One of the things that are associated with Ramadan is the forgiveness of sins. Since we all fall into sins at one time or the other, we need to learn about what to do and what to say when we fall into them. Let us see what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has taught us in this regard going for Prayers. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged us to perform ablution and pray in congregation.
The Reward
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"The prayer offered in congregation is twenty five times more superior (in reward) to the prayer offered alone in ones house or in a business centre, because if one performs ablution and does it perfectly, and then proceeds to the mosque with the sale intention of praying, then for each step which he takes towards the mosque, AIlaah upgrades him a degree in reward and (forgives) crosses out one sin till he enters the mosque. When he enters the mosque he is considered in prayer as long as he is waiting for the prayer and the angels keep on asking for AIlaah’s forgiveness for him and they keep on saying: O AIlaah! Be Merciful to him, O AIlaah! Forgive him, as long as he keeps on sitting at his praying place and does not pass wind: (Bukhari).
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged us to say this:
Praising Allaah Subhana AIlaahi wa bi hamdihi. The Meaning Glorified is Allaah and praised is He the Reward. The prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever says this one hundred times a day will have his sins forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea." (Muslim)
Hajj
Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "He who performs Hajj for AIlaahs pleasure and avoids all lewdness and sins will return after Hajj free from all sins as he was the day his mother gave birth to him." (Muslim) The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Alternate between Hajj and Umrah (regularly), for these two remove poverty and sins just as the blacksmiths bellows removes aIl impurities from metals like iron, gold and silver. The reward for Hajj Mabrur is nothing short of Paradise. (Tirmidhi)
Praying Tahajjud
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also encouraged us to wake up at night to pray while others are sleeping.
The Reward
Allah's Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"Our Lord, the Blessed, The Superior, comes down every night on the nearest Heaven when the last third of the night remains, saying: Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him? "(Bukhari)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited