In the name of Allāh,
the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;
All the praise and Thanks is due to Allāh,
the Lord of the al-‘ālameen. I testify that there is none
worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu
`alayhi wasallam, is His Messenger.
There are many virtues during Ramadhān
that a good thinking Muslim should not missed, its merits in fasting and
standing at night for Solātul Tarawih and the virtue of competing to
do righteous deeds during it. Along with this is an explanation of some
important rules that some people are not aware of.
Abdullah Ibn Salih Al-Fawzan
(rahimahullah) said: Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) informed the Ummah
through his Companions (radiyallāhu’anhum) the good news of Ramadhān.
He (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) informed them that it is a month in
which the Gates of Mercy and the Gates of Paradise are opened and the Gates of
Hell are closed
1 - The Virtues of fasting and the great
position it possesses in the sight of Allāh.
A hadith
narrated by Abu Hurayrah (radiyallāhu’anhu) that Allāh’s Messenger (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Every
[righteous] deed of the Son of Adam will be rewarded ten to seven hundred times
its worth. Allāh, Mighty and Sublime, said: ‘Except for
the fast, for indeed it is for Me, and I will reward it. He leaves off his
desires and his food for My sake. There are two times of joy for the one
fasting. The time of joy when he breaks his fast and the time of joy when he
meets His lord. And the scent coming from the mouth of the one fasting is more
pleasant in the sight of Allāh than the smell of musk.’”
[Al-Bukhāri
and Muslim]
There are four of its virtues mentioned in
this hadith.
1.1 - Reward in full without any
reckoning.
Those who fast correctly will receive
their reward in full without any reckoning; for every good deed is rewarded ten
to seven hundred times it’s like in worth, except for the fast. Indeed, its
reward is not limited to this number, but rather Allāh
will reward it with manifold its likes in worth. This is because the fast is
from (the forms of) patience and Allāh has stated: “Verily,
the patient ones will be given their reward in full without any reckoning.” [Surah
Az-Zumar, 39:15]
1.2 - Allāh
attached the fast to himself in conjunctive form, above all other types of
deeds.
This conjunction is enough to show its
noble status. Allāh knows best, it is due its state of
encompassing the entirety of the day. One would find that the individual
fasting has neglected his desires, while his soul constantly yearns after them.
Along with its length of the duration is not found in anything else besides the
fast, especially in the days of summer due to their length and severity in
heat. The individual’s abandonment of the things he desires is an act of
worship, which will be rewarded. The fast is something a secret kept between
the servant and his Lord. No one knows of it except Allāh,
the most High. It is an inward action, which cannot be seen by the creation,
thus riya’ (showing off) cannot enter into it.
1.3 - When the one who fasts meets his
Lord, he will be delighted by his fast.
When the one who fasts meets his Lord, he
will be delighted by his fast due to what he will see in it from its abundance,
good standing and his reward by having his fast accepted, which Allāh
granted him in the first place.
As for his joy at the time when he breaks
the fast, then it is due to the completion of the act of worship and its being
free from evil and those things that have been forbidden in it. This is from
the praiseworthy types of joy since it is a joy that emanates from the
obedience to Allāh and the completion of the fast, due to
which great reward has been promised. This is as Allāh
says:“Say: By the grace and mercy of Allāh,
and by that, then rejoice.” [Surah Yunus, 10: 85]
1.4 - The breath coming from the mouth
of the one fasting is more pleasant in the sight of Allāh
than the scent of musk.
This beautiful smell will be for the Day
of Judgment for that is the day when the rewards for deeds will be manifested.
