Articles

Ramadan: The Month of the Qur’an
Author : Dr. Mohammad Al-Hunaiti
Date Added : 06-05-2025

Allah, The Almighty, Says in the Qur'an (What means): "Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong)." [Al-Baqarah/2]. Ramadan is the month of goodness, charity, generosity, and blessings. In it, the believers race towards attaining The Pleasure of Allah, His forgiveness, and mercy.

Undoubtedly, the doors to goodness and opportunities to increase acts of worship during this great month are many and varied; each person benefits from them in ways that increase their good deeds, elevate their ranks, and earn The Pleasure of Allah, The Exalted. Among these doors are: reciting the Noble Qur’an, studying it, and gaining understanding of its rulings.

Indeed, reading the Holy Quran is among the best and most esteemed deeds in the sight of Allah the Almighty. How could it not be, when the Holy Quran is the speech of The Lord of The Worlds, which He sent down as guidance for the righteous, and revealed to His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, as a mercy to the worlds.

Moreover, reading the Quran is recommended at all times, and it is even more emphasized during the month of Ramadan, because good deeds are multiplied in this virtuous month.

Among the evidence for the virtue of reading the Holy Quran is His saying, the Most High (What means: " For me, I have been commanded to serve the Lord of this city, Him Who has sanctified it and to Whom (belong) all things: and I am commanded to be of those who bow in Islam to God’s Will,- And to rehearse the Qur’an: and if any accept guidance, they do it for the good of their own souls, and if any stray, say: "I am only a Warner"." [An-Naml/91-92].

He The Almighty also Says (What means): "Those who rehearse the Book of God, establish regular Prayer, and spend (in Charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, hope for a commerce that will never fail:" [Fatir/29].

In addition, Abdallāh Ibn ‘Amr (May Allah Be Pleased with them) reported God’s messenger as saying: "The one who was devoted to the Qur’ān will be told to recite, ascend and recite carefully as he recited carefully when he was in the world, for he will reach his abode when he comes to the last verse he recites." [At-Tirmithi].

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "The one who memorized the Qur'an shall come on the Day of Judgment and (the reward for reciting the Qur'an) says: 'O Lord! Decorate him." So he is donned with a crown of nobility. Then it says: "O Lord! Give him more!' So he is donned with a suit of nobility. Then it says: "O Lord! Be pleased with him.' So He is pleased with him and says: "Recite and rise up, and be increased in reward with every Ayah. "[At-Tirmithi].

‘Abdallah Ibn ‘Amr (May Allah Be Pleased with them) reported God’s messenger as saying: "Fasting and the Qur’an intercede for a man. Fasting says, ‘O my Lord, I have kept him away from his food and his passions by day, so accept my intercession for him.’ The Qur’an States (What means): ‘I have kept him away from sleep by night, so accept my intercession for him.’ Then their intercession is accepted." [Ahmad].

It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah has His own people among mankind.' They said: 'O Messenger of Allah, who are they?' He said: 'The people of the Qur'an, the people of Allah and those who are closest to Him." [Ibn Majah].

Abū Umāma (May Allah Be Pleased with him) said he heard God’s messenger say: "Recite the Qur’ān, for on the day of resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite it." [Moslim].

However, it is obligatory upon the Muslim not to read the Quran as he reads other books, nor should his greatest concern be to increase the number of times he completes it. Rather, he should read the Holy Quran with contemplation and reflection. That is why the noble Companions would not move on from a verse until they acted upon it. Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "Then do they not reflect upon the Quran, or are there locks upon their hearts?" [Muhammad/24].

An-Nawwās Ibn Sam'ān (May Allah Be Pleased with him) said he heard the Prophet say: "On the day of resurrection the Qur’ān and those who acted according to it will be brought with sūra al-Baqara and Āl ‘Imran preceding them* like two black clouds or canopies with light between them, or as though they were two flocks of birds in ranks pleading for the one who recited them." [Moslim].

 I conclude with the saying of Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah Be Pleased with him): "The bearer of the Quran should be recognized by his night when people are sleeping, by his day when people are eating, by his sadness when people are rejoicing, by his weeping when people are laughing, by his silence when people are  engaging in idle talk, and by his humility when people are being arrogant.'" [Narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah in "Al-Musannaf"].

