Excerpt taken from The Sermons of Hazrat Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi (DB)
Excellence of the Ten Day Periods
Ramadan is a special month for seeking the mercy and forgiveness of Allah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said about the month of Ramadan:
The first part of it is mercy; the middle of it is forgiveness, and its last part is freedom from the Hellfire
The first ten days of Ramadan are days of mercy; the second period of ten days is for forgiveness, and the final period of ten days is for seeking refuge from Hellfire.
Allah’s Mercy Searches for Excuses
Bani Qalb Nami was a village outside Madinah Munawwarah whose families owned large numbers of sheep and goats and subsequently, it became very famous for sheep herding. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ once said that in a night of Ramadan, Allah frees people from Hell in numbers as large as the number of hair on all the sheep of Bani Qalb Nami.
This and many miracles like this illustrate that Allah’s mercy searches out excuses for the salvation of Allah’s people.
Price, the Mercy of Allah desires not
But excuses for forgiveness.
Obstacles to Worship
Allah opens the doors of His mercy and forgiveness in this blessed month and chains the major devils so that they do not molest the Muslims. However, Muslims who still fail to worship or fulfill the minimum despite these tremendous favors, fail to overcome and train a major obstacle which is their own lower-self (nafs).
Ramadan is a month of struggle and sacrifice during which Muslims need to persevere against their nafs and earn the blessed fruits of this month. If Muslims fail to overpower the nafs throughout the year, they need to try their utmost during Ramadan when the rewards are so great and Allah’s mercy ever so abundant.
Standard of Recognizing a Sage
Our righteous predecessors would honor a person as a venerable individual and sage by the number of Ramadans he had seen during his lifetime. This was the standard that they used to determine status and honor.
Unfortunately today, standards by which people are judged have deteriorated to worldly wealth and education, but people can never reach the superior way of thinking of the elders of Islam.
Paradise for Sale
At certain times during the year, vendors arrange sales of various items at their stores where items such as shoes and clothes can be bought at relatively inexpensive prices. Women in particular are often very attracted to such sales since they can save a lot of money on items that are on sale.
An examination of the Holy Quran and Hadith reveals that Allah offers Paradise for sale during the holy month of Ramadan through His infinite mercy. Allah says in the Holy Quran:
But Allah calls to the Home of Peace [10:25]
Allah opens wide the gates of mercy and invites His servants to Paradise. Thus, they need to make every effort to work righteously and earn the right to go there.
O Creator, we ask from You Paradise and seek refuge from the Fire [Hadith]
Hadrat Maulana Muhammad Zakariya
Hadrat Shaykh ul-Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakariya (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) used to say the following about himself:
My routine was to spend the holy month of Ramadan in solitary worship following in the footsteps of our noble elders. I would spend the whole day reciting the Holy Quran, taking breaks from this only for mandatory and optional prayers.
One day, an old friend who lived in another neighborhood and who was unaware of my strict Ramadan schedule came to see me. I replied to his greeting and retired to my private room to continue my recitation. He followed me into the room where he sat quietly as I read until Asr, at which time he accompanied me to join the prayer.
After Asr prayer, I once again retired to my room and continued my recitation, and my friend again followed me in only to see that I had already started my recitation. After waiting patiently for a while he said, “My friend, Ramadan also comes to us but never like such a fever.” He meant that it seemed as if the month of Ramadan would overwhelm me like a fever overwhelms its victim.
Hadrat Zakariya further stated that he would remain in such an enthusiastic state for the entire month.
Hadrat Shaykh ul-Hind
Hadrat Shaykh ul-Hind Maulana Mahmood Hasan’s (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) tarawih would conclude at the time of the pre-dawn meal (suhur), at which time he would eat and get ready for Fajr prayers. Thus, he would spend the entire night in worship.
After a few days of following this strict regimen, the women of his household grew concerned about his health after noticing grave symptoms of fatigue. Therefore, they implored Hadrat to take a break and rest, after which he could continue after getting refreshed. However, Hadrat would reply that he may not be alive to see another Ramadan.
Then, the women sent a message to the qari leading the tarawih explaining the situation to him and requesting him to end the tarawih early, with the excuse that he was tired. They were well aware that Hadrat Shaykh ul-Hind was very considerate of others’ welfare and would accept that excuse without question. The qari agreed because he too wanted his shaykh to be able to get some rest.
Consequently, the qari completed the tarawih after just one or two juz because he had already informed his shaykh that he was tired and could only recite so much. After tarawih, Hadrat insisted on having the qari sleep on his bed on the mosque grounds instead of going home. Hadrat’s murid had to comply with this request and lay down on his shaykh’s bed. Hadrat shut off the lights and urged his murid to sleep.
The qari dozed off, but was awakened soon thereafter by someone pressing his feet. He got up and upon looking closely was shocked to realize that it was none other than Hadrat Shaykh ul-Hind! He said incredulously, “Hadrat! What are you doing?” Hadrat replied, “You yourself said that you were tired so I thought I should press and massage your feet so that you may feel better.”
At this, the qari got out of bed and said, “Hadrat, if you intend to be awake all night anyway, let us go into the mosque and I will read the Holy Quran to you so that you can pass the night listening.” So both of them went into the mosque where Hadrat’s murid started reciting in prayer and Hadrat lined up behind him listening to his recitation of the Holy Quran.
The Methodology of Pleasing Allah
The righteous predecessors used to worship Allah like someone who works hard to appease an annoyed beloved. If a house servant erred gravely and was caught, he would beg forgiveness from his master and vow to be more careful in the future. Such was their worship.
Our attitude needs to be the same in this blessed month. We must acknowledge and understand the gravity of our sins, be ashamed in front of Allah, beg forgiveness, and vow righteousness in the future.
