Hajja Rukiye Sultan: Welcoming Ramadan With Barakah and Mercy

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

Mubarak the month of Ramadan. It is starting in two days, insha Allah. May Allah ﷻ keep all of you healthy, happy, and safe, insha Allah.

The month of Ramadan is a great blessing from Allah ﷻ. There is deep wisdom in how Allah ﷻ arranged the Islamic year according to the lunar calendar. Our calendar follows the moon, so every year Ramadan comes earlier.

Let me share one joke from Nasruddin Hodja, then we continue.

After Ramadan finished, people asked Nasruddin Hodja, “We are happy with Ramadan. Do you think Ramadan is happy with us?” Nasruddin Hodja answered, “Yes, of course Ramadan is happy with you. He is always coming ten or eleven days earlier. If Ramadan were not happy with us, he would not come earlier.”

The first human being who fasted and was ordered to fast was Hazrat Adam (AS). When he ate from the forbidden tree and was sent down to Earth, his body became very dark in color. He stood for three hundred years on one foot, saying astaghfirullah and crying for his mistake until Allah ﷻ forgave him.

Hazrat Adam (AS) felt deep regret, so Hazrat Jibril (AS) came to him and told him to fast. On the first day he fasted, one third of his body became lighter in color. On the second day, his body became lighter still. On the third day, his entire body returned to its original light color. These were the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth days of the lunar month, and this is why they are called the White Days.

The Prophet ﷺ advised fasting these three days of every lunar month, the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth, if one is able. If not, then at least fasting the White Days of the month of Sha‘ban. Alhamdulillah, in Ramadan we automatically fast these days, so we are fortunate in every sense.

It is recommended to recite Surat al-Fath, Surah forty eight, on the first night of Ramadan. This means the night before Ramadan begins. Reciting Surat al-Fath on that night protects a person throughout the entire year until the next Ramadan, insha Allah.

On the first night of Ramadan, all the doors of Heaven and Paradise are opened, all the doors of Hellfire are closed, and all the shaytans are tied. This is so that the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ can prepare themselves to fast, to worship without disturbance, and to have their worship accepted, insha Allah. We must take care of this blessing.

The Tarawih prayer is Sunnah Mu’akkadah and we should pray it. It can be prayed in congregation or alone. Both are acceptable. It may be prayed immediately after the Isha prayer, or anytime until the time of Fajr. Tarawih consists of twenty rak‘ats, but if one does not have the strength or time, it is also permissible to pray eight or twelve rak‘ats.

Shaykh Nazimق and Shaykhق Mehmet always prayed twenty rak‘ats. If it is difficult for someone to pray all twenty rak‘ats, then at least eight rak‘ats should be prayed. When Tarawih is prayed in congregation, it becomes easier, lighter, and carries more barakah.

To offer iftar, to invite people for iftar, or to help feed people is strongly advised by the Prophet ﷺ. There is great barakah for the person who feeds fasting people. If you are able, invite people to your home. If not, you can help by providing food or supporting others in preparing meals. This applies in Ramadan and outside Ramadan as well.

One of the Sahaba asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, “What is the best thing I can do so that I will be close to you in Paradise?” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “First, feed people. Second, spread salaam. Third, pray at night when people are sleeping.” These are three great actions. SubhanAllah, they are not easy.

Feeding people may sound easy, but it is not. It requires support from Allah ﷻ for a person to be able to give and to feed others. SubhanAllah, the barakah of Mawlana Shaykh Nazimق and Hajja Anneق is still present. We continue feeding people through their barakah. Here in Lefke, we may feel that nobody is around, yet every night at least fifty people are being fed. This is their barakah. Nothing decreases. Everything increases. Alhamdulillah.

Hajja Felizق, the wife of Mawlana Shaykh Mehmetق, is also feeding people in Istanbul with the barakah of Mawlana. Barakah increases, it does not decrease. Do not be afraid to give or to feed. When you open a water tap, water flows. When you close it, nothing comes. If you keep it closed, no one benefits. But when you open it, barakah reaches everyone.

Alhamdulillah, feeding others is a good deed and a source of reward for the one who gives, and a blessing for the one who eats. Take care of this, especially now. Even if you do not invite people, help with food distribution and assist in meeting the needs of the poor.

In this time, many people are in great need. We do not distinguish between Muslim and non Muslim when giving sadaqah. In Ramadan, the reward is doubled, tripled, or even more, Alhamdulillah. I was thinking to say something else, but this is what has come to my heart. We must take care of this matter, insha Allah.

The Prophet ﷺ advised us strongly to take suhoor. I have mentioned this many times, but I want to repeat it again. Suhoor is very important. It is the meal taken before the Fajr prayer, before fasting begins. The Prophet ﷺ advised us to hasten iftar when the adhan is heard and to delay suhoor. He ﷺ said that the reward of suhoor is greater than that of iftar.

Make sure to wake up for suhoor, because its time is the most blessed time of the night. It is the last third of the night. Even if you do not feel hungry, wake up and drink at least one glass of water with the intention of suhoor. Teach your children to do the same and to have suhoor with you.

Regarding children, if they wish to fast, do not say no. Let them try as much as they can. Fasting for a few hours or for the whole day is fine. If they feel weak, allow them to fast from morning until noon, or from noon until evening, so they become accustomed to fasting.

We usually begin encouraging children to fast from the age of nine or ten. At that age, you can encourage them to try fasting a full day. This helps make them eager. Some children are very strong and may fast the entire month. If a child is small or weak, but still eager, then make an agreement with them to fast some days and rest on others. Do not refuse them if they want to worship.

This is how Mawlana Shaykhق and Hajja Anneق used to act with children. They never said, “You are too small.” Instead, they made worship simple so children felt eager. Children naturally have love for worship. It is important to nurture this love and soften their hearts. When they grow up, worship will be settled in their hearts and will feel natural to them, without forcing.

Insha Allah, encourage your children to fast, to pray, and to do good deeds.

When ladies bring their children to dhikr, do not say, “Why are you bringing children? Take them home.” Be patient. Children also need to be in this atmosphere to learn and to develop love in their hearts. Let them sit slightly to the side with their mothers if needed.

This patience softens their hearts and makes dhikr, fasting, praying, and worship feel natural when they grow up. In these times, there are many shaytans and many distractions around. We must help children love this way, insha Allah, and keep them close to it.

• Hajja Rukiye Sultan

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