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Welcoming Ramadan
Author : Dr. Ibrahim Ejjo
Date Added : 23-07-2025

Welcoming Ramadan

 

Allah has ordained fasting in Ramadan for Muslims, making it one of the pillars of Islam and recording its obligation in numerous verses of the Qur’an—ensuring its ruling remains eternal, just like this divine Book. Allah says {what means}: "O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain piety." [Al-Baqarah /183]. And He, the Almighty, says {what means}: "The month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind, with clear proofs of guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever sights the month, let him fast it." [Al-Baqarah /185].

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) counted fasting Ramadan as a pillar of Islam, a foundation of the religion, and one of the greatest acts of worship drawing one closer to the Lord of the Worlds. He (peace be upon him) said: "Islam is built upon five (pillars): testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, establishing prayer, paying zakah, performing Hajj, and fasting Ramadan." [Bukhari & Muslim].

Allah has gathered immense goodness in this month. Among its virtues is that "Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven." [Bukhari & Muslim].

Thus, the sincere believer and the devout Muslim welcomes Ramadan with high determination and overwhelming joy. Ramadan holds a special place in the hearts of the righteous—it is the greatest month in goodness, the most beneficial, and the most exalted in status. It is the month of obedience and worship, the month of blessings and divine mercy—the month in which Allah revealed the Qur’an as guidance and a clear criterion for mankind.

A believer welcomes it with sincere and pure repentance, through which Allah erases sins, elevates ranks, and replaces misdeeds with good deeds: "O you who believe, turn to Allah in sincere repentance." [At-Tahrim /8]

A believer welcomes Ramadan by being steadfast in performing prayers on time and maintaining congregational prayers, for "The prayer to prayer is an expiation for what is between them." And whoever is consistent in prayer, it will be a light, salvation, and proof for them on the Day of Judgment.

A Muslim welcomes Ramadan with the resolve to fast—an act that purifies souls from sins, trains them in patience (which is half of faith), and prepares them for hardships and trials.

A believer welcomes Ramadan with the determination to recite the Qur’an, reflect upon its verses, and understand its rulings—for it is the Qur’an that reforms beliefs, rectifies morals, purifies souls, and enlightens minds. Allah says [what means]: "There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book." [Al-Ma’idah /15].

A Muslim welcomes Ramadan with the commitment to regularly perform Taraweeh and night prayers (Qiyam al-Layl), for it is the practice of the righteous and the path of the God-fearing. Allah says {what means}: "They used to sleep but little at night, and at dawn they would seek forgiveness." [Adh-Dhariyat /17-18]. Moreover, He says {what means}: "Their sides forsake their beds to call upon their Lord in fear and hope." [As-Sajdah /16]

The scholars of Tafsir (The exegesis or interpretation of the Quran) explain that this refers to night prayer—when the worshipper leaves their bed and family, abandoning sleep and comfort, turning to Allah in fear and hope, faith and devotion. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever stands (in prayer) during Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven." [Bukhari & Muslim].

Thus, every Muslim should prepare themselves to welcome this noble guest and great month.

We ask Allah to grant us the ability to fast and stand in prayer during it and to make us among those He frees from the Fire. All praise is to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

The published article reflects the opinion of its author

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it obligatory for someone traveling by plane in the afternoon during Ramadan to fast?

Anyone who intends to travel after dawn must begin the day fasting and continue with the intention of completing their fast, as fasting was obligatory upon them before traveling.
However, if they experience unbearable hardship after starting their journey, they are permitted to break their fast due to that hardship, not merely because of travel. In such a case, they must make up for the missed fast later.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law if the follower (maʾmūm) stands up for the third rakʿah out of forgetfulness while the imam has sat for the middle tashahhud?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
If the imam sits for the tashahhud while the follower (maʾmūm), out of forgetfulness, stands up for the third rakʿah, he is obliged to return to his sitting position, since following the imam is obligatory. In this case, no prostration of forgetfulness (sujūd al-sahw) is required of him. If, however, he fails to return, his prayer is rendered invalid.
Shaykh al-Islām Imām Zakariyyā al-Anṣārī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "If the follower stands up alone out of forgetfulness, he is obliged to return, since following the imam is obligatory... If he does not return, his prayer is rendered invalid, due to his departure from what is obligatory." [Asnā al-Maṭālib,Vol.1/P.190] And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on sitting between the two prostrations, and what is the ruling on the dhikr recited during it?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
Sitting between the two prostrations (al-jalsah bayna al-sajdatayn) is one of the pillars (arkān) of the prayer, while the dhikr recited during it is Sunnah according to the Shāfi'ī scholars. It is recommended (mustahabb) to say what was narrated from Ibn 'Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say between the two prostrations in the night prayer: 'Rabbi ighfir lī, warhamnī, wajburnī, warzuqnī, warfa'nī' (My Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, make good my deficiencies, provide for me, and raise me)." If one were to say a different supplication instead, such as "Rabbi ighfir lī" (My Lord, forgive me), the prayer would still be valid.
If the worshipper omits this dhikr between the two prostrations, whether intentionally or out of forgetfulness, their prayer remains valid and nothing is required of them, though they miss the reward of following the Sunnah. Leaving it out does not necessitate the prostration of forgetfulness (sujūd al-sahw).
It is stated in Hāshiyat al-Bājūrī 'alā Sharḥ Ibn Qāsim 'alā Matn Abī Shujā' (Vol.1/P.298): "The eleventh — i.e., of the eighteen pillars — his statement: 'sitting between the two prostrations,' meaning even in a supererogatory (nafl) prayer... his statement: 'with the supplication that has been narrated concerning it,' meaning: 'Rabbi ighfir lī, warhamnī, wajburnī, warfa'nī, warzuqnī, wahdinī, wa 'āfinī' (My Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, make good my deficiencies, raise me, provide for me, guide me, and grant me well-being). Al-Ghazālī added: 'wa'fu 'annī' (and pardon me). Al-Mutawallī also added: 'Rabbi hab lī qalban taqiyyan, naqiyyan min al-shirk, bariyyan lā kāfiran wa lā shaqiyyan' (My Lord, grant me a heart that is God-fearing, pure from associating partners with You, innocent, neither disbelieving nor wretched)."And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

What is the ruling on forgetting an integral of the prayer?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Whoever forgets an integral (Rukn) of the prayer and remembers it before reaching the equivalent point in the subsequent unit (Rak'ah), must return to it (i.e., perform it) and complete his prayer, then perform the prostration of forgetfulness (Sujud al-Sahw) at the end of his prayer. However, if he remembers it after reaching the equivalent point in the subsequent unit, the Rak'ah in which the integral was forgotten is invalidated, and the current unit takes its place; he then completes a full Rak'ah to compensate and performs the prostration of forgetfulness.
 
It is stated in Nihayat al-Muhtaj ila Sharh al-Minhaj (Vol.1/P.543): 'If he becomes certain at the end of his prayer, or after the Salam—provided the interval is not long according to custom and he has not stepped on an impurity—that he omitted a prostration from the final Rak'ah, he must perform it and repeat the Tashahhud, as his previous Tashahhud occurred before its proper place. If the omission was from a Rak'ah other than the final one, he must perform a full Rak'ah, because the deficient unit was completed by a prostration from the subsequent one, rendering the rest of that subsequent unit void.' And Allah the Exalted knows best.

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