Characteristics of the Month of Ramadan
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Ramadan
Ramadan Explorer
All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn
and all that exists). I praise Him, Exalted be He, with all the praise due to
His glory, greatness, might and power. All the praise be to Allah who imposed
fasting upon His slaves in the month of Ramadan. And peace and blessings of
Allah be upon he who started the Sunnah of staying up at night praying and
worshipping to be followed by his companions and followers.
Praise be to Allah that we have achieved Ramadan of this year. The standing of
Ramadan in hearts is not a secret for each Muslim. Why not, as this is the
month of mercy, forgiveness and salvation from hellfire; a month full of
bounties, gifts and favors from Allah Almighty. We will treat the
characteristics of this month as unique from the other months.
The Characteristics of Ramadan
1- From the characteristic of the month of Ramadan: Allah Almighty has
revealed the Quran in it. He, the Almighty has said: {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).} [Surat Al-Baqarah
2:185].
{شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ
وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ...} البقرة: 185
Transliteration: Shahru ramadana allathee onzila feehi alquranu hudan
lilnnasi wabayyinatin mina alhuda waalfurqani
It is the constitution of this nation. It is the Clear Book. It is the
straight path. It contains promises, threats, intimidation and menacing. It is
the guidance for whoever keeps and resorts to it. It is the manifest light; a
light for those who work upon it, who legalize whatever it permits and
prohibit whatever it prohibits. It is the separation between right and wrong.
It is serious not joking. We all Muslims must take care of the Book of Allah
Almighty by reading it, memorizing it, interpreting it, pondering about its
contents, working according to it and applying its rules.
2- From the characteristic of the month of Ramadan: The gates of Paradise are
opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the giant devils and the
disobedient are chained so that they do not reach what they used to achieve
before that. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said:
"When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the
gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained." And in another
narration: "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of Paradise are
opened." [Reported by al-Bukhari].
«إذا دخل شهر رمضان فتحت أبواب السماء، وغلقت أبواب جهنم، وسلسلت الشياطين» وفي
رواية: «إذا جاء رمضان فتحت أبواب الجنة» رواه البخاري
3- From the characteristic of the month of Ramadan: Good deeds are multiplied
4- From the characteristic of the month of Ramadan: This who breaks the fast
of a fasting person has the same reward as the fasting person without
decreasing the reward of the fasting person. The Prophet, peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him, has said: "This who breaks the fast of a fasting person
has the same reward of the fasting person without decreasing the reward of the
fasting." [Good and Authentic: reported by at-Tirmidhi and others].
«من فطر صائما كان له مثل أجره، غير أنه لا ينقص من أجر الصائم شيئا» رواه
الترمذي، حسن صحيح
5- From the characteristic of the month of Ramadan: It has the Night of Decree
which is better than one thousand months. This is the Blessed Night in which
Allah predetermines what is to happen during the year. So, whoever is deprived
from its reward; is deprived from much good. The Prophet, peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him, has said "It has a night that is better than one
thousand months, this who is deprived from its good, is deprived" [Ahmed and
An-Nasa'i; it is authentic].
«فيه ليلة خير من ألف شهر، من حرم خيرها فقد حرم» رواه أحمد والنسائي، صحيح
Whoever establishes the prayers in it out of sincere faith and hoping to
attain Allah's reward then all his past sins will be forgiven. The Prophet,
peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "Whoever establishes the
prayers on the night of Decree out of sincere faith and hoping to attain
Allah's reward, all his past sins will be forgiven." [Agreed upon].
«من قام ليلة القدر إيمانا واحتسابا، غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه» متفق عليه
What a little deed with a great reward from He in Whose hands are the
treasures of the heavens and the earth, so all praise and thanks be to Allah.
6- From the characteristic of the month of Ramadan: The increasing descending
of angels: Allah Almighty has said: {Therein descend the angels and the Rűh [Jibrîl
(Gabrîl)]} [Surat Al-Qadr 97:4].
{تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا...} القدر: 4
Transliteration: Tanazzalu almalaikatu waalrroohu feeha
7- From the characteristic of the month of Ramadan: It is characterized by the
pre-dawn meal that differentiates our fasting from the fasting of the previous
nations. It has great good as has been told by the Prophet, peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him, who has said: "The difference between our
Fasting and that of the people of the Scripture is the meal taken before
dawn". [Reported by Muslim].
«فصل ما بين صيامنا وصيام أهل الكتاب ، أكلة السحر» رواه مسلم
He, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "eat the meal of the
Sahűr (the last light meal before daybreak), surely there is a blessing in
Sahűr". [Agreed upon].
«تسحروا فإن في السحور بركة» متفق عليه
8- From the characteristic of the month of Ramadan: The Great Badr battle has
taken place in it. This is the battle in which the angles descended to fight
with the believers. The believers achieved a marked victory and the
polytheists were defeated. O there is no god but Allah, the Owner of Power,
the Most Strong...
9- From the characteristic of the month of Ramadan: The conquest of Mecca, may
Allah Almighty honor it, has happened in it. It is the conquest through which
the light of Islam flowed to the east and west. Allah rendered His Messenger
victorious and people embraced the religion of Allah in multitudes. The
Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has eradicated
the idolatry and polytheism in Holy Mecca so that it has become the homeland
of Islam. Islamic conquests followed that everywhere.
10-From the characteristic of the month of Ramadan: the Lesser Pilgrimage ('umrah)
in it is equal (in reward) a pilgrimage with the Prophet, peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him. In the two authentic books of Hadith (Bukhari and
Muslim) the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "'Umrah
in Ramadan equals (in reward) a pilgrimage" or he has said "a pilgrimage with
me".
«فعمرة في رمضان تقضي حجة. أو حجة معي» رواه البخاري ومسلم
11-From the characteristic of the month of Ramadan: It is a reason for
expiating sins. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has
said "The five obligatory prayers, the congregational prayer of Friday to the
other congregational prayer of the following Friday and Ramadan to Ramadan are
expiations of what happened between them if the greatest sins are avoided."
[Muslim].
«الصلوات الخمس. والجمعة إلى الجمعة. ورمضان إلى رمضان. مكفرات ما بينهن. إذا
اجتنب الكبائر» رواه مسلم
12-From the characteristic of the month of Ramadan: Taraweeh prayer (Ramadan
optional night prayers) takes place in it. Muslim men and women gather in the
mosques to perform this prayer. They do not gather in any other month than
Ramadan to perform it.
13-From the characteristic of the month of Ramadan: Deeds multitude during
this month more than other months.
14-From the characteristic of the month of Ramadan: People are best generous
in Ramadan. This is clearly seen nowadays. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased
with them both, said: "The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
was the most generous person and he was the most generous in Ramadan..."
[Reported by Al-Bukhari].
«كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أجود الناس ، وأجود ما يكون في رمضان...» رواه
البخاري
15-From the characteristic of the month of Ramadan: It is one of the pillars
of Islam. Islam is not complete for one but with it. The one who denies it is
a disbeliever. Allah Almighty has said: {O you who believe! Observing As-Saum
(the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you,
that you may become Al-Muttaqűn (the pious)} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:183].
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ
عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ} البقرة: 183
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo kutiba AAalaykumu alssiyamu
kama kutiba AAala allatheena min qablikum laAAallakum tattaqoona
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: "Islam is
founded on five principles, i.e. to bear witness that there is no god but
Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, the performing of the
prayers, the fasting of Ramadan, the payment of Zakat (obligatory alms
giving), and the pilgrimage to the Sacred House (Ka'ba)". [Agreed upon].
«بني الإسلام على خمس: شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله، وإقام
الصلاة، وإيتاء الزكاة، والحج، وصوم رمضان» متفق عليه
16-From the characteristic of the month of Ramadan: Good is abundant and
benevolent persons are a lot. Individuals and groups go to mosques in this
great and blessed month more than they do in any other month. How sorrowful it
is to find the intensive marching to the houses of Allah Almighty in Ramadan,
however in other months we complain to Allah. How wretched those people are
who do not know Allah but in Ramadan.
