Muslims everywhere are expecting the blessed month of Ramadan. At the beginning of Ramadan, Allah bestows His Mercy on people; at the middle period of it, Allah forgives the sins of the repentant; at the end of it, Allah delivers his righteous servants from Hell-Fire. In Ramadan, people observe fasting by day and perform Vigil Night Prayers. Fasting is enjoined on Muslims till Doomsday, as it was enjoined on early believers. Allah says: {O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off evil)}. (Al-Baqarah: 183)
From among all acts of worship Almighty Allah has specified fasting in particular to be for His Own sake, as he, Exalted and Blessed be He, in a Divine Hadith says: “All man’s good deeds are for his own benefit, except fasting; it is for My Sake, and I reward for it. In fasting there is protection (for man from indulgence). So when one of is fasting, he shouldn’t shout, nor act in an improper way; and if someone abused or fought him, he should say: “I am fasting, I am fasting”. By Allah, in whose Hand my life is, the ascent of the mouth of a man observing fasting is better in Allah’s Sight than the ascent of Musk. Observing fasting makes man pleasant twice: once when he breaks his fasting and the other when he meets his Lord.” [It is narrated by Muslim]
In Ramadan, the doors of Hell close, and those of Paradise open, and devils get shackled. Therein an angel calls: “O observer of good deeds, rejoice; o indulgent people, abstain (from sins); until the end of Ramadan.” [It is narrated by Ahmed]
Allah draws people’s attention to the importance of reciting the Qur’an while fasting in Ramadan. Thus, reciting the Qur’an is greatly connected with fasting; they form two pleasant acts of worship which. Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him, used to observe reciting the Qur’an in Ramadan, as narrated by Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him: “Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him, was the most generous of all people, and his generosity reached its utmost in Ramadan when Gabriel was send to him. Gabriel used to meet him every night in Ramadan and teaches him the Qur’an. Whenever Gabriel met the Prophet, peace be upon him, became more generous than continuous (rainy) winds.” This Saying is agreed upon.
In the Shade of the Qur’an
In Ramadan all forms of goodness are observed, headed by the Qur’an. The angel Gabriel (peace be with him) taught the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, the best deeds in Ramadan, i.e. observing fasting and reciting the Qur’an, and both of them intercede for their observer on the Day of Judgement. It is narrated as follows: “Fasting will say to Allah: ‘O Lord, to observe me, he was deprived from food and worldly pleasures during the day, so allow me to intercede for him.’ Then the Qur’an will say: ‘Reciting me, he was deprived of sleep during night, so allow me to intercede for him.’ Hence Allah will permit them to intercede.” [It is narrated by Ahmed, An-Nasa’i and Al-Hakim]
A Muslim who keeps steadfast in observing fasting, performing prayer, reciting the Qur’an and abstention from every sin whatever slight, will be unique in the Day of Judgement, as Allah will permit him into Paradise from the gate of Ar-Rayyan out of honor and dignity. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “There a door of Paradise called Ar-Rayyan. On the Judgement Day, (an angel) will call: Where are the observers of fasting? Then, they will all be permitted into Paradise through that door, and it will close.” [It is narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
A true believer, who firmly believe in Allah and calls others to believe, strives against his vulgar desires and against devilish insinuations. Such a true believer finds in Ramadan an available chance to elevate his soul to a higher level. This necessarily leads to instructive changes in the whole society, as Allah says: {Lo! Allah changeth not the condition of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts}. (Ar-Ra`d: 11)
Observing fasting makes hearts pious, and it is piety which preserves one from committing sins, whatever slight, that may spoil one’s fasting.
Fasting also adjusts the conduct of a person who observes it and clears his conscience, which directs man’s decisions and draws him closer to his Lord.
A true believer realizes that contemporary cultures are materialistic, based on satisfying one’s desire for food as well as vulgar desires. Such mere materialistic basis drew previous cultures to ruin, and this seems to be the same fate of today’s cultures.
Therefore, it is Islam which makes compromise between contradicting aspects; it makes a balance between materialistic and spiritual sides of life such as, reasonable and emotional thinking. A true believer who observes acts of worship and fasting is able to reform his life and keep himself away from worldly pleasures and whims. So doing man sets to the right path. So, man should be aware of his duty to rescue the humanity?
The Virtues of Observing Fasting during the Year
Fasting in Ramadan is a pillar of Islam. The time for fasting is specified according to lunar calendar. With the passage of time Ramadan occurs in different seasons of the year, in summer, autumn, winter and spring. Ramadan corresponds with all seasons of the year every third of a century (every 33 years). Thus, most people witness Ramadan in different weather conditions throughout different stages of their life, i.e. during adolescence and youth, then during maturity and old age. This enables man to feel the wisdom of fasting and its effects on a man in different seasons.
Ramadan begins with the appearance of the crescent of Ramadan, and it ends with the crescent of Shawwal. On the other hand, the fast days are specified according to the solar calendar; the fast-days begin on Dawn and ends on sunset. This has a very significant wisdom. Muslims all over the world fast in every moment in Ramadan, because while night prevails in some places on earth, there are other places where the light of the sun prevails. This creates a kind of interrelation between Muslims all over the world and shows that sun never sets on the Muslim nation.
A Muslim caller should realize that he is a working individual in the universe which succumbs with all creatures therein under Allah’s Will. So Muslims all over the world are brothers and sisters, disregarding any differences in language, color, or race; they are all unified under the banner of Islam, the sealing religion in Allah’s Sight.
Ramadan witnessed the most famous events in the history of Muslim nation such as, the Great Battle of Badr, the Battle of Furqan (the criterion) when Allah made the believer victorious over the unbelievers, the Conquest of Makkah where the Prophet set the best example of tolerance and Makkah took its value in the life of Muslims, The Conquest of Andalusia (now Spain) from which Islamic culture spread all over the world, and finally the conquest of Muslims over the Jew on the tenth of Ramadan,1973.
Under the condition in which Muslims live, suffering from the acts of violence and oppression of the non-Muslims, are Muslims aware of their duty towards their brothers in Islam? Are they ready to sacrifice themselves and their money in the cause of Allah?
Some people fast in Ramadan as a matter of habit no more, so that they may neglect prayer and commit sins. Hence, it the duty of Islamic callers to teach people by standing as a good example for them in the first place, then by right guidance and finally by striving against evil. Also, people should follow good examples and fulfill their duties. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.
Mr. Ramadan Muhammad At-Tahhan
