5 things to do on Laylatul Qadr

So valuable is this Night of Qadr that the Quran devotes a special surah to
it “Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months” [97:3] 

This one night surpasses the value of 30,000 nights. The most authentic account of the occurrence of the Night indicates that it can occur on any one of the last ten, odd numbered nights of Ramadan, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29.

We should strive to stay up at least on the odd numbered nights of the last ten days. If we can't manage that then let us pray at least on the 27th night. If one prays on all of the last odd numbered nights then there is more chance that one may have caught this most powerful night and the reward is of over 83 YEARS OF WORSHIP! Subhanallah! Most will not even live upto that age!

It is a night that we CANNOT miss out on so here is how we can maximise this blessed night:


1. Recite the Qur’an abundantly


Az-Zuhri used to say upon the coming of Ramadan, “It is only about reciting the Qur’an and feeding the poor.” 

Abdur-Raziq said, “When Ramadan came, Sufyan Ath-Thawri would give up all acts of (voluntary) worship and devote himself to the recitation of the Qur’an.” 

Laylatul Qadr is the night the Qur'an was revealed so we should spend much of the night reciting it for we will gain 700 hasanah or more by reciting each letter!


2. Strive to gain forgiveness


One should strive and do their utmost to gain the mercy of Allah especially in the odd numbered nights of the last ten days. If one leaves Ramadan without gaining the mercy of Allah then surely they are the most unfortunate ones and are the biggest losers in this world and the next.


The main Dua for Laylatul Qadr is the following:

Aisha (Ra) said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.' “ 

"Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee" (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).


Gaining forgiveness on laylatul Qadr


Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger said: “Whoever stands (in prayer) in Laylatul Qadr while nourishing his faith with self-evaluation, expecting reward from Allah, will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

We should sincerely repent for past and present sins with the intention of not repeating them again and ask of Allah Ta’aala to help us prevent ourselves from doing them again and ask Allah to perfect our characters and to help us improve ourselves in everyway possible.


3. Do much Superogatory Prayers (Nafil)


Rabi'ah ibn Malik al-Aslami reported that the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said: "Ask (anything)." Rabi'ah said: "I ask of you to be your companion in paradise." The Prophet said:"Or anything else?" Rabi'ah said: "That is it." The Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam said to him: "Then help me by making many prostrations (i.e., supererogatory prayers)." (Muslim)

The Prophet peace be upon him said: “Whoever draws near to Allaah during it (Ramadaan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts in other times.” – Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, no. 1887. 

In this most blessed month of Ramadhan all good deeds are multiplied by 70 or more. Every Nafil one prays one will gain the reward of a Fard Salaah and every Fard Salah is the reward of 70 Fard salaah. Subhanallah what other time of the year is this possible? NONE! So let us make the best of these precious seconds and pray as many Nafil prayers as is possible!


Here are some Nafil prayers we can pray on Laylatul Qadr:


1. Two Rakat after performing Wudu (Ablution)


Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him): “Tell me about the best of your deeds (i.e. one which you deem the most rewarding) since your embracing Islam because I heard your footsteps in front of me in Paradise.” Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: “I do not consider any act of mine more rewarding than that whenever I make ablution at any time of night or day, I perform Prayer for as much as was destined for me to do.”(Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)”


2. Tahajjud

Imam Abu Sa'id al-Khadimi said,

"There is scholarly consensus (ijma`) that among the best of virtuous acts is the night vigil prayer." [al-Bariqa al-Mahmudiyya Sharh al-Tariqa al-Muhammadiyya]

The scholars derived the following in regards to Tahajjud from the Qur'an and prophetic hadiths:

1. The minimal night vigil prayer is 2 rakats. [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]

2. Its optimal recommended amount is 8 rakats, because this was the general practice of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions). [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]

3. Lengthier recitation is superior to a larger number of rakats prayed. [Durr al-Mukhtar, Radd al-Muhtar]

4. It is recommended to start the night vigil with two short rakats, because of the hadith of Abu Hurayra that the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, "It you get up for night prayer, start with two short rakats." [Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Dawud]

Ibn Mas`ud (Allah be pleased with him) was asked, "I cannot pray at night." He said, "Your sins have prevented you."



4. Increase in Dhikr (Rememberance of Allah)


We should glorify Allah night and day, especially in the last odd nights. 

