These days while indulged in eating and drinking at Iftar parties most of the people do not attend the Maghreb prayer’s congregation. Whereas, whoever ignores a congregational prayer in Ramadan deprives himself of countless blessings. Therefore, whatever work you undertake do consider the limits set by Shariah.
First ten days: First ten days of Ramadan, marked with mercy, have 14,400 minutes.
Second ten days: Second ten days of Ramadan, marked with forgiveness, have 14,400 minutes.
Last ten days: Last ten days of Ramadan, marked with absolution, has 14,400 minutes. There are total 43,200 minutes of Ramadan. And every single minute is far precious than zillions of dollars.
Precious month: Do not spend too much time shopping for Eid. Do not take these priceless moments of Ramadan for granted.
Tahajjud: Do not miss even a single chance of offering Tahajjud. One is to already get up earlier for Sehri, so what if eight Nawafal of Tahajjud prayer are offered.
Guests- a blessing or curse: All of these three meals; Sehri, Iftari and the meal prepared for guests, undobtedly, are auspicious.
Besides avoiding and correcting many other societal vices, we are to avoid the habit of not entertaining the guests hospitably and with open heart. Honouring our fellow brothers and sisters, who come as guests, is very important.
But these days, there are families who frown (do not welcome guests with open heart) when told about the arrival of the guests. Some women get panicked and express their displeasure, “Damn it! What is the point in coming today!” Some girls direct their mothers to not let guests relax in their rooms. Or some girls outrightly tell their mothers, “Mama, we don’t want to see guests.” Some girls condemn the arrival of the guests saying, “Oh God! Now we will have to prepare meal for them. Now we will have to clean the house for them.”
However, not all families are alike. There are people who get worried when no guest visits them. A guest brings his own meal with him which means that Allah had destined the guest to visit you and had specified his or her share in the sustenance that you have been provided by Allah. So, the meal that a guest eats is what already had been written in his Taqdeer by Allah Almighty. Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once said that whoever believes in Allah and the Doomsday must give respect to his guest. (Bukhari, Muslim)
Holy Prophet Abraham علیہ السلام would never eat alone. He would always find a man to accompany him in the meal. Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that only a pious must dine with you. (Tirmzi)
That is why saints would pray having dined with guests like, “O Allah! Forgive me. Forgive those who have eaten food, who have provided food and those who have helped us eating food. (those who have cooked food.)”
Guests’ arrival invokes Allah’s mercy and blessings. Besides, those who eat your food pray Allah for yor well being. Allah does not audit the food guests eat. Usually the guests are pious and wayfarers whom prayers are accepted at once by Allah Almighty. Now you are to decide whether guests are a blessings or a curse?
Take this issue seriously and start welcoming guests with open heart. Also teach your children to greet guests smilingly. Hospitapility doesn’t mean to spend on guests such that you cross your financial limits and incur debt. Hospitality, rather, is to honour your guest, who has come for a short period, remaining confined to your budget.
In Ramadan, guests rarely visit. But these are Iftar parties which are celebrated abunduntly. One must mind that whoever makes arrangement for his fellow Muslim so that he may break fast, gets the same reward as promised to the one who observes fast. (Beqahi)
Undoubtedly, arranging Sehri and Iftari for someone carries countless blessings and reward but these days there are many rituals which signify these Iftar parties. Sometimes routine parties are dubbed as Iftar parties. And most of the times it is merely pomp and show that characterizes these Iftar parties.
Iftar parties usually have certain objectives and outcomes. In our society, usually the rich celebrate Iftar parties. Aranging Iftari either for rich or poor just for the sake of Allah’s will and spiritual reward carries many blessings and rewards. The poor must be taken care of. One must exhibit generosity in in Ramadan. The best and easy Iftar party which surely wins mercy of Allah Almighty and Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is to provide a pious, religiuos family with enough food so that they could fast in the month of Ramadan with comparative ease. Poor families must not be provided food at the cost of their self-respect and nor they be made to recognize you as their benefactor. Rather they be helped with the intention to earn Almighty Allah’s will and moreover that owing to their fasts, Allah Almighty will accept ours.
Our Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would spend generously in the month of Ramadan. These days while indulged in eating and drinking at Iftar parties most of the people do not attend the Maghreb prayer’s congregation. Whereas, whoever ignores a congregational prayer in Ramadan deprives himself of countless blessings. Therefore, whatever work you undertake do consider the limits set by Shariah. And do welcome your guests cordially. Countless blessings are invoked upon hosts by guests. Allah Almighty accepts prayers at the time of Sehri and Iftari. Pray earnestly at these moments. May Allah Almighty bless us with a Ramadan garnished by acknowledged acts of virtues. May Allah Almighty make us the ones who regard the sacred moments of Ramadan and abide by the Shariah. Amen!
Save thousand gallons of water – for yourself, for nation
Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has forbidden from using water lavishly. Once Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ passed by his companion Hazrat Saad رضی اللہ عنہ who was performing ablution. Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “Saad! Why are you becoming extravagant? Hazrat Saad رضی اللہ عنہ asked, “O Prophet of Allah! Is there extravagancy in performing ablution?” Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ replied, “Yes, even if you are sitting by the side of a river.” (Masnad Ahmad, Mishkat Sharif)
Readers! It is quite evident from this incident that wasting water which is a great blessing of Almighty Allah widely available to us is not permissible.
