Sunnats and Aadaab of Ramadhaan – Part 2

7. Try to complete all commitments and necessary duties before Ramadhaan so that all your time can be dedicated and devoted to ibaadah.

عن عبادة بن الصامت رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال يوما وحضر رمضان أتاكم رمضان شهر بركة يغشاكم الله فيه فينزل الرحمة ويحط الخطايا ويستجيب فيه الدعاء ينظر الله تعالى إلى تنافسكم فيه ويباهي بكم ملائكته فأروا الله من أنفسكم خيرا فإن الشقي من حرم فيه رحمة الله عز وجل (مسند الشاميين للطبراني، الرقم: 2238)

Hazrat Ubaadah bin Saamit (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that on one occasion, just before Ramadhaan, Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) addressed the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) saying, “Ramadhaan is about to dawn upon you. Ramadhaan is the month of blessings. In this month, Allah Ta’ala turns His special mercies towards you, forgives your sins and accepts your duas and supplications. Allah Ta’ala looks at your vying with each other in carrying out good deeds in Ramadhaan (to please Him) and boasts to His angels about you. Hence, show Allah Ta’ala your efforts of piety and righteousness, for certainly the most unfortunate person is the one who is deprived of the mercy of Allah Ta’ala in this blessed month.”

8. With the approach of Ramadhaan and during Ramadhaan as well, one should recite the following dua:

اَللّهُمَّ سَلِّمْنِيْ لِرَمَضَان وَسَلِّمْ رَمَضَانَ لِيْ وَسَلِّمْهُ لِيْ مُتَقَبَّلًا

O Allah! Safeguard me for the month of Ramadhaan (by making me see the month of Ramadhaan healthy and fit so that I can take maximum benefit from it), and safeguard the month of Ramadhaan for me (by making the conditions in it such that I can take maximum benefit from it), and accept it from me.

عن عبادة بن الصامت قال كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يعلمنا هؤلاء الكلمات إذا جاء رمضان اللهم سلمني لرمضان وسلم رمضان لي وسلمه لي متقبلا (الدعاء للطبراني، الرقم: 913)

Hazrat Ubaadah bin Saamit (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would teach the Sahaabah the following dua at the approach of Ramadhaan:

اَللّهُمَّ سَلِّمْنِيْ لِرَمَضَان وَ سَلِّمْ رَمَضَانَ لِيْ وَسَلِّمْهُ لِيْ مُتَقَبَّلًا

9. Form the habit of carrying out good deeds in the month of Ramadhaan and shun the habit of committing evil deeds and sins.

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا كان أول ليلة من شهر رمضان صفدت الشياطين ومردة الجن وغلقت أبواب النار فلم يفتح منها باب وفتحت أبواب الجنة فلم يغلق منها باب وينادي مناد يا باغي الخير أقبل ويا باغي الشر أقصر ولله عتقاء من النار وذلك كل ليلة (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 682)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “When the first night of Ramadhaan enters, the shayaateen and rebellious jinnaat are chained, the doors of Jahannum are closed and no door is thereafter opened (during Ramadhaan), the doors of Jannah are opened and no door is thereafter closed (during Ramadhaan), and a caller announces, ‘O the one seeking piety and goodness, advance! O the one seeking evil, restrain (from your evil)!’ And Allah Ta’ala emancipates many souls from the fire of Jahannum, and this transpires every night throughout the month of Ramadhaan.”

10. If you are able to provide iftaar for a fasting person, then you should do so, even if it be by giving him a date to break his fast.

عن زيد بن خالد الجهني قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من فطر صائما كان له مثل أجره غير أنه لا ينقص من أجر الصائم شيئا (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 807، وقال: هذا حديث حسن صحيح)

Hazrat Zaid Bin Khaalid Al-Juhani (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who provides iftaar for a fasting person, he will receive the same reward as he (the fasting person) receives, without the reward of the fasting person decreasing in any way.”

11. Spend time in the company of the pious servants of Allah Ta’ala in order to derive maximum benefit from this month.