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Farewell to Ramadan
Author : An Article by his Grace Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat
Date Added : 14-08-2025

The month of Ramadan prepares to depart as it arrived—a noble guest who came and now leaves. Such is the way of this world: months come and go, and life continues in its eternal cycle.

As we stand at the threshold of Ramadan’s departure, let us pause and ask ourselves: What did we offer Ramadan? What did we accomplish during its days? Did we truly fast as we should? Did we stand in prayer with sincerity? Did the divine wisdom of fasting—"that you may attain Taqwa (God-consciousness)" [Al-Baqarah/183]—manifest in our lives? Did our acts of devotion increase, or did Ramadan pass us by while we were heedless and distracted?

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned: "Wretched is the man in whose presence Ramadan arrives and departs before he is forgiven." [Tirmidhi/Ahmad]. So, are we among those whose disgrace is sealed, or are we among the fortunate who earned Allah’s mercy? Or are we among those deluded by false hopes, squandering Ramadan in idle play?

O you who are consumed by worldly pursuits,

Deceived by the illusion of endless time,

Death comes suddenly, without warning,

And the grave is the chest of deeds.

Beloved servants of Allah, Ramadan was a divine gift—a month where rewards were multiplied, a golden opportunity to rectify our past shortcomings. But were we truly deserving of Allah’s generosity? Did we rise to the occasion?

Blessed are those who repented in Ramadan, blessed are those who worshipped sincerely, and joyous are those who turned to Allah wholeheartedly. But ruin awaits those who failed to seize this month’s blessings—for they may never see it again. If one did not repent in Ramadan, when will they repent? If one did not return to Allah in Ramadan, when will they return? If one did not strive in worship during these sacred nights, when will they attain success?

Beloved servants of Allah, what comes after Ramadan? Will we revert to our old ways—neglecting prayers, withholding charity, abandoning the Quran? Many rush to worship in Ramadan—praying, giving charity, reciting the Quran—only to abandon it all once the month ends. But Allah desires for us to remain as we were in Ramadan—steadfast in obedience, nurtured by Taqwa. Ramadan was not just a passing season of worship; it was training for the soul.

So how do we bid farewell to Ramadan? Not with tears and lamentation, but with continued obedience, just as we welcomed it. We bid it farewell with gratitude to Allah for allowing us to witness it. We bid it farewell with a firm resolve to carry its lessons forward—to keep the spirit of fasting alive in our hearts. Did you not see how the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions increased their worship in Ramadan’s final days? When the last ten nights arrived, he would wake his family, tighten his waistcloth (i.e., exert himself in worship), and spend the nights in devotion.

As we say goodbye to Ramadan, we pray: O Allah, accept our fasting, our prayers, and our righteous deeds. We prepare for the first joy promised to the fasting believer—the joy of Eid, and the greater joy of meeting our Lord. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The fasting person has two joys: joy when breaking his fast, and joy when he meets his Lord." [Moslim].

Eid is a blessing, but remember—our celebrations begin with worship: Eid prayers follow the fasting of Ramadan, just as Eid Al-Adha follows the pilgrimage. True Eid is not about new clothes, but about increased obedience.

Yet beware—for on Eid night, the devils are released from their chains. Let us guard ourselves and our families against sinful gatherings, forbidden mixing, and idle amusement. We must not end our righteous deeds with disobedience, lest we become like the woman who undoes her spinning after it is strong.

Farewell, O Ramadan—month of fasting,

Farewell, O month of the Quran,

Farewell, O month of forgiveness and mercy,

Farewell, O month of light and blessings,

Farewell, O marketplace of the successful.

O Allah, accept our fasting, our prayers, and our good deeds. Grant us the blessing of witnessing Ramadan again, and seal our lives with righteousness.

Peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.

