End of Ramadan and Continuity after Ramadan

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ. الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ.

All Praise is due to Allah, we praise Him, and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our own evils and our own bad deeds. Anyone who is guided by Allah, he is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad, peace and blessings on him, is His servant, and His messenger.

Dear Brothers and Sisters …                                     السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

يَا أَيُّهَا الّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ –

O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.

The sun hardly rises and then it sets, and it seems like a day is merely a moment. And the new moon hardly appears then it disappears, and it seems like a month is just a day. And a year hardly begins then it ends, and it seems like a year is just like a week. And Ramadans come and go quickly through a person’s life until their lifespans end without them realizing it. And time passing speedily is among the signs of the Hour. The Prophet ﷺ said:

لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يَتَقَارَبَ الزَّمَانُ فَتَكُونُ السَّنَةُ كَالشَّهْرِ وَالشَّهْرُ كَالْجُمُعَةِ وَتَكُونُ الْجُمُعَةُ كَالْيَوْمِ وَيَكُونُ الْيَوْمُ كَالسَّاعَةِ وَتَكُونُ السَّاعَةُ كَالضَّرْمَةِ بِالنَّارِ

The hour shall not be established until time is constricted, and the year is like a month, a month is like the week, and the week is like the day, and the day is like the hour, and the hour is like the flare of the fire. [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2332, Grade: Sahih]

And in many instances, the Qur’an and Sunnah indicate the fleeting nature of this worldly life no matter how much hope people place in it or how long they live in it or how much they accumulate in it. Among the texts that indicate that the establishment of the Hour is very close, include Allah’s words:

Al-Anbiya (21) 1: [The time of] their account has approached for the people, while they are in heedlessness turning away.

And His Words:

Al-Qamar (54) 1: The Hour has come near, and the moon has split [in two].

And His Words:

Ash-Shura (42) 17: It is Allah Who has revealed the Book with the truth and the balance ˹of justice and what will make you perceive? Perhaps the Hour is near.

And more emphatic in indicating its nearness are His words:

An-Nahl (16) 77: And the command for the Hour is not but as a glance of the eye or even nearer. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.

And the Prophet ﷺ said:

بُعِثْتُ أَنَا وَالسَّاعَةَ هَكَذَا، وَيُشِيرُ بِإِصْبَعَيْهِ فَيَمُدُّ بِهِمَا

My advent and the Hour are like these, pointing with his two fingers. [Bukhari 6503].

And this worldly life is likened to water sent down from the sky, which the mingles with the earth’s vegetation, then it turns into dry debris:

Brothers & Sisters, the delights of this world deceive the beholders, who marvel at its beauty. Then it goes away through a calamity that spoils it, or death that cuts off its pleasure. Thus, it is often described in the Quran as the enjoyment of deception:

وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ-الْحَدِيدِ  20

Al-Hadid (57) 20: And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.

For, lifespans are finite, and death demolishes the pleasures of this worldly life. No one can prevent, repel, or postpone death. As Allah Almighty says:

Al Imran (3) 168: Say, “Then prevent death from yourselves, if you should be truthful.”

And Allah Almighty says:

An_Nisa (4) 78: Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you should be within towers of lofty construction.  And He says:

Al-Ankaboot (29) 57: Every soul will taste death. Then to Us will you be returned.

And Allah Almighty says:

Al-Jumu’ah (62) 8: Say, “Indeed, the death from which you flee – indeed, it will meet you. “. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the seen and unseen, and He will inform you of what you used to do.”

And no matter how long one lives in this worldly life, even if it is for a thousand years, it will seem at the time of death, resurrection, and reckoning as if they had only lived for a moment. As Allah Almighty says:

Yunus (10) 45: And on the Day when He will gather them, [it will be] as if they had not remained [in the world] but an hour of the day, [and] they will know each other.  

And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , the most knowledgeable of people about this worldly life and its reality, said:

وَاللَّهِ مَا الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا مِثْلُ مَا يَجْعَلُ أَحَدُكُمْ إِصْبَعَهُ هَذِهِ فِي الْيَمِّ، فَلْيَنْظُرْ بِمَ تَرْجِعُ.

By Allah, the world compared to the Hereafter is nothing more than like what happens when one of you dips his finger into the sea – let him see what he draws out. [Muslim 2858]

Therefore, believers should not make this worldly life their greatest concern or allow their love for it to corrupt their hearts. Instead, they should take from it what helps them obey Allah – the Almighty – and strive to purify their soul with righteous deeds. In this lies success and prosperity.  As Allah Almighty says:

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا * وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ دَسَّاهَا-الشَّمْسِ  9-  10

Ash-Shams: 9-10: (9) He has succeeded who purifies it, (10) And he has failed who instils it [with corruption].

