Why Ramadhaan is Special: Characteristics and Features

Wednesday 11/07/2012 Fasting has great merits and beneficial outcomes, which are often referred to in the Quran and Sunnah (Prophetic tradition). Allaah The Almighty enjoined it upon His servants for a month in the year, and decreed it upon them, just as He decreed it upon those who were before them. He states (what means): {O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.} [Quran 2:183] Thus, Allaah The Almighty made the fasting of Ramadhaan an obligatory duty, binding upon every male and female Muslim, according to certain conditions stated in the Quran and the Sunnah. This indicates that it is an act of worship that people cannot dispense with, due to its benefits and great consequences, the good it brings about in the souls, and the power it gives to do right, to abandon what is shameful and turn away from falsehood. Allaah The Almighty favors Ramadhaan with numerous characteristics, one of which is mentioned in the authentic narration in which the Messenger of Allaah said: "When Ramadhaan comes, the gates of that the

Paradise are opened." [Al-Bukhaari] It is further narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah

Messenger of Allaah said: "When the month of Ramadhaan begins, the gates of heaven are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained." It goes without saying that all this gives glad tidings to the believers of the potential for performing righteous deeds that lead to Paradise, and the means available to them, which can help them perform and further multiply those deeds. Besides, of course, Allaah The Almighty strengthens abstinence from and evasion of sins in Ramadhaan, Shaytaan (Satan) weakens in his schemes and fails to achieve his plots. One of the characteristics of fasting in Ramadhaan is shown in the narration of both books of authentic Ahaadeeth (narrations) and others on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of

Allaah said: "He, who observes the fast of Ramadhaan out of sincere faith, and expecting the reward from Allaah, his previous sins would be forgiven." That is, whoever fasts this month, out of belief in its being obligatory, expecting the reward for it from his Lord Almighty, and striving his utmost to follow the Sunnah of His Prophet let him receive the glad tidings of forgiveness.

Since the reward of fasting is multiplied immeasurably and the fasting person receives his reward without reckoning, the deeds of the fasting person are also multiplied in Ramadhaan, as shown in the Hadeeth of Salmaan that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Whoever comes near Allaah in it (Ramadhaan) with a good act, it is (multiplied as much) as if he has performed an obligatory duty at any other time; and whoever comes near Allaah with an obligatory duty in it, it is (multiplied as much) as if he has performed seventy obligatory duties at any other time." Thus, both deed and reward are multiplied for the servant in Ramadhaan: {As bounty from your Lord. That is the great attainment.} [Quran 44:57] Another characteristic of Ramadhaan is that the angels beseech Allaah The Almighty to conceal and erase the sins of the fasting persons. This is stated in the Hadeeth narrated from the Messenger of

Allaah

that he said, concerning the fasting people: "And the angels continue to seek the forgiveness ]

of Allaah for them until they break their fast." [Ahmad on the authority of Abu Hurayrah

The angels are pure, honored creatures, entitled to receive the response of Allaah The Almighty to their supplication, and forgiveness for those whom they seek forgiveness for, and the servants err again and again, and need repentance and forgiveness, as shown in the authentic Qudsi Hadeeth (sacred narration) in which Allaah The Almighty Says: "O My servants! You commit mistakes during night and day, and I forgive all sins. So, seek My forgiveness, perchance I would forgive you." If a believer seeks forgiveness for himself and this is combined with the angels seeking forgiveness for him, it is most likely that he will be awarded the highest rank. Ramadhaan is also the month of consoling and doing good, and Allaah The Almighty likes those who do good; He has promised them forgiveness, Paradise, and prosperity. Doing good is the highest rank of faith, and you need not ask about the position of the one who is characterized by it in Paradise, and the bliss and various kinds of honor he will receive (as stated by Allaah The Almighty in the verse (which means): {Accepting what their Lord has given them. Indeed, they were, before that, doers of good.} [Quran 52:16] Among the good deeds that are more feasible in this blessed month than in others is to serve food (to the needy) and providing Iftaar for those who are fasting. These are among the means which help one obtain forgiveness for ones sins, release people from the Hellfire and multiply the rewards. These deeds lead to Al-Kawthar, the lake-fount of the Messenger of Allaah which, if one gets a sip thereof, he will never become thirsty: we ask Allaah The Almighty, by His bounty and generosity, to cause us to come upon it. Serving food is one of the causes that admit one to Paradise, the abode of peace. Ramadhaan is an opportunity for Muslims to receive the means of mercy, the factors that lead to forgiveness, and the requirements of release from Hellfire. How abundant are the gifts from the Lord, the Generous, the Forgiver! It is the month of Thikr (remembrance of Allaah) and supplication. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {and remember Allaah often that you may succeed.} [Quran 62:10] {and the men who remember Allaah often and the women who do so - for them Allaah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.} [Quran 33:35] {And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allaah is near to the doers of good.} [Quran 7:56] {And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.} [Quran 2:186] This last noble verse in particular highlights the intimate relation between fasting and supplication. In Ramadhaan, there is Laylatu Al-Qadr (the Night of Decree), in connection with which Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {The Night of Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months.} [Quran

