Are you waiting for Allah’s grace? Do you want self-satisfaction, comfort, purity, peace and heaven? Then get ready soon! Because the blessed month of Ramadan is almost here.
No doubt, the month of Ramadan is a great blessing of Allah Almighty for the people who recognize its values. Verily, this holy month has priority over other Islamic months due to its virtues and characteristics.
Among these virtues and characteristics that characterize this blessed month are:
The month in which the gates of heaven are opened:
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
The gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
وَتُغَلَّقُ فِيهِ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ وَتُسَلْسَلُ فِيهِ الشَّيَاطِينُ.
The gates of the fire are closed and the devils are chained up.
(صحیح النسائي: 2102)
The virtue of the first night of fasting in Ramadan:
إِذَا كَانَ أَوَّلُ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ صُفِّدَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ وَمَرَدَةُ الْجِنِّ وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ فَلَمْ يُفْتَحْ مِنْهَا بَابٌ. وَفُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ فَلَمْ يُغْلَقْ مِنْهَا بَابٌ وَيُنَادِي مُنَادٍ يَا بَاغِيَ الْخَيْرِ أَقْبِلْ وَيَا بَاغِيَ الشَّرِّ أَقْصِرْ وَلِلَّهِ عُتَقَاءُ مِنَ النَّارِ وَذَلِكَ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ.
“On the first night of the month of Ramadan, the Shayatin are shackled, the jinns are restrained, the gates of the Fires are shut such that no gate among them would be opened. The gates of Paradise are opened such that no gate among them would be closed, and a caller calls: ‘O seeker of the good; come near!’ and ‘O seeker of evil; stop! For there are those whom Allah frees from the Fire.’ And that is every night.”
(جامع الترمذي: 682)
The Messenger of Allah said:
“أَتَاكُمْ رَمَضَانُ شَهْرٌ مُبَارَكٌ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَيْكُمْ صِيَامَهُ تُفْتَحُ فِيهِ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَتُغْلَقُ فِيهِ أَبْوَابُ الْجَحِيمِ وَتُغَلُّ فِيهِ مَرَدَةُ الشَّيَاطِينِ لِلَّهِ فِيهِ لَيْلَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ مَنْ حُرِمَ خَيْرَهَا فَقَدْ حُرِمَ ”
“There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month, which Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has enjoined you to fast. In it the gates of heavens are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and every devil is chained up. In it Allah has a night which is better than a thousand months; whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived.”
(سنن النسائي: 2106)
Fasting expiates sins:
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
“الصلوات الخمس والجمعة إلى الجمعة، ورمضان إلى رمضان، مكفرات ما بينهن إذا اجتنبت الكبائر”
“The five daily (prescribed) Salat, and Friday (prayer) to the next Friday (prayer), and the fasting of Ramadan to the next Ramadan, is expiation of the sins committed in between them, so long as major sins are avoided.”
(صحیح مسلم: 233)
The Prophet ﷺ ascended the pulpit and said: “Amen, Amen, Amen.” (he repeated three times) He said: Gabriel came to me and said: “O Muhammad, whoever found one of his parents, died and then entered the fire may Allah keep him away from His blessings. Say: Amen.” I said: “Amen.”
Gabriel further said: “O Muhammad, whoever overtakes the month of Ramadan, dies and he is not forgiven by Allah, then he enters the fire, may Allah keep him away from His blessings. say: Amen.” So I said: “Amen.” He said: “Whoever you have mentioned before him but he does not pray for you, dies and enters hell may Allah keep him away from His blessings. Say: Amen.” So I said: “Amen.”
(صحیح الترغیب: 2491)
Umrah in Ramadan has a double reward:
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
فَإِنَّ عُمْرَةً فِي رَمَضَانَ تَقْضِي حَجَّةً مَعِي.
“Performing `Umrah in the month of Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj or Hajj with me (in reward).
(صحیح البخاري: 1863)
Among the virtues and characteristics of Ramadan is the revelation of the Holy Qur’an in it:
Allah Almighty said in the Holy Quran:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the standard ˹to distinguish between right and wrong˺. So whoever is present this month, let them fast. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramadan. Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful.
(البقرة: 185)
Allah has distinguished Ramadan from other months with many characteristics and virtues, including:
- The smell from the mouth of the fasting person is better to Allah than the fragrance of musk.
- The angels ask forgiveness for those who are fasting until they break their fast.
- Devils are chained up.
- The gates of Heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed.
- In it the Night of al-Qadar is better than a thousand months. He who is deprived of its goodness is deprived of all goodness.
- Those who are fasting on the last night of Ramadan are forgiven.
- Allah redeems from the fire. He does so every night of Ramadan.
Dear Readers! These are the characteristics and virtues of Ramadan. How can we welcome it? The righteous people receive it with sincere repentance, sincere determination to seize him, and building his times with good deeds, asking Allah to help in his good worship.
