Forgiveness and Reward is Attained on the Final Night of Ramadaan

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Chapter 42: Saying Farewell to Ramadhaan
Haafidh Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee (d.795) [May Allaah have Mercy on him] says in his book Lataa'if al-Ma'aarif (Pg. 160-169)

It is narrated in Bukhaaree and Muslim on the authority Aboo Hurayrah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Whoever stands in prayer during Ramadhaan with hope and Eemaan then his previous and forthcoming sins will be forgiven.”

In a similar narration reported by Nasaa’ee it states, “Whoever fasts Ramadhaan with hope and Eeman then his previous and forthcoming sins will be forgiven.”

We have previously discussed the various views about Laylat al-Qadr.

All of these vices in which are sins are forgiven are all conditional, we must preserve what we are required to preserve.

It is narrated in Musnad Ahmad and in Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan on the authority of Abee Sa’eed al-Khudree [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Whoever fasts Ramadhaan and preserves the boundaries of his fast, as it is binding upon him to do so, then all the sins that he did before will be forgiven.”

The Majority of the scholars have explained that the forgivenss of sins here is in reference to the minor sins. The evidence for this is the Hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] in Saheeh Muslim who said that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “The five prayers, Jumu’ah to Jumu’ah, Ramadhaan to Ramadhaan, are all expiators are sins as long as one stays away from major sins.”

So the scholars differed into two views on this as well; some said that you must avoid major sins for your minor sins to be expiated and others were of the opinion that major sins being avoided was not a condition for your minor sins to be forgiven, all these acts of worshipped mentioned in the Hadeeth above in Saheeh Muslim means your minor sins will all be forgiven between these acts of worship regardless if you committed major sins.

Ibn Munthir said in Qiyaam Laylat al-Qadr:

I hope that this means that all your sins, major and minor, will be forgiven. However, the majority are of the view that major sins needs sincere repentance for it to be forgiven.

The Hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah [May Allaah be Pleased with] proves the following that All of these three are ways of your previous sins to be forgiven; fasting in Ramadhaan, standing during the night in Ramadhaan and standing on Laylat al-Qadr.

Standing Laylat al-Qadr alone expiates for sins, as the Hadeeth of ‘Ubaadah bin Saamit [May Allaah be Pleased with him] proves, regardless if the person stood on any of the other nights or not.

As for fasting the whole month, then this is also a method of having your sins forgiven, so if a believer fasts the whole month and he stands it, then he has combined two acts of worship which will secure forgiveness for him.

It is also the opinion held by some that forgiveness is gained on the final night of Ramadhaan, when he stands it he is forgiven, so the expiation of his sins being forgiven is delayed until the last night, in which he stands and then the following day he fasts, then he will have his sins expiated.

The evidence for this is what has been narrated In Musnad Ahmad on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “My Ummah have been given five specific things in Ramadhaan that which wasn’t given to any other Ummah before; the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person being more pleasant to Allaah than the scent of musk, the Angels seek forgiveness for them until they break their fasts, every night Allaah praises His Servants to Jannah and says, ‘My servants have complained that they have been withheld from their provisions so they will be given to you.’ The Shayaateen are locked up in this month…and your sins are forgiven on the final night.” It was asked, “Oh Messenger of Allaah, is that Laylat al-Qadr?” He [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] replied, “No, rather the doer will gain his reward once he has finished.”

It is also narrated that those who fast will seek their reward on the day of al-Fitr, the day of al-Fitr is a day that they are forgiven thus some from the scholars called ‘Eid al-Fitr, the Day of Prizes or Jawaa’iz.

Marwooq al-‘Ijlee used to say to other Muslims after praying ‘Eid Salaah, “Return to your homes like the day your mother gave birth to you.”

Aboo Ja’far al-Baaqir used to say, “The prize that is given to those who fast and pray is not comparable, on their day of al-Fitr their deeds have preceded them and all that is left is their reward, which is forgiveness.”

Whoever falls short in receiving his reward on the day of al-Fitr only has himself to blame, as he fell short in doing deeds in the month that preceded.

Salmaan used to say; The reward for Salaat is measured, so the one who gains it, gains it for himself and the one who is deficient then he knows what has been said about the deficient ones [i.e. the Muttaffiffeen cf. 83:1]. So fasting and all his deeds have all passed him, so if he wishes to get good then you are upon good but whoever has been deficient, and ‘Woe to Al-Mutaffifin [those who give less in measure and weight (decrease the rights of others)],’ [Muttaffiffeen 83:1]

As for the one who was shy and was prevented from doing good deeds due to his following of desires, he couldn’t pray or fast so that his deeds are empty, then this person is in debt. It comes in the Hadeeth, “The worst of people who steal are those who steal from their Salaah.”

Therefore, if the person is cursed for being deficient in regards to the Dunya [cf. 83:1] then how about the one who steals and is deficient about the Hereafter?

4. So woe unto those performers of Salat (prayers) (hypocrites),

5. Who delay their Salat (prayer) from their stated fixed times,

6. Those who do good deeds only to be seen (of men),

[Ma’oon 107:4-7]