Make the Best Use of Time in Ramadan

By Saghir Aslam
Rawalpindi, Pakistan

(The following information is provided solely to educate the Muslim community about investing and financial planning. It is hoped that the ummah will benefit from this effort through greater financial empowerment, enabling the community to live securely with dignity and fulfill their religious and moral obligations towards charitable activities.)

We have been planning for Ramadan for months and it's now coming to an end. We are already in the last Ashra of the blessed month. Time is something that is the most precious and valuable part of our life which each one of us owns, and it is up to us how we utilize our time. Those of us who have spent the last over 20 days in making the best use of our time to get Allah's mercy have made a great investment in the hereafter and have Insha'Allah attained Allah SWT's mercy.

Time is something that once gone cannot be recovered. You can buy anything with money, but you cannot buy time. Time is so important that in the Qur'an in Surah Al-Asr, Allah SWT swore upon time "Wal Asr". This shows the importance of time for us. Unfortunately, we give it the least importance in our life. We waste a good amount of time for nothing. By the time we realize what we have wasted, it is already too late.

However, in this beautiful month of Ramadan, we still have time to attain salvation from hellfire in the third Ashra that we are already in.

The last ten days of Ramadan (Third Ashra) are most important and superior to the earlier two Ashras as Lailatul Qadar falls in the third Ashra. Also, most of the Muslims practice Itekaf during the third Ashra.

Here is a list of a few things one should do during the third Ashra.

a). The last ten days are for seeking emancipation from the fire so one should strive hard in the third Ashra of fasting to ask for pardon and forgiveness from Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) used to devote Himself more intensely to prayers and urged others too during the third Ashra of Ramadan.

Narrated by Aisha (RA): "The Prophet (PBUH) strove harder and took greater pains to observe prayers, etc. during the third Ashra of Ramadan than the other days" (Muslim).

Allah SWT in the Qur'an stresses on being tolerant, humble, kind and forgiving. He says, 'Don't you like Me to forgive you? The more we are forgiving, the better chances of Allah SWT forgiving us. If Allah SWT can forgive our major sins, why can't we forgive each other on petty issues; and even if it's a major issue we should have Rehma on others, show mercy, and forgive each other. Allah SWT loves it when you forgive others.

The Prophet (PBUH) has said: "Do repent in this month to Allah for your sins and supplicate with raised hands at the time of prayer as these are the best times during which Allah Al-Mighty looks at his servants with mercy. Allah answers if they supplicate, responds if they call, grants if He is asked, and accepts if they entreat. O People! You have made your conscience the slave of your desires. Make it free by invoking Allah for forgiveness. Your back may break from the heavy load of your sins, so prostrate (Sajda) yourself before Allah, for long intervals, and make this load lighter."

Ramadan is the month of mercy, forgiveness, and being generous. While we fast, pray, recite Qur'an and do more Ibadah in this month, we also have to take care of the poor people, particularly in this month. Those who are less fortunate, who do not have enough food and other means to survive. Helping the widows, supporting orphans and honoring them is a plus as Allah SWT in return will reward you on the judgement day. One such program is Saba Homes that seeks to honor the orphans and helping them to achieve their goals and dreams. To help an orphan in Ramadan is one of the best charitable deeds and has great rewards in return as promised by Allah SWT and His Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

(Saghir A. Aslam only explains strategies and formulas that he has been using. He is merely providing information, and NO ADVICE is given. Mr Aslam does not endorse or recommend any broker, brokerage firm, or any investment at all, or does he suggest that anyone will earn a profit when or if they purchase stocks, bonds or any other investments. All stocks or investment vehicles mentioned are for illustrative purposes only. Mr Aslam is not an attorney, accountant, real estate broker, stockbroker, investment advisor, or certified financial planner. Mr Aslam does not have anything for sale.)