Greatness of Ramadan

 Truly all praise is due to Allah; we praise Him, seek His help, and ask His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of ourselves and our bad actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can turn him astray. And whomsoever Allah turns astray has none to guide him. I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, the Only One without any partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and (final) messenger.

Says Allah in the Quran:

Yā 'Ayyuhā Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū Kutiba `Alaykumu Aş-Şiyāmu Kamā Kutiba `Alá Al-Ladhīna Min Qablikum La`allakum Tattaqūna

Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may learn piety and righteousness" (Q 2:183)

In addressing the believers of this Ummah, Allah has ordered us to fast i.e.  to abstain from food and drink or marital relations, with the intention of doing so sincerely, for the pleasure of Allah the exalted ALONE. This is because fasting purifies the souls and cleanse them from evil. Therefore the fasting person is among the closest people to Allah, the exalted. Allah mentions that he ordained fasting, as he had for those before this Ummah. He mentions this, show us as an example, so that we may vigorously perform this obligation of fasting more obediently than the previous nations.

Says Allah in the Quran

Shahru Ramađāna Al-Ladhī 'Unzila Fīhi Al-Qur'ānu Hudan Lilnnāsi Wa Bayyinātin Mina Al-Hudá Wa Al-Furqāni ۚ Faman Shahida Minkumu Ash-Shahra Falyaşumhu ۖ Wa Man Kāna Marīđāan 'Aw `Alá Safarin Fa`iddatun Min 'Ayyāmin 'Ukhara ۗ Yurīdu Allāhu Bikumu Al-Yusra Wa Lā Yurīdu Bikumu Al-`Usra Wa Litukmilū Al-`Iddata Wa Litukabbirū Allaha `Alá Mā Hadākum Wa La`allakum Tashkurūna

“Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you “ (2:185)

Allah has praised the month of Ramadan, out of the other months, by choosing it to send down the glorious Quran. Without the right guidance that is provided by the Quran, the world in spite of all its charm and fascinations would have been a dark gloomy place. The prophet (SAW.) used to study the Quran with angel Gabriel during Ramadan. He used to listen and reflect upon the meaning of the glorious Quran.

In a hadith narrated by Salmaan (radhiallahu anhu) the prophet (saw.) said “oh people. Verily a great month has shaded you, a blessed month containing a night better than a thousand months and has made the act of standing in prayer and supplication during the night as an optional act (that is Tarawee salaah)

The Messenger of Allah (saw) addressed his companions on the last day of Sha`ban, saying, "Oh people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer's sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all." [Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah]

`Abdullah ibn `Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah (saw), said: "The fast and the Qur'an are two intercessors for the servant of Allah on the Day of Resurrection. The fast will say: 'O Lord, I prevented him from his food and desires during the day. Let me intercede for him.' The Qur'an will say: 'I prevented him from sleeping at night. Let me intercede for him.' And their intercession will be accepted." [Imam Ahmad]

The great benefits and advantages of the fast can accrue only if observed consciously and one faithfully abstains from all those undesirable things which render the fast ineffective.  The real fast indeed in that in which one safe guard one’s whole self-mind and body- from Allah’s disobedience and shun each evil desire. The holy prophet has said

“When you observe fast, it is necessary that you restrain your eyes, your ears, your tongue, your hands and your other limbs from everything forbidden by Allah (Kashf-ul-Mahjub)

“The person who observes a fast with full consciousness of his faith and a sense of accountability will be forgiven for all his previous sins” (Buhari, Muslim).

Fasting with full consciousness of the faith means, having firm believe in Allah’s being, in his promise, and with regard to the rewards of the hereafter, and in his knowledge, wisdom, justice on the basis of which HE will give rewards and gives out punishment

.

On the authority of Abu Harayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet , who said: Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says:

Fasting is Mine and it is I who give reward for it. [A man] gives up his food and his drink for my sake. Fasting is like a shield, and he who fasts has two joys: a joy when he breaks his fast and a joy when he meets his Lord. The change in the breath of the mouth of him who fasts is better in Allah's estimation than the smell of musk. (It was related by al-Bukhari …)

Multiplying the rewards for fasting is different than the rest of the acts of worship and good deeds. As for fasting, there is no limit for such multiplication, while in the case of other good deeds, each good credit is multiplied from ten to seven hundred times only. Allah has chosen fasting to be the acts of worship that He Himself will reward for it, for He said, “Fasting is for Me, and I will reward for it accordingly.”. 

The Prophet Salla Allahu Alayhi Wasallam said, in another hadith,

“There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayyan, and those who frequently fast will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection, and none except them shall enter through it. It will be said, ‘Where are those who used to fast?’ They will stand up, and none except them will enter through it. Upon entry, that gate will be closed and no one else will enter through it.”
[Al-Bukhari].

The supplication of the fasting person is accepted. The Messenger of Allah, Salla Allahu Alayhi Wasallam, said,

“The fasting person has at the time of breaking his fast a Du’aa’ that is not rejected.”
[Ibn Majah & Al-’Hakim].

May Allah accept our fasting which we do only for His sake. We do not fast just to lose weight or to show off to others, how religious we are. We fast because we love Allah, and we want to please Him.                                                                                                                                                                  

May Allah spread His richest blessings on us, and on all those who fast during Ramadhan, purely out of love for Him. May He help us to purify ourselves, by forgiving our sins.      

 Oh you who believe! Be in awe of Allah and speak a straightforward word. He will repair for you your deeds and forgive you your wrongdoings. And whosoever obeys Allah and His messenger has achieved a great success.          

O Allah, help us to purify ourselves in body, mind, heart and spirit. Help us to seek and find your good pleasure.

“O Allah, do not let our hearts deviate from the Truth now that we have been guided , but grant us Mercy from Your very Presence, for You are the Grantor of bounties without measure.”