- By Sheikh Ibrahim Oladejo Raji
RAMADAN! What is Ramadan? And what will make you know what Ramadan is?
Ramadan is a month like no other months. It is the month of mercy, forgiveness and emancipation from the hell fire. These are some of the goodies reserved for the upright people who obey their Lord and carry out His commands. Ramadan is the month of the Glorious Qur’an. Yes! The whole Book was transmitted from Laohul Mahfouz (the preserved tablet, in upper heaven, in which the record of all the events that will transpire in this world from the beginning to the end are kept) to Baitul Ma’mur, ( a house situated in the lowest heaven next to the earth.) Baitul Ma’mur is akin to the Ka’bah in Makkah, frequently visited by the Angels for the purpose of worship therein.
From there, the revelation was retransmitted in piecemeal to The Messenger (PBOH) over the period of twenty-three years. The maiden Qur’anic revelation, (“Read…! in the Name of your Lord who creates. Creates man from a clot. Read..! And your Lord is the Most Bounteous. Who teaches by the pen. Teaches man that which he knew not.”) which was delivered by Angel Jibreel to the Prophet (PBOH) took place during Ramadan. In addition to all that, it is only Ramadan among its peers that can boast of possessing one single night that is better than one thousand months.
Allah says confirming the first transmission from Laohul Mahfuz to Baitil Ma’mur in Q97:1-5 “Verily! We have sent it (the Qur”an) down in the night of Decree. And what will make you know what the night of decree is?The night of decree is better than one thousand months. Therein descend the Angels and the Ruh (Angel Jibreel) by Allah’s permission with all decrees, (The whole night is) peace until the raising of the dawn”.
To demonstrate the importance of Ramadan, the Messenger (PBOH) taught his companions and Muslims at large to prepare for it ahead of time. It was narrated that The Prophet (PBOH), on sighting the crescent of Rajab, (the seventh month), would say: “O Allah! Bless for us the month of Rajab, likewise Sha’baan, and spare our lives to witness Ramadan”.
During the designated period of fasting, every adult Muslim male or female, who is sane and healthy, must abstain from eating, drinking and engaging in love making as well as vain talks and misconduct from dawn till dusk.
Prior to the prescription of Ramadan, The Messenger of Allah (PBOH) who was just settling down in his new environment after migrating to Yathrib (later renamed MadeenatuRasul, i.e. the City of the Prophet) once noticed an unusual fanfare among the Jewish community in the town. Upon asking for the reason, they replied that, they were preparing for a celebration to commemorate the day Prophet Musa (PBOH) and the Israelites were delivered from Fir’aun (Pharaoh of Egypt). In reaction to that, The Prophet (PBOH) said: “but we Muslims deserve Musa (PBOH) more than you do. He consequently commanded his companions to join the Jews in observing the fast on that day which was the tenth of Muharram. Later, he instructed them to increase one more day when fasting on the same occasion in future. It was obligatory upon the Muslims then to fast the ninth and tenth days of Muharram. Meanwhile, the prescription of Ramadan later abrogated that rule and reduced the verdict of fasting Tasua and Ashura (ninth and tenth of Muharram) to Sunnah (optional.)
Going down the memory lane, the history of the first Quiblah (the direction faced in the daily ritual prayers) at the early stage of Islam used to be towards Baitul Maqdis in Qudus (The grand Mosque in Jerusalem).These incidents shed more light on the fact that all the Abrahamic religions are of the same pattern, they have many things in common; e.g, performing ablution using water before prayer, mode of worship like raising up the hands, bowing and then prostrating during prayer, dressing up decently by covering up the whole body, especially by women as well as exchanging greetings with the words of peace. These are in concord with what are available in all the scriptures. No wonder the Messenger of Allah (PBOH) said: “All of us, we the Prophets of Allah are kinsmen who were nurtured by different mothers.”
In relation to that, Allah said: “O you who believe! (In the Oneness of Allah and Islamic Monotheism) Fasting has been prescribed for you as was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious”, Q2:183.
Once again, Ramadan is a month of spiritual upliftment during which one denies himself, based on the command of the Creator, some basic lawful enjoyment and comfort in order to attain a higher post in the sight of Allah. It is a period of reflection and meditation, a period of giving out charity to the poor, and a period when the affluent temporarily has a taste of some hardship which the less privileged people often experience. It is also a period of getting closer to Allah. According to the Prophet (PBOH), Allah The Almighty said: “All the deeds of the son of Adam (mankind) belong to him except the fasting which is Mine, and I (Allah) am the One who will grant reward for it”.
To be continued in sha Allah.
- Sheikh Ibrahim Oladejo Raji, Imaam Kosemani Jum’ah Mosque, off Iwo Ibadan Road, by Adetoro Shopping Complex, Mercyland Area, Dada Estate Osogbo, Osun State. [email protected]
The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not represent the opinions or views of OSUN DEFENDER.
