Preparing for Ramadan lesson 2: Shaykh Al-Habib Kadhim in Sweden

Uppsala Mosque in Sweden, Sept 11th 2007

Shaykh Al-Habib Kadhim speaks with animation, his hands moving and voice intensifying when he wants to emphasize something. "Ramadan is a noble guest that enters our homes, and that is how we should treat it," he says, adjusting the white shawl he has folded into a sash, lying over his right shoulder.

Drawing on a hadeeth* in the Al-Hakim Collection which (roughly speaking) says that The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have said that both our fasts and the Quran will take shape on the Day of Judgement to intercede on our behalf.

He goes on to mention three important parts of Ramadan:

1. Intention
2. To find yourself in a position of extreme happiness over the coming of Ramadan.
3. To do righteous works and deeds
   

About the first part of Ramadan he mentions a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) where it is said that the true intention of a believer is better than his actions. So if we intend to read the Quran in Ramadan our tongues will be honored while reciting, for the Quran is God's speech to man, His speech being one of His attributes. In it God adresses us as He has adressed the Messengers before us:

Quran Ch. 2 Verse 183 O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it
was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,-

A sincerely made intention will be blessed with sucess in performing it, and God will make it easy for us to do what we intended. "Therefore," he conluded, "make as many intentions as you can for Ramadan. Intend to pray all the Taraweeh prayers and sunnah prayers, intend to finish the Quran in this month. Even if you do not completely fulfill your intentions despite your efforts, if sincere, you will be rewarded nevertheless God willing."

* hadeeth are the prophetic sayings or traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

Read lesson one here.