Run up to 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)

Preparation for Ramadhan:

إِنَّ اللّهَ اشْتَرَى مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُم بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الجَنَّةَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالإِنجِيلِ وَالْقُرْآنِ وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللّهِ فَاسْتَبْشِرُواْ بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِي بَايَعْتُم بِهِ وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
  

BEHOLD, Allah has bought of the believers their lives and their possessions, promising them paradise in return ,[and so] they fight in God's cause, and slay, and are slain: a promise which in truth He has willed upon Himself in [the words of] the Torah, and the Gospel, and the Qur'an. And who could be more faithful to his covenant than God? Rejoice, then, in the bargain which you have made with Him: for this, this is the triumph supreme!    (9:111)

The ayah chosen above is traditionally used in context of jihad, or struggle in the way of Allah, and I have chosen this ayah for discussion deliberately, to highlight an oft-overlooked aspect of this ayah, related to the hadith on cleanliness. If I ask anyone of you, for sure you would know the relationship of cleanliness, with iman (or faith). But does anyone know the full text of that hadith from Sahih Muslim? Especially the last statement in the hadith?

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَبَّانُ بْنُ هِلاَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبَانٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، أَنَّ زَيْدًا، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ أَبَا سَلاَّمٍ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِي مَالِكٍ الأَشْعَرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ الطُّهُورُ شَطْرُ الإِيمَانِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ تَمْلأُ الْمِيزَانَ ‏.‏ وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ تَمْلآنِ - أَوْ تَمْلأُ - مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَالصَّلاَةُ نُورٌ وَالصَّدَقَةُ بُرْهَانٌ وَالصَّبْرُ ضِيَاءٌ وَالْقُرْآنُ حُجَّةٌ لَكَ أَوْ عَلَيْكَ كُلُّ النَّاسِ يَغْدُو فَبَائِعٌ نَفْسَهُ فَمُعْتِقُهَا أَوْ مُوبِقُهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Abu Malik at-Ash'ari(رضي الله عنه‎) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Cleanliness is half of faith and al-Hamdu Liliah (Praise be to Allah) fills the scale, and Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah) and al-Hamdu Liliah (Praise be to Allah) fill upwhat is between the heavens and the earth, and prayer is a light, and charity is proof (of one's faith) and endurance is a brightness and the Holy Qur'an is a proof on your behalf or against you. All humans go out early in the morning and sell themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves.
Referenced from sunnah.com (here)
This last statement emphasizing the same trade, as is mentioned in the verse (9:111), makes it explicit that it is not situational to a certain time and place. But a daily effort. The world is a marketplace where we have come for a limited time, in order to do a deal of a lifetime. It is a deal of a lifetime, because we are dealing in our lives, trading them for an eternal life of bliss in the Hereafter. Those who understand it, are the ones who will try to fully benefit from this understanding, and Insha Allah, will achieve success in this world, and in the Hereafter. Sadly, many of us forget this reality, not realizing that this time is precious, and whatever we do, it will be recorded and will be a source of success (permanent) or failure. Everything belongs to Allah, is being lent to us by Allah, and will return to Allah. Our covenant is to realize this and live accordingly.

Ramadhan is approaching, the sooner we realize this, the better for us. Who knows if we will get a chance to see Ramadhan through. So the topic of discussion today is, let us get energized to greet Ramadhan, in order that we may derive the blessings thereof.




There is a poem by Imam al-Sajjad (RA), referenced here:

 تُخَـرِّبُ مَـا يَبْقَى، وَتعْمُرُ فَانِياً

Destroying what is everlasting you are building the perishing

 فَلاَ ذَاكَ مَوْفُورٌ، وَلاَ ذَاكَ عَامرُ

Neither will the former be intact, nor will the latter flourish

وَهَلْ لَكَ إِنْ وَافَاكَ حَتْفُكَ بَغْتَةً

And when your fate catches up to you all of a sudden 

  وَلَمْ تَكْتَسِبْ خَيْرَاً لَدَى اللهِ عَاذِرُ؟

What excuse will you have before your Lord?

أَتَرْضَى بِأَنْ تُقْضَى الحَياةُ وَتَنْقَضِي

How will you be content when your life is over 

 وَدِينُـكَ مَنْقُوصٌ وَمَالكَ وَافِرُ؟

If your deen is deficient, but (only) your wealth abundant? 

How can we destroy our eternal abode, at the cost of something ephemeral? For sure we will end up at a loss at both counts. Let us pledge today to refocus our efforts towards achieving success in our permanent abode. Here are some suggestions.

