The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] named this the Month of Allaah, that the month has been directly connected in its name to the name of Allaah. This is an indication of its virtue and honour, because Allaah, the Most High, Will not Attribute anything to Himself from the creation except if it is something special from His Creation.
Just like the Prophets Muhammad, Ibraaheem, Ishaaq, Ya’qoob and others from the Prophets that have been attributed directly to Allaah as He Has Described them as being His Slaves [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon them all]. He also Attributed to Himself , His House (i.e the Ka'bah and the rest of the Masaajid), so if this month is connected to the name of Allaah, the Most High, is shows its virtue and status.
Likewise fasting, from the righteous deeds one may do, has been directly attributed to Allaah, the Most High. So this shows the virtue and enhances encouragement during this month to fast a great deal, because this month as well as fasting, both have been attributed to Him.
Additionally, the fact that this month has been attributed to Allaah, the Most High, shows its sacredness and that none is able to take this away from this month, unlike what the people of Jaahiliyyah used to do. They would change the dates or bring forward the month of Safar (i.e. the next month) in order to suit their needs (T.N: to complete the battles they were engaged in and the likes. So that they would give up their sins when it suited them and didn't honour what Allaah Has Honoured).
…
Many from the Salaf hastened to fast a great deal during this month. It is narrated that ‘Umar, Aboo Talhah, A’aishah and others from the Companions fasted a great deal [May Allaah be Pleased with them all]. There are others from the Salaf who were narrated to entirely fast the months of al-Haram [Dhu al-Qa’dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, al-Muharram and Rajab], such as Ibn ‘Umar, Hasan al-Basree and others.
Some of the Salaf would delay their lunch in order to eat it until evening, so that they were included with those who were fasting.
Some of the Salaf are narrated to fast a great deal (in general and not exclusive to this month) and that they narrated that they saw in their dreams that they had entered al-Jannah.
This Dunya, all of the time within it, is the month of fasting for those who have at-Taqwaa. The time when they break their fast is when they meet their lord, this is their Day of ‘Eid. So because they honoured each day with the worship of fasting, their lives had passed and their ‘Eid is brought near.
Some of the Salaf fasted for forty years and no one (including their families) knew of it. Some of them would go and buy bread from different shops and they would walk towards the market and distribute the bread whilst on their way, this is so that the people would think that they had eaten the bread for themselves.
How many from the righteous hid their righteous deeds and as a result, sincerity and honesty was increased in them? There is not a person who hides his good deeds except that Allaah Will make it apparent for him (i.e. on the Day of Judgement).
The scent of the mouth of the fasting person is more beloved to Allaah than the scent of musk, so whenever one hastens to hide his good deeds, his soul will be effected by this pleasant smell. It may even be that when the souls are caused to be gathered on the Day of Judgement, this persons soul will come with a pleasant smell.
So when they prepared the burial for the companion ‘Abdullah bin Ghaaleb [May Allaah be Pleased with him], they could smell musk emanating from earth in the grave they had dug for him. It is narrated that one of the Salaf saw him in their dream so they asked him, “What was that smell that we smelt before we buried you?” He replied, “That was the smell of recitation and thirst”.
This is accordance to the Hadeeth, “Those who used to fast will be resurrected from their graves with the scent of the fasting person. Their mouths will be scented with the scent of musk”.
Adapted from Lataa’if al-Ma’aarif (Pg. 25-29) by Imaam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee (795 H) [May Allaah have Mercy on him]
No comments:
Post a Comment