Dear Islamic brothers! How glorious is the mercy of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! He عَزَّوَجَلَّ orders His innocent angels to open the doors of Paradise and to close the doors of Hell from the very first night of this sacred month and also commands His innocent angels to chain the Satans. Furthermore, by the order of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ one, who calls from Heaven, guides people to make Du’a for their wishes, repent and to ask for forgiveness. Therefore, instead of being stuck in worldly affairs we should free ourselves to some extent from important activities before the arrival of sacred Ramadan and besides compulsory and Wajib worships, we should perform Sunan and Mustahabbat abundantly, recitation of the Holy Quran, Taraweeh and I’tikaf and other acts of worship.

If possible, we should try to have the privilege of observing the whole-month I’tikaf or at least the I’tikaf of the last 10 days, which is arranged by Dawat-e-Islami. Get your names recorded in the list of the lovers of the beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, who acquire Islamic knowledge by attending the two Madani Muzakarahs (one in the day and the other one after Taraweeh daily) from beginning to end, and become deserving of forgiveness by pleasing Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Let me mention three narrations to you about the Beloved Prophet’s pleasure and delight for worship, so that after listening to them we can also make up our minds and before the arrival of this sacred month, we can prepare ourselves for worship and I’tikaf.

1.         اِذَا دَخَلَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ شَدَّ مِئْزَرَهُ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَأْتِ فِرَاشَهُ حَتّٰى يَنْسَلِخَ: When the month of Ramadan would come, the Prophet of Rahmah, the Intercessor of the Ummah, the Owner of Jannah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would devote himself to the worship of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and would not approach his blessed bed the whole month. (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 3, pp. 310, Hadees 3624)

2.         كَانَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اِذَا دَخَلَ رَمَضَانُ تَغَيَّرَ لَوْنُهُ وَكَثُرَتْ صَلَاتُهُ وَابْتَهَلَ فِي الدُّعَاءِوَاَشْفَقَ مِنْهُ: When the month of Ramadan would arrive, the blessed colour of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would change. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would offer Salah abundantly, make Du’a in an extremely humble manner and remain overtaken by Divine fear. (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 3, pp. 310, Hadees 3625)