97:3] According to the scholars, any righteous deed performed therein is better than the actions of one thousand months, i.e. almost 83 years. This is sufficient commendation of its superiority and honor, and the magnificence of the deed done on it for the one whom Allaah guides to stay up in worship on that night we ask Allaah The Almighty to guide us to that always, by His bounty and generosity. It is narrated in an authentic Hadeeth that the Messenger of Allaah said: "He who stands (in prayer) on the Night of Al-Qadr, out of sincere faith, and expecting the reward with Allaah, his previous sins would be forgiven for him." That is among the merits of standing (in prayer) on it; and sufficient it is for a prize and profit. Among the characteristics of Ramadhaan is the superiority of charity in it, compared to any other time. It is narrated that the Messenger of Allaah was asked, "Which object of charity is the best?" He said: "An object of charity to be given in Ramadhaan." [At-Tirmithi] It is narrated on the authority of Ibn Abbaas that he said, "The Messenger of Allaah was the most generous of all the people, and he used to reach the peak in generosity in the month of Ramadhaan when Jibreel (Gabriel ) met him. Jibreel used to meet him every night of Ramadhaan to teach him the Quran. The Messenger of Allaah was the most generous person, even more generous and faster in spending charity than the blowing wind." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim] According to the narration of Ahmad, "He was never asked [for] anything but he gave it." Generosity is to give liberally and openhandedly in charity or anything else. His increased munificence in Ramadhaan was a means to avail himself of this blessed time and of in a

the multiplication of deeds and their rewards in it. It is narrated on the authority of Salmaan

Marfoo Hadeeth, that he said: "Whoever draws near to Allaah in it (Ramadhaan) with a good act, it is (multiplied as much) as if he has performed an obligatory duty at any other time; and whoever draws near to Allaah with an obligatory duty in it, it is (multiplied as much) as if he has performed seventy obligatory duties at any other time." The combination of fasting and charity has a greater effect in removing sins and prevention from Hellfire. According to an authentic Hadeeth: "Fasting acts as a protective shield" i.e., to save one from Hellfire. According to another authentic Hadeeth, he with half a date (to be given in charity)." said: "Safeguard yourselves from Hellfire even

A further characteristic of Ramadhaan is that the Umrah (minor pilgrimage) performed in it is equal to Hajj (major pilgrimage) in reward. It is proven in the books of Al-Bukhaari and Muslim that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Umrah performed in Ramadhaan is equal to Hajj." Or, according to another narration: " is equal to Hajj performed along with me." Another characteristic lies in the fact that it is the month of the Quran, as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {The month of Ramadhaan [is that] in which was revealed the Quran, guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.} [Quran 2:185] The Quran recited in it mends the hearts and provides guidance for the one who recites it, reflects upon its meanings, and supplicates

Allaah The Almighty with it. In connection with the superiority of recitation of the Quran, the Messenger of Allaah said:

"The skillful reciter of the Quran will be with the noble and dutiful messenger-angels, and the one who recites it with difficulty will be granted a double reward." "Recite the Quran, because it will come as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Judgment." "Verily, Allaah raises some people by (virtue of) that Book (i.e., the Quran)." "The best one among you is he who learns and then teaches the Quran." All those Hadeeths are authentic, and include the greatest glad tidings to the person who recites the Quran with reflection and meditation. Then, how much greater would be the reward and benefit if it was recited in Ramadhaan? May Allaah The Almighty make us of the people of the Quran, who are counted among the special worshippers of Allaah The Almighty and the elite among the believers.