Peace and Rest
The noble elders would sacrifice their rest during this month for the sake of worship, and we need to follow their example. If we sleep and awaken according to our own will eleven months out of the year, then surely we can sacrifice our sleep and rest for the blessed month of Ramadan.
People experience no difficulty in staying awake all night for worldly purposes, and it would also be good if for once, the eyes and body are forced to stay awake for the sake of worship and consequently, cry out for rest. When raised in front of Allah on the Day of Judgment, we will at least be able to say that there was one month out of the year during which the eyes and body were fatigued and wanted to rest, but were forced to stay awake and working for the sake of worship.
Today’s Laziness
Muslims today find it difficult to listen to one Holy Quran to completion and search out mosques where tarawih prayers are completed in the shortest amount of time. This is the sad extent of laziness today that Muslims try to search for places where they can save five minutes.
Women’s Connection to the Holy Quran
Women would also attend tarawih prayers at Hadrat Shaykh ul-Hind’s (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) residence where his son would lead and the women would listen behind the curtain. One day, when his son was ill, Hadrat sent another qari to lead the tarawih.
The next morning when Hadrat Shaykh ul-Hind came home for suhur, he noticed that the women of the house seemed very annoyed. He asked them what was wrong and his wife said, “That qari that you sent ruined our whole tarawih!” Hadrat grew concerned and asked why and his wife continued, “I don’t know what his hurry was that he just recited four juz and ran away.” It was later learned that these women were accustomed to listening to a total of seven completions of the Holy Quran every Ramadan.
This is the manner in which our righteous predecessors strove hard and pushed themselves to the limits during this precious month to earn righteousness. Ramadan is the month of tiring oneself in the pursuit of rich rewards.
The Month of Striving
Although waking up for tahajjud might prove difficult the rest of the year, we wake for suhuranyway during Ramadan, so a few rakats should be easy to pray at this time. For this one month, we should strive to spend our waking hours reading the Holy Quran, staying away from gatherings that waste time, and control our tongue from vain and hurtful speech such as backbiting.
Every Muslim should cut all negative ties with society at least for this month and view it as the month of working diligently on oneself. This is the month of earning and we should work hard to earn reward and righteousness.
Hadrat Jibril’s Curse
Hadrat Jibril e once came to the Messenger of Allah and cursed to eternal Hellfire anyone who did not repent and have himself forgiven in Ramadan, to which the Messenger of Allah said amin.
An Archangel’s curse would have been more than enough on it’s own as a stiff warning, but the Prophet’s amin and stamp of approval makes this curse all the more potent. There is no doubt that whoever is fortunate enough to live through Ramadan but does not seek repentance, will be sentenced to Hellfire.
The Cure to Laziness
We will be terribly ashamed on the Day of Judgment when the righteous predecessors present worthy deeds in front of Allah such as forty years’ regular tahajjud. At that time, we will wish that we had enormous number of fasts and recitations of the Holy Quran to present to Allah, had we not been lazy during Ramadan.
If we are lazy and unable to conquer our nafs eleven months out of the year, we should be able to say to Allah that there was one month in which we tried our utmost to worship and win Allah’s favor.
Please accept O Lord,
These flowers that I have picked for You
An Elderly Woman’s Love for Hadrat Yusuf عليه السلام
When Hadrat Yusuf عليه السلام was put up for sale in Egypt, an elderly woman set out for the slave auction with just a ball of yarn and needles. Someone asked her where she was going and she replied that she was going to buy Hadrat Yusuf عليه السلام.
The man said in amazement, “Rich people and statesmen will be gathered from across the land to buy (Hadrat) Yusuf. How do you think you will be able to buy him?” To this, the elderly woman replied, “I am fully aware that I will not be able to purchase him. However, at least I’ll be able to join in the group when Allah commands all the bidders of Hadrat Yusuf e to come forward on the Day of Judgment.”
Likewise, the Muslims today may not be able to compete on any level with the righteous predecessors on the Day of Judgment, but at least, they should be able to put forth the worship and hard work of the holy month of Ramadan.
A Bird’s Love for Hadrat Ibrahim عليه السلام
King Nimrud had Hadrat Ibrahim عليه السلام put in a fire that was so strong that it blazed for forty days and was so fierce that no one could approach it. All this time, a small bird would fill water in its small beak and pour it over the fire.
Another one of the birds questioned the futility of this act since it was obvious that such small efforts would have no effect on such a huge fire. In reply, the bird carrying the water said, “I know that, but at the same time, Hadrat Ibrahim KhalilUllah is a friend and I must fulfill the rights of friendship.”
A Way to Salvation
The Muslim nation today is weak and the baggage of sins is very heavy and unlikely to decrease because of this very same weakness. The only way to forgiveness and salvation is to humbly admit this weakness and beg for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness during this holy month.
Even a rich man of this world will open his door if a beggar knocks and cries at his doorstep for a month. In the month of Ramadan, Muslims knock at the door of the “Most Merciful of the merciful ones”, and if they humble themselves and repent with true sincerity, then Allah’s infinite mercy will be awakened and will envelope them in forgiveness. The fate and destiny of a Muslim depends on but a glance from the Lord.
Nor is that (at all) difficult for Allah [35:17]
To obtain a hard Copy of complete sermon please visit alehsaanpublications.org
We Pray to Allah swt, that he give us taufeeq to fast like those who fast (sincerely), and to stand up in prayer like of those who stood up in prayer (obediently), awaken us in it from the sleep of the heedless, and forgive our sins , O Allah forgive our sins, you are the one who forgives the sinners. Aameen
