Inspiration and Spirituality
Ramadan Sale: Everything Must Go!
Red tags are everywhere, 25% off, 50% off, 75% off and more. Everything must go. It’s the end of the season, it’s the end of Ramadan, and the blessed last ten nights of Ramadan. The pious predecessors used to say, and it was narrated from the Prophet as a hadith, that “Ramadan is nothing but a marketplace, which was established, reached its prime and then came to an end. For some it was profitable and for others was a great loss.” In Ramadan’s marketplace, the last ten nights, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala trades with all merchants:”Allah has purchased of the Believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the Garden (of Paradise)” (At-Tawbah 9:111)
[10] O you who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty?
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[11] That yeou believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that you strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: that will be best for you, if you but knew!
[12] He will forgive you your sins, and admit you to Gardens beneath which rivers flow, and to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity: that is indeed the supreme Achievement. (As-Saff 61:10-13)
Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala supplies commodities for merchants to choose from, and as much as they pay and sacrifice they will get their reward. Aisha may Allah be pleased with her, narrated: “When the last ten nights of Ramadan begin, the messenger of Allah would stay up at night in worship, wake his family up, and tighten his lower garment.” She also narrated: “The messenger of Allah used to show his utmost devotion in worship, the most of which, nothing like any other month of the year, would be during the month of Ramadan. And was most devoted in Ramadan during the last ten nights from it.” (Muslim)
Ramadan’s marketplace, according to hadith Aisha, is opened for all merchants who fulfill the following conditions:
- All merchants must stay vigilant, in worship, during these blessed nights.
- All merchants must wake their families up to help managing this trade and participate in this sale.
- All merchants must abstain, temporarily, from sexual pleasure until the end of the season.
- All merchants must do their utmost, nothing less is accepted. The competition is too furious.
- No room for laziness; if you snooze, you lose.
- All merchants must be sincere in their work, no showing off is accepted.
- All merchants must do their transactions according to the manual, the Qur’an and Sunnah. No innovations are accepted.
As a merchant, you are allowed to walk around Ramadan’s marketplace and explore many different things to choose from for trading. You will have the opportunity to choose from different commodities. You can pick one, two or more and you can also mix and match, all is permissible. No limits; merchants can take as many goodness as they desire as long as they pay for it from their time, effort and wealth. It is all about how much you’re willing to give and how much you’re willing to give up.
Here are some of the events, scheduled to take place on Ramadan’s sale season, and let the competition begin.
1. Reading the manual: The Qur’an
The Qur’an is the divine manual that includes all the operating instructions. All merchants are required to read the manual and follow its instructions. This manual was revealed during this blessed season, and in commemorating this event, the reading of the manual was highly encouraged.
Narrated Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: “The Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, was the most generous of people, and he was even more generous during Ramadan when Jibreel met him. Jibreel used to meet him every night in Ramadan until it was over and the Prophet would go through the Qur’an with him. The Messenger of Allah was more generous with good things than the blowing wind (which brings rain and welfare).” (Bukhari)
2. Black Friday, Qiyamul-Layl
Have you ever stayed late at night to see the lines outside retailer and department stores right after Thanksgiving Day? Black Friday, which follows Thanksgiving Day, is known as the mother of all sales, for its huge bargains and door buster deals. In the last ten nights of Ramadan though, every night is sale season. While people stay awake overnight by the doors of national suppliers to get cheap commodities; praying in hope and anxiety, fearful for losing their chances and sacrificing their sleep, the merchants of the ten nights of Ramadan will be vigilant, standing at night by the doors of the Most Merciful, the True Supplier -Ar-Razzaq. They will be standing there in prolonged prayers and qiyam hoping to buy al-Jannah -Paradise- for a very cheap price; the sincere worship of one night.