A month with such characteristics, grants and gifts we, Muslims, must benefit
from its opportunities and invest its time with comprehensive benefits to us
from the Lord, the Omniscient, the Most Forbearing. We must, then, have
obligations towards such month.
Our obligations in Ramadan
1- To recognize that Allah wants to test our belief in Him, the Almighty to
know the faithful and unfaithful in fasting. Allah is the One Who knows the
secrets of hearts.
2- To observe the intention of fasting it as there is no reward for those who
fast without intention.
3- Not to spend the long day in sleeping.
4- To increase our reading of the noble Quran.
5- To renovate our repentance to the Creator, Glorified and Exalted.
6- Not to spend its nights staying up late in useless talking and causerie.
7- To increase praying, asking forgiveness and humbling to Allah Almighty.
8- To maintain observing the five obligatory prayers in congregation in the
Houses of Allah Almighty.
9- To fast and prevent all limbs from all that is prohibited by Allah,
Glorified and Exalted.
This is, O servants of Allah, the month of Ramadan in which the Quran has been
revealed. This is the month of approaching Paradise and keeping away from
Hellfire. O you who have wasted your life in other than obedience, O you who
have wasted your month, rather your life and have lost it, O you whose goods
are procrastination and negligence -how miserable your goods are-, O you who
have made the Quran and Ramadan as your opponents, tell me by your Lord how do
you want salvation by what you make as your opponents. How many fasting men
there are whose share of fasting is only hunger and thirst. How many men there
are who stay up at night for worship whose share of the night is only staying
up and fatigue. Each praying at night that does not prevent Al-Fahshâ' (i.e.
great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse) and Al-Munkar (i.e.
disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed) will not increase
its owner but farness from Allah. Each fasting that does not prevent from
prohibitions does not provide the fasting person but with hatred and
desertion.
O people, where are we from those who have responded to the call when they
heard the caller of Allah; and when the verses of Allah are recited to them,
they polish their hearts; when they fast, their tongues, hearings and visions
fast along with them. Do not we take an example by them? We complain to Allah
for our conditions. O Allah: have mercy on us for our deeds. O there is no god
but Allah, how much we have wasted from our lives. The better the words are,
the worse the deeds are. Verily, You are our Sufficient and our Refuge.
O soul the righteous have won piety
Have seen the true, while my heart is blinded
How beautiful they are when the night comes
And their light is superior than the lights of stars
They have chanted with remembrance in their night
Their life is better by chanting
Their hearts are devoted for remembrance
Their tears are like the organized pearls
Their pre-dawn shines by them for them
And forgiveness gives the best division
Woe O soul do not you wake up
To benefit before my leg slips
Time has passed in negligence and desires
So rectify the remaining and benefit
O Muslims I ask you by Allah for the sincere repentance and the true return to
Allah Almighty. Ramadan is a chance for the smokers to provide them with the
definitive evidence that they can stop smoking. But they follow the devil. How
can a person be patient for not smoking for more than fifteen hours and that
he cannot stop this religiously prohibited matter? By Allah, they can; but it
is only the whim and lustrous desires. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you
all, O believers, that you may be successful.
This is what Allah has facilitated for me to write in this subject. I ask the
Helper Glorified and Exalted, to make these words sincere for His Countenance,
Glory be to Him, to benefit us by them in the day when we will be presented to
Him and to put them in the balances of the good deeds of all of us. He is All
Hearing, Near and Responsive to invocations. And the close of our request will
be: Al-Hamdu Lillâhi Rabbil-'Alamîn (all the praises and thanks are to Allâh,
the Lord of 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists)). Peace and blessings
of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.
Yahya ibn Musa Az-Zahrani
Ibn Khuzaymah House
EsinIslam
Ramadan
Team
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