First, let us start with sincere repentance(تَوْبَة):

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا عَسَى رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللَّهُ النَّبِيَّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَى بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

O you who have attained to faith! Turn unto God in sincere repentance:  it may well be that your Sustainer will efface from you your bad deeds, and will admit you into gardens through which running waters flow, on a Day on which God will not shame the Prophet and those who share his faith:  their light will spread rapidly before them, and on their right;[and] they will pray: "O our Sustainer! Cause this our light to shine for us forever, and forgive us our sins: for, verily, Thou hast the power to will anything!(66:8)

Do not delay it any further. Allah is awaiting our taubah:

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَبْسُطُ يَدَهُ بِاللَّيْلِ لِيَتُوبَ مُسِيءُ النَّهَارِ وَيَبْسُطُ يَدَهُ بِالنَّهَارِ لِيَتُوبَ مُسِيءُ اللَّيْلِ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ مِنْ مَغْرِبِهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ ‏.

 

Abu Musa(رضي الله عنه‎) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, Stretches out His Hand during the night so that the people may repent for the fault committed from dawn till dusk and He stretches out His Hand during the day so that the people may repent for the fault committed from dusk to dawn. (He would accept repentance) before the sun rises in the west (before the Day of Resurrection). A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters!

Referenced from sunnah.com (here)


Allah is delighted at our taubah:

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، أَخْبَرَنَا حَبَّانُ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ وَحَدَّثَنَا هُدْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ اللَّهُ أَفْرَحُ بِتَوْبَةِ عَبْدِهِ مِنْ أَحَدِكُمْ سَقَطَ عَلَى بَعِيرِهِ، وَقَدْ أَضَلَّهُ فِي أَرْضِ فَلاَةٍ ‏"‏‏

Narrated Anas bin Malik(رضي الله عنه‎): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than anyone of you is pleased with finding his camel which he had lost in the desert.

Referenced from sunnah.com (here)

Taubah will help efface, nay, even transform our sins:

إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُوْلَئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

Excepted, however, shall be they who repent and attain to faith and do righteous deeds: for it is they whose [erstwhile] bad deeds God will transform into good ones - seeing that God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace, (25:70)

We cannot have a holier-than-Thou attitude about taubah. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would repent a hundred times a day:

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الْعَتَكِيُّ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ حَمَّادٍ، قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنِ الأَغَرِّ الْمُزَنِيِّ، - وَكَانَتْ لَهُ صُحْبَةٌ - أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّهُ لَيُغَانُ عَلَى قَلْبِي وَإِنِّي لأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ فِي الْيَوْمِ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ ‏"

Al-Agharr al-Muzani(رضي الله عنه‎), who was one amongst the Companions (of the Holy Prophet) reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: There is (at times) some sort of shade upon my heart, and I seek forgiveness from Allah a hundred times a day.

Referenced from sunnah.com (here)

Abusa'id Abolkhayr or Abū-Sa'īd Abul-Khayr (ابوسعید ابوالخیر) has one of his quatrains (Ruba'i) reportedly at the entrance of the door to the tomb of Maulana Rumi, and it offers tremendous hope for sinners like us:

باز آ باز آ هر آنچه هستی باز آ

Come back, Come back, Whoever you are

گر کافر و گبر و بت‌پرستی باز آ

An infidel, a fire-worshipper or an idolator, Come back.

این درگه ما درگه نومیدی نیست

This dargah (portal/shrine) is not the place of losing hope

صد بار اگر توبه شکستی باز آ

Even if you have broken your penitence hundreds of times, Come back.

This is not a new preaching, but it has been the way of Allah since the time of Adam (عليه السلام), and is found in the previous scriptures. For example the Prophet 'Isa (عليه السلام), mentions the parable of the prodigal son in the Bible (Luke 15: 11-32).

No sooner that we repent sincerely, we become dear to Allah. There is the story of a musician, Zadan, who was also a very good singer. Once Abdullah bin Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه‎)heard him and remarked how if he would use his gifted voice for the Qur'an. Upon hearing this, without any delay, he repented and broke his musical instruments. He quickly became quite dear to ibn Mas'ud(رضي الله عنه‎), upon which some others protested. How can you be so close to an erstwhile musician and reveler? Upon which ibn Mas'ud(رضي الله عنه‎) retorted, how can I not love one whom Allah loves? Probably referring to this portion of the verse (2:222):

  إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ

Verily, God loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and He loves those who keep themselves pure.


