Wrapping Up Ramadhan the Right Way

The following is a translation of a short lecture given Hazrat Mufti Abdullah Phulpoori Sahib (DB), the grandson of Hazrat Shaykh Shah Abdul Ghani Phulpoori (RA).  He also happens to be a khalifah of Hazrat Mawlana Shah Abrar-ul-Haq Sahib (RA).

“These are the last days of Ramadan. In these days, the mercy and forgiveness of Allah is general upon all the believers. The purpose of fasting is so that the beastly nature of human beings leaves them, and a person becomes more angelic like. In the last 10 days people tend to lean more towards that mentality, which is why Allah ta’alas mercy descends in torrents on the servants of Allah. Human beings have two enemies, one is a person’s nafs and one is shaytan. When Ramadan starts, the external enemy, the shayateen, are locked up. But the internal enemy, your nafs stays with you at all times. That’s why fasting has been mandatory on all of us, in order so that we can overpower our nafs. So that we gain control of our nafs, not that our nafs gains control over us. Because you changed your system of eating and drinking, your beastly nature becomes weakened. So now the angelic like qualities that Allah would like you to have become more dominant, and from this a person is able to derive benefit from the Book of Allah, and the rulings of Allah. When Allah wanted to give Musa (‘alayhis salaam) the Tawrah, then Allah called him in a state of fasting in which he fasted for 40 days. Then on the final day he was able to receive the Tawrah, before he didn’t have the capability. He was perfect, but now there is an increase in that perfection.

In the last ten days, Allah has blessed us with so many things, at the same time he has given us Laylatul Qadr. Hazrat Thanwi (rah) says that we as human beings hold varying opinions of what is best. But when Allah Ta’ala Himself says that is the best night, then it holds actual importance. And what is the word “khayr” connected to? 1000 months. But this is better than 1,000 months. Not just better, it is Allah’s better so then it is not about the number. May Allah allow us to benefit from this night and gain the barakah of this night.

The mercy of Allah is so vast and unique that it encompasses everything. Our sins are nothing in front of the mercy of Allah. One of the initial things is the dua’ of the last ten days, “Allahumma innaka Affuwan, Tuhibbul Afwa fa Affu anni.”  That indeed, You are someone who loves to overlook. And what does overlooking mean? To forgive. But it is beyond that, it is more than that. Allah loves to forgive, Allah loves to overlook, so forgive me. In other narrations there is the word Kareem. Kareem means that Being who bestows grace upon an individual even though they are not deserving or worthy of it, or beyond what we could imagine. This is an important dua’ for the last 10 days, particularly the night of Laylatul Qadr. Muhaqiqeen mention that Laylatul Qadr can be any of the last odd nights of Ramadan. The entire last nights are unique, but the odd nights are more unique.

Some people are in ‘itikaaf of different natures. Women can do it too within their rooms. Everyone can do it, it is open for everyone. These are things that everybody should try to do. It is a sunnah on a regular day to enter the masjid with the intention of ‘itikaaf. Now that it’s the last ten days, make niyyah when you go to the masjid for taraweeh for ‘itikaaf. These are simple things that we all need to understand so that we can take from the treasures of Allah Ta’ala. Those who can make multiple niyyats at one time, they gain what they intend.

The virtue of Ramadan is because of Laylatul Qadr. The virtue of Laylatul Qadr is because of the Quran that was revealed in Laylatul Qadr. Laylatul Qadr starts in the night-time and ends until Fajr, by the time that people stop eating. Until then, you have Laylatul Qadr, you have angels, it’s just you and them. Do whichever ‘ibadat you have the most munasabat with that night, if you can mix it up a little bit. Read a little quran, do dhikr, make qadaa if you have any, do some istighfaar, durood shareef, make dua’. Whatever language you can make dua’ in make it in that language. In the Quran, Allah Ta’ala does something ajeeb. Allah talks about the ayaat regarding the month of Ramadan, and then right in the middle very randomly Allah says, “When my servants ask of me, then I am near.” Usually, there is a “Qul” which means “say to them.” Allah tells Rasulullah (S) to tell others something. But this time Allah doesn’t say that, He just says, “I am near. I answer the call of the person who is calling on to Me. So then ask of Me.” So we need to learn how to take from the treasures of Allah in these last few days.”

– Irshadat-e-Abrar pg. 222-223

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