U’baadah bin as Saamit reported that one day when Ramadaan drew near Nabi (saw) said “Ramadaan the month of blessings has come to you, wherein Allah turns towards you and sends down to you His special Mercy, forgives faults, accepts prayers, looks at your competition for greatest good and boasts to His angels about you. So show to Allah your goodness [khayr] from yourselves. For verily the most pitiable and unfortunate one is the one who is deprived of Allah’s Mercy during this month.” (TABARAANI) So we see Ramadaan is a time when we must be striving for the greatest amount of reward and indeed people respond by fasting and praying much naafilah salah, and by praying the taraweeh in the mosques, many people invite others for iftaar and others are busy in Islamic lectures and other forms of worship and Islamic activity. Many people will be searching for Laylatul Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadaan by increasing their worship and praying tahajjud and others will at that time be in the secluded intense worship of i’tikaaf. However, there is one great matter that many people are overlooking and that is the Islamic rules concerning VALIDITY OF ACTIONS in particular we must observe the foundations of our deen and understand THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IMAAN [Belief] AND ACTS OF WORSHIP. The previous hadeeth pointed to the fact that many people in Ramadaan are going to have nothing as it said “…For verily the most pitiable and unfortunate one is the one who is deprived of Allah’s mercy during this month.” The hadeeth also said “…show to Allah your ‘goodness’ [khayr]…” and good or righteous action [a’milus saalihaat] must be based on imaan [sound belief] as the Quran always mentions e.g.  “So announce to them a painful torment, except those who believe and do a’milus saalihaat [righteous action]…” (al Inshiqaaq 84:24-25)

Why are we fasting Ramadaan? We must fast because it is a Hukm, a law and a command from Allah. Why do we obey this Hukm? We obey this Hukm because only Allah can make ahkaam [laws] as Allah (swt) says “…Verily the Hukm is for none but Allah….” (Yoosuf 12:104) and "…and He makes none to share[make shirk] in His Rule [Hukm]…" (al Kahf 18:26) We worship Allah by obeying His laws and we were only created to worship Allah, Allah (swt) says  “I have not created jinn and man except that they worship Me” (adh Dhaariyaat 51:56) So let us know that we are fasting because we must worship Allah by obeying all of His commands. Ramadaan is not to be performed as a family tradition but rather, as a part of our obedience to Allah (swt). So we must remember that fasting is a hukm from Allah and so we must also submit to the other ahkaam of Allah. Our belief in Allah includes believing in everything the Quran has commanded us. We will only avoid the Hellfire by having correct belief and seeking the pleasure of Allah throughout our life “Allah has promised to the believing men and believing women, Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever and beautiful mansions in Gardens of A’dn. But the greatest bliss is the good pleasure [ridwaan] of Allah. That is the supreme success [fawzul a’zeem].” (at Tawbah 9:72) So let us now review our Ramadaan and our whole lives in accordance with the ayah “O you who believe! Have taqwa of Allah and let every soul look to what he has sent forward for tomorrow” (al Hashr 59:18)

The Relationship with Ramadaan, Fasting and Belief and the fact that many people’s efforts are Invalid

We should be warned that many ayaat and ahadeeth clearly indicated the fact that many people will gain nothing from fasting or any other act of worship in Ramadaan. This is because those people neglected other beliefs and laws in Islam and so all their deeds are either fruitless due to false intentions or worse than this, they will be punished. We now list some important evidences to reflect upon concerning the foundation of belief and its relation with Ramadaan and its specific acts of worship:-

No.1 – Allah (swt) says “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may have taqwa” (al Baqarah 2:183) So fasting has been commanded to believers i.e. people who reject kufr and shirk. Also we see that fasting is for taqwa, and that is to protect our self from disobedience to Allah (swt) by obeying his commands and abstaining from that which He (swt) has forbidden. The third point is that fasting was prescribed for those before us, yet people forget the more important matter which is to be shared with the believers of the past, that is the worship of Allah and the rejection of the Taaghoot…. Allah (swt) says “And Verily, We have sent among every ummah a messenger (proclaiming) ‘Worship Allah and avoid Taaghoot” (an Nahl 16:36)