 

Oh Muslims: Just like life, Ramadan passes by quickly and this is the last Friday of Ramadan. It is but a few days before Eid arrives. So, whoever among us has fallen short this month, should sincerely repent to Allah while the doors of repentance are still open. And whoever has strived should realize that this is entirely Allah’s grace upon them, and they should be grateful, so as not to unravel their efforts.

Brothers & sisters, you are now at the end of this Noble month and only a few nights remain, and they will pass quickly. Let us take heed from those who were with us last Ramadan and did not make it to this Ramadan. Do not lose this opportunity. Make the most of what remains of this month with plenty of acts of obedience, recitation of the verses, engaging in remembrance, plentifully giving charity, and repentance to Allah. For the wise and prudent are those who seize the opportunities of life and take advantage of the seasons of goodness.

Maintain the prayers in the mosques. And increase in giving charity.  For Allah – the Exalted – said about the believing men and women who give in charity:

أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا -الأحزاب  35

Al-Ahzab (33) 35: For them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.

From Allah’s grace upon us is that He ordained acts of worship at the end of Ramadan to express gratitude to Him and draw closer to Him. Among these acts is the Takbir on the night of Eid until the Eid prayer.  Allah the Exalted says:

Al-Baqarah (2)185: And [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.

This is among the great rituals and expressions of gratitude. The way of saying it is:

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْد

(Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar la ilaha illa-Allah…)

It should be proclaimed – once Eid is confirmed – in mosques, markets, homes, and wherever people gather. It is said loudly by men and quietly by women. Please must-read research paper for detail in the light of authentic hadith “on the day Eid al Fitr”

Also, Zakat al-Fitr, is required at the end of the month from every individual, young or old, male or female, rich or poor. It is a sa’ (four complete scoops with two hands) of a volume food or equal amount in shape or currency, to be given in charity.  Allah – the Exalted – ordained it to complete the fast, to express gratitude to Him – Glorified be He – for the grace of completing Ramadan, to purify the fasting person from idle talk and indecency, to console the needy and alleviate their feeling of need, and to spread love and harmony among people.

For reminder with references to hadith please must-read research paper “Sadaqa Tul Fitr, Salat al Fitr and actions on day of Eid al Fitr in the light of authentic hadith.

The time for distributing Zakat al-Fitr is from the confirmation of the Eid until the Eid prayer, and it is permissible before Eid by a day or two. Whoever pays it at that time, it is considered Zakat al-Fitr. Otherwise, it will be considered as normal charity.

Also, Eid prayer is ordained as gratitude for Allah’s blessings. And it is recommended to follow up Ramadan with fasting six days of Shawwal; for that is like fasting an eternity. The Prophet ﷺ urged us to fast six days from Shawwal. And it is as if it is training and continuity in fasting and performing righteous deeds. Abu Ayub Al Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that Allah’s messenger said:

مَن صامَ رَمَضانَ ثُمَّ أتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِن شَوَّالٍ  كانَ كَصِيامِ الدَّهْرِ-رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

Whoever fasts Ramadan then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted for a lifetime. [1164a].

Masnad E Ahmed : 21382 (reward multiple by 10)

It was narrated from Hazrat Thawban (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan, one month will be equal to ten months, and if he fasts six days after Eid-ul-Fitr, he will have the reward of fasting for a whole year. http://www.equranlibrary.com/hadith/musnadahmad/888/21382

This is also mentioned in Surah Anam 6:10

Surah Anam : 6:160. Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof [to his credit], and whoever comes with an evil deed will not be recompensed except the like thereof; and they will not be wronged.

EXACT CALCULATION OF 12 MONTH FASTING REWARD ACCORDING TO HADITH

So, calculation of full year as every reward is multiplied by 10. So, one month of Ramadan multiplied by 10 is equal to 10 month and then 6 Fasting of Shawwal like 6 x 10 equal to 60 days and 60 days equal to 2 months so 10 months + 2 is equal to 12 months. Subhan Allah.

Now, it is mentioned in some hadith regarding fasting whole is life can be understood if someone fasting every year month of Ramadan and 6 of Shawwal is equal to one year so in that sense he is fasting whole years. Indeed, the deeds of a believer do not cease with the end of Ramadan. For people are commanded to worship the Most Merciful, at all times and all moments. Allah the Exalted – says:

Al-Hijr (15) 99: And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty [i.e., death]. 

I concluded by this and send prayer of blessings and peace upon our Prophet as our lord commanded.