HOLY RAMADHAN & ALMS

Once again the holy month of Ramadhan is approaching and God willing, we will once again be fortunate to witness and experience this great month, which the Holy Prophet (saww) has called it ‘Shahrullah’ meaning ‘the month of Allah’.

In this holy month, we all become the guests of Allah (SWT). In the sermon, which the Holy Prophet (saww) had delivered at the advent of Holy Ramadhan, he (saww) clearly specified, “It is the month in which you have been invited to become guests of Allah and you have been made in it as the favourites of Allah”.

It is customary that whenever we are invited to somebody’s house, we take gifts for the host. It is considered as impolite to go to people’s houses empty-handed. Since in the month of Ramadhan, we have been invited to become the guests of the Master of the universe, what shall we take as a gift for Him that will make Him happy?

ALMS ARE RECEIVED BY ALLAH (SWT)

If there is any thing that Allah (SWT) personally accepts from His servants and becomes extremely pleased and satisfied with, then that is what is known as ‘Sadaqah’ meaning ‘alms and charity’.

“Do they not know that Allah is He Who accepts repentance from His servants and takes the alms…” (9:104)

The Holy Prophet (saww) said, “There are two things in which I do not like any one to associate himself with me: My wudhoo (ablution) for it is part of my prayer; and my alms which goes from my hand into the hand of one who has asked for it, thereby it goes in to the hand of the beneficent”. (Bihar al-Anwaar)

Imam Ja’ffar al-Sadiq (a.s.) has said, “Verily Allah, the Exalted says: ‘For every (good) act I have appointed someone other than Myself to receive it except for alms for I receive them with My own hands”. (Bihar al-Anwaar)

ALMS ARE ATONEMENT FOR SINS

In the month of Ramadhan, we usually seek Allah (SWT)’s mercy and forgiveness for all our wrong doings. Giving of alms thereby helping the poor and the needy is also considered as an atonement for our sins, which hastens in the mercy and forgiveness from our Lord.

History tells us that there were some people who did not go with the Holy Prophet (saww) on the expedition of Tabuk. As a result, when the Holy Prophet (saww) returned to Madina, several verses were revealed to condemn those people. Fearing the punishment of Allah (SWT), Abu Lubaba and two other people who had also not gone on the expedition, tied themselves to the pillars of the mosque and said that they would continue to remain tied till death unless the Holy Prophet (saww) untied them as a gesture of forgiveness. Allah (SWT) forgave them and the following verse was revealed,

“And there are others who have confessed their sins. They have mixed up a good action with another that was evil. It may be that Allah will turn to them (with mercy); verily Allah is Oft forgiving, Merciful”. (9:102)

On being freed, those three persons presented the Holy Prophet (saww) with gifts, which he (saww) refused to take. Thereupon, the next verse was revealed,

“Take alms out of their wealth; thereby you will cleanse them and purify them; and pray for them…” (9:103)  (Tafseer of S V Mir Ahmad Ali)

Momineen are requested not to forget to enter into the Holy month of Ramadhan as guests of Allah (SWT) without first giving alms to help and support the needy Muslims all over the world during this great month. Ramadhan Mubarak to all and iltimaase Dua’.

Mulla Mujahidali Sheriff

mulla@almahdi.org.uk