No.2 - Salmaan said ‘On the last day of Sha’baan rasool Allah (saw) addressed us and said “O people there comes over you now a great month, a most blessed month in which lies a night more greater than a thousand months. It is a month in which Allah made fasting fard by day and has made sunnah the prayer at night. Whosoever intends drawing near to Allah by performing any virtuous deed, for such a person there shall be the reward of obligations in any other time. And whoever performs a fard [obligation] shall be blessed with the reward of seventy faraai’d [obligations] in any other time. This is indeed the month of patience and the reward for true patience is jannah. It is the month of moowaasah [sympathy]. It is the month where the true believers rizq is increased. Whosoever feeds another who fasted, for the feeder there shall be the forgiveness of sins and emancipation from the Fire of Jahannam and for such feeder shall be the same reward as the one who fasted without that persons reward being decreased in the least.” Thereupon we said ‘O Rasool Allah, not all of us possess the means to break the fast of those fasting’ Nabi (saw) replied “Allah grants the same reward to the one who gives the fasting person a date, or a drink of water or a sip of milk. This is a month the beginning of which brings Allah’s mercy, the middle of which brings His forgiveness and the last of which brings emancipation from the Fire of Jahannam. And in this month four things you should continue to perform in great number, two of which shall be to please your Lord while the other two shall be those of which you can not do without. Those to please your Lord are that you should in great quantity bear witness to laa ilaaha ill Allah and make much istighfaar [seek forgiveness]. And those which you can’t do without, are that you should beg Allah for entrance into paradise and ask refuge in Him from Jahannam. And whoever gave a person who fasted water to drink Allah shall grant that giver to drink from my fountain. Such a drink where after that person shall never again feel thirsty until he enters jannah.” (IBN KHUZAYMAH and similar from BAYHAQI, ABU SHAYKH) In this important hadeeth of the guidance of Nabi (saw) in preparation for Ramadaan, Nabi (saw) makes clear that the reward of seventy obligations for one obligation and the reward of obligations for acts of naafilah, is not for empty rituals but for those who are seeking closeness to Allah, this requires imaan and pure intentions without shirk. Secondly, the rizq is only increased for the true believer, this belief includes rejecting all forms of kufr and shirk, such as man-made law, grave worship etc. Thirdly, Nabi (saw) said the believer must affirm the dhikr of tawheed in Ramadaan, i.e. Laa ilaaha ill Allah, this is with recognition of its meaning and belief in it.

No.3 - Talhaa bin U’baydullah reports that on sighting the new moon Nabi (saw) would say “O Allah do let the appearance of this moon be a forerunner of imaan, salaamah [peace] and Islaam (O moon) my Lord and Your Lord is Allah may this moon be of guidance [rushd] and good [khayr].” (TIRMIDHI ‘hasan’ Riyaad [vol.2 no.1228]) So we see how the new moon was to be a forerunner of Imaan [belief] and Islam, meaning submission to the commands of Allah (swt). So this hadeeth connected the sign of Ramadaan to belief and full submission to Islamic law.
 
No.4 - Abu Hurayrah reports that Nabi (saw) said “A person who fasts during the month of Ramadaan with imaan and ihtisaab will have his past sins remitted.” (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM) Two conditions for forgiveness are mentioned here, first is imaan, so there is no fast for the person on kufr and shirk, secondly, ihtisaab, which means to account oneself so that all of the commands of Allah are obeyed. So we see Tawheedul Haakimeeyah is necessary for the saa’im [fasting person].

