Ramadan Message 2008 - Day 14

“Allah will establish in strength those who believe with the Word that stands firm in this world and in the Hereafter; but Allah will leave to stray those who do wrong: Allah does what He wills.” (Qur'an 14 Verses 27)

MuslimMessage: How do you Know?

HOW DO YOU KNOW A LAZY MUSLIM?
He sleeps throughout the night without tahajjud and sleeps after Fajr till sunrise. He misses out on the double reward. [Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Make it a point to observe Tahajjud prayer, for it was the practice of the pious gone before you (and it is the means whereby you can find) nearness to your Lord and (seek) expiation for the sins and (find) prevention from evil.” (Tirmidhi) He further said: “Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits and remembers Allah (makes dhikr) until the sun rises, then prays two raka'ahs, will have a reward like that for Hajj and Umrah, complete, complete, complete.” (Tirmidhi)]

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU CAUGHT THE LAYLATUL QUADRI TRAIN?
You would have consciously diligently observed without fail the last 10 days of Ramadan. [The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Seek it (laylat al-Qadr) in the last ten days of Ramadan. (Abu Dawud) He also said: “when Laylat al-Qadr comes, Gabriel descends with a company of angels who invoke blessings on ever who is standing or sitting and remembering Allah, who is Great and Glorious.” (Tirmidhi) Then he told his wife Aisha, what prayers to say on Laylat al-Qadr if she knew which night it was, and he told her to say, "O Allah, You are forgiving and loves forgiveness, so forgive me." (Ahmad)]

HOW DO YOU KNOW A FASTING TONGUE?
It is a Muslim tongue, which is surrendered to Allah. It has no time to backbite because its speech is dhikr (remembrance of Allah), its silence is meditation and its waggling is golden advice. [Allah says, “Not a word does he utter but there is a sentinel (an Angel) by him ready (to note it).” (Qur'an 50 Verse 18)

HOW DO YOU KNOW A PRETENDING MUSLIM?
He fasts and performs his salaah only during Ramadan, after which he has no business with Islam and the mosque.

HOW DO YOU KNOW A WEAKLY MUSLIM?
He only goes to the masjid on Fridays. (NB: This doesn’t mean he does not pray daily, but his masjid attendance is weekly, unfortunately.) [The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Seven people will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His. (Then he listed among them the) young man who has been brought up in the worship of Allah, (i.e. worship Allah (Alone) sincerely from his childhood), (then another) man whose heart is attached to the mosque (who offers the five compulsory congregational prayers in the mosque)…” (Bukhari)]

HOW DO YOU KNOW A STRONG MUSLIM?
Despite all hardship and difficulties, he still goes to the masjid for the congregational prayers during the fajr (early morning prayers) and the Isha’ (late night prayers) and he also has the ability to contain his anger, particularly where family, friends and foes are concerned. [The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If the people knew the reward for pronouncing the Adhan and for standing in the first row (in congregational prayers) and found no other way to get that except by drawing lots they would draw lots, and if they knew the reward of the Zuhr prayer (in the early moments of its stated time) they would race for it (go early) and if they knew the reward of 'Isha' and Fajr (morning) prayers in congregation, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl.” He (peace be upon him) also said: “The strong man is not one who wrestles well but the strong man is one who controls himself when he is in a fit of rage.” (Muslim)]

HOW DO YOU KNOW A RICH MUSLIM?
He gives without remembering, boastful, oppressive or owing a poor person. His charity starts from his family, near and far. [The Rasul (peace be upon him) said: "Procrastination (delay) in repaying debts by a wealthy person is injustice." (Bukhari) He also said, "The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e. he who gives in charity is better than him who takes it). One should start giving first to his dependents…. And whoever abstains from asking others for some financial help, …Allah will make him self-sufficient." (Bukhari) Then he (peace be upon him) said, “…The three whom Allah hates are an old man who commits fornication, a poor man who is proud, and a rich man who is oppressive." (Tirmidhi)]

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “The most beloved prayer to Allah is that of David and the most beloved fasts to Allah are those of David. He used to sleep for half of the night and then pray for one third of the night and again sleep for its sixth part and used to fast on alternate days.” (Bukhari)