Introduction
Alhamdulillah… Infinite thanks and praises are due to the Almighty Allah, for the arrival of the month of Ramadan. I send abundant peace and blessings upon the best man who ever observed the month of Ramadan, Sayyidinā Muhammad, his household, his companions and all those who follow his guided path till end of time.
It’s Ramadan again, and we’re already approaching the last 10 nights of the month. (It’s 18th Ramadan today, 2016.) These are some virtues of the month every Muslim should know. It’s believed that, knowing these virtues will motivate us more to take our Ramadan more seriously. It will also help us in getting our objectives for fasting straight, and our intentions purified with more sincerity.
This article comes as the fourth part of the “What We Need to Know About Ramadan” series. The first part discussed 10 Ramadan Essentials You Need to Know. The second discussed some 6 Practical Aspects of Ramadan, and the third presented some 6 Spiritual Aspects of Ramadan. Feel free to share with us your reflections in the comments areas.
Virtues of Ramadan
Ramadan is bestowed with dozens of virtues. The more of them we know, as Muslims, the better it is. This article lists some 10 of them. These 10 virtues of Ramadan stand as the basics the Muslim can’t afford not to be informed about.
#1: Fasting the Month of Ramadan is the 4th Pillar of Islam
The most significant among the virtues of Ramadan is that, fasting the month serves as the fourth pillar of the five pillars of Islam. This is as indicated in the 10 Ramadan Essentials You Need to Know. Additionally, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said in a ḥadīth reported by Imām al-Bukhārī and Muslim from the narration of Abdillāh ibn ‘Umar raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhumā:
“Islam is built on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; establishing prayer; paying zakāh; fasting Ramadan; and Ḥajj to the House (the Ka‘bah).”
It’s worth indicating, that regardless; whether one really fasts or not, he has to establish a firm belief, that fasting the month of Ramadan is an obligation upon every matured Muslim. Moreover, Ramadan carries the weight of testifying for the oneness of Allah. It also carries the weight of performing the daily obligatory prayers, as well as paying zakāh and going for ḥajj. Failure to observe Ramadan, therefore, could lead one astray from the path of Islam.
#2: The Qur’an Was First Descended to the First Heaven in Ramadan
Among the virtues of Ramadan is the descent of the Qur’an in this month. This had happened in the night of the decree; Laylatul Qadr, when the whole Qur’an was sent down from al-Lawḥ al-Maḥūẓ (the Preserved Tablet) to the first heaven (Bayt al-‘izzah). It was then sent down in stages over the period of 23 years upon the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. In Sūrah al-Baqarah, 2:185, Allah says what can be translated into English as:
“The month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed was sent down, as a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)…”
Also in Sūrah al-Qadr, 97:1, He says:
“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’an) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree).”
The beginning of the period in which the Qur’an was descended upon the Prophet in 23 years also started in Ramadan. See events that occurred in Ramadan in our next article, inshā Allah.
#3: Laylat al-Qadr Repeats Once Every Year; in Ramadan
The fact that the Qur’an was sent down from the Lawḥ al-Maḥfūẓ to the first heaven in Ramadan is a blessing on its own for us. The nature of Laylatul Qadr being in Ramadan itself is another blessing for us. Sending down the Qur’an has taken place. Done. But Laylatul Qadr repeats every other Ramadan. This makes the month of Ramadan more virtuous, and the blessings upon us more abundant. Alhamdulillah!
In Sūrah al-Qadr, 97:1-5, Allah says in description of Laylatul-Qadr:
“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’an) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree). And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Rūḥ [Jibrīl] by Allah’s Permission with all Decrees. (All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allh to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.”
This means, if you coincide with the night of decree, the blessings you attain is better than (not equal to) the blessings you attain from the deeds of 83 years and 4 months. In other words, worshipping Allah in this night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months.
#4: Observing Ramadan Sincerely Eradicates Your Past Sins
One of the most important virtues of Ramadan is that fasting sincerely for Allah eradicates our sins. This is what is understood from the ḥadīth of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as reported by Imām al-Bukhārī and Muslim from the narration of Sayyidinā Abī Hurayrah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu:
“Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward (from Allah), his previous sins will be forgiven.”
Remember, the only condition attached to this, is to do it out of faith (sincerity) and in the hope of its reward only from Allah.
#5: Observing Qiyām in Ramadan Also Eradicates Your Past Sins
Qiyām or Qiyamullayl is any supererogatory night prayers offered between Ishā’ and Fajr prayers. This includes Tarāwīḥ, Tahajjud and Witr. In a ḥadīth reported by Imām al-Bukhārī and Muslim from the narration of Sayyidinā Abī Hurayrah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu also, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Whoever spends the nights of Ramadan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward (from Allah), his previous sins will be forgiven.”