No.5 - Ka’b bin Ujrah reports that Nabi (saw) said that Jibreel said “Woe to him who found the blessed month of Ramadaan and let it pass by without gaining forgiveness” upon that I said ‘Ameen’ (AL HAAKIM who said ‘saheeh’) So we see from this hadeeth that there are those in Ramadaan who recognise it (indicated by the words “…who found the blessed month of Ramadaan…”) yet they have not gained from it.

No.6 - Abu Sa’eedul Khudri reports that Nabi (saw) said “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadaan obeying all of its limits and guarding himself against what is forbidden has atoned for any sins he has committed before.” (AHMAD, BAYHAQI) This hadeeth is clear in that it is not merely fasting which brings the reward, but the limits of Ramadaan must be observed, which is to have sound belief and obey the shari’ah and the hadeeth commanded abstaining from what Allah has forbidden, and the worst of prohibited matters is shirk.

No.8 - Abu Hurayrah reports that Nabi (saw) said “If a person does not abstain from lying and indecent activities Allah does not want that he should abstain from eating and drinking.” (BUKHAARI) So how many people are lying about the Book of Allah in Ramadaan? How many people are lying about the Islamic beliefs? What greater indecent activity is there than that of shirk? Allah (swt) says, “…Verily Shirk is a great Zulm.” (Luqmaan 31:13)

No.9 - “Verily, men who submit to Allah [muslimeen], and women who submit, and men who believe [mu’mineen] and women who believe, and men who obey [qaaniteen] and women who obey, and men who are truthful [saadiqeen] and women who truthful, and men who persevere [saabireen] and women who persevere, and men who are humble [khaashi’een] and women who are humble, and men who give sadaqah [mutasaddiqeen] and women who give sadaqah, and men who fast [saai’meen] and women who fast, and men who guard their modesty [haafizeena faroojahum] and women who guard (their modesty), and men who remember Allah much [dhaakireen Allaaha katheeran] and women who remember--Allah hath prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward. And it becomes not a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His messenger have decided an affair (for them), that they should (after that) claim any say in their affair; and whoso is rebellious to Allah and His messenger, he verily goes astray in error manifest.” (al Ahzaab 33:35-36) So here we see the characteristics of the true fasters, men and women [saai’meen and saai’maat] and the true mutasaddiqeen [people who give sadaqah] such as the sadaqaatul fitr at the end of Ramadaan and those people who pray with humility [khaashi’een]. For the fast of Ramadaan and Sadaqah of Ramadaan and Prayers in Ramadaan to be valid, all of these other characteristics must be present. They must also be believers [mu’mineen] and obey the shari’ah [qaaniteen] and they submit to Allah’s commands [muslimeen] and they are truthful in their beliefs, speech and actions [saadiqeen]. All of this is based on rejecting the Taaghoot, rejecting man-made law and taking Allah (swt) as the only Lord and Legislator and calling to that.

No.10 - “(Triumphant) are those who turn repentant (to Allah), those who serve (Him), those who praise (Him), those who fast, those who bow down, those who fall prostrate (in worship), those who command the ma’roof and who forbid from munkar and those who keep the limits (ordained) of Allah And give glad tidings to believers!”  (at Tawbah 9:112) So this noble ayah mentioned the victory of those who fast, but did it talk about fasting alone? Rather, it mentioned other foundations and branches that are necessary to make a people successful in this life and the next. These people must be believers and the good news of Paradise is only for them, they must pray and worship Allah alone, that is affirming Tawheed in their beliefs, actions and speech and they must be people who repent from their errors, especially shirk as it is not forgiven if we die upon it. And these successful people must command ma’roof and forbid munkar. The greatest Munkar is shirk and the greatest ma’roof is Tawheed.

No.11 - Abu Hurayrah reports that Nabi (saw) says “Many are those who fast attaining nothing but hunger and many are those performing salaah by night attaining nothing but tiredness” (IBN MAAJAH, NASAA’I) The hadeeth is very clear that many people fast and pray but have nothing of reward from it. This could be because their sins and disobedience to shari’ah outweighs their good. It could be because they have bad intentions or it could be because they have corrupted beliefs such as accepting shirk.

