Ramadan – the blessed month that every Muslim awaits is about to approach us! From the beginning of this month until its end, every Muslim can sense purity and blessings, no matter where they are living. That is solely because of the grandness of the month as “when there comes the month of Ramadan, the gates of mercy/paradise are opened, and the gates of Hell are locked and the devils are chained.” (Sahih Muslim)
Ramaḍān is taken from the word ramad which means that which is intensely or vehemently heated by the sun. And the word ramdhaa means the intense heat of the sun. [The Arabs used to say about] the sheep that they were ‘burned (ramidat) while they were grazing under the scorching heat of the sun to the extent that their livers became damaged (by the intense heat of the sun). Ramaḍān was named such because it burns the sins of the believers.
‘’It (this month) was named Ramaḍān because it burns the sins of people with righteous deeds’’.
– Imam Qurtubi
Ramadan is the 9th Month of the Islamic lunar calendar. All Muslims around the globe abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk either for 29 or 30 days depending upon the lunar cycle. The reward of good deeds performed in this month is multiplied compared to any other month because of its sacredness.
Fasting is one of the pillars of Islam and the commandment of our Lord. All the practicing Muslims live their life according to God’s rules and whoever follows His advice, verily, would never be astray. Every Muslim strives to perform good deeds with the pure intention only to seek closeness towards his Maker. This month holds great significance in Islam and for every Muslim, it is a chance to gain the purification of heart and soul through fasting and return back to Allah with sincere repentance.
“Verily the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: The five (daily) prayers and from one Friday prayer to the (next) Friday prayer, and from Ramadhan to Ramadhan are expiations for the (sins) committed in between (their intervals) provided one shuns the major sins.”
Sahih Muslim
The significance of this month is that the Final & the Glorious Book was revealed – Al-Qur’an. In the Cave of Hira, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) spent his time in the worship of Allah and in contemplation. At the age of 40, he received his first revelation through Angel Gabriel.
Ramaḍân is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the standard ˹to distinguish between right and wrong˺. So whoever is present this month, let them fast. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramaḍân˺. Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful.”
(Al-Baqarah 185)
The purpose of fasting is to purify our souls from all the evil, to develop a stronger connection with Allah & to have God-consciousness. It is a great time to train your soul to please Him alone and restrain from all the bad!
Allah says in the Qur’an, O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed upon you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain Taqwa (piety). (Al-Qur’an 2:183)
However, fasting is not just about abstaining from the food and the drink, it is the fast of the limbs where you do not indulge in any activity that brings God’s wrath upon you, the thoughts – think pure and remain busy with performing the good deeds, the speech – the hardest of all is to control the softest organ i.e. tongue. You will never be able to take back the word that you’ve uttered, so you are required to think twice before you speak *especially in Ramadan*.
In the next upcoming blog, we will look at some of the righteous and rewarding deeds that you might keep yourself busy with, in this blessed month.
Light of Islam 