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Preparing For A Good Friend

By Muhammad Tauseef Tariq

A good friend is someone who benefits you, who is good to you, treats you well and, indeed, treats you. A good friend bestows gifts upon you and shields you from harm and creates circumstances for you to better yourself in different aspects of your life. What greater friend is there then than the holy month of Ramadhan in the Islamic Calendar. For when it arrives, it brings nothing but goodness upon goodness.

"When Ramadhan arrives, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained." (Bukhari, Muslim)

It seems as though the previous month last year has not even just gone by and this year's Ramadhan has already arrived. By the grace of Allahu azza wa jall it has arrived and we now need to get into a more proactive state of mind in order to reap maximum benefit from this month. The two main acts of worship in this month are the fasting as Allah has prescribed to us in Surat al-Baqarah of the Holy Noble Qur'an and the tarawih prayer that is performed every night of the month.

This month is a month where we ask for Allah's mercy, His forgiveness of our sins and for admittance into al-Jannah. We must, as we approach Ramadhan, begin to take stock of where we are in terms of Deen, how much we practice, how much we know, how much we affect others and whether generally there is barakah in our life and His signs or not. For at whatever stage we may be at, Ramadhan is an opportunity to give our iman and taqwa a big boost.

To attain taqwa, or God-consciousness, is the primary reason why we fast so that is the first thing that we need to keep in mind when we make our intention for the coming fasts. Not that so we get an idea of how hungry people feel, not so that we lose some weight but for taqwa. One of the results that fasting achieves is that you are constantly aware during the day of Allah seeing you which is why a Muslim never breaks a fast intentionally. The aim of fasting is to prolong that state of mind throughout the year. (Just to add, it is advisable upon breaking one's fast to eat small amounts first, wait about half an hour and then have a medium-sized meal otherwise you will put on weight)

The tarawih is another important part of the process of Ramadhan, of constant dhikr, remembrance, devotion and worship even though it is not obligatory. If Ipods are a trademark of Apple, then the trademark of Ramadhan Sharif is the Holy Qur'an.

"The month of Ramadhan is the month in which the Qur'an was sent down." (al-Baqarah: 185)

Indeed the month of Ramadhan is the month of the Qur'an and it is well advisable for a Muslim to strengthen his or her relationship with the Qur'an especially in this blessed month. The Qur'an is the root of our Deen, from where everything comes from, it's recitation food for all souls for all time, the guidance therein a light for mankind. Start reciting some Qur'an every day, practice your recitation and aim to finish one recitation of Qur'an yourself in the coming month. Be diligent and disciplined with regards to the tarawih prayer; do not miss one night of prayer if you can help it. This special occasion comes but once a year, as a Divine Gift so do not miss out on it. Make a habit now of going to the mosque to pray salah in jamaat wherever and whenever possible.

Finally, the last part of Ramadhan: the last ten days incorporating the night of power or laylat al-qadr. These ten days are days in which some people make intention to do and do I'tikaf or 'retreat' in a Masjid. If one is able to take time out from one's commitments then this is a very beneficial spiritual exercise for one's spirituality as it takes a lot of discipline and comprises much devotion. Lastly on the subject of laylat al-qadr, many masaajid hold a big event on the 27th night of Ramadhan claiming that that is the night of power. It may be or it may not be, even though there are narrations to that effect.

However, I conclude with the Prophetic advice: "Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the odd numbered nights, among the last ten of Ramadhan." (Bukhari)

Try to worship as much as you can, try to do tilaawah as much as you can, try to give in charity as much as you can, try to do as many good deeds for Allah, to people and for your own progression, do not forget the Zakat al-Fitr and remember to revise the method of praying the salah of Eid al-Fitr. May Allah make this a beneficial month for all Muslims and may we exit it better than when we entered it.