IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF RAMADAN
TARAWEEH
Tarawih is a prayer only performed in Ramadan. It’s twenty Rak’ats in total split into ten sets of two.
Most Masajid try to complete the recitation of the entire Noble Qur’an during Tarawih. For this reason, it may take a long time—up to one and a half hours!
For those who can’t pray in the Masjid, or if the congregation doesn’t have a Hafiz to lead them, then in each rak’ah of the twenty raka’ahs, you should read in each rak’ah after Surah Fatihah one Surah starting from Surah Fil and ending at Surah Nas, which are ten in total.. This means that you will recite each Surah twice in the twenty Raka’ahs.
Originally, the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم would pray Taraweeh alone in the Masjid in a makeshift room he had made to seclude himself after leading the Fard of ‘Isha Salah. The Sahaba (Radiya’Llahu ‘anhum) noticed this, and began praying behind him. This happened on the second day too. This was their Taraweeh congregation.
However, on the third day, they couldn’t hear him praying aloud as he had been praying on the first two days, and tried to find out why. He informed them that he had decided to pray Taraweeh alone from then on, as he feared that whilst he was alive, there was a chance of Tarawih becoming compulsory upon them to pray if they carried on doing it with him. He instead instructed them to pray on their own in their houses.
After his demise, and after the two years of Abu Bakr (Radiya’Llahu ‘anh)’s khilafah that were filled with difficulties, ‘Umar (Radiya’Llahu ‘anh) decided that there would be no harm for people to pray Tarawih in congregation anymore, since there would be no fear of it becoming compulsory anymore as the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم had passed on and no Wahy (divine inspiration from Allah Ta’ala) had come to an end. In fact, it was more beneficial, as there was a greater chance people would pray if it were in a group, especially in the month of Ramadan when the benefits are unmissable.
Therefore, the Tarawih was reverted back to being prayed as a gathering.
Since then, until now, we have prayed twenty raka’ats in congregation in Masajid
during Ramadan. It’s an excellent way to get close to Allah Ta’ala. Throughout the day,
you sacrifice your food to please Him, and at night you sacrifice your sleep for Him.
LAYLATUL-QADR
We have sent the Qur’an down on the Night of Qadr (Power). How will you ever know what the Night of Qadr (truly) is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. (Surah al-Qadr 97:1-3)
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم once narrated to the Sahaba (Radiya’Llahu ‘anhum) about a man from a previous nation who was able to fight for the sake of Allah Ta’ala for a thousand months. The Sahaba (Radiya’Llahu ‘anhum) were amazed and could only wish for the same reward.
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم then prayed to Allah Ta’ala for such a reward for his Sahaba (Radiya’Llahu ‘anhum) and he was informed about the Laylatu ‘l-Qadr and its exact date. In that night, any good deed performed would equal to performing the same deed for a thousand months. In years, it numbers to over eighty-three years, or if you assume one month is thirty days, it equals thirty thousand days! In other words, two Raka’ahs of Salah equal to praying thirty thousand full two Raka’ah Salahs! One pound given in charity on this night equals to giving thirty thousand pounds!
This is what makes this night unmissable, and we would have known its precise date had there not been an unfortunate mishap. Whilst on the way to inform the Sahaba (Radiya’Llahu ‘anhum) about this special night, the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم came across two Sahaba (Radiya’Llahu ‘anhum) quarrelling. In the process of calming them both, the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم regrettably forgot which date exactly it was.
What he did tell us is clues that he remembered, such as the night’s being in the last ten nights of Ramadan, and even more specifically that it may be an odd night. This is the best estimate we have, and it’s for this reason that many perform I’tikaf to guarantee themselves that they will be worshipping Allah Ta’ala as much as they can on that night.
The wisdom behind the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم being made to forget is that this now enables us to worship Allah Ta’ala more in the last ten nights, as we don’t know which night is the correct night.
Though many people will claim it’s the twenty-seventh night, there is no definitive proof, and we shouldn’t focus all our charity and worship on just that one night, as we could potentially be missing out if it falls on another night!
