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 Thursday, 29 Ramadan
corresponding to 20th of April, 2023.
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.
The blessed month of Ramadan has come to
the end. Today is Saturday, 2nd day of Shawwal corresponding to 22nd of
April, 2023..
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.
Lailatul Qadr
Narrating the blessing of this month of
Ramadan, Professor Turkistani said, “This night is so much blessed. The Angels
will come down and will bring blessings and Allah Subhanahu wa Taala will
forgive anyone who is committed to Allah on that night reciting the Glorious
Qur’an, engage in prayer, doing all the good deeds that a person can do. Even
if you stay awake all the night it’s worth it. When the last ten days come on
his own life, the Prophet peace be upon him would avoid sleep during the nights
of the last ten days. And he would stay away from his wives only concentrating
on Ibadah. It’s worth it.”
“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.”
“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 who became
homeless due to the terrible horrific London Tower Fire at Kensington West
London. 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 near to your home, near to your locality, near to your neighbour is
most important and they deserve to have your Zakat, alms-giving and charity.
Takbeer
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.”
Salat-ul-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 Eid Day
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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