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The Catalyst for Ramadan's Change
Author : Dr. Mufti AbdulHakim Tawfeeq
Date Added : 22-10-2024

The Catalyst for Ramadan's Change

 

All praise is due to Allah, The Lord of all Worlds, Who changes and does not change, Who alters and is not altered. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the one who came with a path toward positive change, our master and beloved Prophet Muhammad, and upon his noble family and pure companions.

Undoubtedly, the principle of change in an individual’s life, and thus in society, is firmly established in the religion of Allah and is deeply rooted in the elevated Islamic education. This occurs through the ability granted to individuals to change what is within themselves. When individuals change themselves for the better, it leads to the betterment of society as a whole.

Change begins and emanates from within, that is, within the self. It starts by transforming one's beliefs, values, principles, and thoughts. When this transformation aligns with what pleases the Lord, it reflects on the external behavior of the individual, and consequently, on society. Thus, the transition occurs from one state to another, from the reality we live in to the ideal state we aspire to.

The most significant factor in changing oneself is faith when it firmly resides in the heart. It prepares the soul to accept principles, no matter the duties, sacrifices, or challenges they entail. It changes the objectives, means, direction, behavior, tastes, and standards, making them different from what they were before.

How does Ramadan contribute to the desired change?

No one can deny the significant impact Ramadan has on the change we seek, through the following points:

1. Taqwa (Consciousness of Allah): Fasting during Ramadan plays a key role in creating and strengthening taqwa. The Qur'anic verse explicitly states that the purpose of fasting is to achieve taqwa, it states (What means): "O you who have believed, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous." [Al-Baqarah/183].

2. The motivational factors in Ramadan: Ramadan provides a spiritual atmosphere that encourages one to rise and pursue positive change. The hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasize the rewards of fasting and those who fast, such as the forgiveness of past sins, the acceptance of prayers, entry through the gate of Rayyan, and the many other opportunities for good deeds. During Ramadan, the hearts turn to Allah, the rebellious jinn are chained, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, Laylat Al-Qadr (the Night of Decree) is present, and the opportunity for freedom from Hellfire is granted. Are these not enough to urge people to hasten toward good deeds, compete in coming closer to Allah, and abandoning sins and desires?

3. Willpower and patience in Ramadan: Willpower is crucial for change, and Ramadan serves as a school that teaches practical discipline in willpower and patience. Through fasting, Muslims learn to endure hardship, build resilience, and train themselves to obey Allah’s commands and control their desires for an entire month. They graduate from this intensive course successful and victorious in their struggle against their own souls, ready to channel their energy and talents toward fighting their enemies. After Ramadan, they are capable of abandoning what is forbidden and disliked habits.

4. Adopting good deeds and noble morals: Ramadan is a station where people recharge their commitment to good deeds, such as being diligent in the five daily prayers. Many who previously neglected or delayed their prayers, or failed to attend them in congregation, find themselves, during Ramadan, praying with the congregation, frequenting mosques, and filling them with remembrance, recitation of the Qur’an, and night prayers (Taraweeh). From a moral perspective, Ramadan is an opportunity to abandon vices such as selfishness and stinginess.

5. Repentance and turning to Allah in Ramadan: Many sinners seize the opportunity in Ramadan to repent, return to their Lord, and rush toward righteousness, declaring their repentance to their Creator.

In conclusion, those who fast and stand in prayer during Ramadan, with faith and seeking Allah's reward, will find their lives renewed. The positive change they experience will be achieved, and the most important thing afterward is to maintain it, remain steadfast, and strive to increase it in the coming days.

May Allah grant us success in making the most of Ramadan and in experiencing true and lasting change.

 

The published article reflects the opinion of its author

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Summarized Fatawaa

Can a menstruating woman listen to the Quran from the radio or television?

Yes, a menstruating woman is allowed to listen to the Quran from the radio or television. What is forbidden for her is reciting the Quran and touching the Mus-haf, but listening is permissible—in fact, it is an act of worship.However, she should not repeat along with the Qur’an or try to keep pace with it. 

What is the ruling of Islamic Law regarding one who slaughters a ewe and it turns out to have been pregnant, and is it permissible to slaughter the ewe if one knows it is pregnant?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
If a person slaughters a ewe and it turns out to have been pregnant, the fetus becomes lawful (ḥalāl) by virtue of its mother's slaughter (tabaʿan li-ummihā).
It is stated in Mughnī al-Muḥtāj (Vol.6/P.158): "A fetus found dead [after the mother's slaughter], or found alive but in a state resembling that of a slaughtered animal [i.e., dying shortly after], becomes lawful — whether or not it had grown fur — provided it is found in the womb of a mother that was lawfully slaughtered, whether her slaughter was by cutting the throat, or by an arrow or hunting dog sent after her. This is based on the ḥadīth: 'The slaughtering of the fetus is [effected by] the slaughtering of its mother' [narrated by al-Tirmidhī, who graded it ḥasan, and by Ibn Ḥibbān, who graded it ṣaḥīḥ] — meaning that the slaughter which rendered the mother lawful renders the fetus lawful as well, by virtue of following her; and because the fetus is one of her constituent parts, and her slaughter renders lawful all of her parts."
This ruling differs, however, from the case of one who knows from the outset that the ewe is pregnant [and intends to sacrifice her specifically as the udḥiyah while pregnant] — in which case, according to the Shāfi'ī school, she does not fulfill the requirement of a valid sacrifice.
It is stated in Ḥāshiyat al-Bujayrimī 'alā al-Khaṭīb (Vol.4/P.335): "A pregnant animal does not fulfill the requirement [of a valid sacrifice], and this is the authoritative position (al-mu'tamad), because pregnancy diminishes the quality of the meat. As for why such an animal is nevertheless counted as complete [i.e., fully valid] in matters of zakāh, that is because the intent there is reproduction (nasl), not the quality of the meat.". And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

My father has debts and asked me to repay them years ago, and I promised him I would do so upon his death — is it permissible for me to go back on my promise given that I am unable to repay them, especially since he refuses to contribute to repayment on the grounds that the debt has become my responsibility by virtue of my promise?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The established principle is that a father's debt is to be repaid from his own wealth, if he possesses sufficient means. As for the promise made by the son to repay it on his father's behalf, fulfilling such a promise is strongly recommended, and breaking it is considerably disliked. Shaykh al-Islām Imām al-Nawawī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "Fulfilling a promise is emphatically recommended, and breaking it is severely disliked. The evidences for this from the Qurʾān and the Sunnah are well known." [Rawḍat al-Ṭālibīn,Vol. 2/P.278] Shaykh al-Islām Imām Zakariyyā al-Anṣārī, may Allah have mercy upon him, further states: "The reason fulfilling a promise is not obligatory and breaking it is not forbidden is that a promise is in the nature of a gift, and a gift does not become binding except upon receipt." [Asnā al-Maṭālib fī Sharḥ Rawḍ al-Ṭālib,Vol. 2/P.487]
Given that the son does not possess the financial means to fulfil his promise to his father, breaking this promise falls beyond his capacity — and Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. Since the father himself possesses sufficient wealth to settle his own debt, repayment must be made from his own funds. Should he pass away before doing so, the debt is to be settled from his estate. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on objecting to the Mosque Imam regarding the joining of prayers due to rain?

 
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is not permissible for any of the congregants to object to the Imam in the mosque, whether the objection is to demand the joining of prayers or to oppose it; for the general principle is that the Imam possesses the religious knowledge (Al-Ilm al-Shar‘i) that qualifies him to make the decision in this matter. And Allah the Exalted knows best."

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