Welcome RamadanWelcome RamadanUsratul Maria New York Usratul Maria New York

Saadia Z. YunusSaadia Z. YunusJune 27, 2010June 27, 2010

Importance in the QuranImportance in the Quran

• "Oh you who "Oh you who believe! Fasting is believe! Fasting is prescribed to you prescribed to you as it was prescribed as it was prescribed to those before to those before you, that you many you, that you many learn piety and learn piety and righteousness" (Al-righteousness" (Al-Baqarah, 2:183) Baqarah, 2:183)

• The most honored The most honored by Allah amongst by Allah amongst you are those best you are those best in taqwaa“ (49:13) in taqwaa“ (49:13)

Importance in AhadithImportance in Ahadith

• "When the month of Ramadan starts, the "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained" (Bukhari) chained" (Bukhari)

• Narrated Abu Huraira (R): The Prophet (S) Narrated Abu Huraira (R): The Prophet (S) said, “Whoever fasts during Ramadan out said, “Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, then all his past sins will Allah's rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven" (Bukhari)be forgiven" (Bukhari)

Ahadith Continued…Ahadith Continued…

• "Ramadan has come to you. (It is) a month of "Ramadan has come to you. (It is) a month of blessing, in which Allah covers you with blessing, blessing, in which Allah covers you with blessing, for He sends down Mercy, decreases sins and for He sends down Mercy, decreases sins and answers prayers. In it, Allah looks at your answers prayers. In it, Allah looks at your competition (in good deeds), and boasts about competition (in good deeds), and boasts about you to His angels. So show Allah goodness from you to His angels. So show Allah goodness from yourselves, for the unfortunate one is he who is yourselves, for the unfortunate one is he who is deprived in (this month) of the mercy of Allah, the deprived in (this month) of the mercy of Allah, the Mighty, the Exalted" (Narrated by Tabarani) Mighty, the Exalted" (Narrated by Tabarani)

• Abu Umaamah (R) said, “I said, 'O Messenger of Abu Umaamah (R) said, “I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, tell me of an action by which I may enter Allah, tell me of an action by which I may enter Paradise'. He said, 'Take to Fasting, there is Paradise'. He said, 'Take to Fasting, there is nothing like it‘” (An-Nasaa'ee, Ibn Hibbaan, Al-nothing like it‘” (An-Nasaa'ee, Ibn Hibbaan, Al-Haakim, Saheeh)Haakim, Saheeh)

The Month of the QuranThe Month of the Quran• "Ramadan is the (month) in "Ramadan is the (month) in

which the Quran was sent down which the Quran was sent down as a guide to mankind and a as a guide to mankind and a clear guidance and judgment (so clear guidance and judgment (so that mankind will distinguish that mankind will distinguish from right and wrong).." (2:183) from right and wrong).." (2:183)

• Ibn 'Abbas narrates "the Ibn 'Abbas narrates "the Messenger of Allah (S) was the Messenger of Allah (S) was the most generous person, and he most generous person, and he would be at his most generous in would be at his most generous in Ramadan because Jibril would Ramadan because Jibril would come to him every night and he come to him every night and he would rehearse the Quran with would rehearse the Quran with him" (Bukhari) him" (Bukhari)

The Night of PowerThe Night of Power

• "Indeed We have revealed it "Indeed We have revealed it (Quran) in the night of Power. (Quran) in the night of Power. And what will explain to you And what will explain to you what the night of Power is? what the night of Power is? The night of Power is better The night of Power is better than a thousand months. than a thousand months. Therein descends the Angels Therein descends the Angels and the Spirit (Jibreel) by and the Spirit (Jibreel) by Allah's permission, on every Allah's permission, on every errand: (they say) "Peace" errand: (they say) "Peace" (continuously) till the rise of (continuously) till the rise of Morning!" (97:1-5) Morning!" (97:1-5)

Our Ultimate GoalOur Ultimate Goal

• "Every action of the son of Adam is given "Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, each good deed receiving manifold reward, each good deed receiving ten times its like, up to seven hundred ten times its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah the Most High said, 'Except for times. Allah the Most High said, 'Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it, he leaves off his desires recompense for it, he leaves off his desires and his food for Me.' for the fasting person and his food for Me.' for the fasting person there are two times of joy; a time when he there are two times of joy; a time when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he meets his Lord, and the smell coming from meets his Lord, and the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allah than the smell of musk" (Bukhari) with Allah than the smell of musk" (Bukhari)

May Allah (swt) help us to May Allah (swt) help us to prepare for Ramadan and prepare for Ramadan and

enable us to reap the enable us to reap the benefits of this blessed benefits of this blessed

month. month.

AMEENAMEEN