RAMADAN SERMON: Laylatul Qadr, I’tikaaf And ‘I’dul Fitr

By Sheik Musa Oladayo Raji

Lastly Abu Hurayrah (RAA) says that the Holy Prophet (SAW) retired to the mosque for ten days every year in the month of Ramadan, but in the last year of his life he retire to the mosque for twenty days. (Bukhari)

Whenever the Prophet (SAW) exemplified an act like this, it served as an impetus for his companions to follow suit. Apart from the fact that He (SAW) persuaded us of doing it because of the derivable benefits and spiritual growth therein.

Aishah (RAA), His (SAW) wife says that the Holy Prophet (SAW) used to endeavour (in worshipping) during the month of Ramadan more than He strove in any other month, and He prayed harder and more earnestly in the last ten days of the month of Ramadan more than He did in the first twenty days of this month.

Aishah (RAA) says further that she asked the Holy Prophet (SAW): “O Messenger of Allah, if I come to locate the Blessed Night, then how should I pray in this night? The Holy Prophet (SAW) said: “ALLAHUMA INNAKA ‘AFUWWUN TUHIBUL ‘AFWA FA’AF’ANNI” (Allah thous art Most Forgiving and Lovett forgiveness then do thou forgive me).

With all these explanatory quotations above, it suffices to say that it is part of religion to embark on ‘I’tikaf during the last ten days of the month of Ramadan. However, there are conditions that govern this act of Ibaadah, parts of them are as follows: (i) Retreat with fasting; Retreat does not count without fasting. (ii) It must be done in a mosque where five daily obligatory prayers and Jum’ah are observed.

Allah says: “And do not have sexual relations with your wives while you are in ‘I’tikaf (i.e. confining oneself in a mosque for prayers and invocations leaving the worldly activities) in the mosques. (iii) If a person gets sick during the period, he should go home and when he gets well, he should take up where he left off. The same holds for a woman who menstruates while she is on retreat. (iv) A willing Muslim should enter his place of retreat before sunset of the night he wishes to begin his retreat. (During the period) He should not go out to visit the sick, to do Salat over the dead, or to trade. Someone on retreat should not leave the mosque except to take care of nature where the facilities are not. (v) Someone on retreat till the last day of Ramadan should not return home until he spends the night before the eid in the mosque then he leaves in the morning for the Salat praying ground.

At this juncture, it is pertinent to state here that Zakatul Fitr (otherwise known as JAKA) is paid before going to the praying ground. It is an established Sunnah, prescribed by the Prophet (SAW) for every Muslims, young or old, male or female, free or slave. Each person must give a SA’I (or 12 tins of milk) as the standard of the Prophet (SAW) of the most common staple foods of the people.

Head of the household pays for himself and for all his dependents and make sure that the food items reach the beneficiaries before they leave for the praying ground. Because the main aim of the act is for the poor and the needy to have sense of belonging. If it is not done that way, the reward may no longer be there.

What marks the end of it all is Salatul I’dul Fitr. This festival is an established Sunnah. The Imam and Muslims Faithful (male and female) would leave for a praying ground earmarked for such, just after sunrise to observe a two Raka’at.

The Imam is expected to recite Suratul Fatihah and other chapter aloud. After the prayer, he is expected to deliver a sound and meaningful sermon.

The feast has a member of etiquettes. They are so numerous that this piece can’t take them all. But let us look at few of them.(1) It is Sunnah to eat before going to the eid (Ramadan feast only). (2) Glorification of Allah while going to the eid. (3) Taking bath before going to the eid. (4) Wearing of one’s best cloth. (5) Application of scent on one’s cloth (men only). (6) Congratulating one another on e‘id. by saying; “TaqabalaIlahu mina waminkum” i.e. May Allah accept it from us and from you.

Finally the Prophet (SAW) recommends that after the feast of eidul fitr we should endeavor to fast for six days during the month of Shawwal. (tenth month of lunar calendar). As narrated by Abu Ayub (RAA), the Prophet (SAW) said: “One who observes this fast throughout the month of Ramadan then followed by fasting six days in shawwal, is as good as if he observed the fast throughout the year. (Muslim)

My esteemed readers, I enjoin you all to take solace in doing all the recommended acts of Ibaadah during all the last lap of this glorious moment: one for our spiritual growth and two for the betterment of the society because if we (all of us) take its advantage to repent sincerely and turn to Him (The Most High) for assistance, Allah is ever ready to come to our rescue. He is our Waliy (protector). I say all that you are listening to and I seek forgiveness of Allah from my sins and yours.