The messenger of Allah salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam says: “Whoever stands (in the night prayer) during Ramadan with faith and expecting reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven” (Bukhari and Muslim)
3. Du’aa auction
Place your offer, and get your reward. If you know that Ar-Razzaq subhanahu wa ta’ala is coming to you and opening the gates of heavens for you, what would you ask for and how much will you give for it?
Abu Hurayrah narrated, the messenger of Allah said: “In the last third of every night our Lord descends (in the manner that suits His Majesty) to the lowermost heaven and says: “Who is calling Me, so that I may answer him? Who is asking Me so that I may grant him? And who is seeking forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him?”. (Bukhari and Muslim)
4. For serious du’aa shoppers onlyA one-hour special sale is offered every night, for serious du’aa shoppers only. Are you one of them?
Jabir may Allah be pleased with him narrated, the Messenger of Allah salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: “There is an hour at night, no Muslim attends it, asking Allah for the goods of this life and the hereafter, except Allah will meet his demands. And this happens every single night.” (Muslim)
5. End of season lockout event, I’tikaaf
Have you seen the merchants of Makkah during the peak of the hajj or umrah season? They literally sleep, of the little sleep they get, in their stores, ready to sacrifice their family time, go with the minimum social interaction they can, and lock themselves up in their stores days and nights just for the sake of their business and financial gain. Now, here is your chance.
Lock yourself up in a masjid where Jumu’ah is prayed regularly, sleep little at night and do worship more. After securing them nicely, bid your family goodbye for few nights, carry with you the minimum of this dunya, and make your focus the trade for the akhira. Put yourself into spiritual hibernation, seclude yourself from this world and get yourself a good taste of the Islamic monastic practice, I’tikaaf.
Aisha may Allah be pleased with her narrated: “Allah’s Messenger used to practice I’tikaaf in the last ten days of Ramadan till he died, and then his wives used to practice I’tikaaf after him.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Abu Hurayrah may allah be pleased with him narrated: “Allah’s Messenger would make I’tikaaf for ten days in every Ramadan. But when it was the year in which he died, he made I’tikaaf for twenty days.” (Bukhari)
6. Clearance night, Laylatul Qadr
One of the odd-numbered nights of the last ten in Ramadan hosts the most generous bargains of all nights; Laylatul Qadr or the Night of Power. It is a clearance night, all sins must be cleared, and fresh you come back from this trade.
Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: (Al-Qadr 97:1-5)
[1] We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power:
[2] And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is?
[3] The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.
[4] Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah’s permission, on every errand:
[5] Peace!… This until the rise of Morn!
During this special night, there is the best bargain ever: one night of worship is equivalent to more than 83 years of worship. No one can give an offer more generous than this. No one can beat that.
7. Final offer: antivirus software – Tawbah
As the Messenger of Allah said, your heartware is the most important part of your body; if the heart was sound the body will be sound too, and if it was damaged everything will fall apart as well. Without securing it with the Tawbah software, it will always remain longing to commit the haram. Tawbah or repentance can clear all diseases of the heartware, for repentance clears all sins. It also amends all bad sectors in your heart, and brings them back positive and clear. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says:
“Unless he repents, believes and works righteous deeds, for Allah will change the evil of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Al-Furqaan 25:70)
Your Tawbah is your filter, through which you come out from the month of Ramadan fresh and clean. In order to make sure the software works properly with your heartware, minimum system requirement are needed to be met.
1. If you find yourself in a hole, first thing to do is: stop digging. Quit the sin.
2. Reminisces of sin should bring tears not cheers. Regret the sin.
3. Make a decision to be free, and stand your ground. No return to the sin.
4. If you happen to have messed up with somebody, remedy the relation. Stay clear with humans.
Ramadan sale is reaching its peak, and merchants are competing for the best and final bargains of the season. With many discounts offered on deeds, you can do little and earn a lot. The most the successful merchants are those who plan their bargains and capital wisely. May the best merchants, worshipers, of this season win the greatest reward; forgivness.
