taqwa
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Ramadan

“O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for people before you so that you may attain Taqwa” [al-Baqarah, 2:183]
Every year this blessed month of Ramadan comes and goes, but there are only few individuals who are the successful ones to follow the above mentioned ayah of the Holy Quran. I am not referring to the part of the ayah which commands us to fast regularly in the month of Ramadan, but I am referring to the word ‘taqwa’ used here.
By the grace of Allah we Muslims somehow manage to fast regularly in these prescribed days of Ramadan, but unfortunately we fail to fulfill the purpose of this gift given to us by the Supreme Being in the shape of this merciful and forgiving month.
The phrase “la-al-la” (second last word of this ayah) in Arabic means several things. It means ‘so that’ or ‘may be that’ signifying that the purpose of the 1st part of the ayah will be told after this word. As it says: ….fasting has been prescribed for you…’so that’ you may learn/attain taqwa. This ayah gives us a very clear view of the purpose of the month of Ramadan. “la-al-la” also means ‘hopefully’, in other words, ‘I have given you this hopefully u will get this’. Here Allah wants to tell you that whatever guidance he has given us, In this case the month of Ramadan, ‘hopefully’ you will benefit with it by gaining taqwa.
It makes us feel a bit more upset as it is not something that is guaranteed, but at the same time the very phrase “la-al-la” makes us feel hopeful and optimistic that it is more likely that we will attain taqwa.
We have heard from our very childhood that the purpose of Ramadan is to feel sympathy towards others, and to learn patience. To make it more clear these both the things are a part of a single entity,‘Taqwa’, and it is this that is the true purpose of this month.
We often find excuses throughout the year, that it is very hard to be like the great companions of Rasoolulllah (saw), shaytan is constantly trying to make us turn the wrong way. In this month you will not have that excuse. The devil has been locked in chains. You have entered the trainee program for a month. You have all your chances, to become great from ordinary.
This time we need to put ourselves into 1st gears, and strive to be amongst those fortunate who take all the blessings, mercy, forgiveness and most importantly taqwa, from this beautiful month of Ramadan.
Prophet saw said: “If Allah’s servants knew what Ramadan was, they would have wished it lasted for the whole year.”

Myths, Omens & Superstitions (Hadith No. 1553)


Bismillah.
Volume 3, Book 27, Number 30:
Narrated Abu Ishaq:
I heard Al-Bara' (radiallaahu `anhu) saying, "The above Verse was revealed regarding us, for the Ansar on returning from Hajj never entered their houses through the proper doors but from behind. One of the Ansar came and entered through the door and he was taunted for it. Therefore, the following was revealed: --
"It is not righteousness That you enter the houses from the back, But the righteous man is He who fears Allah, Obeys His order and keeps away from What He has forbidden So, enter houses through the proper doors." (2.189)
The ayah in Arabic:

 وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَى وَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَبِهَا وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, etc.) that you enter the houses from the back, but Al-Birr is from Taqwa. So enter houses through their proper doors, and have Taqwa of Allah that you may be successful.)
Ibn Kathir says:
Al-Bukhari recorded that Al-Bara' said, "During the time of Jahiliyyah, they used to enter the house from the back upon assuming the Ihram. Thereafter, Allah revealed (the following Ayah):
﴿وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَى وَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَبِهَا﴾
(It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, etc.) that you enter the houses from the back but Al-Birr is from Taqwa. So enter houses through their proper doors.)
Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi recorded the same Hadith from Al-Bara' but with the wording; "The Ansar used to enter their houses from the back when returning from a journey. Thereafter, this Ayah (2:189 above) was revealed...''
Al-Hasan said, "When some people during the time of Jahiliyyah would leave home to travel, and then decide not to travel, they would not enter the house from its door. Rather, they would climb over the back wall. Allah the Exalted said:
﴿وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا﴾
(It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness) that you enter the houses from the back,).''
Allah's statement:
﴿وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ﴾
(...and have Taqwa of Allah that you may be successful.) Have Taqwa of Allah, means to do what He has commanded you and refrain from what He has forbidden for you,
﴿لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ﴾
(that you may be successful.) tomorrow when you stand before Him and He thus rewards you perfectly.
This generally proves two things:
  1. Not all things common in society/culture conform with Islam and its practices. It's wise to check authenticity of all norms and myths, lest you commit bid`aat thinking you're collecting great reward.
  2. Omens are baseless. And so are superstitions. True taqwa and piety are not judged by actions like entering one's house from front or behind. Instead, it's judged by the level of obedience to Allah's commands. (It goes without saying that Allah alone is the Judge for it.)

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