The Upcoming of the Blessed Month of RamadhanPost 1

The month of Ramadhan is by far in need of any introduction to its merit, status and significance in Islam. It is a month that excels and surpasses all the other months in its excellence and superiority.

However, it is a merit on its own to introduce the many qualities of this month with the intention of preparation for this month; for it was also the practice of our Beloved Nabi صلي الله عليه و سلم to prepare for this month, physically, spiritually and also verbally.

Insha Allah, in attempt to ready ourselves, a series of posts will be written regarding Ramdhan. A few of the topics will include:

• Purpose of Ramadhan
  
• Methods of preparations,
  
• Acts of worship that should be carried out in this month,
  
• Rulings regarding Ramadhan,
  
• Supplications that one can make during this month,
  
• A true farewell of this month.

The Merits of Ramadhan

Ramadhan is the 9th month of the Islamic Calendar and is well known as the month of fasting. It is in this month that fasting is made obligatory upon Muslims all across the globe.

The month of Ramadhan brings along with it a new height of mercy from Allah Ta’ala; it allows a believer to reach levels that he may not have been able to reach in other months. The month of Ramadhan is a gift from Allah to the believers due to their short span of life; it allows them to reap benefits in this short period similar to that which previous nations acquired.

The commencement of any Islamic months is indicated by the sighting of the moon, and similarly its end is also known by the sighting of the moon for the month of Shawaal. The Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم once mentioned in regards to Ramadhan and said:

"لاَ تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوُا الْهِلاَلَ، وَلاَ تُفْطِرُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ، فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدُرُوا لَه"

"When you see the crescent (of the month of Ramadan), start fasting, and when you see the crescent (of the month of Shawwal), stop fasting; and if the sky is overcast (and you can't see It) then regard the crescent (month) of Ramadan (as of 30 days)".

[Saheeh al-Bukhari]

It is narrated by Hadhrat Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه that the messenger of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم said:

إِذَا جَاءَ رَمَضَانَ فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ

"When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened."

[Saheeh al-Bukhari]

It is also narrated by Hadhrat Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه that the messenger of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم said:

إِذَا دَخَلَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ، وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ جَهَنَّمَ، وَسُلْسِلَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ

"When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained."

[Saheeh al-Bukhari]

In this month Allah Ta’ala opens the gates of paradise to denote that during this month access to Jannah is made simple for the believers, it is during this month that believers can enter this garden prepared by Allah for the believers.

The opening of the gates encourages a believer to excel in worship, and Allah through His mercy makes it easier for him to do this by chaining the devils and locking the doors of Hell.

To any ordinary person, it would seem that fasting is the name of leaving one’s food, drink and desires from sunrise till dawn. However, the reality of fasting and the month of Ramadhan is far greater. It is for this reason that many Ahadeeth have been narrated from the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم regarding this auspicious month.

It is narrated by Hadhrat Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه that the messenger of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم said:

وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ، يَتْرُكُ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ وَشَهْوَتَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي، الصِّيَامُ لِي، وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ، وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا

"By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person), 'He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times."

[Bukhari]

In this Hadith the rank and status of the fasting person is mentioned and Allah declares His love and appreciation for that person who fasts for His sake. He proclaims and announces that the fast is such an act which is done for Him and He will personally reward that person for this act.

In another Hadith it is reported by Hadhrat Sahl رضي الله عنه that the messenger of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم said:

إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ بَابًا يُقَالُ لَهُ الرَّيَّانُ، يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ الصَّائِمُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، لاَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ يُقَالُ أَيْنَ الصَّائِمُونَ فَيَقُومُونَ، لاَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ، فَإِذَا دَخَلُوا أُغْلِقَ، فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ

"There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to observe fasts?' They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it."

[Bukhari]

This is the honour given by Allah to all those that fast for His sake. They will be given the honour of being called separately on the Day of Judgement and will be made to enter Jannah from a door that will be specifically for them.

In a lengthy Hadeeth, the Prophet of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم addressed the Sahaba رضي الله عنهم on the last day of Sha’ban and mentioned many qualities and virtues.