No.12 - Abu Ubaydah reports that Nabi (saw) said “Fasting is a junnah [shield] as long as he does not tear that protection” (NASAA’I, IBN MAAJAH, IBN KHUZAYMAH) So the fasting is a protection for the person against many things and a protection from Hellfire. However, the hadeeth is warning about tearing that protection, this is done by disobeying Allah and is destroyed altogether by shirk.

The Validity of Actions in Islam

Actions in Islam are all part of i’baadah [worship]. However, we have those actions which are specifically for worshipping Allah without any material objective intended such as prayer, fasting, dhikr, hajj etc. And those actions which do serve material objectives e.g. Marriage, trading etc. The second type of action ‘Mua’malaat’ [transactions] are rewarded if they are done according to the Ahkaam Shari’ah [Divine Laws]. For an action of worship to be Mabroor [Good] and Maqbool [Accepted] by Allah (swt) it must meet three general conditions:-

• Firstly and most importantly it must be based upon the correct a’qeedah [beliefs]. The performer of the action must be a mu’min [believer], one who is believing in the six pillars of imaan and not contradicting any of them.  Allah (swt) says “But anyone who does righteous actions, being a believer, need fear no wrong nor any unjust injury.” (Ta Ha 20:112) So righteous actions are only for believers and Allah (swt) says “But those who disbelieve, for them is destruction and their deeds will be in vain” (Muhammad 47:8) and  “And whoever rejects imaan then fruitless are his actions and in the hereafter he will be of the khaasireen [losers]” (al Maai’dah 5:5) This imaan includes not saying, doing or believing in any shirk, “And it has been revealed to you as it was to those before you ‘If you commit shirk with Allah surely all your deeds will be in vain and you will certainly be amongst the losers.” (az Zumar 39:65) If the person dies upon any shirk, such as recognising the Taaghoot and accepting their legislation, then they have become a mushrik and they will not come out of Hellfire as the ayah says “Surely Allah will not forgive shirk with Him but He forgives less than that of whomsoever He wills.” (an Nisaa’ 4:48)

• Secondly, the action must be done with pure intention [ikhlaasun niyyah]. i.e. The action should not be for showing off or empty ritual, but it must be done for pleasing Allah (swt) alone. Allah (swt) says “Say: ‘Indeed I have been commanded to worship Allah making the deen sincerely [mukhlisaan] for Him alone.” (az Zumar 39:11) and “And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, making the Deen sincerely for Him…” (al Bayyinah 98:5) U’mar ibn al Khattab reported that Nabi (saw) said “Actions are by intention and everyone will have what they intended….” (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM) and Abu Umaamah al Baahili reported that Nabi (saw) said “Allah does not accept any action unless it is done sincerely [khaalisan] for Him alone, seeking His face (pleasure).” (NASAA’I)

• Thirdly, the action must be performed according to the Prophetic example and the shari’ah methodology as mentioned in Quran and Sunnah. Allah (swt) says “Verily in the messenger of Allah you have the best example for him who hopes for Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.” (al Ahzaab 33:21) and it is reported by Aishah that Nabi (saw) said “Whoever introduces into this affair of ours that which is not of it then it is rejected.” (BUKHAARI, MUSLIM) and in another version “Whoever does an act for which there is no command of ours then it is rejected.” (MUSLIM) and Jaabir reported that Nabi (saw) said “…The best speech is the Book of Allah and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The worst of affairs are the newly invented matters (muhdthatuha) and every bida’ is dalaalah.” (MUSLIM, IBN MAAJAH)

Whoever does not reject the Taaghoot has made Major Shirk and is a Kaafir even if he fasts and prays much and says ‘laa ilaaha ill Allah’