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sis
September 23, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Asalamu Alikum warahmatu Allah
Jazak Allah khair ya Shaykh wa baraka feek.
imtiaz
September 23, 2008 at 12:26 PM
sigh – i gotta defragment the heartware ;)
AnonyMouse
September 23, 2008 at 2:20 PM
That was AWESOME, jazaakAllahu khair!
I love the analogies, masha’Allah… amazing stuff all around!
Siraaj
September 23, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Shaykh Yasir, very awesome article with an interesting twist with the shopping analogies, masha’Allah. Question – if you were to recommend the very top 2 acts out of everything you’ve recommended that a person could do during these 10 nights, what would those two acts be? Or maybe habits? Only the top 2.
Amad
September 23, 2008 at 4:11 PM
First, ArRayyan, the Frequent flier analogy… now the Ramadan sale analogy… mashallah, these are ideas that STICK (as Omar loves to say). When you can break down theology in small bite-size pieces and link it to our daily worldly pursuit, somehow things make all the sense in the world (and the akhira :) ).
I hope I can get a piece of the clearance items inshallah!
AnonyMouse
September 23, 2008 at 4:33 PM
@ Siraaj
Exactly what I was wondering – besides the “typical” things such as reading/ reciting Qur’an and praying Qiyaam al-Layl, is there anything else we can do on these blessed nights that are a great way of taking advantage of the bargain discounts/ rack up ajr?
MR
September 23, 2008 at 4:37 PM
Does Ramadan take Credit?
haha jk
Amad
September 23, 2008 at 4:52 PM
These days, only credit from Allah is a sure thing! :)
Siraaj
September 23, 2008 at 5:22 PM
@ Anonymouse
Yeah, for me, if there’s too much to do, and they’re not habitual, then instead of doing everything, you may end up doing nothing! Or, it doesn’t become a deed that’s done often, and I’m really understanding now the virtue of even a small thing done repeatedly is better than a big thing done irregularly.
If I’m remembering correctly, one of the signs of the acceptance of one’s Ramadan is that they continue what they were doing even after it is completed (I’m not sure if I’m phrasing that correctly). What better way to do that than to focus on the best of the best deeds and get regular with that during Ramadan and then stick with it even after?
That’s pretty much what I’m aiming for, insha’Allah.
Siraaj
Yaser Birjas
September 23, 2008 at 6:08 PM
Siraaj and AnonyMouse,
Take a bit of everything. Do not try to take at one big shot all of a sudden. But the best thing which has them all is Qiyamul Layl. In Qiyam you pray, read Qur’an, make dhikr, du’a, seclusion,…you name it.
@ MR
Ramadan accepts cash only, credit or good intentions to do good won’t help you if you have no legit. excuse for not doing them cash. BTW, you can still ask for interest though, that is the only halal interest, when you deal with Allah.
wallahu a’lam
ibnabeeomar
September 23, 2008 at 6:47 PM
Halal Riba! that’s a good title for your next article inshallah shaykh yasr :)
you may have to specify that you aren’t talking about mortgages though ;)
Siraaj
September 23, 2008 at 6:48 PM
Qiyaam ul Layl it is then. Make du’aa for me that it continues even after Ramadan continuously and consistently, and that it becomes easy.
Siraaj
AnonyMouse
September 23, 2008 at 9:16 PM
JazaakAllahu khairan… may Allah make it easy upon us all to perform Qiyaam al-Layl tonight and every night, and make it the coolness of our eyes and the joy of our hearts, ameen!
abdulla
September 23, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Assalamu alaykum,
Jazakallahu khayain shaykh, I have a couple of questions. First, isn’t surah tawbah:111 and As’Saff 10-12 referring to Jihad and dying as a shaheed? And secondly this hadith: โThere is an hour at night, no Muslim attends it, asking Allah for the goods of this life and the hereafter, except Allah will meet his demands. And this happens every single night.โ (Muslim) How do we understand this? What is meant by ‘hour’? There wasn’t a 24 hour system back then, or was there?