As for what we can do on this night, we should engage ourselves in as much worship as possible, even if it means losing our sleep and catching up on it in the day (this is why it’s worth taking these days off especially). We can sleep again after Fajr Salah as the night is technically over by then, and the rewards are no longer available.
If we can’t stay up the entire night, the least we can do is a little more than usual. If we normally don’t pray Tahajjud, we should pray just two Raka’ahs in the night before Fajr.
As for reciting the Noble Qur’an, we could even pray just a quarter Juz more, or a half, or an entire Juz if we are ambitious.
For other forms of worship, we should increase all of our daily Dhikr we do (more on this will come later in the presentation).
We should also make a point of donating more money on the last ten nights than other nights. Donating just one pound could equal thirty thousand pounds!
Lastly, we should read the following Du’a taught to our mother ‘A’isha (Radiya’Llahu ‘anha) by the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم to specifically read on this night:
O’ Allah, You are the forgiving, and you love forgiving others, so do forgive me. (Tirmidhi)
I’TIKAF
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم would seclude himself in the Masjid Nabawi in the last ten days of Ramadan. This was because the Laylatu ‘l-Qadr has been reported to be in the last ten nights, and by ensuring you stay in the Masjid throughout all ten nights, you can guarantee yourself getting the chance to worship Allah Ta’ala in it.
In the same way, it’s Sunnah for us to do the same in the last ten days. Since Islamically the day starts from Maghrib Salah, we will have to be inside the Masjid a little before Maghrib (for example from the ‘Asr of the 20th day) to ensure we are there for the duration of ten days. The I’tikaf ends as soon as Ramadan ends, even if it is just after nine days.
There are some rules regarding I’tikaf for it to be valid:
• The person in I’tikaf needs to fast for all ten days.
• They can’t leave the designated area of the Masjid without a valid reason. The only reason the person can leave is for a need, such as the need to perform Ghusl, Wudu or relieving themselves. They shouldn’t be going to have showers unnecessarily, for example.
• If the area people generally define as a Masjid and use for prayer is a hall, and its foyer isn’t regarded as part of the Masjid, it won’t be permissible for the person to leave the hall into the foyer.
• Even when leaving the boundaries of the prayer area for a need, the person should hasten to return back and avoid talking to others. If they delay, their I’tikaf will become invalid.
• If a person leaves the designated area, their I’tikaf will be invalid and they will be required to keep it again in a future Ramadan.
Nafl I’tikaf
If a person can’t do I’tikaf for the complete ten days, they should at least try to do it for a few days throughout Ramadan. In fact, it can be done any time of the year and even when you come for Salah, you can just make an intention for Itikaf and you will automatically receive its reward,
Just as in the Sunnah I’tikaf, a person isn’t allowed to unnecessarily leave the Masjid boundaries, the same applies for a Nafl Itikaf. However, the difference is that if a person leaves the Masjid in a Nafl I’tikaf, their I’tikaf will come to an end, rather than breaking. They will not have to make up for anything, but will receive the reward for as long as they stayed.
Itikaf for Women
Women too can perform I’tikaf, but can only do so within their house. They can choose a room, or a place inside a room, in which they will decide to remain for the last ten days, following the same rules as men.
Note that since fasting was a condition, she can’t do I’tikaf if she is in her state of menstruation or post-natal bleeding.
Étiquettes of I’tikaf
Whilst in I’tikaf, the person should use as much time as possible in any form of worship, whether it is praying Nafl Salah, reciting the Noble Qur’an, doing dhikr, or even learning and teaching others about Islam in any way.
Makruh acts in I’tikaf
It’s disliked to do the following in I’tikaf:
• Sitting in silence and being idle
• Causing difficulty to others in any way, such as sleeping or resting in an inappropriate place or way, praying loudly when others are asleep etc.
• Talking about worldly things, or spending time doing worldly things, such as business, playing on your phone etc. To avoid the last two reasons, avoid bringing your phone with you, as it will just distract you from concentrating on Allah Ta’ala.
BY HUDA PRESS
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