Allah (swt) says “…So whoever rejects Taaghoot and believes in Allah then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break…” (al Baqarah 2:256) Mujaahid said ‘The most trustworthy handhold is imaan’ and Imaam as-Suddi said it is ‘Islam’ (both from IBN KATHEER Tafseerul Quran al A’zeem) Therefore, to believe in Allah we must reject that which contradicts the belief in Allah, we must reject the Taaghoot. The rejection of the Taaghoot is the first pillar of Tawheed. This is because our Kalimah Tayyibah, ‘Laa ilaaha ill Allah’ is a statement of negation [nafy] and affirmation [ithbaat]. When we are saying ‘laa ilaaha’ we are rejecting all worship for other than Allah and when we say ‘ill Allah’ we are affirming that the worship is only for Allah. Worship includes obedience [Taa’ah]. This means we must accept that only Allah can legislate for us. From Tawheedul Asmaa’ was Sifaat is that Allah has the Names and Attributes of Al Hakam, Al Haakim, Al Hakeem, Allah (swt) says "...and He is the Khayrul Haakimeen [Best of Legislators]" (al A'raaf 7:87) and “And You are Ahkamil Haakimeen [Wisest of Legislators]” (Hood 11:45) If anyone affirms that others can make law then he becomes a mushrik who has recognised and believed in the Taaghoot. The Taaghoot is that which is competing in the Rights [huqooq] and Attributes [Sifaat] of Allah (swt). Imaam Maalik said ‘The Taaghoot is anything that is worshipped apart from Allah’ (IBN KATHEER ‘Tafseerul Quran al A’zeem’) Imaam at-Tabari said that ‘Taaghoot’ is anyone or anything that symbolizes rebellion against Allah and is worshipped besides Him, whether it be from mankind, jinn or idols (Jaami’ul Bayaan) Imaam Ibn al Qayyim said  ‘The Taaghoot is anyone to whom the slave [a’bd] goes beyond the limits whether it is someone worshipped [ma’boodin] or followed [matbooi’n] or obeyed [mutaai’n]’ (I’laamul Muwaqqi’een) and Shaykh Muhammad ibn A’bdul Wahhaab said ‘The Taaghoot are many and there heads are five Iblees, whoever is worshipped and is pleased with that, whoever calls the people to worship himself, whoever claims to possess anything from the knowledge of the unseen and whoever rules by other than what Allah has sent down’ (Thalaathatul Usool)

So the fact that the Taaghoot does not only include stars, stone and wooden idols but also people who make laws against the shari’ah is manifest from the Quran and supported from the statements of the salaf and the classical scholars. The following ayah proves that whoever rejects Quran and Sunnah and prefers man-made law either voting for that, supporting it or going to judgement in courts based on that has removed himself from Islam. Allah (swt) says “Have you seen those who claim that they believe in that which was sent down to you and before you and they wish to go for judgement to the Taaghoot while they have been commanded to reject them? But Shaytaan wishes to lead them far astray. And when it is said to them ‘Come to what Allah has sent down and to the messenger’ you see the munaafiqeen turn away from you with aversion. How then when a catastrophe befalls them because of what their hands have sent forth they come to you swearing by Allah, ‘We meant nothing more than goodwill and conciliation’.” (an Nisaa’ 4:60-62) Mujaahid said ‘Taaghoot is a shaytaan in the form of a man and they refer to him for judgement’ (TABARI, IBN KATHEER) Ibn Katheer said ‘The ayah has a general meaning as it chastises all those who refrain from referring to the Quran and Sunnah for judgement and prefer the judgement of whatever they chose of falsehood, which befits the description of Taaghoot here. This is why Allah said “….and they wish to go for judgement to the Taaghoot…”’ (IBN KATHEER ‘Tafseerul Quran al A’zeem) Thus, the ayah is clear in declaring the kufr [disbelief] of those who went to other than the revelation from Allah for laws and judgement. The ayah said “…claim that they believe…” which means they don’t believe. The ayah said “…Shaytaan wishes to lead them far astray [dalaala ba’eed]…” which means disbelief as the Quran affirms in many places e.g. “….and whoever makes shirk with Allah has gone far astray [dalaala ba’eed]” (an Nisaa 4:116) Then the following ayah continued to describe them as munaafiqeen for turning away from the Hukm of Allah, “…you see the munaafiqeen turn away…”

