As-salāmu ‘alaykum, Friend,
“When the last ten of Ramadan began, the Messenger of Allah would gird himself, stay up at night, and awaken his family.” (Hadith narrated by Bukhārī and Muslim)
These ten nights are for seeking Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Value) through personal worship, primarily extra salat, remembrance of Allah (dhikr), and duʿā for yourself and others. We hope that our fasting by day makes our prayers by night more acceptable. But is this enough? Fasting and prayer are central acts of worship and goodness, but there is a third door of goodness, which we find mentioned in a hadith:
“Shall I not inform you about the doors to goodness? Fasting is a shield, charity extinguishes sin like water extinguishes fire, and a person’s [private] salat in the depths of the night.” (Narrated by Tirmidhī)
Charity complements the personal benefit coming from worship with benefit to society, and is a reminder that we are part of the ummah, the global community of believers. The Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of people, and during Ramadan he would be at his most generous. (Bukhārī and Muslim). Allah has commanded us to “cooperate in righteousness and piety” (Q.5:2). There are many Muslim organizations striving to make a positive difference. I ask specifically that you donate to the Boston Islamic Seminary (BIS) as a contribution to the long-term needs of the Muslim community in the US. BIS trains Muslim leaders who are both grounded in Islamic scholarship and relevant to the broader society. Please see the materials and video below for more information on the important work and broad impact of BIS.
Finally, I remind you to do your part to help the poor, needy, and hungry, by also supporting relief organizations giving humanitarian assistance to the suffering people of Gaza and elsewhere.
May Allah accept our good deeds and save us from the fire of Hell.
Sincerely,
How is Boston Islamic Seminary shaping Muslim communities? (click here)