Here are some easy and very beneficial Dhikr and glorification we can do throughout the last ten odd nights:

1. Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee

2. Subhanallah

3. Alhamdulillah

4. Allahu Akbar

5. Laa ilaha ilallah

6. LA HAWLA WA LA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAH

7. Asthaghfirullah

8. SUB-HAN'ALLAH HIL AZEEM WA BI-HAM'DIHI, 

9. Subhāna-llāhi, wa-l-hamdu li-llāhi, wa lā ilāha illā-llāhu, wa-llāhu akbar. Wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāhi-l-aliyyi-l-azīm

10. Lā ilāha illā-llāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-ḥamdu yuhyi wa yumītu wa huwa ḥayyu-llā yamūtu abadan abada, ḏū-l-jalāli wa-l-ikrām, biyadihi-l-khayr, wa huwa alā kulli Shay-in qadīr

Or the shortened version:

11. Laa ilaaha illal-laahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay-in qadeer

One can also recite the durood that one recites in one's Salaah or a Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallim


5. Make much dua


We should be very busy in Dua as much as we can especially in the last 10 odd numbered.

Allah Almighty says in the Qur'an:

"When my servants ask you concerning me, (tell them) I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me." [2:186] 

The place of duaa is so high to Allah, that the Prophet(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallim) had said:"Nothing is more honourable to Allah the Most High than du`a." [Sahih al-Jami` no.5268]. 

Almighty Allah also said: "The most excellent worship is du`a." [Sahih Al-Jami` no. 1133]

Therefore let us devote much of the night of Qadr in dua asking of Allah for his mercy and forgiveness for all of our past sins and making firm intentions to Allah that we will change for the better and strive to become closer to him as well as make our deen a FULL part of our lives and not just a little part of our life as Allah says:

Allah tells us In the Qur'an to enter fully into our deen and not partly:

O believers enter into Islam completely and do not follow the footsteps of Shaitan, surely he is your clear-cut enemy.... (Surah Al-Baqara, Ayah 208-210)

So then will we not make Islam a FULL part of our lives? This is our best opportunity and if we don't take it and death comes to us then surely we will regret it for ETERNITY!

And Allah knows best in all matters

Read more »

15 EASY Things to do in ramadan

15 Easy Good deeds to do throughout Ramadan! (feel free to print and distribute to family members!).

1. Sitting after Fajr remembering Allah until sunrise:
“Whoever prays fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until sunrise, then prays 2 rakats of salat has a complete reward of (Nafil) Hajj and Umrah. (The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) repeated the word ‘complete’ 3 times for emphasis) [Tirmidhi]

2. A house in Jannah for praying 12 Sunnah each day: 
“Allah will build house in Jannah for whoever is diligent in obsering 12 sunnah rakat (as follows) 4 rakat before and 2 after Dhur, 2 after the Maghrib, 2 after Ishaa, and 2 before Fajr.” [Tirmidhi]

3. Attending lectures in the Masjid. 
“Whoever goes to the mosque not desiring except to learn or teach what is good has the reward of a pilgrim who completed his Hajj”[Tabarani]...men only.

4. Visiting a sick Muslim.
“There is no Muslim who visits a sick muslim early in the morning but 70 thousand angles send blessings upon him until evening comes, and if he visits him in the evening, 70 thousand angles send blessings upon him until morning comes, and he will have a garden in paradise.” [Tirmidhi]

5. Providing food for breaking the fast.
“Whoever provides food for breaking of the fast for a fasting person receives the reward of the fasting person, without the reward of the fasting person being reduced in any way.” [Tirmidhi & Ibn Majah]

6. Standing in prayer on Laylatul Qadr. 
“Laylatul Qadr is better than a thousand months.” [Quran 97:3] 
So it is, superior to approx 83 years of worship! Subhaanallah most do not even live for that long!

7. Millions of Good deeds remembering Allah whilst shopping:
“Whoever enters a market and says:
‘Laa ilaha illallah wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu yuhyi wa yumeetu wa huwa hayyun laa yamoot, bi yadihil khair, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shayin qadeer’

[There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, alone without partner, to Him belongs dominion and praise, He causes life and feath and He is the Living and does not die. In His Hand is all the good, and He is over all things competent] … Allah will write for him/her a million good deeds and erase a million bad deeds and raise him a million levels.” [Tirmidhi]

8. That Which Shall Have no Equal on the Day of Resurrection:
Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:”
Whoever says one hundred times in a day:
“La ilaha illal-lah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahu-l-mulk wa lahu-l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shai’in qadir,”

{”None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Alone Who has no partners, to Him belongs Dominion and to Him belong all the Praises, and He has power over all things (i.e. Omnipotent)”,}

he will get the same reward as given for manumitting ten slaves; and one hundred good deeds will be written in his accounts, and one hundred sins will be deducted from his accounts, and it (his saying) will be a shield for him from Satan on that day till night, and nobody will be able to do a better deed except the one who does more than he.” [Bukhari,Book #75, Hadith #412]

