All Muslims are promised a handsome reward by Allah if they surf their abilities in serving Allah and His mankind. This is why Ramadan is always seen as a great opportunity in all Muslim community.

Ramadan is ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is considered to be the holiest of all. In Quran and Hadith, there are several verses quoting the significance of the Ramadan. All Muslims believe that this month provides them with an ideal opportunity to fight the evil spirit and get uncountable virtue. This is because, firstly, in the month of Ramadan Allah fetters Satan and as a consequence Satan cannot whisper bad ideas in the minds of believers. Secondly, as all Muslims observe fasting so they spontaneously learn tolerance and patience. Fasting also teaches them how to learn self-restraint.

Allah declares this learning of self-restraint the purpose of fasting, the Quran says:

“Fasting has been prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon nations before you so that you may learn self-restraint. “

In this way the month of Ramadan serves as the training platform for fight against evil, as individuals learn self-restraint, commit good deeds and follow the right path. This makes the person a stronger believer and even when the Satan is set free again, the Satan does not finds it easier to make a believer indulge in any wrongdoing. Ramadan purifies believers spiritually as Allah forgives the mistakes of believer and awards them with great reward for their good actions.

Furthermore, Muslims are also blessed with the uncountable virtue in this month. Allah blesses believers seventy times more than he blesses them, for the same deed, in other months. A Nafl prayer is rewarded with a reward equivalent to Farz prayer and Farz prayer is rewarded with the reward of 70 Farz prayers.

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Whoever fasted the month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith (i.e. belief) and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven, and whoever stood for the prayers in the night of Qadr out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”
Such are the blessings of Allah in this month and hence it can be concluded that Ramadan is the key to defeat evil spirit and avail uncountable virtue.

At the end of Ramadan, Allah blesses the believers with the festival of Eid. Eid follows the month of Ramadan, and it is purely a reward for those Muslims who observed fasting and pushed their material instincts under control during Ramadan, to attain a state of greater mental purity. This Eid is known as EidUlFitr, which is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal.
When the month of Ramadan ends, Allah asks the believers to celebrate.It must be ensured that the underprivileged are kept a part ofEid celebrations. Therefore, Muslims distribute ‘Fitrana’ before Eid. Fitrana is a special charity donated at the end of Ramadan amongst poor people so that they can enjoy Eid in a similar manner as the rich.
It is narrated that the Holy Prophet would not sleep in the night before Eid. That night is termed as the night of reward so it is desirable to offer Nawafil prayers and pray to Almighty Allah.One can also engage in other forms of worship, for example, recite of Holy Quran. Muslims start their Eid day by offering a special Eid prayer. This Eid prayer must be offered any time between the Fajr and Zuhr prayer. However, many Muslim scholars suggest that the Prayer should not be delayed and should be offered early morning.

Ideally, Fitrana should be paid before the commencement of Eid prayer, to allow the poor with ample time to buy new clothes and food stuff. Eid prayers are congregational prayers; therefore they are a symbol of unity in Muslims.This prayer help in laying down a relationship of brotherhood as all Muslims, whether poor or rich, stand shoulder to shoulder with one another and offer the prayer.

Eid day is reward for Muslims, and Muslims are forbidden to fast on this day. It is narrated that “Allah’s messenger prohibited two fasts: Fasting the day of Adha and the day of Fitr”. Muslims are not supposed to offer any Nawafil after or before the Eid prayer as well, as the messenger of Allah, Muhammad (S.A.W) never practiced this in his life.

This Eid is the happiest day for Muslims around the world as they celebrate finally after their one month long hardships.

{And (Allah desires) that you should complete the period (of Fasting), and that you should magnify Allah (saying Allahu Akbar) for having guided you, and that peradventure you may be thankful.} (A-Baqarah 2: 185)

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la il Llaha il Allah! Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa li Llah il-Hamd!

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest! Praise be to Allah! When Allah commands His servants to say “Allah is the Greatest” in Adhan (Call to Prayer), Prayer, and `Eid, and urges Muslims to wholeheartedly chant these sweet and beautiful words of praise and glory, that, despite of being soft on the tongue, are heavy on the scales (they command great reward on the Day of Judgment).

