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Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan said:
The condition of the Salaf – as was mentioned about them [in the books] with reliable chains of narrators – is that they used to ask Allaah (’Azza wa Jall) to allow them to reach Ramadhaan before it began.
[So] they would ask Him to allow them to reach Ramadhaan because of what they knew of the immense good and abundant benefit therein.
Then, when Ramadhaan began, they would ask Allaah to help them to perform good deeds during it.
Then, when Ramadhaan ended, they would ask Allaah to accept [all their good deeds] from them, as Allaah (Jalla wa ‘Alaa) said:
{And they who give what they give while their hearts are fearful because they will be returning to their Lord; it is those who hasten to good deeds, and they outstrip [others] therein.} – soorah al-Mu.minoon, aayahs 60-61And they would exert themselves in [doing good] deeds, and they would then be overcome with worry after doing [their good] deeds; would they be accepted from them or would they not be accepted?
And that was because of their knowledge of the Greatness of Allaah (’Azza wa Jall), and their knowledge that Allaah (’Azza wa Jall) does not accept [any deed] except what was done sincerely for His Sake [alone], and [that it was done] according to the Sunnah of His Messenger.
And they would not ascribe purity to themselves, rather, they were afraid of nullifying their deeds, because Allaah (Jalla wa ‘Alaa) says:
{Indeed, Allaah only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him].} – soorah al-Maa.idah, aayah 27And they would free themselves for worship during this month, and minimise their worldly activities.
And they would spend their time sitting in the Houses of Allaah (’Azza wa Jall) and studying the Book of Allaah (’Azza wa Jall) and they would protect their time from being wasted.
And they were not careless or negligent [of their time], as is the case with many [people] today, rather, they would protect their time [from being wasted].
[So] the night, they would stand it in prayer, and the day, they would fast it, and exert themselves in [performing] good deeds.
Translation originally published on 21 March, 2023