The practice of saints and pious people is that they repent daily, and even more earnestly in Rajab and Shaban, so that they greet Ramadhan in purity, and get maximum blessings thereof.

Taubah is one of the things that differentiate Iblis from Adam (عليه السلام). Both made a mistake but one did not repent and the other immediately became concerned about his mistake. And Allah out of His Kindness taught them the words of taubah, which ended up becoming a do'a for the progeny of Adam(عليه السلام).:

قَالاَ رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

The two replied: "O our Sustainer! We have sinned against ourselves -and unless Thou grant us forgiveness and bestow Thy mercy upon us, we shall most certainly be lost!" - 7:23

In the hadith, we are taught:

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرٌو، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْخَيْرِ، سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو، أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَلِّمْنِي دُعَاءً أَدْعُو بِهِ فِي صَلاَتِي‏.‏ قَالَ ‏ "‏ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا، وَلاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مِنْ عِنْدِكَ مَغْفِرَةً، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Amr(رضي الله عنه‎): Abu Bakr As-Siddiq(رضي الله عنه‎) said to the Prophet (ﷺ) "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Teach me an invocation with which I may invoke Allah in my prayers." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Say: O Allah! I have wronged my soul very much (oppressed myself), and none forgives the sins but You; so please bestow Your Forgiveness upon me. No doubt, You are the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Referenced from sunnah.com (here)

Once we develop the habit of frequently seeking forgiveness of our Lord, the next step is to right any wrongs that we have done to our fellow human beings, and seek their forgiveness. We must not judge other people, or wish them ill. For who knows, they might be better in the sight of Allah than us. Or they might end up better than us, for we should heed the warning of the Prophet (ﷺ) regarding the day of judgment:

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ أَتَدْرُونَ مَا الْمُفْلِسُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا الْمُفْلِسُ فِينَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ لاَ دِرْهَمَ لَهُ وَلاَ مَتَاعَ ‏.‏ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ الْمُفْلِسُ مِنْ أُمَّتِي مَنْ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِصَلاَتِهِ وَصِيَامِهِ وَزَكَاتِهِ وَيَأْتِي قَدْ شَتَمَ هَذَا وَقَذَفَ هَذَا وَأَكَلَ مَالَ هَذَا وَسَفَكَ دَمَ هَذَا وَضَرَبَ هَذَا فَيَقْعُدُ فَيَقْتَصُّ هَذَا مِنْ حَسَنَاتِهِ وَهَذَا مِنْ حَسَنَاتِهِ فَإِنْ فَنِيَتْ حَسَنَاتُهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُقْتَصَّ مَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا أُخِذَ مِنْ خَطَايَاهُمْ فَطُرِحَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ طُرِحَ فِي النَّارِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ

Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه‎) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"Do you know who the bankrupt is?" They said: "O Messenger of Allah!(ﷺ) The bankrupt among us is the one who has no Dirham nor property." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The bankrupt in my Ummah is the one who comes with Salat and fasting and Zakat on the Day of Judgement, but he comes having abused this one, falsely accusing that one, wrongfully consuming the wealth of this one, spilling the blood of that one, and beating this one. SO he is seated, and this one is requited from his rewards. If his rewards are exhausted before the sins that he committed are requited, then some of their sins will be taken and cast upon him, then he will be cast into the Fire."
Referenced from sunnah.com (here)

Ask forgiveness now, those who you hurt, those whom we owe something. We are getting this opportunity now, let us take it, for there might not be any other opportunity again.

The next step is to make sure that our livelihood is earned through lawful means. Halal does not mean only that which is slaughtered according to the conditions specified, but also by the means with which we acquire our livelihood. Sadly, as predicted by our Prophet (ﷺ), we do not care about this as much as we should:

حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ الْمَقْبُرِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ لَيَأْتِيَنَّ عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ لاَ يُبَالِي الْمَرْءُ بِمَا أَخَذَ الْمَالَ، أَمِنْ حَلاَلٍ أَمْ مِنْ حَرَامٍ ‏"‏‏.‏

 Narrated Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه‎):The Prophet (ﷺ) said "Certainly a time will come when people will not bother to know from where they earned the money, by lawful means or unlawful means."
Referenced from sunnah.com (here)

In another hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) advised Kaab bin Ujrah (رضي الله عنه‎) many things, among which was this warning:

يَا كَعْبُ بْنَ عُجْرَةَ إِنَّهُ لاَ يَرْبُو لَحْمٌ نَبَتَ مِنْ سُحْتٍ إِلاَّ كَانَتِ النَّارُ أَوْلَى بِهِ

‏O Ka'b bin Ujrah! There is no flesh raised that sprouts from the unlawful except that the Fire is more appropriate for it.'""

