TheRamadanOfShaykhAl-hadithMuhammadZakariyyaKandhelviAndOurEldersByShaykhDrMuhammadIsmailMemonMadani

Chapter Sixdevotions, but Ĥađrat still announced in his Ramadan atSahāranpūr:Sleep and eat as much as you like, but do not talk, otherwiseyou will be deprived of the blessings of this month.Even then, he was always concerned with whether peoplewere making the most of their time and spending it wisely.Sometimes, he self-deprecatingly called it a festival.In his letter to me [Dr. Ismā‘īl Memon] dated February 24,1976, he writes:You are probably aware that for years I have been askingMaulwī Munawwar Ĥusain, Muftī Maĥmūd and close friendswhether there is more benefit or harm in this festival?Ramadan of 1396/1976This year, a state of emergency was declared in the country [India].There was terror in the streets and young and old men were scaredof being sterilized. 26 Despite the situation, many people still camefor Ramadan and enjoyed the blessings and raĥma of this monthunder Ĥađrat’s auspices. The program of this Ramadan is takenfrom Ĥađrat’s diary:After Maghrib: one part in the voluntary śalātMy talk in gathering replaced by reading of Sufi Iqbāl’s Akābirkā Sulūk due to weaknessBai‘a after gathering until adhān of ‘IshāTarāwīĥ from 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.Doors are closed after tarāwīĥ at 12 a.m.Reading session of Fađā’il-e-Ramađān after tarāwīĥ wascancelled this year because of a law that permitted theauthorities to seize any man found after 11:30 p.m. to besterilized. This law has been in full force for the past year;Muslims are distraught and are facing the repercussions of26 A government initiative to sterilize Indian males as a birth control me -sure to control population, though Muslims were targeted the most.37