Jazakallhu Khairan
Saad
September 23, 2008 at 10:44 PM
werd, desi’s love sales! first come first served basis.
Nice article, Real talk as always. Mashallah.
oh yea since shatan gets bailed out in a couple of days he will corrupt the system I gotta keep updating the anti virus software.
http://www.chillyoislamyo.com
First Aid
September 23, 2008 at 11:56 PM
Mashallah an interesting way to remember whats important during these last ten days
Sh. Yaser could you recommend any dua’as we should recite inshallah
Jazahkhallah khairan
Saleha Hashmat
September 24, 2008 at 1:54 AM
Okay, so I can’t get over how well this article is written with all the analogies and such…so sensible, Masha’Allah!
A BIG HELP, Jazakullah khair Shaykh Yaser, your words are full of wisdom masha’Allah. May Allah (swt) bless you and your family with Jannat Al Firdous. Ameen.
P.S. Buy one get one free! no? Okay, I tried..
argentyne
September 24, 2008 at 3:41 AM
Jazakallah for this amazing article!
UAS
September 24, 2008 at 6:04 AM
reminders benefit the believers.
stock up while the values last’
Shoprite’s Can-can sale
Amatullah
September 24, 2008 at 9:29 AM
Jazakum Allahu khayran Shaykh Yaser, that was really great.
MR
September 24, 2008 at 9:38 AM
Haha, JazakAllah khair Sh. Yaser.
What about this one:
I am interested in investing with Barakah Bank.
nikhat mansoori
September 24, 2008 at 11:46 AM
JazakAllah Khair,Shaykh I REALLY LYK UR ARTICLES BCUZ u explain it in a very nice way MashaAllah!
The 2 things i picked up are 1.Qiyamul layl 2.Reading quran.I am a grade 10th student and ur articles really inspire my family a lot.
May Allah(S.W.T)grant you d higheast rank in Al-Jannah.nd grant u long life with gud health so we can get more articles for
boosting our imaan.
AMEEN!!!!!!!
usman
September 24, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Salaam, shaykh yasir may allah give the best reward in this life and in the next…inshallah lets tighten our izar and get down wit some real qiyam and dua.
randomMuslim
September 24, 2008 at 1:12 PM
Asalaamu Alaykum,
What if you want to give up the sin, you’ve tried to give up the sin and you repent everytime you do the sin, but you still can’t give it up or feel like you can’t give it up?
I’m really tired of this cycle even in Ramadan.
I sin.
I repent and make intention to give it up
I fall into the trap and sin again!
Please make du’a for your brother. This sin is truly destroying my imaan and my life in general.
Faiez
September 24, 2008 at 5:07 PM
SubhanAllah, I can hear your voice in my head when I read your articles.
I guess this is the rare time when there is such high demand for such an abundant product (forgiveness)
happygirljuststoppedexcuses
March 5, 2009 at 1:01 AM
Masha’Allah, this is a good reminder
MDgirljustexecutetheexcuses
March 6, 2009 at 2:00 AM
Very good article. JZK
Yasser Bafakyh
August 17, 2010 at 1:41 PM
Masha Allah .. Shaykh .. Amazing artclie… Jazak Allahu Khayran for your words of advice and May Allah(swt) give us the tawfeeque to do more and forgive all our short comings ..
Fathimah
August 17, 2010 at 4:24 PM
Jazaki Allahu khayr Shaykhna…loved the style and writing, analogies….I cant help but smile at the analogy…and how you got me hyped up for doing more insha allah….
Sarah Nasir
August 17, 2010 at 5:59 PM
Assalamu ‘alaikum ya Shaikh.
mashAllah amazing article. May Allah (swt) grant me the hidayat to make the best of this sale.
So which “hour” is the hour mentioned in the hadith?
jazakAllahu khairan.
masalama