Tarāwīḥ is the Sunnah prayers, which we offer immediately after Ishā’ in the month of Ramadan. Tahajjud is any Sunnah prayer you offer after you wake up from sleep. Witr is the commonly Sunnah prayer which three raka‘ahs are offered to seal our night prayers. This means, Tarāwīḥ is performed in Ramadan. Tahajjud can be performed everyday throughout the year. Whether it’s Tarāwīḥ or Tahajjud, we should perform Witr to conclude it.
In Ramadan, one can choose to perform only tarāwīḥ. He may also choose to perform only tahajjud. Either way, he should offer his witr. However, combining both; Tarāwīḥ and Tahajjud is better than doing only one. If you are combining both, then you’re encouraged to do the Witr at the end of the one you perform last.
#6: The Gates of Paradise are Opened Wide, and Those of Hell are Closed
Among the virtues of Ramadan is that, it’s only in Ramadan the gates of Heaven are opened widely, and those of Hell are tightly closed. This is what the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam told us in the ḥadīth of Imām al-Bukhārī and Muslim from the narration of Sayyidinā Abī Hurayrah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu:
“When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.”
With the doors of Heaven opened widely, and with those of Hell tightly closed, we’re given the easiest accesses to Jannah. Should we miss the opportunity? No way!
#7: The Devils are Chained Up in Ramadan
More virtues of Ramadan: the devils are chained up. As the ḥadīth mentioned above implies, the devils are chained up, the moment it’s declared that Ramadan has arrived. Certainly, the devils are chained up. But those that are chained up are the big shots. The small creeps remain in operation.
Furthermore, yes, the devils of jinkind are chained up, but none of the devils of humankind is. So if one happens to be fasting, yet he finds himself in pornography or even zina, he should blame not the devil but himself. If you still mingle with friends who pass around pornographic materials during Ramadan, blame not the jinkind devils, not even your friends, but yourself.
I would like to claim that, even the small devils who remain in operation do so in response to commands from their masters among the devils of mankind. Otherwise, why would a Muslim practise black magic, siḥr or ‘whatever you may call it’ in Ramadan? We know that, black magic takes effect only when the jinn involved responds and takes action.
#8: Fasting the Month of Ramadan Eradicates Minor Sins Accumulated Since the Previous Ramadan
On the selected virtues of Ramadan, minor sins committed between any two Ramadans are forgiven. According to a ḥadīth reported by Imām Muslim the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“The five daily prayers, from one Jumu‘ah to the next and from one Ramadan to the next are expiation for (sins committed) in between, so long as major sins are avoided.”
Once again, the sins that are forgiven are the minor ones. Major sins are exempted from this honour.
#9: Fasting the Month of Ramadan +6 Days is Equivalent to Fasting the Whole Year, or Even a Lifetime
Of the virtues of Ramadan, one is awarded with the rewards of fasting the whole year or even a lifetime fasting. This is if he fasts 6 days in the month of Shawwāl after fasting the month of Ramadan. This is what is understood from the narration of Abī Ayyūb al-Anṣārī raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu as reported by Imām Muslims that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Whoever fasts Ramadan then follows it with six days of Shawwāl, it will be like fasting for a lifetime.”
Also, Imām Aḥmad narrates that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Whoever fasts Ramadan, a month is like ten months, and fasting six days after al-Fitr will complete the year.”
#10: ‘Umrah Performed in Ramadan is Equivalent to Hajj
One of th greatest virtues of Ramadan is that, an ‘Umrah performed in Ramadan carries the reward of performing Ḥajj in the company of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. According to Imām al-Bukhārī and Muslim in a ḥadīth they authenticated from the narration of Sayyidinā Abdillāh ibn ‘Abbās raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhumā. He said: The Messenger of Allah ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“‘Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj with me.”
If the reward for performing ‘Umrah in Ramadan was to be equivalent to performing Ḥajj, that would have been satisfying enough. What, then, when the reward promised, is equivalent to the reward of performing Ḥajj with the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam?
Conclusion
Upon reflecting upon the virtues of Ramadan presented in this article, one realizes that Allah has been Merciful to us, by granting us so many easy accesses to Paradise. Its, therefore, obvious, that indeed, it’s he, the loser, who will miss these endless opportunities. In a ḥadīth reported by Imām al-Tirmidhī from the narration of Sayyidinā Abī Hurayrah, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“May the man before whom I am mentioned – and he does not send Ṣalāh upon me – be humiliated. And may a man upon whom Ramadan enters and then passes, before he is forgiven, be humiliated. And may a man whose parents reached old age in his presence, and they were not a cause for his entrance to Paradise, be humiliated.”
This article discussed some 10 virtues of Ramadan, selected from the dozens of virtues of Ramadan. I believe, it’s important for the Muslim to be informed of all of them. But the 10 virtues of Ramadan listed here, are significant that, one will not be blamed, or won’t be guilty of not knowing the rest.
The last part of this series, What We Need to Know About Ramadan, will be a presentation of some historical events that occurred in the month of Ramadan, inshā Allah. To receive updates from GSalam.Net delivered right to your inbox, click here.
Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz 🙂
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