Umar’s Instructions on the First Night of Ramadan

MAKTABAH-ALFAWAAID] Umar’s Instructions on the First Night of Ramadan

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Ikhwaani, lets a focus on the issue at hand.

Today is the 26th Sha'ban 1432. Ramadan starts either Sunday or Monday. Let us start planning how we intend to benefit in this month. Lets try to get a better understand of the importance of this month and rulings related to it so that we can take as much benefit from it as possible. Let us be Muslims who practice this deen based upon sound knowledge.

Let us identify this issues that we do not understand or are not sure about with regards to this blessed month and then aid each other in clarifying these issues with rulings given by the ulema of Sunnah from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger with the understanding of the Pious-predecessors.

Let us bring our hearts closer together for the sake of Allaah we (including me) could all do with a little bit of softening up for the sake of Allaah.

With this thought in mind I would like to get the ball rolling. Here are some instructions delivered by 'Umar on the first night of Ramadan. Please take some time to read and contemplate over these very important words. May Allaah enable us all and our families to fully benefit from the coming blessed month, ameen!

Umar's Instructions on the First Night of Ramadan

It is reported that on the first night of Ramadân, 'Umar – Allâh be pleased with him – would pray Maghrib, then say (to the people):

Sit down. Then he would give a small address: Verily the fasting of this month has been made a duty upon you, and standing in night prayer has not been made a duty upon you, but those amongst you who can stand in prayer should do so, for it is from the extra good deeds about which Allâh told us: so whoever cannot stand in prayer, let him sleep on his bed.

And beware of saying: I will fast if so and so fasts and I will stand in night prayer if so and so stands in prayer. Whoever fasts or stands in night prayer, he must make this for Allâh. And you should know that you are in prayer as long as you are waiting for a prayer.

Minimize any vain or false speech in the houses of Allâh (mosques; he said this two or three times). Let none of

you fast a few days before the month (in order to avoid missing the beginning of the month; he said this three times). And do not fast until you see [the crescent of the new month] unless it is overcast. If it is overcast, count [the previous month] as 30 days. Then do not break your fasts until you see the night upon the mountain (i.e. you are sure the sun has set). ['Abd Al-Razzâq Al-San'ânî, Al-Musannaf article 7748.]

Source: http://www.sayingsofthesalaf.net/index.php/umars-instructions-on-the-first-night-of-ramadan/#ixzz1TGnM0qKa