If a person was given the opportunity to meet the greatest king of the world, to sit and talk with him alone, and to be presented with his best gifts, he would stop eating and sleeping out of extreme joy. He would count the days and minutes waiting for this meeting. Allah The Almighty has promised us a special opportunity to talk to Him privately in the blessed nights of Ramadan, and promised us special gifts that are different from those of the whole year.

Hence, we hope that Allah The Almighty grants us the blessings of these days and nights: fasting during the day, praying during the night and performing acts of worship during the Night of Al-Qadr. The Prophet said:

• “Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith while seeking its reward from Allah, will have his past sins forgiven.”

• “Whoever stands (in night prayer in) Ramadan out of faith while seeking its reward from Allah, will have his past sins forgiven.”

• “Whoever stands (in night prayer in) the Night of Al-Qadr out of faith while seeking its reward from Allah, will have his past sins forgiven.”

• “Some are freed from Hell by Allah, and that happens every night (in Ramadan).” So, what of the last ten blessed nights?

The Prophet also said that our Lord The Exalted descends[1] to the lowest heaven in the last third of the night and Says (what means): “Who supplicates Me, so that I will answer his supplication? Who asks Me, so that I will fulfill his demand?” So, what about the nights that conceal the best night in the whole year?

This abundant generosity from Allah The Almighty in the month of rewards necessitates filling our hearts with hope in Allah The Almighty. Have hope in Allah The Almighty while offering night prayers, reciting the Quran, seeking His forgiveness and supplicating Him. You are dealing with the Most-Generous, the Most-Kind and the Most Merciful. He is more Merciful to you than yourselves, and Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Whatever Allah grants to people of mercy - none can withhold it; and whatever He withholds - none can release it thereafter. And He is the Exalted in might, the Wise.} [Quran 34:2]

So, fear Allah The Almighty, obey Him and fill your hearts with good expectations of Him, hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.} [Quran 18:110]

Let us end this month on a good note, perhaps we may not witness it the next year. Let us invest the remaining nights and frequently seek the forgiveness of Allah The Almighty and ask Him to accept from us.

One of the good means to end this month is to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr, in order to make up for any shortcomings in our fasting and benefit our needy brothers and sisters. It is obligatory for us according to Ibn ‘Abbaas who said, “The Prophet made Zakat Al-Fitr compulsory so that those who fast may be purified of their idle deeds and vain speech (committed during Ramadan) and so that the poor may be fed. Whoever gives it before the ‘Eed prayer will have it accepted as Zakah, while he who gives it after the ‘Eed prayer has given charity.” [Abu Daawood]

It is equal to one Saa’ of food. It should be given before the ‘Eed prayer. It is permissible to be given one or two days before ‘Eed as the Companions did. Ibn ‘Umar said, “The Messenger of Allah enjoined Zakat-ul-Fitr one Saa’ of dates or barley upon Muslims: free and slave, male and female, young and old, and he enjoined that it should be given before the people go out to the prayer.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Naafi’ said, “Ibn ‘Umar used to give it on behalf of the young and the old. He even used to give it on behalf of my children. Ibn ‘Umar used to give it to those who accept it. They were given it before (the ‘Eed of) Fitr by one or two days.” [Al-Bukhari]

[1] We believe in the Attributes of Allah that occur in the Quran and authentic Hadeeths of the Prophet, , without distorting their wordings or meanings, nor denying, nor asking how, nor drawing resemblance between Allah and any of His creation.

Nights of Hope -I