Allah (swt) also mentions how others preferred the judgement of the Taaghoot “Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Book? They believe in Jibt and Taaghoot and say to those who disbelieve ‘These people are better guided on the way’ than the believers. They are those whom Allah has cursed, and he whom Allah curses, you will not find for him a helper.” (an Nisaa’ 4:51-52) and Allah (swt) told us how the preference of the Taaghoot was such a great shirk that Allah punished the people not only in the next life but also in this life, Allah (swt) says “Say: ‘Shall I inform you of something worse than that, regarding the recompense from Allah those who incurred the curse of Allah and His Anger, those of whom He transformed into monkeys and swine, those who worshipped Taaghoot.” (al Maa’idah 5:60)

Allah (swt) made clear that accepting judgement and legislation from other than Allah and His messenger is kufr [disbelief], Allah (swt) says “But no by your Lord, they can have no imaan (belief) until they make you judge in all disputes among them and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions and accept them with fullest submission.” (an Nisaa’ 4:65)

Conclusion – Ramadaan should remind us to Reject the Taaghoot and Worship Allah alone

Allah (swt) says “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month…” (al Baqarah 2:185) So we should remember the blessing of Ramadaan includes that the Quran was revealed as guidance, because Allah is Al Hadi as we must refer to guidance of Allah and not man. The ayah also said that the Quran is al Furqaan, i.e. that which decides that which is right and wrong and it is not for man-made law to decide. This is clear from the ayah “Verily, We have sent down to you the Book as a clarification for all matters, a guidance, a blessing and good news for believers.” (an Nahl 16:89) Note that the ayah said that the Quran is the solution for all things for believers, as for disbelievers they refer to other than the Hukm of Allah. So we are fasting as those believers were before us, why did they fast? Because Allah commanded them to and they were to worship Him alone and reject the man-made religions, systems and laws, that is rejecting the Taaghoot….“And Verily, We have sent among every ummah a messenger (proclaiming) ‘Worship Allah and avoid Taaghoot” (an Nahl 16:36)

Allah (swt) says “Say: ‘Shall we tell you will lose most in respect of their actions? Those whose efforts were astray in the life of this world, while they thought that they were doing good actions.’ They are those who deny the ayaat of their Lord and the meeting with Him. So their works are in vain and on the Day of Rising We shall give them no weight.” (al Kahf 18:103-104) So whoever rejects any information of the Quran and whoever does not reject the Taaghoot then they will have nothing good in the next life from Ramadaan nor from any other act of worship in their life. This may be a shock to many people but it is a fact, Allah (swt) says “And something will come to them from Allah which they had never anticipated, for the evil of their actions will become apparent to them…” (az Zumar 39:47-48) Therefore we should all be severely warned against ignoring these aspects of Tawheed and their relationship with our actions as it is based on clear evidence from Quran, Allah (swt) says “And who does more wrong than he who is reminded of the ayaat of his Lord, then he turns aside therefrom? Verily, We shall extract retribution from the mujrimoon?” (as Sajdah 32:22) And to turn away from any clear information of the Quran is open kufr just as the ayah says “…and none but the disbelievers reject Our ayaat.” (al A’nkaboot 29:47) However, whoever accepted this truth and rejected the Taaghoot and called to this Tawheed would surely get a great reward from Allah as there is nothing greater than Tawheed, Allah (swt) says “And who is better in speech than he who calls to Allah does righteous action and says ‘I am from the Muslimeen’” (Fussilat 41:33)