Referenced from sunnah.com (here)

Are we so deceived by ourselves that while we wear clothes earned from unlawful means, live under a roof earned from unlawful means, and eat food earned from unlawful means and yet hoping that we are earning Paradise? What for is the fasting, if we fill our bellies with the unjust earnings depriving the rights of others?

The third step is to reduce consumption even if it is acquired from lawful means. Ramadhan is not a month of indulgence, and spending, and certainly not of overindulgence and overspending. Yet it has become so in the past for us. Let us stop this madness. In light of the following hadith, we should rethink our decadent lifestyles:

حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ الْحِمْصِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَتْنِي أُمِّي، عَنْ أُمِّهَا، أَنَّهَا سَمِعَتِ الْمِقْدَامَ بْنَ مَعْدِيكَرِبَ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ مَا مَلأَ آدَمِيٌّ وِعَاءً شَرًّا مِنْ بَطْنٍ حَسْبُ الآدَمِيِّ لُقَيْمَاتٌ يُقِمْنَ صُلْبَهُ فَإِنْ غَلَبَتِ الآدَمِيَّ نَفْسُهُ فَثُلُثٌ لِلطَّعَامِ وَثُلُثٌ لِلشَّرَابِ وَثُلُثٌ لِلنَّفَسِ ‏"‏

‏
Miqdam bin Madikarib (رضي الله عنه‎) said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘A human being fills no worse vessel than his stomach. It is sufficient for a human being to eat a few morsels to keep his spine straight. But if he must (fill it), then one third of food, one third for drink and one third for air.’”

Referenced from sunnah.com (here)

Let us use the opportunity in preparing for Ramadhan to stop filling this worse vessel, and instead learn to be content with a few morsels.

جنید گفت: بایزید در میان ما چون جبرائیل است در میان ملائکه.

Bayazid amongst us ranks like Gabriel amongst the angels.

Bayazid whom Junayd described in the quote above, would fast frequently, and would donate generously, so much so that only little would remain. And even for the few remaining morsels, he would still ask his Lord for forgiveness while eating them.

"Lord, forgive me if there is someone hungry more deserving of this food, as I am not able to reach him. Lord, forgive me if there is someone whose share is in these morsels and I am not aware of it. Lord do not take me to task on this account."

Whenever Imam al-Sajjad(RA) would fast, he would ask to prepare the tastiest and the best food available in the house. Before the time of breaking fast he would smell the aroma, ensuring that it is the best, and then distribute it to people, while breaking his own fast with simple food, and sometimes only with water. His generosity is also showcased that during his lifetime people of Medina would find sacks of food grains etc appearing at their doorsteps during early morning hours (at the time for tahajjud) and only when he passed away, they saw the marks of the ropes (carrying the sacks on his body) and because the sacks had stopped appearing since, only then they realized that it was him who used to do it.

This is an example of the people who did successful business during their stay here in the earth. Not people like us, who waste time, and waste opportunities to doing good. That is why let us consider this reminder for myself and for you to avail this opportunity. Remember that we are the nation of a prophet who was the epitome of generosity, and especially generous in Ramadhan:

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا يُونُسُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا يُونُسُ، وَمَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، نَحْوَهُ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَجْوَدَ النَّاسِ، وَكَانَ أَجْوَدُ مَا يَكُونُ فِي رَمَضَانَ حِينَ يَلْقَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ، وَكَانَ يَلْقَاهُ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَيُدَارِسُهُ الْقُرْآنَ، فَلَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَجْوَدُ بِالْخَيْرِ مِنَ الرِّيحِ الْمُرْسَلَةِ‏.‏

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas (رضي الله عنه‎) :Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was the most generous of all the people, and he used to reach the peak in generosity in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel met him. Gabriel used to meet him every night of Ramadan to teach him the Qur'an. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was the most generous person, even more generous than the strong uncontrollable wind (in readiness and haste to do charitable deeds).

Referenced from sunnah.com (here)

The question we must ask ourselves, are we truly the ummah of this Prophet ﷺ , the archetype of generosity?

May Allah bless us with the opportunity to ask for His forgiveness, and may He accept it, and may He bless us with the opportunity to derive blessings of Ramadhan this year and every year. Aameen

والله أعلم   
 Wa Allahu 'Alam (And Allah is the All-Knowing)