Only a very Unfortunate Person Would Remain Deprived of Forgiveness in Ramadan
Ka’ab ibn ‘Ujrah (adiyallahu ‘anhu) relates that Rasullullah (sallahu’ ‘alaihi wasallam) said: “Come near to the mimbar,†and we came near the mimbar. When he climbed the first step of the mimbar, he said “amin.†When he ascended the second step, he said “amin.†When he climbed the third step, he said “amin.†When he came down, we said: “O Rasul of Allah (sallahu’ ‘alaihi wasallam), we have heard from you today something which we never heard before.†He said, “when I climbed the first step, the angel Jibra’il appeared before me and said: Destruction to him who found the blessed month of Ramadan and let it pass by without gaining forgiveness.’ Upon that I said: ‘amin.’ When I climbed the second step, he said, Destruction to him before whom thy name is taken and then he does not make du’a for Allah’s blessing on me (by saying, for example, (sallahu’ ‘alaihi wasallam).’ I replied: ‘amin.’ When I climbed the third step, he said Destruction unto him in whose lifetime his parents or either one of them reaches old age, and (through failure to a serve them) he is not allowed to enter jannah.’ I said ‘amin,’†(Al-Bukhari, Al-Tabrani)
Note:
In this Hadith, it appears that Jibra’il (‘alayhissalam) gave expression to three curses, upon which Rasullullah (sallahu’ ‘alaihi wasallam) said amin every time.
It is reported that Jibra’il (‘alayhissalam) advised Rasullullah (sallahu’ ‘alaihi wasallam) to say amin being an angel of such high rank Jibra’il’s giving these curses is sure to be accepted may Allah ta’ ala in his infinite mercy grant us his help and save us form these three dangers. (Al-Durr al-manthur)
The first person described above his he who even in the blessed month of Ramadan, spends the days in sin and disregards his duties; thus he does not get forgiveness. Ramadan is the month of Allah ta’ala mercy and even this month is spent carelessly, how can expect to be pardoned for his sins? If he can not gain Allah ta’ala’s forgiveness in Ramadan, then when will he do so? The way to seek Allah ta’ala’s pardon for his sins is to fulfill his obligations in Ramadan as ordered by Allah ta’ala, such as fasting, offering taravih salah and asking for Allah ta’ala’s forgiveness for past sins.
The second unfortunate person is he who hears Rasullullah’s (sallahu’ ‘alaihi wasallam) name mentioned and yet does not make dua for Allah’s blessing on him. For this reason, some ulama considered it obligatory to make dua for Allah’s blessing on the Nabi (sallahu’ ‘alaihi wasallam) when ever the name of Muhammad (sallahu’ ‘alaihi wasallam) is mentioned.
The person who fails to do so is called unfortunate and stingy. Such people described as those who would lose the way to jannah, or even among those who will enter jahannam or those who will not look upon the blessed face of Rasullullah (sallahu’ ‘alaihi wasallam). The ulama give us various interpretations. The fact still remains that failure to make dua for Allah’s blessing on the Nabi (sallahu’ ‘alaihi wasallam) is indeed very unfortunate.
The third person described in the above Hadith is he, in whose lifetime one or both of his parents reach old age, and yet he is unable to gain jannah by serving them. The ‘ulama have stated that in every permissible act, it is compulsory to obey the parents’ commands. One should not be disrespectful to them and be humble, even though they be non-believers. Neither should one raise one’s voice above theirs, nor address them by their names, and give them due precedence. When they have to be called towards the good and prohibited from evil, it should be done leniently, and one should continue to make du’a for them even if they refuse to accept.
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