Allah is the Greatest; Allah is the Greatest! This is neither in vain nor in jest, but it is meant to implant in the hearts of the believers the essence of this religion, i.e., these words stress the fact that Allah is Omnipotent, and He is above anything else!

Allah is the Greatest! His Might is above all psychological crises that overwhelm people, no matter how extensive these woes and crises are, even they become so mountainous to the extent of encompassing the whole earth and engulfing all souls, no matter how overwhelming people’s calamities are to the extent of making the vast universe seem as small as a circle of ring, nothing can relive them from these crises except deep belief in “Allah is the Greatest”!

Allah is the Greatest! He is Greater than all temporal lusts that disseminate mischief in the earth, spread chaos in the society, and tear apart people’s amity, cooperation, and solidarity. Nothing can curb these lusts except the belief in “Allah is the Greatest!”

Allah is the Greatest! He is Greater than all tyrants who enslave the helpless people and infringe upon their rights, for they are weak and powerless. Nothing can set these affairs in order except the belief in “Allah is the Greatest!” Here, we recall the Qur’anic verse that read, {And We desired to show favor unto those who were oppressed in the earth, and to make them examples and to make them the inheritors, and to establish them in the earth, and to show Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts that which they feared from them.} (Al-Qasas 28: 5-6)

Muslims! Oh you who declare in your Adhan, Prayer, and `Eds your true belief in “Allah is the Greatest!” Never faint, nor grieve, nor despair, nor weaken, nor give in. Surely, the earth is Allah’s, it does not belong to anyone except Him. He, Almighty, gives it for an inheritance to whom He will amongst His servants, and the sequel is for those who keep their duty (unto Him), not for the traitors, nor for the aggressors, nor for the tyrants, nor for the oppressors. Be confident in the fulfillment of Allah’s promise, for He never breaks His promise.

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Ramadan is also a month of self-discipline. However, Ramadan is almost over now, so let’s ask ourselves: What impact did Ramadan have on us? Have we continued to perform our Prayers in the masjid regularly? Do we feel more inclined to read the Qur’an and ponder over its vast meanings? Are we still reading the Qur’an as regularly as we were during Ramadan?

Have we been able to give charity and lend a helping hand to those who need our assistance as we used to do during Ramadan? Or have we simply gone back to our previous lifestyle as if we had never witnessed Ramadan?

Now it is time for self assessment and reconsideration. We are asking: What kind of person have you become since Ramadan?

Feel free to share your contributions, feelings and experiences with us.

Source: http://www.onislam.net

ASH-SHAFI‘-The Intercessor

Or have they adopted intercessors besides Allah? Say: “Even though they do not control a thing and have no awareness?” Say: “ Intercession is entirely Allah’s affair . The kingdom of the heavens and Earth is His. Then you will be returned to Him.” ( Surat az-Zumar, 39:43-44)

Those who have faith in Allah and yet associate partners with Him assume that these partners will intercede for them on the Day of Judgment. According to their belief, such “guardians” will take responsibility for their followers or purify them. And so they undertake strenuous efforts to earn their approval and constantly think of them. But this is no more than a huge delusion, for Allah states that He will be the only Protector on the Day of Judgment, as follows:

Abandon those who have turned their religion into a game and a diversion, who have been deluded by the life of the world. Remind [them] by it [the Qur'an], lest a person is delivered up to destruction for what he has earned with no protector or intercessor besides Allah. Were he to offer every kind of compensation, it would not be accepted from him… ( Surat al-An‘am, 6:70)

On that Day, no one will befriend another or bear someone’s sins. As Allah informs us, only those who please Him will be allowed to intercede, and this person will surely say the truth. Unbelievers will find no guardian or intercessor on that Day, and no support, protection, or intercession, for Allah is the only Guardian and Intercessor:

Allah created the heavens and Earth and everything between them in six days, and then established Himself firmly upon the Throne. You have no protector or intercessor apart from Him. So will you not pay heed? ( Surat as-Sajda, 32:4)

By Harun Yahya