Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Alhamdulillahi bi ni’matil Islam, wa bi ni’matil imaan wa bi ni’matil Shahrul Ramadhan. Wa Sall Allahu ta ‘ala ‘alaa Abi Qaasim, Sayyidinaa wa Mawlaana Muhammadin wa ‘alaa Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa sallim

During this blessed month of Ramadhan al Mubarak nay, every month, we should take lesson from the illustrious examples each of the blessed individuals and events mentioned herein provides for us.  We should mark these days with intense Dhikr and Salawaat on the reason for our existence, Sayyidinaa Rasuli Akram Muhammad al Mustafa Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi was sallim and his blessed Ahlul Bayt.  Their memory should find a place in our hearts and our dua’s.

3rd Ramadan: The Wisal of Sayyidatuna Fatimah az Zahra (Radhi Allah Anha)

Shaykha Sayyida Fatimah az Zahra is the youngest of the beloved daughters of Sayyidinaa Rasuli Akram (Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim). She left this world six months after her beloved father Habibullah Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim (11 Hijra).  The wife of Amir ul Mu’mineen Sayyidinaa Imam  Ali ibn Abi Talib (Karam Allahu wajhahu) and the mother of  the Shahidayn Sayyidinaa Imam Hasan and Sayyidinaa Imam Hussain (‘alaihimus salaam), she is the leader of ladies in Jannat.  Seeing her constant toil and struggle to take care of her family, though she never complained, Sayyidinaa Imam ‘Ali Karam Allahu wajhahu  was moved by love and compassion to encouraged her to asked the Holy Last Messenger Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim for a maid-servant to help her with domestic chores.   Rasulullah Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim knowing the true nature of Shaykha Fatima az Zahra ‘alaiha salaam a true Faqirah bestowed upon her the best of gifts. He Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim prescribed a wadhifah for her that would become the wadhifah of the believers for all times to come. The wadhifah which came to be known as the Tasbih of Sayyida Fatima ‘alaihi salaam is the recitation Subhan Allah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 34 times. Most commonly recited after Salaah, it can be recited at any time, day or night.  The tasbih Sayyida Fatima as Zahra ‘alaiha salaam, is the basis and proof for prescribing a specific dhikr a specific number of times to remove the maladies, both physical and non-physical.

10th Ramadan: Wisal of Sayyida Khadijatul Khubra (Radhi Allah Anha)

She Radhi Allahu ‘anha is the first wife of Sayyidinaa Rasuli Akram Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim and the first lady to accept Islam.   She was married to him for almost 25 years. Though she was a wealthy businesswoman, Hubb ud Dunya [love of the world and its’ possessions’] never entered her heart. A millionaire according to todays’ standards she sacrificed all her wealth for the love of Allahu ta ‘ala and His Holy Last Messenger He Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim.

Sayyidah Khadijah Radhi Allahu ‘anha bore the Holy Last Messenger Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim several children. Their first child, a son whom they named Qasim Radhi Allahu ‘anhu, left this temporal world when he was only two years old. Two more sons, Tayyib and Tahir Radhi Allahu anhumma were also born, but they too passed away in their infancy.  However, Sayyidinaa Muhammad al Mustafa Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim and Sayyida Khadijatul Kubra Radhi Allahu ‘anha also had four daughters who survived to adulthood. She is the mother of the Prophet's four daughters; Sayyida Zainab, Sayyida Ruqayyah, Sayyida Umme Khulthum and Sayyida Fatimah az Zahra (Radhi Allah Anhumma). A very devoted wife, companion, mother and counselor; she stood by the Holy Last Messenger Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim in all the trials and tribulations they faced during the Makkan period. She is accordingly  one of the four greatest women in the history of Islam and the world along with Sayyida Maryam bint Imran, Sayyida Aasiya (wife of the Pharaoh), and  her beloved daughter Sayyida Fatima az Zahraa (Radhi Allahu ‘anhumma). She was given the invitation to return to her Rabb, Azza wa Jalla while in Makkatul Mukarramah before the miracle of Isra and Miraj.  Sadly the Saudi regime in Arabia saw fit to obliterate all traces of her home and also razed the blessed Maqam where the believers would go for thawaab and barakah to the ground.

15th Ramadan: Birth of Sayyidinaa Imam Hasan (‘alaihi salaam)   3rd Hijra

Sayyidinaa Imam Hasan ibn Ali (‘alaihi salaam) the oldest son of Sayyidinaa Imam ‘Ali Asadullah Karam Allahu wajhahu and Khatuna Jannah Sayyidah Fatimah az Zahra ‘alaiha salaam, was born in Madinatul Munawwarah. He was extremely handsome (as his name suggests) and is known to have born a strong resemblance to the Holy Last Messenger Sayyidinaa Rasulullah Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim. When the Companions remembered and yearned for Rasulullah Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim, after his wisal, they would go and see Sayyidinaa Imam Hasan ‘alaihi salaam.  After the martyrdom of Amir al Mu’mineen Sayyidinaa Imam ‘Ali al Murtadha ‘alaihi salaam, he succeeded his father in Khilafat, and then handed the reins to Amir Muawiya (Radi Allah Anhu) as foretold by Sayyidinaa Rasuli Akram (Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim) thereby uniting two conflicting groups of Muslims.  He performed Hajj 25 times. Like his honorable father Sayyidinaa Amir ul Mu’mineen Imam ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib Karam Allahu wajhahu, he was honored with Martyrdom [Shahadat] a mark of distinction which would become one of the salient features of the Blessed Ahl ul Bayt [alaihumus salaatu was salaam] when he was poisoned.  The believers secretly hope and pray for martyrdom, desiring to leave this world in the blessed month of Ramadhan.  Along with Sayyidinaa Imam Hussain ‘alaihi salaam he is the leader of the youth in Jannat.

