Darul Uloom Zakariyya

THE RAMADHAAN OF RASULULLAH SALLALLAHU ALAYHI WASALLAM

1.      Hazrat Ayesha Radhiallahu Anhaa says: “When the month of Ramadhaan
approached, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) increased his
efforts (strivings) more than out of Ramadhaan (months). [Muslim]

2.      Hazrat Ayesha Radhiallahu Anhaa relates that when the month of
Ramadhaan set in, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam’s salaat used
to increase in relation to (the other months) out of Ramadhaan and due
to the profusion of Ibaadat (worship and exertion) his face use to
change colour.  [Baihaqi]

3.      Hazrat Ayesha Radhiallahu Anhaa says: “When Ramadhaan came,
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam did not rest until the whole
Ramadhaan passed, he would not lie down on his bed.” [Shu’bul Imaan
Baihaqi]

4.      Hazrat Ayesha Radhiallahu Anhaa relates that when the last ten days
of Ramadhaan came then Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam would
stay awake the whole night and awaken his family members also.
[Bukhari  Vol.1  p. 269]

5.   Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam has also exhorted his Ummat
to increase their Ibaadat in Ramadhaan, in relation to other months.
So much so, that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “The
reward of a Nafl is equal to a Fardh, and the reward of a Fardh is
equal to seventy Fardhs (in any other month).”  [Mishkaat]

Therefore a person who claims to fully follow the Sunnat of Rasulullah
Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam should most certainly exert himself  and
increase his Ibaadat in Ramadhaan. Particularly in the last ten
nights, the whole night should be spent in Ibaadat and we should
awaken our family members as well. So much so, that the colour of our
faces should change due to our exertions.

We should follow the Sunnat, and complete the twenty rakaats of
Taraweeh, so that the Qiyaamul-Layl (standing up in salaat at night)
which has been prescribed by Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam may
be attained. This is something that every Muslim performs, so much so,
that even in the Haramayn in Makkah Mukarramah and Madina Munawwarah
the Imaam leads twenty rakaats.

Who really is closer to the Sunnat? The one who exerts and performs
the twenty rakaats of Taraweeh or the one who leaves the House of
Allah Ta’ala, after only performing a few rakaats?