The virtue of the month of Ramadan

All praise be to Allah and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone who has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.

The Creator of all creatures (may He be Glorified and Exalted) has given preference to some people over others and chosen from them whatever He wills. Therefore, He created the people and chose from them the Prophets, created places and chose from them masjids, and created months and chose from them Ramadan. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And your Lord creates whatsoever He wills and chooses: no choice have they (in any matter). Glorified is Allâh, and exalted above all that they associate (as partners with Him)." [Surat Al Qasas: 68].

This (Month) was given some benefits, of its greatest benefits is that during which Allah (Glory be to Him) sent down the Glorious Qur'an as guidance to the people. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'ân, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (fast) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fast) must be made up] from other days. Allâh intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allâh [i.e. to say Takbîr (Allâhu Akbar; Allâh is the Most Great)] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him." [Surat Al Baqarah: 185].

Some scholars said: Verily, Allah (Blessed and Exalted be He) explained that the cause for choosing Ramadan to be the month of fasting is He sent down the Qur'an during this Month. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Verily, We have sent it (this Qur'ân) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree)." [Surat Al Qadr: 1].

It is well known that Laylat-ul-Qadr (the Night of Decree) is in Ramadan, so a Muslim should recite the Qur'an frequently during this blessed month.

It was reported by Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) was the most generous of all the people, and he used to reach the peak in generosity in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel met him. Gabriel used to meet him every night of Ramadan to teach him the Qur'an. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) was the most generous person, even more generous than the strong uncontrollable wind (in readiness and haste to do charitable deeds)." [1]

Of these blessings that during that month, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When it is the first night of the month of Ramadan, the devils and the rebellious jinns are chained. The gates of Hell are shut and not one of them is opened. And the gates of Paradise are unlocked and none of them is locked. And, an announcer calls: O seeker of good, come forward. And O seeker of evil, desist. And freedom from fire is (allowed) by Allah. And this happens every night during Ramadan."[2]

Of the blessings of this month is that it contains a night that is better than a thousand nights as Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? *The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e., worshipping Allâh in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months)." [Surat Al Qadr: 2 - 3].

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever establishes Salah on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven."[3]

The meaning of this goodness is that righteous actions during that night are better than working one thousand months.

Of these blessings also: Answering supplications during that month. Abu Sa`id Al Khudry (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Verily, Allah frees each day and night [during Ramadan] people from Hell and for each Muslim every day and night an invocation to call with and it shall be answered."[4]

Of these blessings also: The bad odor of the breath (of a fasting person) is sweeter in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of musk.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The reward of every (good) deed of a person is multiplied: One good deed shall be ten good deeds to seven hundredfold. Allah said: (may He be Glorified and Exalted) except fasting, it is for Me, and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it. The person observing fasting abstains from food and drink only for My sake. The fasting person has two joyous occasions, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time of meeting his Lord. Surely, the bad odor of the breath of the one who is fasting is better smelling to Allah than the fragrance of musk."[5]

Of these blessings also: The virtue of performing `Umrah during that month. Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to a woman from the Ansar [The Supporters] whose name was (Um Sinan): "What has prevented you that you did not perform Hajj with us? She said: The father of so and so (i.e., her husband) had only two camels. One of them had been taken away by him (my husband) and his son for Hajj, whereas the other one is used by our boy to carry water. Upon this he (the Prophet) said: `Umrah during the month of Ramadan would suffice for Hajj or equals a Hajj along with me."[6]

Of these blessings: The expiation of sins and evil deeds. Malik ibn Al Hasan ibn Malik ibn Al Huwayrith reported on the authority of his father from his grandfather who said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) climbed the pulpit and when he climbed a step, he said: "Amen," then he climbed another step and said: "Amen," then he climbed another step and said: "Amen." Then he said: "Gabriel came to me and said: O Muhammad, whoever attends Ramadan but his sins are not forgiven, may Allah send him away. I said: Amen. He said: Whoever has his parents alive or one of them then they were not a cause to admit him to paradise, may Allah send him away. He said: Whomever I was mentioned at him and he did not send peace and blessings upon you, may Allah send him away. Say: Amen. I said: Amen." [7]

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever establishes Salah on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven." [8]

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever performs Salah at night the whole month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven."[9]

The meaning of "out of sincere faith and hoping for Allah's Reward" in the two previous Hadiths is believing in the obligation of fasting, hoping for the reward, and a person should like fasting without believing that it is difficult to perform. Some people fast and perform Qiyam as a habit when they see the people do that which is wrong because these great rewards cannot be achieved but through sincerity and seeking the reward from Allah.

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [i.e., people], and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.