Durus Ramadan
- Author died
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- Editions
- The book is published on the website of the Saudi Ministry of Awqaf without data
Durus Ramadan (Ramadan Lessons) is a work by Muhammad bin Ibrahim al-Hamad that presents a series of spiritual, ethical, and behavioral lessons centered around the month of Ramadan . The book examines the objectives and wisdom behind fasting, addressing individual and communal conduct, spiritual purification, and common missteps observed during the sacred month .
Themes and Structure
The work is organized into thematic lessons intended to guide Muslims in utilizing the opportunities provided by Ramadan :
Time Management and Combating Wastefulness
The author emphasizes the finite nature of Ramadan as أَيَّامًا مَعْدُودَاتٍ ("a counted number of days"), stressing that time is man's fundamental capital . He warns against modern practices that compromise the sanctity of the month, particularly late-night leisure, oversleeping during daylight hours, and excessive television viewing, citing their detrimental effects on domestic responsibilities, kin relations, and spiritual focus .
Moderation and Restraint
Under the Quranic directive وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا ("Eat and drink, but do not be extravagant"), al-Hamad critiques the tendency of turning Ramadan into a season of culinary extravagance and consumerism . He notes that such excesses squander wealth, burden bodies, induce sluggishness in worship, and run contrary to the very wisdom of fasting . Drawing upon classical scholars such as Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim, he highlights the moral and spiritual virtues of curbing bodily appetites, urging readers to redirect surplus resources toward providing charity, feeding the poor, and supporting orphans .
True Joy and Sincerity
The book explores the concept of joy in fasting, differentiating between blameworthy worldly conceit and praiseworthy delight in God's grace and guidance . Al-Hamad references Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali regarding the two distinct joys experienced by the fasting person: upon breaking the fast and upon meeting the Lord . He further dedicates sections to sincerity (ikhlas), describing fasting as an intrinsically concealed act of worship between the servant and God that shields against ostentation and fosters integrity across various societal professions .
Outreach and Filial Piety
Ramadan is framed as a season for religious outreach (da'wah) and social virtue . The author outlines the manners required of a caller to Islam—including knowledge, kindness, and patience—and encourages leveraging media, financial means, and digital tools in spreading righteousness . He also addresses filial piety (birr al-walidayn), surveying its station alongside monotheism and warning against subtle and overt forms of parental disrespect .
Health and Repentance
In addition to its spiritual aspects, the text references modern medical observations and studies on fasting, citing foreign physicians and researchers regarding its role in detoxification and therapeutic benefits . The book concludes with lessons on repentance (tawbah), detailing its conditions, God's pleasure with the penitent, and common errors such as postponing repentance or despairing of God's mercy .
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