Here are the righteous deeds that are highly recommended by Sharia`h in Ramadan:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ يُضاعَفُ، الحَسَنَةُ عَشْرُ أَمْثالِها إلى سَبْعمِئَة ضِعْفٍ، قالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: إلّا الصَّوْمَ، فإنَّه لي وَأَنا أَجْزِي به، يَدَعُ شَهْوَتَهُ وَطَعامَهُ مِن أَجْلِي لِلصّائِمِ فَرْحَتانِ: فَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ فِطْرِهِ، وَفَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ لِقاءِ رَبِّهِ وَلَخُلُوفُ فيه أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللهِ مِن رِيحِ المِسْكِ.
Every (good) deed of the son of Adam would be multiplied, a good deed receiving a tenfold to seven hundredfold reward. Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, has said: With the exception of fasting, for it is done for Me and I will give a reward for it, for one abandons his passion and food for My sake. There are two occasions of joy for one who fasts, joy when he breaks it, and joy when he meets his Lord, and the breath (of an observer of fast) is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk.
(صحيح مسلم: 1151)
And he said:
مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ
“Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.”
(صحیح البخاری: 38)
Offering Postnatal Prayers:
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
من قام رمضان إيمانًا واحتسابًا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه
Whosoever performs (optional Tarawih) prayers at night during the month of Ramadan, with Faith and in the hope of receiving Allah’s reward, will have his past sins forgiven.
(صحيح مسلم: 1188)
Giving Charity:
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَجْوَدَ النَّاسِ بِالْخَيْرِ وَكَانَ أَجْوَدَ مَا يَكُونُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ إِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ كَانَ يَلْقَاهُ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ فِي رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى يَنْسَلِخَ فَيَعْرِضُ عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْقُرْآنَ فَإِذَا لَقِيَهُ جِبْرِيلُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَجْوَدَ بِالْخَيْرِ مِنَ الرِّيحِ الْمُرْسَلَةِ .
Ibn ‘Abbas reported that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ was the most generous of people in charity, but he was generous to the utmost in the month of Ramadan. Gabriel (peace be upon him) would meet him every year during the month of Ramadan until it ended, and Allah’s Messenger ﷺ recited to him the Qur’an; and when Gabriel met him Allah’s Messenger ﷺ was most generous in giving charity like the blowing wind.
(صحیح مسلم: 2308)
Feeding Others and Breaking the Fast:
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
يا أيها الناس أفشوا السلام، وأطعموا الطعام، وصلوا الأرحام وصلوا والناس نيام، تدخلوا الجنة بسلام
“O people, exchange greetings of peace (i.e., say: As-Salamu ‘Alaikum to one another), feed people, strengthen the ties of kinship, and be in prayer when others are asleep, you will enter Jannah in peace.”
(جامع الترمذي: 2485)
Diligence in Reciting the Qur’an:
Two things should be kept in mind during the reciting the Holy Quran:
- Frequent reciting the Qur’an.
- Crying when reciting it or hearing it out of reverence and sorrow to Allah.
Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an. So a Muslim should recite it a lot during this month.
Gabriel used to repeat the memorized Quran with the Prophet ﷺ in Ramadan.
Othman bin Affan رضي الله عنه used to complete the Qur’an every day.
Some of the predecessors used to complete the Quran in Ramadan every three nights.
Some of them in all seven.
Some of them in every ten.
They used to recite the Qur’an in prayer and other times In Ramadan.
Al-Shafi’i رحمه الله had sixty khatmahs (completions of Quran), which he would recite in other than prayers.
Qatada رحمه الله used to complete the Quran in every seven days , and in Ramadan on every three, and in the last ten days of every night.
When Al-Zuhri رحمه الله entered Ramadan, he would flee from reading the hadith and sitting with scholars, and he would come to recite the Qur’an from the Qur’an.
Sufyan Al-Thawri رحمه الله when Ramadan entered, left all worship and began to read the Qur’an.
Ibn Rajab رحمه الله said: The prohibition on reciting the Qur’an was mentioned in less than three days, to continue to do so. As for the favorable times such as the month of Ramadan, and the preferred places such as Makkah for those who entered it outside of its people, it is desirable to increase the number of recitations in the Qur’an in order to take advantage of the virtue of time and place.
The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
الصِّيَامُ وَالْقُرْآنُ يَشْفَعَانِ لِلْعَبْدِ يَقُولُ الصِّيَامُ: أَيْ رَبِّ إِنِّي مَنَعْتُهُ الطَّعَامَ وَالشَّهَوَاتِ بِالنَّهَارِ فَشَفِّعْنِي فِيهِ وَيَقُولُ الْقُرْآنُ: مَنَعْتُهُ النُّوْمَ بِاللَّيْلِ فَشَفِّعْنِي فِيهِ فيشفعان
Fasting and the Qur’an intercede for a man. Fasting says, ‘O my Lord, I have kept him away from his food and his passions by day, so accept my intercession for him.’ The Qur’an says, ‘I have kept him away from sleep by night, so accept my intercession for him.’ Then their intercession is accepted.
(مسند أحمد: 6626)
Ramadan is a great time to receive Allah’s blessings, recite the Quran and in general, learn more about Islam. Below we have listed some books that are great for learning more about this month as well as some bestselling Qurans and tafsirs that are available at Darussalam.