This is based on one narration of the hadith: “…more
pleasant in the sight of Allāh on the Day of Judgment…” [Muslim] “And
the scent coming from the mouth of the one fasting when he breaths out from the
food (he ate previously) is more pleasant in the sight of Allāh
than the smell of musk”[Ibn Hibban and Ahmad]
This scent, although disliked by the
people who smell it in this world will, however, be more pleasant in smell in
the sight of Allāh than the scent of musk. This is because
it is something that originates from the obedience to Allāh: “The
sign that will mark the believer on the Day of Judgment is the brightness (of
their faces) due to their ablution (wudhu’) in this world, causing a
distinction between them and the rest of the nations. And their mark on the Day
of Judgment due to their fasting will be pleasant smelling breath, more
pleasant in the sight of Allāh than the scent of musk. This is in
order that they may be known amidst that group for that deed. We ask Allāh
to grant us blessing on that day.” [Ibn Hibban]
2 - Ar-Rayyan
And from the merits of Ramadhān
is that Allāh has distinguished those who fast with a
specific door from the doors of Paradise. No one more righteous than them will
enter through it.
Sahal Ibn Sa’ad (radiyallāhu’anhu) narrated that Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Verily,
there is a door in Paradise, which is known as Ar-Rayyan. On the Day of
Judgment, the ones who fasted will enter in through it; no one other than them
will enter in through it. And when they have entered, it will close, so no one
will enter through it (after them).” [Al-Bukhāri
and Muslim] “And whosoever enters will be given to
drink. And whosoever drinks will never feel thirsty again.” [Sahih
of Ibn Khuzaimah no. 1903]
2.1 - The Qualification of the merits
However, these merits will not be attained
except by the one who fasts with sincerity by abstaining from food, drink,
intercourse, abstaining from hearing the unlawful, looking towards the
prohibited and earning from unlawful means. Thus his body limbs must fast and
abstain from sinful acts. His tongue must fast and abstain from lying, foul
speech and false swearing. This is the obligatory for the fast, the result of
which will be great reward.
Abu Hurayrah (radiyallāhu’anhu) said that the Messenger (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) of Allāh
Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala said:“Whoever does not avoid false speech and
acting on it, Allāh Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala does not have any
need for him to leave his food and drink”. [Al-Bukhāri]
The Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) also said: “Perhaps,
that entire one who fasts will get from his fast is hunger and thirst. And
perhaps that entire one who stands at night in prayer will get from his
standing is sleeplessness.” [Ahmad, Ibn Hibban, Ibn Majāh,
Darimi].
3
- The Virtues of Ramadhān
Ramadhān
is one of the twelve Islamic months. It is a month which is venerated in the
Islamic religion, and it is distinguished from the other months by a number of
characteristics and virtues, including the following.
3.1 - It is the Fourth Pillar of Islam.
Allāh has made fasting the month of Ramadhān
the fourth pillar of Islam, as He says: “The month of Ramadhān
in which was revealed the Qur’an, 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 Ramadhān
i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that month…” [Al-Baqarah,
2:185]
It was narrated in Al-Sahihayn from
the hadith of Ibn ‘Umar (radiyallāhu’anhu)
that Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Islam
is built on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god except Allāh
and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh; establishing prayer; paying zakah;
fasting Ramadan; and Hajj to the House (the Ka’abah).” [Al-Bukhāri,
8; Muslim, 16]
3.2 - The Qur’an was Revealed Ramadhān.
Allāh revealed the Qur’an in the month of
Ramadhān, as He says in the verse quoted above:
“The month of Ramadhān
in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for
the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)…” [Al-Baqarah,
2:185] And Allāh says: “Verily, we have
sent it (this Qur’an) down in the Night of Al-Qadar (Decree).” [Al-Qadar,
97:1]
3.3 - Allāh
Has Blessed Ramadhān With the
Laylatul-Qadar.
