It is only through the Fadhl and grace of Allah Ta’ala upon us that He has allowed us to witness another Ramadhaan. Ramadhaan is the month that every person’s soul yearns for. A month where we put our desires aside, striving in the obedience and worship of Allah Ta’ala, hoping to get closer to Him. This article seeks to expound on the method of spending Ramadhaan correctly and gaining closeness to Allah Ta’ala, as shown to us by our illustrious Ulama of Deoband. May Allah Ta’ala make this Ramadhaan one that quenches the thirst of our souls, spiritually uplifts us, and leaves us in a better condition than when it arrived. Ameen.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم.
الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على خير خلق الله، نبينا محمد المصطفى محمد ﷺ، وعلى آله وصحبه اجمعين
اما بعد.
There is a Sahih Hadeeth, found in Sahih ibn Hibban, Mustadrak Al Haakim, Al Muqaddisul Hasanah, and Faydul Qadeer, where it is reported on the authority of Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas Radhiyallahu Anhuma, that Rasulullah ﷺ said:
البركة مع أكابركم
Blessings (Barakah) is with your elders/seniors.
Allamah Munawi (Rahimahullah) explains:
[This refers to] those among you who are [aged and] experienced and have been punctual on righteous deeds. Sit in their company and emulate their ways.’
(Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 3205)
In a world that is constantly trying to distract us from our Islamic goals and objectives, pushing us towards materialism and the destruction of the soul, it is truly refreshing to have a month like Ramadhaan, wherein we are reminded not only of the hunger that others experience daily, but a month wherein our souls are starved of the luxuries of the Nafs for a set amount of time. This is beneficial for the spirituality of a Muslim even if he doesn’t realise it and doesn’t do it extremely well. On this note, we also need examples to follow. For this we will look around us and try and emulate people who seem to be successful in this matter (of spending Ramadhaan well and avoiding the distractions of the world). What better group to look at and follow than the respected Ulama of Deoband. They were such people who not only learned and taught ilm (knowledge), but their lives were given for the sake of Islam, to propagate and safeguard Deen, and to emulate the Mubarak Sunnah of Rasulullah ﷺ. A casual study of their lives will reveal this sincere devotion to pleasing Allah Ta’ala and emulating the life and values of Rasulullah ﷺ. Therefore, with our Akaabir (our seniors), there is definitely Barakah.
Hadhrat Sheikhul Hadeeth, Moulana Muhammed Zakariyya Sahib Kandehlwi Rahimahullah had compiled a book on this very topic, titled ‘Akaabir ke Ramadhaan’. We will draw some points from this extremely beneficial book, analysing how our illustrious Ulama would approach this Mubaarak month. May Allah Ta’ala grant us all the ability to bring these qualities into our lives.
- An overview of how Hadhrat Moulana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi Rahimahullah, one of the founders of Darul Uloom Deoband, would spend his Ramadhaan:
Hadhrat Moulana performed excessive Ibaadah, to such an extent that people would pity him due to his level of exertion. Even at the age of 70, his whole day and night would be devoted to Ibaadah in this Mubarak month. He would recite two parahs of Quraan Shareef in his Nafl salaah after Salaatul Maghrib. Thereafter he would proceed home, reciting Quraan Shareef all the way. After a short while, he would return to the Masjid for Salaatul Isha and Taraweeh. The normal amount would be completed (meaning Khatam would take place on the 29th night), so Taraweeh took about an hour to an hour and a quarter. After Taraweeh, he would rest/sleep anywhere between 10pm to 11pm. Hadhrat would not wake up later than 2:30am. Some servants even saw him making wudhu at 1am. He would then make Tahajjud Salaah for about 2 ½ to 3 hours.
Sometimes servants would come with Sehri at 5:30am and find him still performing Salaah. After Fajr, Hadhrat would recite his Dhikr and make Muraqabah until sunrise, reading Nafl Salaah afterwards. He would then take some rest for a few hours before starting the work for the day. Hadhrat would also take Qailoolah, and after Zuhr Salaah, he would read Quraan Shareef until Salaatul Asr.
