Allah says in the Qur’an:
يَأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.”
— Surah Al-Baqarah: 183
The month of Ramadan is superior to all other months. Good deeds are performed more abundantly in this month than in any other.
The advice given by the Prophet (peace be upon him) to his Companions (Sahabah) at the end of the month of Sha’ban:
“O people! A great month (Ramadan) has come upon you. It is a blessed month. In it is a night called ‘Laylat al-Qadr’ (the Night of Decree), which is better than a thousand months. Allah has made fasting in this month obligatory and has made standing in prayer during its nights a meritorious deed. Whoever draws closer to Allah by performing a good deed in this month will be like one who fulfills an obligatory duty (Fard) in other months.”
“And whoever fulfills an obligatory duty (Fard) in Ramadan will be like one who fulfills seventy obligatory duties in months other than Ramadan.”
Fasting is an act of worship free from ostentation (showing off) and filled with purity of intention. Since fasting is dedicated solely to Almighty, Allah’s love for His servant increases, and consequently, He grants an immense reward for it.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, his previous sins will be forgiven.”
Practices and Virtues of the Blessed Month
- Self-Discipline: It involves giving up worldly desires, enduring the hardships that come with altering meal timings, and remaining hungry.
- Spiritual Devotion: Reciting the Qur’an extensively, engaging in Dhikr (remembrance of God), and fulfilling charities like Zakat and Sadaqah.
- Nightly Prayers: Performing Sunnah prayers such as the twenty Rak’ahs of Taraweeh and Tahajjud during the nights.
- Unity and Charity: Offering meals to others and giving charity to the poor—all kinds of good deeds are performed uniformly by Muslims worldwide during this month.
According to Allah’s command, a Muslim from any country must fast by remaining hungry and abstaining from consuming anything from before dawn until sunset. Fasting makes human beings feel the hunger of the poor. Moreover, ‘Taqwa’ (piety/The Almighty-consciousness) is attained through fasting.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Fasting will intercede for the believers. Fasting will say: ‘O my Lord! I prevented this person from food and other pleasures throughout the day, and he abstained from them. Therefore, O my Lord, accept my intercession for this person!’ Allah will then accept this intercession.” — Mishkat
Allah says in the Qur’an:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ
“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.”
— Surah Al-Baqarah: 185
Through fasting in the month of Ramadan, human desires are controlled; the fast of Ramadan purifies our soul.
A crucial condition of fasting is that both the pre-dawn meal (Suhoor) and the breaking of the fast (Iftar) must consist of food earned through honest and halal (permissible) means.
In this month, God forgives a multitude of people. Ramadan is the month to seek forgiveness from Allah for past sins and to resolve firmly not to commit sins in the remaining years of one’s life.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that whoever observes the fast of the holy month of Ramadan will have his previous sins forgiven. — Bukhari
Let us Welcome Ramadan… Let us honor Ramadan with our good deeds! May Allah grant all of us the blessings (Barakah) of Ramadan! Ameen!