9. Asking Allah to forgive ALL Muslims. 
“Whoever seeks forgiveness for beleiving men and believing woman, Allah will write for him a good deed for each believing man and believing woman.” [Tabarani]

That is a reward for EVERY believer we make dua for. Since it is Ramadan then we get 70 good deeds for every believer we make dua for. So for simple dua taking a few seconds will give us BILLIONS of good deeds! Subhaanallah!
10. Forgiveness like the foam of the sea:
- Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: ‘Whoever says: Subhanallah wa bi hamdih (Praise and glory be to Allah)
100 times, morning and evening, his sins will be erased even if they are like the foam on the sea.” [Bukhari]

- Jaa’bir (RA) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:
“For the person who recites: SUB-HAN’ALLAH HIL AZEEM WA BI-HAM’DIHI, (Pure and perfect is Allah in his glory and praise) –
A date palm will be planted for him in Paradise” [Tirmidhi]

11. Thousand Good deeds in 2 Minutes
If a person says “Subhanallah” (glory be to Allah) 100 times, a thousand good deeds are recorded for him and a thousand bad deeds are wiped away. [Muslim]

12. Being pleased on the Day of Resurrection:
Allah has promised that anyone who says this three times every morning or evening will be pleased on the Day of Resurrection:
“رَضِيتُ باللهِ رَبَّاً، وَبِالْإِسْلَامِ دِيناً، وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ صَلَى اللهُ عَلِيهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَبِيَّاً”.
Radheetu billaahi Rabban, wa bil-’Islaami deenan, wa bi-Muhammadin (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallama) Nabiyyan.
I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Islam as my religion and with Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as my Prophet. [Fortress of the Muslim] 

13. Reciting three phrases heavy on the scales:
Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith reported: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) came out from my apartment in the morning as I was busy in performing the dawn prayer. He came back in the forenoon and found me sitting there and said,”Are you still in the same position as I left you.” I replied in the affirmative. Thereupon the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “I recited four phrases three times after I had left you. If these are to be weighed against all you have recited since morning, these will be heavier. These are: 
Subhan-Allah wa bihamdihi, ‘adada khalqihi, wa rida-a nafsihi, wa zinatah ‘arshihi, wa midada kalimatihi
{Allah is free from imperfection and I begin with His praise, as many times as the number of His creatures, in accordance with His Good Pleasure, equal to the ink that may be used in recording the words (for His Praise).” [Muslim]

14. A Rare treasure of Paradise:
Abu Dharr (RA) narrated that Rasulallah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Should I not tell you of one treasure of the unlimited treasures of Paradise?” I replied spontaneously “Oh Rasulallah that would be an honour indeed!” Rasulallah (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said: “That rare treasure is: LA HAWLA WA LA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAH.”
(“The strength to do good and to refrain from evil comes from the grace and mercy of Allah!”) [Ibn Majah]

15. Beautiful Supplication for Forgiveness: 
Shaddad bin Aus (RA) narrates that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:
“The best supplication for seeking forgiveness (Syed-ul-Istighfar) is to say:
`Allahumma Anta Rabbi, la ilaha illa Anta, khalaqtani wa ana `abduka, wa ana `ala `ahdika wa wa`dika mastata`tu, a`udhu bika min sharri ma sana`tu, abu‘u laka bini`matika `alayya, wa abu‘u bidhanbi faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa Anta.
(O Allah! You are my Rubb. There is no true god except You. You have created me, and I am Your slave, and I hold to Your Covenant as far as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge the favours that You have bestowed upon me, and I confess my sins. Pardon me, for none but You has the power to pardon).’
He who supplicates in these terms during the day with firm belief in it and dies on the same day (before the evening), he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah; and if anyone supplicates in these terms during the night with firm belief in it and dies before the morning, he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah.” [Al-Bukhari].