This was Hadhrats condition. He would spend so much time in Ibaadah and devotion to Allah Ta’ala, even though he had so many duties to carry out. But the love for Allah Ta’ala was nurtured in their hearts and burned with ferocity. In Hadhrats tarteeb, we learn a valuable lesson that each and every one of us can implement. Hadhrat would do ibaadat in measure, and rest in measure. Hadhrat slept at important times during the night. Research shows that the most beneficial sleep for the body is from about 9:30pm to 2-3am. This sleep is extremely beneficial for the body. Hadhrat would exert himself in ibaadah but also rested adequately, so as not to burn out. Each and every one of us can implement this by forming a routine, creating a timetable and sticking to it, ensuring that there is enough time for devotion as well as rest. By adopting this, we will be able to maintain a good steam throughout the month of Ramadhaan.
- An overview of how Hadhrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi Rahimahullah would spend his Ramadhaan.
Hadhrat Moulana is no stranger. His mastery in Tasawwuf, his sheer level of knowledge, his ability to engage with the masses, and his valuable written works, spanning over a thousand Kitaabs. However, Hadhrat was a simple man, a lover of the Sunnah, someone who shunned innovations, and created an atmosphere of true Noor in his Khanqah during the month of Ramadhaan.
Hadhrat would habitually awake at midnight or a little after that for Tahajjud Salaah. He would normally offer 8 rakaats, sometimes more sometimes less. He would usually recite just over a para. Hadhrat had the habit of eating less at iftaar time and eating more at Sehri time. He would usually eat extra foods like mangoe after Taraweeh so as not to have difficulty in Salaah. Hadhrat himself explains that he would not perform any additional worship in Ramadhaan, he would stick to his routine. After performing Taraweeh, Hadhrat would lead the womenfolk at home in some Nafl Salaah, and this would finish around 12am. Hadhrat would wake up for Sehri around 2:30am and would not sleep after that. Hadhrat suffered from insomnia for a very long time and had great difficulty in sleeping for long periods.
Regarding Hadhrats Taraweeh, a mureed gives the account:
Maulwī Ĥakīm Muĥammad Yūsuf Bajnorī writes:
This year, 1337/1919, I stayed in Thāna Bhawan and attended tarāwīĥ every day of Ramadan. Hadhrat himself led the congregation. He was strict on the Sunnas, so I wanted to share every aspect of Hadhrats Taraweeh with the readers so they can benefit from and practice it.
During Ramadan, the adhān for ‘Ishā was given an hour and forty minutes after sunset, and the congregation stood 45 minutes later. The recitation of the obligatory Salaah was not long; it consisted mostly of suras like Sūrah al-Ţīn and Sūrah al-Fīl. In Taraweeh, Hadhrat recited fluidly and slightly faster than in the obligatory Salaah. However, every word was pronounced clearly, and he carefully followed the rules of pronunciation, such as ikhfā and iżhār.
Initially, Hadhrat recited 1½ parts, and then one part after that until the Qur’an was completed on the 27th. Altogether, the obligatory Salaah, Taraweeh, and Witr took about one and a half hours, sometimes even less. During each interval (Tarwiha) between four rakaats, Hadhrat read the Salaat and Salām twenty-five times in a slightly raised voice. When I asked Hadhrat about this, he replied, “The Sharia doesn’t prescribe anything, so I read what I like and recite it twenty-five times so that people have time to drink water or attend to their needs.”
After Taraweeh, a short Du’ā is recited, followed by Witr.
There are numerous lessons we could derive from Hadhrats approach to Ramadhaan Shareef. However, we wish to highlight two points. The first is that Hadhrat had a lot of consideration for people, putting their needs and comfort first. We find this quality in abundance in the Seerah of Rasulullah ﷺ. Hadhrat did not make Salaah too long so as to cause them difficulty, and he would also give sometime in between every 4 Rakaats, this was only to make it easy for people. Secondly, Hadhrat would read at a faster pace than normal Salaah, however, Hadhrat read clearly, pronouncing each letter correctly. Many a time in the Mubarak month of Ramadhaan, we exert ourselves in reading Quraan Shareef, or Huffaadh lead others in Taraweeh, however in our eagerness to finish up, we tend to recite extremely fast, ignoring a lot of the rules of Tajweed. This is incorrect and disrespectful to the Quraan Shareef. From Hadhrats life, we gauge a practical lesson from a great saint, that even though he had consideration for people and he would read faster, he did not cut out the Adab a person should have for the Quraan Shareef in any way.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us all the reality.
