The Verses of Fasting and Contextualization - III

  • Publish date:13/07/2011
  • Section:Fasting
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The saying of Allah The Almighty (which means): {And to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you} affirms the significance of the context i.e. the life of this Ummah (Muslim nation) and its identity are closely related to the glorification of Allah The Almighty since the first moment of prophethood.

{And your Lord glorify} meaning, to glorify Him in a way that befits His majesty and perfection. He is the Greatest, nothing is greater than Him, and He is the Noblest, nothing is nobler than Him. Declare this with your tongue saying Allahu Akbar (Allah is The Greatest); with your entire being, by never being humiliated to anyone other than Him and never asking anyone other than Him; glorifying Him with your actions and not doing anything except what He has given you the permission to do or enjoined upon you. (Aysar At-Tafaaseer).
This ends with the final destination of the Ummah (Muslim nation) with Allah The Almighty with glorification being a basic element in that fate. When the Prophet declared that he hoped that the Muslim Ummah will represent a quarter of the people of Paradise, the Companions said, "Allahu Akbar!" Thereupon, the hope of the Prophet became much greater as it was stated in the Hadeeth (narration): “‘Be of good cheer, I hope that you will be one quarter of the people of Paradise.’ They said, ‘Allahu Akbar!’ and praised Allah. Then he said: ‘I hope that you will be one third of the people of Paradise,’ and they said, ‘Allahu Akbar’ and praised Allah The Almighty. Then he said: ‘I hope that you will be half of the people of Paradise,’ and they said, ‘Allahu Akbar!’ and praised Allah The Almighty. Then he said: ‘Among the people you are like a white hair on the hide of a black bull, or like a black hair on the hide of a white bull.’”
As the verses of fasting mentioned the benefit achieved by the survival of this Ummah which saves it from destruction, starting with righteousness that extends the lifespan. The verses also mention the importance of supplication that prevents destruction. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.} [Quran 2: 186]
Therefore, the Hadeeth (narration) combines between righteousness and supplication: “Nothing can repel Divine decree except supplication, nothing increases one’s lifespan except righteousness, and a man may be deprived of sustenance by a sin that he commits.” [Ahmad] [Al-Albaani: Hasan]
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Tharr, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said, “The amount of supplication that suffices with righteousness is like the amount of salt that is sufficient with food”.
The saying of Allah The Almighty (which means): {They may be [rightly] guided} proves the verbal connection with the general meaning of the context. It means the continuous guidance that makes one realize the aims and purposes. Continuous realization of the aims guarantees the correctness of the Ummah until the end of time.
Then the verses touch upon the marital relationship in the month of Ramadan, for this relationship is what guarantees human survival and reproduction in the life of the Ummah. The same thing applies to eating and drinking in the context of the obligations of worship during this month.
Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allah, so do not approach them. Thus does Allah make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become righteous.} [Quran 2: 187]
This is perfect obedience: {So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you.} and, {And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques.} [Quran 2: 187]

The Verses of Fasting and Contextualization - I

The Verses of Fasting and Contextualization - II

The Verses of Fasting and Contextualization - IV

 

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