Remembrance and Ramadhan

My Dear Readers,

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

As-salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. (May the Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you)

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ نَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَسَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلاَ مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلاَ هَادِيَ لَهُ

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

 

(See end note in the first post)

Remembrance and Ramadhan: 

 

إِذَا جَاء نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ 

110:1 When God’s succour comes, and victory, -, 

وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًا

  

110:2 and you see people enter God's religion in hosts, 

فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا

 

110:3 extol your Sustainer's limitless glory, and praise Him, and seek His forgiveness: for, behold, He is ever an acceptor of repentance

You have come into the world like a flickering flare
Lest your ephemeral life capitulate, beware 

(Iqbal)

This world is temporary. And our life in it, even more so. The sooner we realize it, the better it is for us, and it will help us prepare for an everlasting life to come.  The verses of the Qur'an of Surah An-Nasr, were from the last revealed surah, containing a sign that the Prophet ﷺ would not be staying in this worldly abode for long.

Al-Nasa'i records from 'Ubaydullah bin 'Abdullah bin 'Utbah(رضي الله عنه‎):that Ibn 'Abbas (رضي الله عنه‎):said to him, "O Ibn 'Utbah! Do you know the last Surah of the Qur'an that was revealed'' He answered, "Yes, it was An-Nasr."

Sayyidina 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه‎):  used to treat Ibn 'Abbas(رضي الله عنه‎‎):very favorably `Abdur Rahman bin 'Auf(رضي الله عنه‎):said to him. "We also have sons that are equal to him (but you are partial to him.)" 'Umar (رضي الله عنه‎‎): said, "It is because of his knowledge."

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas(رضي الله عنه‎‎)::

'Umar(رضي الله عنه‎‎):asked the people regarding Allah's Statement: 'When comes the Help of Allah ......' They replied, "It indicates the future conquest of towns and palaces (by Muslims)." `Umar(رضي الله عنه‎‎):said, "What do you say about it, O Ibn `Abbas(رضي الله عنه‎‎):?" I replied, "(This Surah) indicates the termination of the life of Muhammad ﷺ   . Through it he was informed of the nearness of his death."
(Bukhari) Referenced from sunnah.com (here)

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ سَأَلَهُمْ عَنْ قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى ‏{‏إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ‏}‏ قَالُوا فَتْحُ الْمَدَائِنِ وَالْقُصُورِ قَالَ مَا تَقُولُ يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ أَجَلٌ أَوْ مَثَلٌ ضُرِبَ لِمُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم نُعِيَتْ لَهُ نَفْسُهُ‏.‏

 

The question we ask ourselves, a Prophet ﷺ of such a preeminent stature, and contributions, having achieved all that he ﷺ was entrusted by Allah, at the peak of his achievements, and at the culmination as well, was reminded by Allah of the truest purpose, that is to remember Allah.

Ummul Mumineen 'Aishah(رضي الله عنها ‎) reported: Prior to his demise, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to supplicate frequently: Subhan Allahi wa bihamdihi; Astaghfirullaha wa atubu ilaihi (Allah is free from imperfection, and I begin with praising Him. I beg forgiveness from Allah and I turn to Him in repentance." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. http://sunnah.com/riyadussaliheen/20/9

 

 وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت‏:‏ كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يكثر أن يقول قبل موته ‏ "‏سبحان الله وبحمده، أستغفر الله، وأتوب إليه‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

 

Ummul Mumineen 'Aishah (رضي الله عنها ‎)reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited often these words: Hallowed be Allah and with His praise, I seek the forgiveness of Allah and return to Him. She said: I asked: Messenger of Allah, I see that you often repeat the saying" subhan allahi bihamdihi astaghfirullahi watubuilaih" whereupon he said: My Lord informed me that I would soon see a sign in my Ummah, so when I see it I often recite (these) words: Hallowed be Allah and with His Praise, I seek forgiveness of Allah and return to Him. Indeed I saw it (when this verse) was revealed:" When Allah's help and victory came, it marked the victory of Mecca, and you see people entering into Allah's religion in troops, celebrate the praise of Thy Lord and ask His forgiveness. Surely He is ever returning to Mercy." 

حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ، عَنْ عَامِرٍ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُكْثِرُ مِنْ قَوْلِ ‏"‏ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَاكَ تُكْثِرُ مِنْ قَوْلِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ خَبَّرَنِي رَبِّي أَنِّي سَأَرَى عَلاَمَةً فِي أُمَّتِي فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُهَا أَكْثَرْتُ مِنْ قَوْلِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ ‏.‏ فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُهَا ‏{‏ إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ‏}‏ فَتْحُ مَكَّةَ ‏{‏ وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًا * فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا‏}‏ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

So we should take heed from it, and the opportunity provided by this glorious month of Ramadhan, to remember Allah often, and to istighfar

 It was narrated from Abu Umamah(رضي الله عنه‎‎‎): that he asked the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) :
"Which deed is best?" he said: "Take to fasting, for there is nothing equal to it."
An nasa'i http://sunnah.com/nasai/22/133

أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الضَّعِيفُ، - شَيْخٌ صَالِحٌ وَالضَّعِيفُ لَقَبٌ لِكَثْرَةِ عِبَادَتِهِ - قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا يَعْقُوبُ الْحَضْرَمِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ رَجَاءِ بْنِ حَيْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَىُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ ‏ "‏ عَلَيْكَ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ عِدْلَ لَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah(رضي الله عنه‎‎ that the Prophet (ﷺ) said (that Allah said):
"For every good deed that the son of Adam does, he will have (the reward of) ten the like thereof, except for fasting. It is for Me and I shall reward for it.

أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عِيسَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ بُكَيْرٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ كُلُّ حَسَنَةٍ يَعْمَلُهَا ابْنُ آدَمَ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا إِلاَّ الصِّيَامَ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

An nasa'i  http://sunnah.com/nasai/22/130

Abu Huraira(رضي الله عنه‎‎‎) and Abu Sa'id (رضي الله عنه‎‎‎) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (as saying):
Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, said: Fast (is exclusively) meant for Me and I would give its reward. There are two (occasions) of joy for the observer of fast. He feels joy when he breaks the fast and he is happy when he meets Allah. By Allah in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammadﷺ, the breath of the observer of fast is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk. [Muslim] http://sunnah.com/muslim/13/214 

 

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سِنَانٍ، عَنْ أَبِي، صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، وَأَبِي، سَعِيدٍ - رضى الله عنهما - قَالاَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ إِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ إِنَّ لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَيْنِ إِذَا أَفْطَرَ فَرِحَ وَإِذَا لَقِيَ اللَّهَ فَرِحَ ‏.‏ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

 

 

Sa'ad bin Abu Waqqas(رضي الله عنه‎‎‎‎) reported:A bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said to him, "Teach me a few words to recite frequently." He (ﷺ) said, "Say:"There is no true god except Allah the One and He has no partner with Him; Allah is the Greatest and greatness is for Him. All praise is due to Him. Allah, the Rabb of the worlds is free from imperfection; there is no might and power but that of Allah, the All-Powerful and the All-Wise."' The bedouin said: "All of these for my Rabb. But what is for me?" Thereupon he (Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)) said, "You should say: O Allah! Grant me pardon, have mercy upon me, direct me to righteousness and provide me subsistence."[Muslim] and in another sources is "Protect Me" . http://sunnah.com/riyadussaliheen/16/7

 
وعن سعد بن أبي وقاص رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ جاء أعرابي إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال‏:‏ علمني كلامًا أقوله‏.‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏قل لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، الله أكبر كبيرا والحمد لله كثيرا وسبحان الله رب العالمين، ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله العزيز الحكيم” قال فهؤلاء لربي، فما لي‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏قل اللهم اغفر لي، وارحمني، واهدني، وارزقني‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