There is a lot more than can be said about Hadhrats habits in Ramadhaan and his consideration for people, however, to avoid the article becoming too lengthy, we will conclude on Hadhrat here.
- An overview of how Hadhrat Moulana Khaleel Ahmed Saharanpuri Rahimahullah, Sheikhul Hadeeth of Mazaahirul Uloom Saharanpur, would spend his Ramadhaan.
Hadhrat Moulana was the ustaadh and Sheikh of Moulana Muhammed Zakariyya Sahib. They had an intense love for each other. Hadhrat took Moulana Zakariyya Sahib under his wing, treating him like his own son, and had a great amount of affection for him. Hadhrat was also a master in Hadeeth, and compiled an excellent commentary on Sunan Abi Dawood, titled ‘Badhlul Majhood’.
Hadhrat always wore a watch, and although someone was permanently assigned to keep it synchronised throughout the year, he was particularly meticulous about synchronising his watch with the post office and telephone time during Ramadhaan.
He ate his iftaar two to three minutes after the time on the timetable. This was also Ĥađrat Raipūrī’s habit. In Raipūr, sunrise and sunset were clearly visible, so he synchronised his watch with direct observation.
Dates and Zamzam were important in iftaar. People who came from Hajj gave Hadhrat dates and Zamzam as gifts, which he saved for Ramadhaan. A certain amount of Zamzam was specially reserved for Ramadhaan, but the dates were served if they started going bad. At the time of iftaar, he drank a half to three-quarters cup of milked tea, and the rest was given to Hadhrat Sheikh.
There was a ten-minute interval between iftaar and Salaah so that people could eat iftaar at home and come in time for Salaah.
There was no difference in the number of Rakaats prayed after Salaatul Maghrib, although the way he prayed his Salaah was certainly different. He took longer than his usual habit.
He generally recited one and a quarter para, reciting the same part in Maghrib which he then recited in Taraweeh.
After completing his Nafl Salaah, Hadhrat ate supper at home. He took about 20 to 25 minutes in Nafl Salaah and ate much less than he did in the other months.
It was Hadhrats habit to complete the Khatam of Quraan Shareef on the 29th night. He led Taraweeh himself for most of his life.
From Hadhrats life, as well as the other Ulama, we wish to highlight two points. The first is how much emphasis Hadhrat placed on his time being correct, so as not to make a mistake in his fasting. Hadhrat would also show caution by waiting for a few minutes before breaking his fast. This teaches us not to be lax in these matters. The second point is that these were giants of knowledge, masters in every field, spiritual leaders, yet their day-to-day life was something simple and easy to follow, not insanely difficult. It teaches us that rectifying ourselves, establishing a connection and a pattern, is not something other worldly. We see that there were people who managed to do it, and they truly became the friends of Allah Ta’ala, but it was their sincerity and their consistency that placed them on such a high pedestal. We can also adopt such routines in our life, it just requires that effort, making sure that every move is only for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala, no matter how little.
- An overview of how Hadhrat Moulana Muhammed Zakariyya Sahib Kandehlwi, Sheikhul Hadeeth of Mazaahirul Uloom Saharanpur after his Ustaadh, would spend his Ramadhaan.
Hadhrat would recite Quraan Shareef in abundance during this Mubarak month. Hadhrat writes his routine as follows in his diary:
In voluntary prayers after Maghrib, recite 8 paras. After Taraweeh before tea, recite 1 para. In Tahajjud, recite 10 paras. In pre-noon prayers (Salaatut Dhuha), recite 6 paras. In the Sunnats of Ẓuhr Salaah, recite 3 paras. Recite 2 paras in Salaatut Tasbeeh. Recite 2 paras after Salaatut Tasbeeh. Recite 3 paras to Yaḥyā after ‘Aṣr Salaah. Combined, this totals 35 paras.
