Summer and Ramadan 1/2

Indeed, good deeds have specific times; some of which have specific times, such as Hajj (pilgrimage) which has specific times and cannot be performed whether it is obligatory or supererogatory. Some of which may be performed all the time but sometimes it is more obligatory than others. Therefore, time plays an important role in worship and obedience, such as: Generosity, spending, and benevolence. Reciting the Qur'an during the days of Ramadan has an additional merit over other months because it is the month of the Qur'an and giving food to the poor. Another element affects the acts of worship which is hardship; the reward gained increases according to hardship, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) during Hajj: "Your reward is according to the hardship you endured).

Likewise the reward of the one who recites the Qur'an but finds difficulty in reciting it shall be doubled. Of the actions which may be accompanied by circumstantial hardship is observing fast in very hot summers where the day is long and the night is short, and a person is thirsty all the time. Therefore, Mu`adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) felt sorry at his death for the hot days during which he did not observe the fast. Many of the Pious Predecessors regretted for the times they wasted as Mu`adh did. It was reported from Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) that he used to break the fast in winter and observe fast in summer. `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) commended his son `Abdullah with the qualities which proves firm faith and mentioned first observing the fast in hot summers. Al Qasim ibn Muhammad said `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) used to observe fasting during excessive hot days. So, it was said to him: why did she do that? He said: She wanted to prepare for death. Ibn Rajab said in Al Lata'if: "Some righteous women used to observe fasting during the very hot days and when one of them was asked about that she said: Indeed, when the price is low, everyone becomes able to buy. She means that she does not prefer but the act, which only few people can do because it is very hard for them, and that is part of high vigor. Al Hasan said: A houri will say to a servant of Allah while she is sitting with him near Nahr Al Khamr (a river) in Paradise giving him a cup of that river in the best life he ever lived: Do you know which day Allah assigned me to be your wife in Paradise? He looked at you in a very hot day while you were thirsty of fasting, then He boasted of you before His Angels. He said: Look at My Servant! He left his wife, desires, food, and drink for My Sake; seeking My Reward. Bear witness that I have forgiven him. So, He has forgiven you and made me your wife. In some of his travels, Al Hajjaj stopped by a water fountain between Makkah and Medina. He commanded his servants to prepare dinner and when he saw a bedouin, he called him to dinner. The bedouin said to him: Someone who is better than you invited me and I answered. Al Hajjaj said: who is he? He said: Allah (may He be Exalted) invited me to fasting and I have responded. He said: In such hot day? He said: Yes. I have observed fasting to be saved in a hotter day. He said: Break your fast and observe it tomorrow. He said: If you guarantee to me to live until tomorrow, I will break the fast. He said: I cannot guarantee this. He said: How could you ask me to fulfill your wish while you cannot guarantee my life? Abu Ad-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say: Observe fasting in a very hot day to be saved in the hot Day of Resurrection and perform (Salah consists of) two Rak`ahs in darkness of night to protect yourselves against the darkness of the graves."

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