The Wake-Up Call of the Grave: Shaking Off Ramadan Heedlessness

Conversation with the deceased

Dear Islamic brothers! Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyiduna ‘Ali رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was blessed with a high spiritual status. By the grace of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ he رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was able to talk with the dead.

Here is another parable: ‘Allamah Jalaluddin Suyuti Shafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه has narrated that Sayyiduna Sa’id Bin Musayyab رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ has said, ‘We passed by a cemetery in the company of Amir-ul-Muminin, Sayyiduna ‘Ali كَرَّمَ اللّٰهُ وَجْهَهُ الْكَرِيم. He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ said, ‘اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا اَهْلَ الْقُبُوْرِ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهٗ. Will you tell us about your state or shall we tell us about ours?’ The narrator said, ‘We heard a voice from inside one of the graves, ‘وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهٗ O Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ! Please, tell us what happened in the world after we left.’ He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ replied, ‘Your wives have remarried, your wealth has been distributed, your children have become orphans and your enemies are now living in the strong houses you built. Now tell us about your state.’

A voice from within one of the graves said, ‘Our shrouds are torn, our hair is messy, our flesh has torn to pieces, our eyes have fallen out onto our cheeks, our nostrils are full of pus, we reaped what we sowed, we suffered loss in what we left behind, and now we are with our deeds. (In other words, the one with righteous deeds will find peace in Heaven, and the evil doer will suffer the consequences of his deeds).’ (Sharh-us-Sudoor, pp. 209)

Amusement in nights of Ramadan

Dear Islamic brothers! These two parables should serve as an eye-opener for us. Man makes merry so long as he is alive, but when he dies, his eyes do not close, in actual fact, they open. Righteous deeds and the wealth spent in the path of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ benefit the deceased, but it is unlikely that the wealth the deceased leaves behind will be spent wisely. There is just a little hope that the heirs of the deceased will spend his wealth in the path of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for the betterment of his afterlife. If the deceased left unlawful (Haraam) wealth and instruments of sins such as musical instruments, a game shop, a music centre, a cinema, a pub, a casino, an illegal business etc. he would face severe and unimaginable suffering in his grave.

In the parable ‘Horrific Scene of Grave’ we can imagine the horrible punishment given to the deceased who disrespects Ramadan. All of us should take some lesson from it. Unfortunately, during the sacred nights of Ramadan many youngsters play cricket, football etc. in streets. They not only waste these precious moments by depriving themselves of worshipping but disturb other people as well. They neither worship themselves nor let others do. These amusements make a Muslim heedless of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, therefore righteous Muslims always stay away from them. Let alone playing, the pious Muslims avoid even watching and listening to commentaries of such useless activities. Therefore, we must avoid these things, especially in the sacred moments of Ramadan.

‘Passing time’ whilst fasting

There are many such unwise people who fast but then put the honour of Ramadan aside and indulge in unlawful activities such as playing chess, cards and listening to music in the name of ‘passing time’.

Remember! Playing chess and cards is prohibited even if no money or bet is involved. A’la Hadrat رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه has declared it Haraam to play cards because they have images of living beings printed on them. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه said, ‘Ganjifah (a card game) is prohibited because it shows honour to images in addition to being a useless activity.’ (Fatawa Razawiyyah (Jadid), pp. 141, vol. 24)

What is best form of worship?

O fasting Islamic brothers! O seekers of Heaven! Never waste the precious moments of Ramadan in useless and idle activities! Life is very short, so take advantage of its precious moments. Instead of wasting your time by playing cards and listening to songs in the name of ‘passing time’ try to utilize it reciting the Holy Quran and Salat-‘Alan-Nabi and remembering Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. The more thirst and hunger you endure the more you will be rewarded. It is narrated, ‘أَفْضَلُ الْعِبَادَاتِ أَحْمَزُهَا’ (The best worship is the one that involves more hardship). (Kashf-ul-Khifa-wa-Muzil-ul-Ilbas, pp. 141, vol. 1, Hadees 459)

Imam Sharafuddin Nawawi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه has said, ‘The reward and excellence of worship augments when it involves more hardships and expenses.’ (Sharah Sahih Muslim lin-Nawawi, pp. 390, vol. 1)

Sayyiduna Ibrahim Bin Adham رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه has said, ‘The harder a deed is in the world the heavier it will be on the scales on the Judgement Day.’ (Tazkira-tul-Awliya, pp. 95)

These narrations make it clear that the harder we find it to fast and the more our Nafs resent fasting the heavier our fasts will be on the scale on the Day of Judgement, اِنْ شَآءَ اللّٰه عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

Oversleeping in fast

Hujjat-ul-Islam Sayyiduna Imam Muhammad Ghazali رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه has stated in Kimiya-e-Sa’adat, ‘It is a Sunnah for a fasting person to avoid sleeping in excess during the day, he should remain awake so that he feels hunger and weakness.’ (Kimiya-e-Sa’adat, pp. 185) (Although it is preferable to sleep a little, if somebody passes his time sleeping he will not be a sinner, provided that he fulfils compulsory worships).

Dear Islamic brothers! It is obvious that if someone spent the whole day whilst sleeping, he would not feel any hardship in fasting. Imagine Hujjat-ul-Islam Sayyiduna Imam Muhammad Ghazali رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه advises us to avoid even oversleeping because our time would waste, so what about the people who misuse their time playing games and committing Haraam acts. Are they not unfortunate and deprived ones? Please try to realise the significance of this month, keep fasts wholeheartedly and earn the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

Ya Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Grant every Muslim the blessings of Ramadan! Enable us to make the most of this month positively and save us from disrespecting it!

آمِيْن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِ الْأَمِيْن صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Dear Islamic brothers! In order to develop the motivation of respecting Ramadan, acquiring its blessings, earning virtues and saving yourselves from sins, please join the Madani environment of Dawat-e-Islami and accompany the devotees of Rasool in Madani Qafilah to acquire knowledge of Sunnah. اِنْ شَآءَ اللّٰه, You will be amazed to see the results.