In Mishkat (مشكاة المصابيح), a detailed version of Al-Baghawi's Masabih al-Sunnah, Muhammad ibn ʻAbd Allāh Khatib Al-Tabrizi (rahmatullah alayh) describes this incident, and in his sharh of Mishkat (مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح), Mullah Ali Qari (rahmatullah alayh) writes :

 عن سعد بن أبي وقاص - - رضي الله عنه - قال : جاء أعرابي إلى رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فقال : علمني كلاما أقوله ، قال : " قل : لا إله إلا الله ، وحده لا شريك له ، الله أكبر كبيرا ، والحمد لله كثيرا ، وسبحان الله رب العالمين ، لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله العزيز الحكيم " . فقال : فهؤلاء لربي ، فما لي ؟ فقال : " قل : اللهم اغفر لي ، وارحمني ، واهدني ، وارزقني وعافني " . شك الراوي في " عافني " . رواه مسلم
قل : اللهم اغفر لي ) أي : بمحو السيئات ( وارحمني ) أي : بتوفيق الطاعات في الحركات والسكنات ( واهدني ) أي : لأحسن الأحوال ( وارزقني ) أي : المال الحلال ( وعافني ) أي : من الابتلاء بما يضر في المآل

First erasing sins, then mercy to allow doing of good in all, and guide for a way that brings the best of conditions, and grant me halal sustenance, and protect from any trials that harm in this world and the Hereafter.

Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه‎‎‎)  was a companion who served the Prophet ﷺ in Medina towards the last ten years of his life at the behest of his mother Rumaysa bint Milhan(رضي الله عنها ‎‎), fondly known as Umm Sulaym (رضي الله عنها ‎). She was an amazing person by her own right, courageous and righteous, who married Abu Talha(رضي الله عنه‎‎‎, with the best of mahr after the death of Anas's(رضي الله عنه‎‎‎)  father.

It was narrated from Anasؓ(رضي الله عنه‎‎‎‎) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Every son of Adam commits sin, and the best of those who commit sin are those who repent.’” http://sunnah.com/urn/1293540

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ الْحُبَابِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏:‏ ‏ "‏

 كُلُّ بَنِي آدَمَ خَطَّاءٌ وَخَيْرُ الْخَطَّائِينَ التَّوَّابُونَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

That is why we should always seek Forgiveness from Allah and rely on Him for our needs, for example:

Farwah b. Nawfal Al-Ashja'i(رضي الله عنه‎‎‎‎) asked 'Aishah ؓ the Mother of the Believers (رضي الله عنها ‎), about the supplication of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She ؓ replied:
"He would say: 'O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done, and from the evil of what I have not done.'"

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ يِسَافٍ، عَنْ فَرْوَةَ بْنِ نَوْفَلٍ الأَشْجَعِيِّ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَمَّا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدْعُو بِهِ قَالَتْ كَانَ يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا عَمِلْتُ وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا لَمْ أَعْمَلْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

 Ibn 'Umar (رضي الله عنه‎‎‎‎) said:
We counted Messenger's (ﷺ).saying a hundred times during one single sitting:  (My Rabb! Forgive me and pardon me. Indeed, You are the Oft-Returning with compassion and Ever Merciful." [Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi]. http://sunnah.com/riyadussaliheen/20/4

 
وعن بن عمر رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ كنا نعد لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في المجلس الواحد مائة مرة‏:‏ ‏ "‏رب اغفر لي، وتب على إنك أنت التواب الرحيم‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبوداود والترمذي‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal, may Allah be pleased with him, a renowned scholar of Islam and a famous theologian, once was passing through a remote town. Owing to his humility, he had not introduced himself to anyone. After salah, he wanted to stay overnight at the masjid, but the caretaker as a matter of policy ( and also not recognizing who he was) asked him to leave. Imam Ahmed tried to convince him to let him stay, but of no avail, and the caretaker literally dragged the aging imam out. A man, who worked as a baker, was passing by and watched this scene and (as any good Muslim should), offered to host him for the night.