Allāh has bestowed the Lailatul-Qadar in
Ramadhān, which is better than a thousand months,
as Allāh says:
“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’an)
down in the Night of Al-Qadar (Decree). And what will make you know what the
Night of Al-Qadar (Decree) is? The Night of Al-Qadar (Decree) is better than a
thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allāh in that night is better than
worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months). Therein descend
the angels and the Ruh [Jibril (Gabriel)] by Allāh’s
Permission with all Decrees, (All that night), there is peace (and goodness
from Allāh to His believing slaves) until the
appearance of dawn” [Al-Qadar, 97:1-5]
“We sent it (this Qur’an) down on a
blessed night [(i.e. the Night of Al-Qadar) in the month of Ramadhān
— the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind
that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and
in Our Oneness of worship]” [Al-Dukhan, 44:3]
Explaining the great status of this
blessed night of Laylatul-Qadar, Surah Al-Qadar was revealed, and
there are many hadith which also speak about it, such as the hadith of Abu
Hurayrah (radiyallāhu’anhu) who said: The Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “There
has come to you Ramadhān, a blessed month which Allāh
has enjoined you to fast, during which the gates of heaven are opened and the
gates of Hell are closed, and the rebellious devils are chained up. In it there
is a night which is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of
its goodness is indeed deprived.” [Al-Nasa’ie, 2106; Ahmad, 8769. classified
as sahih by Al-Albāni in Sahih Al-Targhib, 999.]
And Abu Hurayrah (radiyallāhu’anhu) said: The Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever
spends Laylatul-Qadar in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, will be
forgiven his previous sins.” [Al-Bukhāri,
1910; Muslim, 760]
3.4 - It is a Means of Seeking
Forgiveness
Allāh has made fasting Ramadhān
and spending its nights in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward a
means of forgiveness of sins, as was proven in Al-Sahihayn.
The hadith of Abu Hurayrah (radiyallāhu’anhu)
according to which Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever
fasts Ramadhān out of faith and in the hope of
reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Al-Bukhāri,
2014; Muslim, 760)]
Abu Hurayrah (radiyallāhu’anhu)
also narrated that Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever
spends the nights of Ramadhān in prayer (Tarawīh)
out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Al-Bukhāri
(2008) and Muslim (174)]
The Muslims are unanimously agreed that it
is Sunnah to pray qiyam at night in Ramadhan. Al-Nawawi (rahimahullāh) said
that what is meant by praying qiyam in Ramadhān
is to perform Tarawīh, i.e., one achieves what is meant by
qiyam by praying Tarawīh.
3.5 - Allāh
Opens the Gates of Paradise and Closes the Gates of Hell
In this month, Allāh
opens the gates of Paradise and closes the gates of Hell, and chains up the
devils, as is stated in Al-Sahihain, from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (radiyallāhu’anhu) who said that the Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “When
Ramadhān comes, the gates of Paradise are
opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.” (Al-Bukhāri,
1898; Muslim, 1079)
5.1 Every night Allāh
has people whom He redeems from the Fire. It was narrated from the hadith of Abu
Umamah (radiyallāhu’anhu) that Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “At
every breaking of the fast, Allāh would have people whom He redeems.”
[Imām Ahmad (5/256); Al-Mundhiri said: there
is nothing wrong with its isnad; and it was classed as sahih by Al-Albāni
in Sahih al-Targhib, 987.]
Abu Sa’id (radiyallāhu’anhu) who reported: The
Rasūlullāh
(sallallāhu ‘alayhi
wa sallam) said: “Allāh would have the people whom He redeems
every day and night – i.e., in Ramadhān – and every Muslim every day and night
has a prayer that is answered.” [Al-Bazaar (Kashf 962)]
3.6 - The Expiation of Sins
Fasting Ramadhān
is a means of expiation for the sins committed since the previous Ramadhān,
so long as one avoids major sins. Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The
five daily prayers, from one Jumu’ah to the next and from one Ramadhān
to the next are expiation for (sins committed) in between, so long as you avoid
major sins.” [Muslim (233)]
3.7 - The Fasting In Ramadhān
Is Equivalent To Fasting Ten Months.
Fasting in Ramadhān
is equivalent to fasting ten months, as is indicated by the hadith in narrated
from Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (radiyallāhu`anhu): “Whoever
fasts Ramadhān then follows it with six days of
Syawwal, it will be like fasting for a lifetime.” [Muslim
(1164)]
It was narrated that Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever
fasts Ramadhān, a month is like ten months, and
fasting six days after al-Fitri will complete the year.” [Ahmad
(21906)]
3.8 - The Qiyam in Ramadhān
with the Imām until he finishes, it will be recorded
for him that he spent the whole night in prayer.