The published article reflects the opinion of its author

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on forgiving a tenant next month's rent, with the intention of counting it toward zakāh al-māl?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It does not fulfill the obligation to count the rent owed on a house, or a portion of it, in lieu of zakāh. Rather, it is necessary to first transfer ownership of the zakāh amount to the poor person directly; only afterward may he be asked to pay the rent [from that money].
It is stated in ‘Umdat as-Sālik (p. 112): "If someone gives [money] to a poor person, stipulating that the recipient return it to him in payment of a debt owed to him, or says, 'I am making what you owe me into zakāh, so take it [as such]' — this is not valid. But if he gives it to him with the [unstated] intention that the recipient will use it to repay him, or says, 'Repay what you owe me, so that I may [then separately] give it to you as zakāh,' or the debtor himself says, 'Give it to me, so that I may [then] repay you with it' — this is valid, and there is no binding obligation for the recipient to actually fulfill this [informal understanding]."
We would also remind [the reader] of the ḥadīth of the Prophet ﷺ: "The Muslim is the brother of the Muslim: he does not wrong him, nor does he abandon him [to harm]. Whoever attends to the needs of his brother, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, will attend to his needs. Whoever relieves a Muslim of a hardship, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, will relieve him of one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection. And whoever conceals [the faults of] a Muslim, Allah will conceal him on the Day of Resurrection." (Agreed upon). And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What are the conditions for a valid Udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
First: The age of the animal must meet the Sharia requirements. These requirements vary depending on the type of sacrifice:
 
Camels: Must have completed five years and entered their sixth.
 
Cows: Must have completed two years and entered their third.
 
Goats: Must have completed two years and entered their third. As for Sheep, they must have completed one year and entered their second.
 
Some scholars have permitted goats that have completed one year and entered their second.
 
The Hanafi school, along with an opinion in the Maliki school, permits sacrificing sheep that are at least six months old, provided they are healthy and physically substantial. According to the Shafi’i school, it is permissible if the sheep sheds its front teeth (ajdha') before reaching one year [Al-Iqna’, by Al-Shirbini (Vol.2/P.588)].
 
Second: Soundness and freedom from defects. The animal must be free from any defect that causes a decrease in its meat or market value. This is based on the hadith narrated by Al-Bara' bin 'Azib, that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
 
"Four [defects] are not permissible in sacrifices: A one-eyed animal whose blindness is evident, a sick animal whose illness is evident, a lame animal whose lameness is evident, and an emaciated animal that has no marrow in its bones." [Reported by Abu Dawood and Al-Tirmidhi, who graded it as authentic].
 
These defects are detailed as follows:
 
Evident Lameness: It is not permissible to sacrifice a lame animal if the lameness is severe enough to prevent it from walking to the pasture or seeking food, as this leads to a decrease in its meat. However, slight lameness that does not hinder its grazing is overlooked.
 
Evident Blindness (One-eyed): It is not permissible to sacrifice a sheep, cow, or camel that has a white film over its eye blocking light, or one that has lost an eye entirely. Weak vision that does not affect its ability to eat does not prevent the sacrifice from being valid.
 
Evident Illness: An animal with a clear sickness that prevents it from eating or moving is not valid. This includes severe mange (Jarab) that spoils the meat.
 
Extreme Emaciation: An animal so thin that there is no marrow left in its bones is invalid. The standard for emaciation that invalidates the sacrifice is that which spoils the quality of the meat to the point that people would find it undesirable even in times of plenty.
 
Additional Considerations:
These are the defects mentioned in the Prophetic tradition, and any defect that causes emaciation or reduces the meat or value is compared to them by analogy. This includes animals that are mentally unstable (diseased), those with mange, or those with a missing ear. In contrast, a slit or pierced ear does not affect the validity of the sacrifice. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What are the Sunnah acts of fasting?

● Delaying Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) as long as there is no risk of Fajr beginning.
● Hastening Iftar (breaking the fast) immediately after confirming sunset.
● Performing I‘tikaf, especially during the last ten nights of Ramadan.
● Reciting the Quran frequently.
● Avoiding idle and useless talk.
● Being generous and charitable.
● Guarding oneself from desires.
● Purifying oneself from major impurity (janabah) before Fajr.

What are the nullifiers of fasting?

1. Anything that enters the body cavity intentionally, even in small amounts, through an open passage such as the mouth, nose, ears, front, or back private parts.
2. Intentional vomiting.
3. Sexual intercourse.
4. Masturbation.
5. Menstruation and postnatal bleeding.
6. Insanity.
7. Apostasy.
8. Fainting if it lasts for the entire day.

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