How to Receive the Month of Ramadan: Spiritual Preparation – Shaykh Dr Muhammad Fayez Awad
This is the second in a series of articles based on the seminar Reviving the Hearts – How to Receive the Month of Ramadan, looking at the inner and outer dimensions of Ramadan, helping us deepen our understanding and connection with this month of mercy, worship, and renewal.
There is no doubt that Allah has placed us into this life that we all live and for the periods in which Allah has destined for us and that there are wisdoms and there are objectives that Allah wants of us through this life, “so that He may test you which of you is the best in your works.”
Regarding this human being that Allah knows better than the very human beings themselves is that He has created for them times and periods and opportunities, occasions by which they can return to Allah (Most High).
The month of Ramadan is of the greatest of these occasions that Allah has graced us with, that allows us to change the very direction in the stream of our life. This is why the earliest generation of the Muslims used to prepare six months in advance by turning to Allah and asking Him in prayer and supplication that Allah might allow them to reach the month of Ramadan. And when Ramadan had then passed, they spent the next period six months afterwards beseeching Allah that He accept from them their month of Ramadan.
Our exemplar in this is the messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), who is the one who established and taught us this turning to Allah and asking him, beseeching him that he may, we may arrive and reach Ramadan. He used to say in his dua, in his prayer, “O Allah grant us blessings in our Rajab, in our Shaban and cause us to reach Ramadan.”
The month of Ramadan, which is upon us, is like a visitor that is coming to visit. And who of us would not, if they received a phone call and a visitor said, I’m coming to visit you, would not prepare their home, prepare their very own selves, set their family, their children ready to receive this noble guest?
Intention
The very first thing to prepare is a sound intention. Intention that the month of Ramadan and all the actions will be for Allah and Allah alone and that we will strive to do only those things that are pleasing to Allah and pleasing to His Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace).
By this intention alone, Allah will grant us the reward of those actions. In other words, even if for some reason you are not able to act upon what you had intended, the intention establishes the basis of Allah’s acceptance and reward. The evidence of this is the very words of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) that Allah has written, has prescribed the actions, the praiseworthy, the rewarded actions as well as those which are sent to be censored. And if a person intends to do an act that is praiseworthy, that is to be rewarded, and makes that very intent with solid resolve, Allah will write for them the reward of that action. In other words, the reward is tied to the resolve, not the actualization of the action.
We are at the threshold of this blessed month of Ramadan. But how many people are alive on this earth today, by the time Ramadan begins, will not be. How many people were with us last Ramadan and have moved on to the mercy of Allah (Most High). So the intention and the resolve of establishing this intention and resolve from now is of the utmost importance.
Repentance
The second important matter is a true and honest repentance (tawba) to Allah Most High. Repentance is an obligation from every sin and from every time. This is a matter that even in our day-to-day practical lives, we observe if a person is going to receive a guest, do they receive the guest in their work clothing, the clothing that might be dirty and soiled, or do they prepare themselves by dressing in their best for this guest?
For this tawba by which we receive Ramadan, we must fulfill all of its stipulations perfectly. The first is regret to be really in one’s heart for what one had done not just on the tip of one’s tongue, but from the core of one’s being. Secondly, to seek Allah’s forgiveness for the error, for the sin that one had performed. Thirdly, to turn away from it with a resolve never to return to it again.
And there’s a fourth stipulation which many people are actually unaware of or don’t observe. The three that we’ve mentioned thus far are when the ill deed, the sin is between you and Allah (Most High). Whereas if the error, the sin had been between you and the creation of Allah, of your fellow human beings, then there’s a fourth which is to fulfill the obligations, return the rights that are due them. So if a person had illegally taken the property of someone else and had sought Allah’s forgiveness through the tongue, through the heart and had really repented to Allah but had not returned the rights to the rightful people, then the repentance is not accepted because he has fallen short in the rights towards others, Allah’s servants.
The Value of Ramadan
The third point to highlight is to prepare for Ramadan by understanding the honor of this time month. The scholars say that Allah has given a primacy of place to certain times, certain places, and certain people.
For example, the messengers, and at their head is our beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), these are the best of creation. If we reflect on places, then we know that Allah has given a particular honor to the Houses of Allah in which people pray. He’s given to the haram, to Makka, to Madina, to the place in the earth which Allah has given as the final resting place of our beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). And likewise with times. Allah has created all times, but he has given a particular honor to, for example, the day of Arafa in respect to all other days. He’s given the particular dignity and honor to Ramadan. He’s given a particular honor to, for example, the hours, the moments just before the start of the dawn. All of these have their own particular honor from Allah (Most High).
This month that comes to us is a month that is distinct from the rest of the months. Allah revealed the Quran in this month. In this month the revelation began to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). This is the month of the Battle of Badr and the opening of Makka. All of these things are what make Ramadan a distinguished month amongst the month.
Of the matters that we should accustom ourselves to before the coming of Ramadan is the recitation of the Quran. This is the month of the Quran and so a person should take upon themselves whatever the portion might be in a given day that one is able to do.
Another is to prepare to outstrip ourselves in doing the good, doing the things that are pleasing to Allah (Most High). Don’t allow your nafs, yourself to simply be satisfied that I prayed a few units of prayer in Tarawih. You should schedule yourself such that you are able to take the fullest advantage of all these things that we’ve been discussing in the month of Ramadan, all these ways of turning to Allah (Most High), and so that the greatest benefit might be acquired through this time. By means of this all of our mundane, regular day-to-day actions are transformed into acts of worship.