This was just at some point during Hadhrats life. Later in, it did change. It is difficult to give an overview of How Hadhrat spent his Ramadhaan as, over the years, as the Khanqah grew, as well as spending Ramadhaan in different countries, there’s no set routine that can be laid out. However, when you look at summaries of the different routines over the years, some important factors stand out. Hadhrat placed a lot of emphasis on the recital of Quraan Shareef, and Hadhrat read his Nawaafil (voluntary Salaah) in its place for long periods. When Hadhrat would observe the attendees of the Khanqah, you could feel the Rahmah descending on the gathering, all of those people sincerely coming together to gain closeness to Allah Ta’ala and rectify their ways. Hadhrat would also eat very little for Iftaar, barely anything, and preferred to eat properly Sehri time. Which brings us to the last point regarding all of these great Ulama. They are what was needed to sustain themselves and not cause harm to themselves, however they ate simple nutritious foods and did not overeat or constantly eat indulgent foods, as filling the stomach to the brim goes against the very essence of what Ramadhaan seeks to achieve, as well as spurring the Nafs on and feeding it. When a person consumes less, and sticks to wholesome nutritious food, he will be more inclined to doing good, as the source of our foods also have an effect on us. This is an extremely beneficial point when it comes to purifying the soul.
Some parting advice:
Many a time, our women folk feel like they are not doing enough to truly fulfill the rights of Ramadhaan. However, our women folk have the most important job of sustaining all those who are fasting within the home. They see to everyone’s needs, losing much rest and sleep in ensuring everyone is comfortable. There is surely a great amount of reward in this, as they are seeing to fasting people and making Khidmat. Surely this will not go unnoticed by Allah Ta’ala, and the spouse and children of the home should endeavour to help where they can and show appreciation for all that is done. Rasulullah ﷺ would help out in the home and would not consider it beneath himself to do so. The nature of Rasulullah ﷺ was kind, encouraging, and pleasant.
Hadhrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi Sahib states:
Tilawah of Qur’an in Ramadan
“In Ramadan, more than Dhikr, special effort should be made for the recitation of the Holy Qur’an. It has been stated that for those engaged in Dhikr, the best action in the blessed month of Ramadan is the recitation of the Qur’an.
However, this does not mean they should abandon Dhikr completely; rather, both should be done, but the recitation of the Qur’an should be prioritized. This is because Dhikr can be done throughout the twelve months of the year, whereas the recitation of the Qur’an in Ramadan brings special blessings.
Just as when one goes to Makkah, one should perform Tawaf as much as possible—although other acts of worship should also be done, Tawaf should be prioritised the most—similarly, in Ramadan, one should increase the recitation of the Qur’an as much as possible.”
This is the month of the Quraan, and everyone should engage in its recital with adab and love as much as possible. Parents should also encourage their children to do the same, inculcating that love for Allah Ta’ala’s words from a young age. In Sha Allah, by then inculcating Quraan Shareef in their lives, doors of Barkat will be opened for them and their Imaan will be safeguarded.
The necessity of inculcating good habits and leaving bad ones in this Mubaarak month.
Hadhrat Moulana also states:
‘From experience, we know that the effects of worship during Ramadan last for the next 11 months. Those who make an effort to do good deeds during Ramadan find it easier to continue afterwards. Similarly, those who abstain from a particular sin during Ramadan are more likely to refrain from it throughout the year. It is not hard to give up sins during this month, as the Hadith states that Shaytaan is imprisoned. This means sins will naturally decrease, making it easier to eliminate them completely. The two things that attract people to sin are Shaytaan and the Nafs (carnal desires). Since Shaytaan is imprisoned, it’s only the Nafs that remains to tempt and lead people astray. It is easier to control one of these influences because, unlike before, the person won’t have to struggle against both simultaneously. This struggle is manageable during this single month. By abstaining from sin during Ramadan, a person becomes easier to protect themselves from sin throughout the rest of the year. In short, every part of the body needs to be protected against sinning this month.’
It is commonly said that during the month of Ramadhaan, the Shayateen are locked up. Yet we continue to sin like normal. This proves to us that the evil is within ourselves, continuously giving in to our carnal desires. It is necessary for us to take adequate measures for rectification. These senior Ulama were giants of knowledge, yet they were also giants in Tazkiyah and Tasawwuf, placing huge emphasis on getting rid of all bad qualities, sitting under a Sheikh and refining oneself. This will help a person to spiritually prosper and gain closeness to Allah Ta’ala. This becomes even more necessary when it comes to the Ulama.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the ability to emulate these giants in whatever small way possible. May Allah Ta’ala make this a spiritually uplifting Ramadhaan, bring us closer to him, and increasing us in love for Him, the Quraan Shareef, and Rasulullah ﷺ, and granting us the ability to bring all of the Sunnah into practice.
Ameen.
