TheRamadanOfShaykhAl-hadithMuhammadZakariyyaKandhelviAndOurEldersByShaykhDrMuhammadIsmailMemonMadani

Chapter SixRamadan of 1395/1975This Ramadan was unique in many ways. The public and numberof visiting scholars and employees of the schools were significantlylarger, and the gathering of this Ramadan had received the blessingsof a great many of the shaikhs. Approximately 1000 people werepresent from the beginning of Ramadan and like the previous years,the numbers continuted to swell until the very end. On the 27thnight, there were an estimated 2700 people. Because of the crowd,both levels of the masjid and both the covered and uncovered areasof the courtyard had reached full capacity. As a result, it was difficultto go for ablution and to the bathroom from the place of i‘tikāf.On this night, some people observed an estimated 27 huffāżdeeply engrossed in recitation of Qur’an and rows upon rowsstanding behind them seeking the mercy of Allah u and refugefrom the Hellfire. One of these huffāż can never be forgotten. Hewas engrossed in śalāt. He was trembling, shaking, and crying andhis humbleness was clearly evident in his recitation.Ĥađrat himself has written the schedule of programs for thisRamadan in his Āp Bītī. He writes:Two parts after Maghrib, then teaAttending to personal needs then gathering from 8 p.m.-8:30 p.m. which includes bai‘a and discussion.‘Ishā and tarāwīĥ from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. followed bySura Yāsīn and du‘āFađā’il-e-Ramađān until 11:15 p.m, then shaking hands withthe departeesDoor is closed from 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. and reopened at 3 a.m.and seĥr is preparedTwo parts in tahajjud; rest after Fajr until 9 a.m.After rest: recitation of two parts in the Qur’an until 11 a.m.From 11a.m. to 1 a.m: miscellaneousAfter Ẓuhr: khatm-e-khawājagān, dhikr, and recitation oftwo partsAfter ‘Aśr: Irshād al-Mulūk and Ikmāl al-Shiyam35