Read more »

Conclusion

With the advent of another Ramadhaan, a mixture of feelings overwhelm the hearts of Muslims all over the world. The hearts are full of hope, based on truthful promises and great tidings, given by Allah and His Messenger (S), of great bounties and endless bliss.
*We have been promised that the past sins will be forgiven for those whose fast is based on belief (Eemaan), sincerity and on truly expecting the reward from Allah (Ihtisaab).
*We also have been promised that the past sins will be forgiven for those who offer night prayers (Qiyaam) during the whole month, and who do that with the same two conditions of Eemaan and Ihtisaab.
*We have further been told that there is one night in this month which is better (in rewards) than a thousand months of worship, and that all the past sins will be forgiven for those who spend it offering Qiyaam with both Eemaan and Ihtisaab.
*We have been told that the devils will be chained down, that the gates of Hell will all be shut and that the gates of Paradise will all be open throughout this month.
*We have been told that Allah will free (from punishment) some of his 'ibaad (worshipers) on every single night of Ramadan.
*We have been told that Allah answers the du'aa of the fasting person at his iftaar (fast-breaking).
*We have been told that Allah multiplies the rewards of fasting beyond limits or imagination.
*We have been told that the fasting person will be joyous and happy when he meets his Lord.
*We all hope to be among those who offer the fast in the right way, in order to cultivate its glorious fruits.
*We hope to be granted forgiveness of our previous sins, to be able to do much more good and to overcome all our weaknesses.
*We hope to be among those who receive the gifts from the Jannah, whose gates are open.
*We hope to humiliate our enemy (Satan), who is chained down, by rejecting any of his deceitful advice.
*We hope to be among those who shall be granted full atonement of their sins by the end of this month, and among those who will be most happy with their fast when they meet their Lord.
*We hope that all of us, Muslims, will be pleasing to Allah in order to deserve His Mercy and victory.
Together with hope, we have some concerns in our hearts. There are conditions for the fasting to be acceptable and to give its desired results: Eemaan and Ihtisaab. Are we going to perform our fast with the true belief and the full surrender to Allah, or is it going to be just a hard exercise for us in order to lose some weight? Are we going to fast because Allah imposed it on us or just because we have been used to it from our childhood? Is our intention to please Him or to please our friends and family?
And even when we feel that we do satisfy the conditions for an acceptable fast, we are still concerned that our deeds may not be accepted from us for some deficiency on our side that we may have overlooked. This is the way of the Sahaabah (R) and their true followers, some of whom were reported to have said: "I will not feel quite safe even if I see that one of my feet is already in Jannah - not until both of them are in there.
Successful indeed are those who, during this Ramadan, will fast during the day and pray at night. Those who did not will regret it, and regret it strongly ...
Ramadan comes only once a year, therefore, we should host it in the best possible way. However, unlike many of us think and behave, its (Ramadan) treatment is not the tables full of dishes and the useless parties and gatherings but rather the reading of Qur'an, the remembrance of Allah, the prayer at night behind the Imam (the Taraweeh prayer), the Suhour, the du`a at the Iftar, the charity ...
My Very Dear Muslim Sister after reading all this I hope that we all are are going to prepare ourselves to fast as perfectly as possible this coming month of Ramadan by purifying our intention to Allah and following the footsteps of the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, and his companions.
We ask Allah to make fasting easy on us, to help us perform it in the perfect way that pleases Him, to reward us with all the bounties that he promised to the fasting people, to grant victory, and supremacy to the Islamic Ummah, and to make our most pleasant and happy day the Day that we shall meet with Him.
We pray to Allah SWT that He makes us among His `utaqaa' [freed people from Hell] in this month and that He prevents our bodies, our skins, our flesh and our bones from Hell Fire. He is the Most Merciful, the Most Beneficent, the Oft-Forgiving.
We pray to Allah to help us fast this Ramadan in the way it pleases Him the most so that we enter Paradise from ar-Rayyan gate.
Let us not miss this opportunity of Ramadan to be in the hereafter in Paradise in the company of our beloved Prophet Mohammad, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, and all the Prophets, and Abu Bakr, Omar, Othman, and Ali and in the company of the martyrs Hamzah, Mus`ab, Ja`far, Zayd ibn al-Harithah, and with our mothers Khadija, `Aishah, Ummu Salamah, Safiyyah, Hafsah and the others...
O Allah, we ask you by Your Beautiful Names and Attributes of higher rank, and by all the sincere deeds we have done, do not deprive us from their company, and do not deprive us from looking at you in Paradise. Aameen
Suhaib radhiya Allahu `anh relates that the Messenger of Allah (S) said: When the inmates of the Paradise will have entered the Paradise, Allah, the Master of Honor and Glory, will ask them: Do you want anything more that I should give you? They will submit: (O Allah)! Have you not made our faces shining? Have you not admitted us to the Paradise and saved us from the Hell? (What else is left to be desired?) Thereupon, the veil will be withdrawn, and the inmates of the Paradise will not have known anything dearer to them than looking at their Lord. [Muslim].
Allah the Exalted said [in the meaning of]:
Those who believe and do good works, their Lord guideth them by their faith. Rivers will flow beneath them in the Gardens of Delight. Their Prayer therein will be: Subhanaka Allahumma (Glory be to Allah) Their greeting therein will be Salam (peace). And the conclusion of their prayer will be al-Hamdu liLlahi Rabbi-l-`alameen (Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds).[Yunus, 10:10-11].
All praise is due to Allah, who has guided us to this; and we would not have been guided, had Allah not guided us.
wa salla Allahu `ala Nabiyyina Mohammad wa `ala 'aalihi wa sahbih (and may Prayer and Peace be upon the our Prophet Mohammad, his family and his companions).
(1) passages from the book "Fasting in Ramadan as observed by the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam" by Shaikh Ali al-Halabi and Shaikh Salim al-Hilali. This book is one of the best books written so far on the topic especially that it contains all ayaat and authentic ahadith relevant to fasting and to Ramadan. Al-hamdu liLLAH it has been translated to English [from al-Qur'an was-Sunnah Society of North America]

