Glittering Stars in Ramadhaan

It was narrated that Imaam Maalik, may Allaah have mercy upon him, used to take leave of his friends after finishing the lessons of knowledge in order to contemplate the life of the companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and study the books that speak about them and read their stories so that he could follow their footsteps and make the best use of their example. Although he was not destined to live with them, their living biographies were his provision throughout his life journey.

It is of great importance while we are in the spacious oasis of the month of Ramadhaan to contemplate thoughtfully on the life of the companions and our righteous predecessors, may Allaah be pleased with them all. We will touch upon and study their successful lifestyle during the blessed month of Ramadhaan so that they may be our guide and ideal example in traveling throughout the journey of this blessed month.

1. Invoking Allaah The Almighty to Allow them to Live until Ramadhaan.

Mu‘alla ibn Al-Fadhl, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “The companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to supplicate Allaah The Almighty for six months in advance to prolong their life until Ramadhaan. Then they used to supplicate Him for six months to accept their righteous deeds in it.” Yahya ibn Abi Katheer, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: Among their invocations was: “O Allaah Deliver me to Ramadhaan and Deliver Ramadhaan to me and accept it from me.”

2. Calling Ramadhaan as Al-Mutahhir (the Purifier):

 It was narrated that ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with him, used to say at the arrival of the month of Ramadhaan: Welcome to the one who purifies us from sins.”

3. Seeking Forgiveness Persistently

It was narrated that ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, used to make this Du‘aa’ upon breaking his fast: Allaahumma inni as’aluka birahmatika al-lati wasi‘at kulla shay’in an taghfira li (O Allaah, I ask You by Your mercy which encompasses all things, that You Forgive me).

4. Paying Special Attention to the Recitation of the Noble Quran:

Ibn Rajab, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: Faatimah, may Allaah be pleased with her, narrated that her father, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told her that Jibreel used to review the Quran with him once every year, and in the year of his death he reviewed it with him twice [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim], and from the Hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas that this process was done at night. [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Consequently, this indicates that it is recommended to do much recitation of the Noble Quran during the nights of Ramadhaan. The purpose is that night has less distractions, more willpower and the heart and tongue focus on contemplation as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words.} [Quran 73:6]. Moreover, Ramadhaan has a special relationship with the Noble Quran as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {The month of Ramadhaan [is that] in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.} [Quran 2: 185] [Lataa’if Al-Ma‘aarif, p. 315]

‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, used to recite the entire Noble Quran once a day. Some of the companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, used to do that every seven days in At-Taraaweeh. It was narrated that ‘Imraan ibn Hudayr said: Abu Mijlaz used to lead the night prayer in the neighborhood during the month of Ramadhaan, completing the recitation of the Quran entirely every seven days.

Some of the righteous predecessors used to complete it while praying at night during Ramadhaan every three nights, some others in seven nights while some others every ten nights.

Qataadah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, used to complete it every seven days, every three days in the blessed month of Ramadhaan, and every night in the last ten days.  

Weeping a great deal for fear of Allaah The Almighty was their prominent feature during the recitation of the Noble Quran. Al-Bayhaqi narrated that Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: When the verse in which Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Then at this statement do you wonder? And you laugh and do not weep.} [Quran 53: 59-60] was revealed, the people of As-Suffah wept to the extent that tears ran down their cheeks. When the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, heard their crying, he also wept and thus we wept for his weeping. Then the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “A man who weeps out of fear of Allaah will not enter Hellfire until the milk goes back into the udder.”  [At-Tirmithi]

Sufyaan Ath-Thawri, may Allaah have mercy upon him, used to leave all his works at the arrival of the blessed month of Ramadhaan and dedicate himself to the recitation of the Noble Quran.

Al-Waleed ibn ‘Abd Al-Malik, May Allaah Have mercy upon him, used to complete the recitation of the entire Quran every three days and in one Ramadhaan he completed it seventeen times.

Ar-Rabee‘ ibn Sulaymaan, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: Imaam Ash-Shaafi’i used to read the entire Quran sixty times every Ramadhaan and thirty times in every other month.

Abu Bakr ibn Al-Haddaad, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “I tried hard to adhere to what Ar-Rabee‘ said about Imaam Ash-Shaafi‘i that he used to complete the entire Quran in Ramadhaan sixty times other than what he recited in the prayer. The maximum amount of times I could do were fifty-nine and thirty times in the months other than Ramadhaan.”

Muhammad ibn Ismaa‘eel Al-Bukhaari, may Allaah have mercy upon him, used to read the entire Quran during the day of Ramadhaan and used to do a complete reading every three nights after the Taraaweeh prayer.

Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “The forbiddance of completing recitation of the Quran in less than three days applies to this being made a regular practice, but as for favored times such as Ramadhaan, especially, the nights in which The Night of Al-Qadr is sought, or favored places such as Makkah for the visitor, it is recommended to increase reciting the Quran to avail of the time and place. This is the view of Ahmad, Is-haaq and other Imaams, and the practice of others also indicates this." [Lataa’if Al-Ma‘aarif]

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