Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting. The month lasts 29-30 days based on the visual sightings of the crescent moon. Muslims believe that the Qur’an was first revealed to Muhammad (pbuh) during the month of Ramadan. The first revelation was sent down on Laylat-al-Qadr (The night of Power) which is one of the five odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan. According to hadith, all holy scriptures were sent down during Ramadan. The tablets of Ibrahim, the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel and the Qur’an were sent down on Ramadan.
“The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So, whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.” – Qur’an, 2:185
According to the Qur’an, fasting was also obligatory for prior nations, and is a way to attain taqwa, fear of God. God proclaimed to Muhammad (pbuh) that fasting for His sake was not a new innovation in monotheism, but rather an obligation practiced by those truly devoted to the oneness of God.
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” – Qur’an, 2:183
During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims fast every day from dawn to sunset. It is meant to be a time of spiritual discipline – of deep contemplation of one’s relationship with God, extra prayer, increased charity and generosity, and intense study of the Qur’an.
The practice of fasting serves several spiritual and social purposes: to remind you of your human frailty and your dependence on God for sustenance, to show you what it feels like to be hungry and thirsty so you feel compassion for (and a duty to help) the poor and needy, and to reduce the distractions in life so you can more clearly focus on your relationship with God.
During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating any food, drinking any liquids, smoking cigarettes, and engaging in any sexual activity, from dawn to sunset. That includes taking medication (even if you swallow a pill dry, without drinking any water). Doing any of those things “invalidates” your fast for the day, and you just start over the next day.
Muslims are also supposed to try to curb negative thoughts and emotions like jealousy and anger, and even lesser things like swearing, complaining, and gossiping, during the month. Some people may also choose to give up or limit activities like listening to music and watching television, often in favor of listening to recitations of the Quran.
Significance of Ramadan:
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. As the gates of Hell are closed, the punishments in the grave stops for the whole month of Ramadan.
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “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.”- Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 31, Hadith 123. & Sahih Muslim, Book 6, Hadith 2361.
Whoever fasts in Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, he will be forgiven his previous sins.
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, he will be forgiven his previous sins.’” – Sunan An-Nasa’i, Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2207. Grade: Sahih.
Abu Huraira reported: Verily the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The five (daily) prayers and from one Friday prayer to the (next) Friday prayer, and from Ramadan to Ramadan are expiations for the (sins) committed in between (their intervals) provided one shuns the major sins. – Sahih Muslim, Book 2, Hadith 450.
Fasting is a shield from fire and the smell coming from the mouth of the one fasting is more pleasant to Allah than the scent of musk. On the Day of Judgement Allah will reward a fasting person by himself. There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection.
Abu Hurairah narrated that: The Messenger of Allah said: “Indeed your Lord said: ‘Every good deed is rewarded with ten of the same up to seven hundred times over. Fasting is for Me, and I shall reward for it.’ Fasting is a shield from the Fire. The smell coming from the mouth of the one fasting is more pleasant to Allah than the scent of musk. If one of you is abused by an ignorant person while fasting, then let him say: ‘Indeed I am fasting.'” – Jami At-Tirmidhi, Vol. 2, Book 3, Hadith 764. Grade: Sahih.
Narrated Sahl: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “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.” – Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 31, Hadith 120. Sahih Muslim, Book 6, Hadith 2569.
Whoever prays at night in Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven. Whoever prays Qiyam Al-Lail (The Night Prayer) with the Imam until he finishes, Allah will record for him the Qiyam Al-Lail (The Night Prayer) of a whole night.
Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) saying regarding Ramadan, “Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” – Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 32, Hadith 226.
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: “The Messenger of Allah used to encourage (us) to pray Qiyam during Ramadan, without insisting on that, and he said: ‘Whoever spends the nights of Ramadan in prayer (Qiyam) out of faith and in the hope of reward, he will be forgiven his previous sins’ – Sunan An-Nasa’i, Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2200. Grade: Sahih.
It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: “We fasted with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in Ramadan and he did not lead us in praying Qiyam until there were seven days left in the month, when he led us in praying Qiyam until one-third of the night had passed. Then he did not lead us in praying Qiyam when there were six days left. Then he led us praying Qiyam when there were five days left until one-half of the night had passed. I said: “O Messenger of Allah! What if we spend the rest of this night praying Nafl?” He said: “Whoever prays Qiyam with the Imam until he finishes, Allah (SWT) will record for him the Qiyam of a (whole) night.” Then he did not lead us in prayer or pray Qiyam until there were three days of the month left. Then he led us in praying Qiyam when there were three days left. He gathered his family and wives (and led us in prayer) until we feared that we would miss Al-Falah. I (one of the narrators) said: “What is Al-Falah?” He said: “The suhur”. – Sunan An-Nasai, Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1606. Grade: Sahih.
There is a significant night in Ramadan called Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Decree) which is better than a thousand months. Any good deed performed in that night will be equivalent to performing that good deed for a thousand months. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Search for the Night of Decree in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.”
Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn. – Surah Al-Qadr, 97:1-5.
Narrated `Aisha: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, “Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan.” – Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 32, Hadith 237.
Narrated `Aisha: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.” – Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, Book 32, Hadith 234.
Umrah during Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj (i.e. in reward).
Umm Ma’qil narrated that: The Prophet said: “Umrah during Ramadan is equal to Hajj.” – Jami At-Tirmidhi, Vol. 2, Book 4, Hadith 939. Grade: Sahih.
It was narrated from Wahb bin Khanbash that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Umrah during Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj (i.e. in reward).” – Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 4, Book 25, Hadith 2991. Grade: Sahih.
Whoever fasts Ramadan, then follows it with six from Shawwal (i.e. in the month after Ramadan), then that is (equal in reward) to fasting every day. This is because every good deed is multiplied by ten, so fasting for 30 days in Ramadan is equivalent to fasting 300 days and fasting 6 days in Shawaal is equivalent to 60 days, all these add up to 360 days. Islam follows a lunar calendar which consists of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days.
Abu Ayub narrated that: The Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan, then follows it with six from Shawwal, then that is (equal in reward) to fasting every day.” – Jami At-Tirmidhi, Vol. 2, Book 3, Hadith 759. Grade: Sahih.
In general, every good deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied manifold. A good deed will be multiplied ten times up to as many as seven hundred times, or as much as Allah wills. So, Ramadan is a good time to gain as much good deeds as possible as there are lesser bad influences and distractions.
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Every good deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied manifold. A good deed will be multiplied ten times up to as many as seven hundred times, or as much as Allah wills. Allah says: ‘Except for fasting, which is for Me and I shall reward for it. He gives up his desire and his food for My sake.’ The fasting person has two joys, one when he breaks his fast and another when he meets his Lord. The smell that comes from the mouth of a fasting person is better before Allah than the fragrance of musk.” – Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1638. Grade: Sahih.
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “If any one of you improve (follows strictly) his Islamic religion then his good deeds will be rewarded ten times to seven hundred times for each good deed and a bad deed will be recorded as it is.” – Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 41. Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 236.