While at the baker's place, the Imam saw him engrossed in his work, mixing and kneading the dough, tending the fire, and pulling loaves from the oven, all the while doing Istighfar (asking for Allah's forgiveness).

The Imam asked the baker if he has experienced any blessings due to reciting the same, and the baker replied: "By Allah! No do'a (supplication) I have ever made has been unanswered, except one."
“And what is that do'a?” asked Imam Ahmed.

The baker responded: "To see the renowned Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal." Upon hearing this, tears welled up in his eyes as he disclosed to the baker, "I am Ahmed ibn Hanbal! By Allah! I was dragged to your place so that your do'a would be fulfilled."

Someone complained to Al-Hasan Al-Basri about a drought, and he said to him: "Seek forgiveness from Allah. Someone else complained to him of poverty and he said to him: "Ask Allah to forgive you." Someone else had the concern of gardens going dry, and yet another had no children, and in all of these cases, Hasan advised the same "Ask Allah for forgiveness."

He was asked about this cure-all and he replied: "I do not say this out of my own accord, for does Allah not say in Surah Nuh:

فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا
    يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاء عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا   وَيُمْدِدْكُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَارًا

Nuh 71:10-12. and I said: "Ask your Sustainer to forgive you your sins - for, verily, He is all-forgiving!He will shower upon you heavenly blessings abundant, and will aid you with worldly goods and children, and will bestow upon you gardens, and bestow upon you running waters.

And not only success in this world, but in the Hereafter as well:

'Abdullah bin Busr(رضي الله عنه‎‎‎‎) said that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Glad tidings to those who find a lot of seeking forgiveness in the record of their deeds."

http://sunnah.com/ibnmajah/33/163

 

عن عبد الله بن بسر - رضي الله عنه - قال : قال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم
( طوبى لمن وجد في كتابه استغفاراً كثيراً )
رواه ابن ماجه والنسائي والطبراني ، ورواه البيهقي عن عائشة - رضي الله عنها - مرفوعاً
فأخرجه من حديث عبد الله بن بسر
النسائي في الكبرى (10289) ، وابن ماجه (3818) ، والبزار (3508) ، والطبراني في الدعاء (1789) ، والبيهقي في الشعب (647) ، كلهم من طريق محمد بن عبد الرحمن بن عرق ، عن ابن بسر به

 

It is important to know that among the factors that help acceptance of supplications are the topographies of time, space, condition of the soul, emotions, passion and others.  Just as the geographic topography is not flat, the rest of them are also full of peaks and crests and valleys and ravines. Time is one of them that we will touch upon.

 

إِنَّ لِرَبِّكُمْ فِي أَيَّامِ دَهْرِكُمْ نَفَحَاتٍ، أَلَا فَتَعَرَّضُوا لَهَا.

 Your Lord has nafahāt (exhalations) in the days of your lifetime, so seek them.

The idea that a believer should watch for blessed opportunities and increase duʿā’ and worship is firmly supported by sound, well-known texts, even if this particular wording is weak.

Examples of authentically established “windows” of response and mercy include:

• The last third of the night for duʿā’ and seeking forgiveness 
• A special hour on Friday in which duʿā’ is accepted 
• Duʿā’ between the adhān and iqāmah 

Ramadhan is the tallest peak of the topography of time and within it the night of Power, the (لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْ). When someone asks me about it, I remember this:

 
ای خواجه چه جویی ز شب قدر نشانی
هر شب شب قدر است اگر قدر بدانی

Translation:
O sir—why do you look for a sign of the Night of Power?
Every night is the Night of Power, if you know what “worth” is.

 

May Allah bless is with every opportunity to remember Him often, ask for His forgiveness, and may He accept it, and may He bless us with the blessings of Ramadhan. Aameen

وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ
 Wa Allahu 'Alam (And Allah is the All-Knowing)