Bismihi Taala
The phrase, Its in the
air alludes to the general feeling or expectation of something to
happen in the near future or something which is already present or prevailing.
For the Muslim who reaches
the months of Rajab and Sha`baan, the presence of Ramadaan is keenly sensed and
felt. There is anticipation and expectation. It is near, with each day closing
the distance between us and Ramadaan. Its blessings are in the air so to
say just as we have fragrance permeating the atmosphere, infusing the air,
whether of flowers or of Itr or other perfume.
The stronger the perfume,
the stronger the Itr, the greater the distance its scent travels so much so,
that even though we may be far, we too get a hint of something special. The
same with a braai we find the aroma being carried by the wind, over a distance.
Then what of the sweet
fragrance of Ramadaan?
It is in the
air. Most definitely.
It is just that our
receivers are not working well. If there is a transmitter and there is
transmission, but our receiver is not working, we will not pick up
transmission. Similarly, if our sinuses are clogged, we will not smell the
fragrance.
When it comes to the month
of Sha`baan especially from the middle of Sha`baan onwards, the excitement of
the Auliya-Allah, the pious and the righteous knows no bounds and limits. They
have understood the virtue and significance of Sha`baan because it heralds the
coming of Ramadaan, the guest of distinction and greatness. They have been
waiting for the Mubarak month of Ramadaan, and Sha`baan signifies the final
countdown to its arrival. They are enthusiastic and eager just to see and meet
the month of Ramadaan, and thus we find the beautiful Masnoon dua : O Allah,
bless us in Rajab and Shabaan and grant us life to see Ramadaan.
Whilst they enjoy and make
the most of the blessings of Sha`baan, it is unfortunate that the majority are
neglectful, if not ignorant of its blessings.
Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wassallam) said, Sha`baan is a month between Rajab and Ramadaan which is
neglected by many people. And it is a month in which an account of deeds is
presented before the Lord of the Universe, so I wish that my deeds be presented
at a time when I am in a state of fasting. [1]
We also find in this blessed
month, the night of Bara`ah : A Favour and Bounty of Allah Taala Who, through
this night, makes it easy for us to prepare for Ramadaan.
First, Allah Taala gives us
the 15th night of Sha`baan an exclusive opportunity for Taubah,
Rujoo Ilallah, Dua and other Ibaadah and then He gives us an entire month
saturated with opportunities to secure His Pleasure. He gives us Ramadaan.
Alhamdulillah.
The following analogy came
to my mind : That the Ibaadah of the 15th night of Sha`baan is
similar to how a person does a re-paint of his house.
When a person wants to paint
his house, what does he do if the old paint is flaking, if the old paint is
peeling and falling off? Would he just take the new paint and apply a fresh
coat on top of all the old, flaking paint? No.
The person firsts scrapes
off all the old paint. After doing this, he applies the new paint.
The night of Bara`ah is
akin to scraping off the old paint. Allah Taala gives us this blessed and
auspicious night so that we scrape off all the old paint and all the dirt of
malice, of greed, of pride, of anger and of other bad and evil traits, which
have spoilt the beauty of our hearts and which have worn out the shine of our
hearts, and through which we have lost the colour of Divine Love which coated
our hearts.
Thus, if we are not on
talking terms with our family members, or have cut off ties with parents or
vice versa, or have been disobedient to parents, or if there is anyone taking
some kind of intoxicant, or engaging in some form of shirk, or is harbouring
malice and jealousy, or engaging in any form of immorality and disobedience
then the opportunity to rid the heart of its evil, to clean it and purify it,
to paint it in the dye of Allah Taalas Love, to beautify it with the Noor of
sincere repentance and the Remembrance of Allah Taala is presented to us in the
form of the 15th night of Sha`baan.
Very much like the scraping
of the old paint with a re-coat of fresh paint before the month of Ramadaan. We
apply the new coat so that it begins to shine in advance of Ramadaan and
increases in its shine and beauty with each passing day of Ramadaan.
So Allah Taala gives us this
night, in preparation for the coming month of Ramadaan. And most of us are
acquainted with the merits of this night : That it is a night for forgiveness
of sins, a night in which Allah Taalas Mercy descends.
From our side, we should
maximise on the wonderful bounties found in this night, by engaging ourselves
in Ibaadah, in Dua and in Istighfaar.
There is no hard and fast
rule as to what to read and how to occupy ourselves in this night. In reality,
it is spending the time in diverse Ibaadah; whatever our hearts incline to some
recitation of Qur`aan Shareef and Zikrullah, together with sincere Taubah,
abundant Istighfaar, and deep-hearted Dua. Sleep for a little while and try and
get up for the Tahajjud Salaah and engage in Dua. There is no reason to feel
disappointed if the person is working the entire day and does not then have the
capacity to remain awake for most of the night to whatever extent, the person
makes an effort in this night.
My purpose was just to
highlight one or two points the main point being that irrespective of how far
we may have distanced ourselves from Allah Taala, if we turn to Allah Taala, we
make I'tiraaf- e- qusoor acknowledge our weakness, our sins
O
my beloved Allah! Looking at my own weakness, looking at my lack of strength
and energy, what else can I take support from except that You are Most
Merciful?
My
crying before You, my tearing before You, my repentance are what I have to
offer. I do not have the kind of strength that the Sahaaba-e-Kiraam (RA) had. I
do not have that kind of strength that the Taabieen and the Tabe Taabieen had.
I do not have that kind of Ibaadah, Zikr and Tilaawah which the righteous and
the pious and the Sawliheen had, or they have.
I
am of those who are extremely weak. With my I'tiraaf- e- qusoor, with my acknowledgement of my sins, and
with my tears of repentance, I seek Your Support. Overlook my sins, overlook my
shortcomings, overlook my weakness. My life has gone by in so much of
disobedience to You and your Rasool (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wassallam). But this
night, I am turning towards You
Ask Allah Taala for complete
forgiveness from all sins, whether major or minor sins, wherever they may have
been committed, whether deliberate or unintentional. Whatever it may be, ask
Allah Taala for forgiveness of all sins, and sincerely promise and pledge not
to return to them.
With this kind of Taubah and
Istighfaar, the Light of Imaan will shine in our hearts. Thereafter, it is left
to us to then preserve that Light by staying away from those sins in the
future.
On the other hand, if the
person is going to merely engage in lip-service Istighfaar and Taubah for the
night, and continue with the same evils the very next day, how will any Noor
remain in the heart? Then, when Ramadaan does arrive, the person will be empty
in his heart, and if he continues in the same direction of sins, he will not be
in the right frame of spirituality to fully benefit and draw from the downpour
of Noor, Rahmah and Barakah of Ramadaan.
May Allah Taala grant us all
the understanding and the ability to practise on our knowledge with Ikhlaas.
May Allah Taala grant us the full blessings of Sha`baan and Ramadaan.
By the late Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (RA)
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