
people and to greet them on the day of Eid. Eid is the day of forgiveness, a
day when you really forgive those who have done wrong to you. This is the time
to show forgiveness and Allah who give you forgiveness in return.”
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