Whoever performs qiyam of Ramadhān
[Tarawīh] with the imām
until he finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in
prayer, because of the hadith of Abu Dzarr Al-Ghifari (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported that the Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever
prays qiyam with the Imām until he finishes, it will be recorded
for him that he spent the whole night in prayer.” [Narrated
by Abu Dawud (1370) and others; Classified as sahih by Al-Albāni
in Salat al-Tarawih, p. 15]
3.9 - ‘Umrah In Ramadhān
Is Equivalent To Hajj.
Ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallāhu’anhu) said: The Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to a woman among
the Ansar, “What kept you from doing Hajj with us?” She said, “We only had two
camels that we used for bringing water.” So her husband and son had gone for
Hajj on one camel, and he left the other for them to use for bringing water.”
He (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said,“When Ramadhān
comes, go for ‘Umrah, for ‘Umrah in Ramadhān is equivalent to Hajj.” According
to a report narrated by Muslim, “… is equivalent to doing Hajj with
me.” [Al-Bukhāri
(1782) and Muslim (1256)]
3.10- Sunnah to Observe I’tikaf
It is Sunnah to observe I’tikaf (retreat
for the purpose of worship) in Ramadhān, because Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did that, as it was
narrated in the hadith of ‘Aishah (radiyallāhu’anha) , “Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to spend the
last ten days of Ramadhān in I’tikaf until he passed away, then
his wives observed I’tikaf after him.” [Al-Bukhāri,
1922; Muslim, 1172].
3.11 - Mustahabb to Study and
Recite Great Deal of the Qur’an.
It is mustahabb in the sense of being
strongly recommended in Ramadhān to study the Qur’an together and to
recite it a great deal. You may study the Qur’an together by reciting it to
someone else and by having someone else recite it to you. The evidence that
this is mustahabb is the fact that Jibril used to meet Rasūlullāh
(sallallāhu ‘alayhi
wa sallam) every night in Ramadhān and study the Qur’an with him. [Al-Bukhāri,
6; Muslim, 2308].
Reading Qur’an is mustahabb in general,
but more so in Ramadhān.
3.12 - Social Outlook
Socially, fasting is an expression of solidarity with
the poor, the family and the whole society. This is a period in which the rich
have first-hand experience of what it is to be poor, the pains the indigent
suffers in normal living conditions. The process of disciplining resulting from
Islamic fasting instills in the rich the virtue of mercy, Rahmah, which is very
important in terms of social well - being and proliferation of harmony. Allah
bestows his mercy upon those who themselves are merciful to others."Those
who are merciful to others, the Merciful will have mercy upon them,"
the Messenger (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said. He continued, "Have
mercy upon those on earth, and those in heaven will have mercy upon you." (Abu
Dawud and Tirmidzi)
3.13 Mustahabb in Ramadhan to offer
Iftar and Charity.
It is mustahabb in Ramadhān
to offer iftar to those who are fasting, because of the hadith of Zaid
Ibn Khalid Al-Juhani(radiyallāhu’anhu) who said: The Rasūlullāh (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever
gives iftar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without that
detracting from the fasting person’s reward in the slightest.” [Al-Tirmidzi,
807; Ibn Majāh, 1746; classified as sahih by Al-Albāni
in Sahih Al-Tirmidzi, 647]
3.14- Family Ties
Fasting strengthens family ties,
especially in that the family is an endangered institution in western society.
It helps the family gather together to breakfast, at Iftar, and eat sahur
together at least twice a day for a month. The family even performs Solat,
together with the father as Imam.
Fasting enhances and energizes friendship,
as Ramadhan is known as the month of invitations and visitations. Friends,
family members and neighbors extend invitations to each other to come to their
homes to have Iftar together. The Messenger (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, "When
a believer invites you, you should respond." (Al-Bukhari, Muslim
and others).Besides, Muslims gather together in the Masajid for
Tarawih and ta'alīm
And Allāh
Almighty Knows best.
[Excerpted with modification from Islam
Q&A]