Read more »

Zakat ul-Fitr

None of us can escape not saying a few misplaced words during Ramadhan. It is from the Mercy of Allah SWT that He prescribed on us Zakat al-Fitr to get rid of the bad effect of vain talks and useless speeches in Ramadhan, as well as to feed the needy on the day of `eid and make him happy on that day as well.
Zakat al-Fitr is mandatory on every Muslim on his behalf and on the behalf of all people he is in charge of.
"The Muslim gives it for himself and for those whom he takes care of-. young or old, male or female, free or slave - due to the hadeeth of Ibn 'Umar, radiyallaahu 'anhuma: "Allah's Messenger ordered Sadaqatul-Fitr on behalf of the young and the old, and the free and the slave - whom you provide for." [ad-Daraqutni and al-Baihaqui : Hasan]"(1)
Also Ibn `Umar said "Allah's Messenger, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, obligated Zakat al-Fitr [for Ramadan upon the people]".[Bukhari and Muslim]
Another Hadith gives more details :
Ibn 'Umar said, "The Prophet made incumbent on every male or female, free man or slave, the payment of one Saa` of dates or barley as Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (or said Sadaqa-Ramadan)." The people then substituted half Sa' of wheat for that. Ibn 'Umar used to give dates (as Sadaqat-ul-Fitr). Once there was scarcity of dates in Medina and Ibn 'Umar gave barley. 'And Ibn 'Umar used to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr for every young and old person. He even used to give on behalf of my children. Ibn 'Umar used to give Sadaqatul-Fitr to those who had been officially appointed for its collection. People used to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (even) a day or two before the 'Eid. [Bukhari]
Ibn'Abbaas, radiyalloahu'anhu, that he used to say: "He who brings wheat it will be accepted from him, whoever brings barley it will be accepted from him whoever brings dates it will be accepted from him, whoever brings rye it will be accepted from him, and whoever brings raisins it will be accepted from him, and I think he said : whoever brings (barley) gruel it will be accepted from him. [Ibn Khuzaimah with a Sahih Isnad]
Zakat al-Fitr has to be given in the form of food. That is the practice of the Messenger of Allah salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam and the practice of the Sahabah. It also has to be given to the poor before Eid Prayer.
Ibn `Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, enjoined Zakat al-Fitr on the one who fasts to shield one's self from any indecent act or speech and for the purpose of providing food for the poor. It is accepted as zakah for the person who pays it before the `Eid Salah, and it is a mere sadaqah for one who pays it after the Salah" [Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah : Hasan]
It can be given a day or two before Eid as well and [Shaikh Ali Hasan and Shaikh Salim al-Hilali say :] it is from the Sunnah that there should be a person with whom it is gathered just as the Prophet entrusted Abu Hurairah, radiya Allahu 'anhu, who said: "Allah's Messenger entrusted me to look after the zakah of Ramadan." [Bukhari]
Also, Ibn 'Umar, radiya Allahu 'anhu, used to give some of it to those who would collect it - and they were those whom the imam sent to collect it, and that was a day or two before `Eidul-Fitr. It is reported by Ibn Khuzaimah by way of 'Abdul-Waarith from Ayyoob: I said: "When did Ibn 'Umar used to give the saa'?" He said: "When the collectors had finished." I said: "When did the collectors finish?" He said: "A day or two days before the day of Fitr."
As for its wisdom, "It has been prescribed by the Wise Legislator as a purification for those who fasted, from loose and indecent talk, and to feed the poor Muslims so that they have enough provision for that day - as is shown by the previous hadeeth of Ibn 'Abbaas, radiya Allahu 'anhuma."
(1) From the book "Fasting in Ramadan as observed by the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam" by Shaikh Ali Hasan and Shaikh Salim al-Hilali

Read more »