In this great month, the Muslim seizes every moment in obedience to Allah The Almighty and in reciting His verses, so that he may attain Allah's Pleasure and Paradise.

The published article reflects the opinion of its author

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on praying seated due to severe obesity, given that I experience hardship in performing the prayer — especially when rising from the ground after sujūd to perform the next rak‘ah?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Standing, when one is able to do so, is a pillar of the prayer. However, whoever would experience severe, intolerable hardship, or fears harm to himself or to a limb due to obesity, or finds that standing causes him to lose his khushū‘ (humble focus and concentration) in prayer, then there is no objection to his praying seated on a chair or on the ground, performing rukū‘ (bowing) and sujūd (prostration) through gesture — provided that the gesture for sujūd is made lower than that for rukū‘. Whoever is able, at any point, to properly perform any one of these pillars, is obligated to perform it in full; for omitting it is a concession that applies only in cases of genuine inability. The Prophet ﷺ said: "When I command you to do something, do of it whatever you are able." (Related by al-Bukhārī). As the scholars of fiqh have established: what remains possible is not waived on account of what is difficult.
The criterion for determining genuine inability, as chosen by Imam al-Ḥaramayn al-Juwaynī (raḥimahullāh), is that the worshipper experiences hardship that causes him to lose his khushū‘.
As for voluntary (nafl) prayer, there is no objection to performing it while seated, even if one is able to stand. However, rukū‘ and sujūd must still be performed [in their proper physical form] by anyone who is able to do so. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the Sharia basis of the Udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
The Sharia basis of the Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) is firmly established through the Quran, the Sunnah, and the Consensus (Ijma') of the Muslims:
1. Evidence from the Holy Quran
Allah the Exalted says {what means}: "And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good." [Al-Hajj/36]. He also says {what means}: "So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone]" [Al-Kawthar/2]. According to the most well-known scholarly interpretations of this verse, "prayer" refers to the Eid prayer, and "sacrifice" refers to the slaughtering of the Udhiyah.
2. Evidence from the Sunnah
Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: "The first thing we start with on this day of ours is to pray, then we return and sacrifice. Whoever does that has followed our Sunnah, and whoever slaughters before [the prayer], it is merely meat he has provided for his family; it is not part of the ritual sacrifice in any way" [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim].
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "The Prophet ﷺ sacrificed two white rams with horns. He slaughtered them with his own hand, mentioned the name of Allah (Tasmiyah), and said the Takbir" [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim].
3. Evidence from Scholarly Consensus (Ijma')
The Muslims have reached a unanimous consensus on the Sharia basis of the Udhiyah, and no one among the scholars has disagreed with this. [Al-Sherbini, Mughni al-Muhtaj, Vol.6/P.122].And Allah the Exalted knows best.

Is it permissible for one who sacrifices on behalf of another, with the latter's permission, to eat from the sacrifice?

It is permissible for someone who sacrificed on behalf of another with their permission to eat from it with their permission, and they stand in their place (act as their representative) in distributing it.
 
It is stated in Nihayat al-Muhtaj ila Sharh al-Minhaj (Vol.8/P.141): "And he—meaning the one sacrificing on his own behalf, provided he has not apostatized—has the right to eat from a voluntary sacrifice and his sacrificial gift; rather, it is recommended. As for an obligatory sacrifice, it is forbidden for him to eat from it, whether it was designated as such initially or as a liability in his dhimmah. And excluded by what has preceded is if he sacrifices on behalf of another, or if he apostatized, then it is not permissible for him to eat from it, just as it is absolutely impermissible to feed a disbeliever from it."(The text I found indicates the impermissibility of eating) ???
 
And it is stated in Hashiyat al-Jamal ‘ala Sharh al-Manhaj (Vol.5/P.262): "If a person offers a sacrifice on behalf of a living person with their permission, does he act as their representative in distributing it—on the grounds that permission to sacrifice is permission to distribute it—or does it depend on their explicit permission? This requires consideration, but the first view is not far-fetched." And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Is fidyah required for someone who breaks their fast due to a valid excuse?

● If the excuse is permanent, such as a chronic illness with no hope of recovery or old age, then fidyah is required. This means feeding one needy person for each missed fasting day.
● However, if the excuse is temporary, such as menstruation, postnatal bleeding, or a temporary illness, then only making up the missed fasts (qada) is required, and fidyah does not apply.