EID MUBARAK TO YOU ALL
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 Friday, 29 Ramadan corresponding to 22nd of May, 2020.
Tomorrow Saturday 23 May 2020 is 30
Ramadan according to Saudi Arabia Announcement. According to Saudi Gazette
English daily based in Jeddah which twitted a few hours ago breaking news,
Saudi Arabia will celebrate Eid ul Fitr on Sunday as Shawwal moon was not
sighted on Friday. A Few minutes ago, Haramain posted, the moon has not been
sighted in Saudi Arabia. Eid ul Fitr will be celebrated on Sunday 24th
May 2020, Insha Allah
Sunday,
24th of May 2020 would be Eid-ul-Fitre, Insha Allah, in the United
Kingdom according to London Central Mosque Trust & The Islamic Cultural
Centre, London. Eid Mubarak to you all. May Allah accept our Dua, Fasts, Ibadah
and good deeds and let us witness the next Ramadan. Ameen.
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
We
have only a few days and nights are left but still they are very important. Only
yesterday we have been receiving the month, just yesterday, 25 days past but
still the best is there, the 27th night and 29th night of
Ramadan; there is Lailatul Qadr. Professor Turkistani asked do you know
what Lailatul Qadr is and said, “It is better than 1000 months; by
simple calculation, Lailatul Qadr is better than more than 83 years.
Just imagine 84 years. The average life of Muslims, most Muslims die before
their age; which means you are getting the reward of more than 83 years. Even
better, because Allah Subhanahu wa Taala says Lailatul Qadr khairun.
This is a golden opportunity; it’s a gift even to this Ummah and we shall take
it. It’s worth to take a vacation, to take some days off your work; to leave
all things at your hands and get this opportunity. Only a few days. Then they
will be gone.”
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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