Extracts have been taken from this Hadeeth which is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Salman رضي الله عنه. He states:

خطبنا رسول الله عليه و سلم في اخر يوم من شعبان فقال: "يا أيها الناس قد أظلكم شهر عظيم مبارك شهر فيه ليلة خير من ألف شهر، شهر جعل الله صيامه فريضة وقيام ليله تطوعًا، من تقرب فيه بخصلة كان كمن ادي فريضة في ما سواه و من ادي فريضة فيه كان كمن ادي سبعين فريضة فيما سواه، وهو شهر الصبر، والصبر ثوابه الجنة، و شهر المواساة، و شهر يزاد في رزق المؤمن فيه، من فطر فيه صائما كان مغفرة لذنوبه وعتق رقبته من النار وكان له مثل أجره من غير أن ينقص من أجره شىء... وهو شهر أوله رحمة وأوسطه مغفرة واخره عتق من النار، من خفف عن مملوكه فيه غفر الله له و اعتقه من النار... و من سقي صائما سقاه الله من حوضي شربة لا يضمأ حتي يدخل الجنة".

On the last day of Sha’ban Rasulullah صلي الله عليه و سلم 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 in virtue than a thousand months. It is a month in which Allah has made fasting compulsory by day. And has made Sunnah the Taraaweeh prayer by night. Whosoever intends drawing near to Allah by performing any virtuous deed, for such person shall be the reward like the one who had performed a Fardh in any other time. And whoever performs a Fardh, shall be blessed with the reward of seventy Faraidh in any other time.

This is indeed the month of patience, and the reward for true patience is Jannah (paradise). It is the month of sympathy with one's fellowmen. It is the month wherein a true believer's sustenance is increased. Whosoever feeds another who fasted, in order to break the fast at sunset, for the feeder there shall be forgiveness of sins and emancipation from the fire of Jahannam (hell), and for such feeder shall be the same reward as the one who fasted (who he fed) without that persons reward being decreased in the least…

This is a month, the first of which brings Allah's mercy, the middle of which brings His forgiveness and the last of which brings emancipation from the fire of Jahan-nam.

Whosoever lessens the burden of his servants (bonds-men) in this month, Allah will forgive him and free him from the fire of 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."

[Saheeh ibn Khuzaimah]

In this Hadeeth there are many virtues that have been mentioned regarding the month of Ramadhan. It is a month within which Allah increases the rewards of acts carried out by a believer; he is able to get close to Allah through Nafl (optional) acts and is given the reward of seventy Fardh (obligatory) acts for a single Fardh act in this month.

Feeding or giving water to a fasting person in this month is also shown to be an act of great reward and merit, one of the reasons being that the fasting person is fasting for the sake of Allah and Allah Himself shown appreciation for this act of a believer. A person who quenches the thirst of a fasting person will also be given the honour on the Day of Judgement by being from those fortunate people who are given water from the fountain of the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم, known as al-Kauthar. A person who is given this water shall not feel thirst until during the day of Judgement until he enters Jannah.

This month is divided into three portions; the first portion being that which contains the mercy of Allah Ta’ala, the second portion containing the forgiveness of Allah Ta’ala and the final portion being a part within which there is freedom for the believers from the fire of Hell.

It is narrated that in this month is the Night of Power, Laylatul Qadr, which is more better than a thousand months of worship. It is a night which can be the medium for a persons forgiveness and success. It is narrated by Hadhrat Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه that the messenger of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم said:

مَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ، وَمَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

"Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then 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, then all his previous sins will be forgiven."

[Saheeh al-Bukhari]

One who performs in the month of Ramadhan in a manner shown by the Prophet of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم he will be subject to the mercy and forgiveness of Allah Ta’ala. He will achieve the true purpose of Ramadhan, a new start and the closeness of Allah Ta’ala.

Insha Allah an effort will be made to present posts relating to the month of Ramadhan as an effort to prepare ourselves for such an exhilarated and rewarding month. The posts will include the necessary rulings and important information pertaining to this blessed month.

A decision is still being made as to whether the posts will be posted on this blog or my alternative blog, www.zain121.worpdress.com.

Life cannot be trusted, and I pray to Allah that He grants us all the life to be present in this Ramadhan and also grant us the wisdom and inclination to reap the benefits within. May He accept this effort and make it a source of salvation. Aameen.

Let us all make an effort to commit this Du’a to our memory and make a habit of reciting it daily until the day of Ramdhan.

‏ اللهم بارك لنا في رجب وشعبان وبلغنا رمضان

"O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha’ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadhan".

[Musnad-e-Ahmed]