17th Ramadan: The Battle of Badr 2nd year of the Hijra

The monumental battle of Badr took place in the blessed month of Ramadhan. This battle is arguably the most important battle in the history of Islam. With visible and invisible help three hundred thirteen Sahaba's fought in this battle. With the help of Allahu ta ‘ala and countless numbers of Angels, fighting outnumbered this small band of Mu’mineen defeated the arrogant Quraish tribe of Makkah. Allahu ta ‘ala bestowed knowledge beforehand [‘Ilmul Ghayb] to His Beloved Rasulullah Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim on the eve of battle the exact number and places where the unbelievers would taste death. The Companions Radhi Allahu anhumma] confirmed that the bodies were found exactly where Sayyidinaa Rasuli Akram Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim had informed them.  Allahu ta ‘ala allowed the believers to dispatch Abu Jahl and Utbah to Jahannam. This was a battle of truth faith and conviction.  A battle as it were between Haqq and Batil [truth and falsehood]. Amir ul Mu’mineen Sayyidinaa Abu Bakr Siddiq radhi Allahu ‘anhu came face to face with his son Abdur Rahman who later accepted Islam.  Sayyidinaa Rasulullah Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim and Sayyidinaa Imam Ali al Murtadha ‘alaihi salaam faced their uncle Abbas ‘alaihi salaam who would later accept Islam.  Fourteen Companions were given the gift of martyrdom and were rewarded with immediate entry into Jannat, while seventy Makkan kuffar [rejecters of true faith] were dispatched to Jahannam [Hell]. Allahu ta ‘ala delivered the believers from the oppression of the two greatest enemies of Islam at the time namely Abu Jahl and Utbah.

17th Ramadan:  Shahadat of Sayyidinaa wa Maulana ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (Karam Allah wajhahu)

Sayyidinaa Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (Karam Allah wajhahu), the nephew and son in law of Sayyidinaa Rasuli Akram (Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim) was born inside the Holy Ka'bah Sharif. Rasulullah (Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim) famously said, "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate". Amongst the first to accept Islam, he slept in the Holy Last Messenger’s bed when he set off for Hijrah to Yathrib with Sayyidinaa Abu Bakr (Radhi Allah Anhu). Amir ul Mu’mineen Sayyidinaa Imam ‘Ali Karam Allah wajhahu is the fourth rightly guided Khalifa of Islam. He was not denied Khalifa as some Shia claim. He fully supported his predecessors. Full of great knowledge and wisdom his predecessors constantly consulted him in judicial affairs. He was martyred by Ibn Muslim as a result of the rise of the Kharijites. His nisbat with Rasuli Akram Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim as the Gate to the City of Knowledge means that wilayat (sainthood) stems from him.  Without acknowledging and loving Sayyidinaa Imam ‘Ali al Murtadha Karam Allah wajhahu and Ahlul Bayt, no claim to wilaayat is valid.

Note:  There is also the opinion among some  Ahl as Sunnah 'Ulema that the Shahaadat of Sayyidinaa  Imam 'Ali karam Allahu wajhahu was on 21st Ramadhan and some even say 27th Ramadhan.  The position for 17th Ramadhan is that of Mawlanaa Jalaaluddin as Suyuti  Rahmatullai 'alaihi in "History of the Khulafaa who took the right Way".  He marks the blow that resulted in the Shahadat on the 17th of Ramadhan after Salatul Fajr.

17th Ramadan: Passing away of Sayyida A’isha Siddiqa (Radhi Allah Anha)

Ummul Momineen or mother of the faithful, Sayyida A’isha Siddiqa daughter of Abu Bakr Siddiq is one of the closest of companions to the Holy Last Messenger of Allah Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim. During the final days leading up to the wisal of Sayyidinaa Rasuli Akram Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim he asked his other wives whether he could stay with her. The Rasulullah made hijra from this temporal world to the Divine World of Reality in the lap of Ummul Mu’mineen Sayyida A’isha Siddiq Radhi Allahu ‘anhaa and is resting with his two companions in her room.

Extremely talented, young and intelligent she is one of the most accomplished ‘Ulama in the history of Islam.  It is chiefly through our mother Shaykha Sayyida A’isha Siddiqa radhi Allahu ‘anha that we know the adaab of husband and wife and adaab of the bayt.  She also passed on to us the Fiqh of women’s issues.  Many companions of Rasulullah Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim  both male and female studied at her blessed feet of Shaykha A’isha Siddiqa radhi Allahu ‘anha.   Along with the Tasbih of Shaykha Sayyida Fatimat az Zahra and her example on the path of the Faqr, it has been established that Islam holds high the esteem of accomplished Shaykha’s and Ustaadha’s. At least two thousand two hundred and ten ahadith are known to have been narrated through her. Outliving the first four Khulafaa, Ummul Mu’mineen, Shaykha Sayyida A’isha Siddiqah radhi Allahu ‘anha accepted the invitation, and left this world in the fifty eighth year of the Hijra.

20th Ramadan: Victorious Re-entry into Makkah, 8th year of the Hijra

Allah's promise of help and victory was fulfilled when Sayyidinaa Rasuli Akram Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim along with 124,000 Sahabi triumphantly entered Makkatul Mukarramah.  Although the Quraish tortured, boycotted and killed many of the Family and Companions of Sayyidinaa Muhammad Nabiyyur Rahmah Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim, the mercy to all the worlds forgave them and created a safe haven in the house of Abu Sufyan for those who doubted the veracity of the general amnesty.

Wa Sall Allahu ta ‘ala ‘alaa Sayyidinaa wa Mawlaana Muhammadin wa ‘alaa Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Awliyaahi ajma’eena birahmatika yaa Arhamar Rahimeen