SHA’ABAN 28, 1429 A.H.
FRIDAY AUGUST 29 2008
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Ramadan: The month of countless blessings and mercies
By ABUBAKAR MUSTAPHA DADA
I BEGAN this article in the name of Allah most gracious and merciful. It was He who has sent down the glorious Qur’an with guidance for Mankind, in this blessed month of Ramadan. Allah (SWT) said:- “The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed and became a guidance for mankind and clarifies right from wrong” (Q 2:185).
The holy prophet (SAW) says “O people! The month of God (Ramadan) has come to you along with his mercy, blessing and forgiveness.” In the estimation of God, this is the month that is best of all months; its days are best among all days; its nights are best among all nights; and hours are best among all hours. He (SAW) also says:- Everything has a spring and the spring of the Qur’an is the holy month of Ramadan.”
Before I go further, to narrate to us some of the blessing of the month of Ramadan, let us brief see the origin of the month of Ramadan.
The origin and meaning of Ramadan
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is Ramadan, the month of Fasting from dawn to sunset on each day of the month. Fasting was made obligatory for Muslim in the 2nd year of Hegira (623 AD) in the preceding month that is Sh’aban. While concerning the meaning of Ramadan is that, the name Ramadan is derived from the Arabic word “Ramz” (to burn), because it is said fasting in the month can burn away the sins of Muslims. For the sins of those fast and beg Allah for forgiveness in the month burn and perish.
Fasting this month of Ramadan
Originally, in Arabic the word ‘’assawn’ meant ‘al imsak; that is, to abstain totally from any act including eating drinking, walking, speaking etc. Thus the Arabs used to refer to a horse refusing to run or to be fed, as ‘as’im that is fasting. As is clear, the word ‘sawn’ is ancient was used different context by the Arabs before Islam. As an Islamic term, it means to refrain International from what breaks fasting.
To a Muslim fasting is not just refraining from eating and drinking but covers the added significance of worship, psychological comfort, morality, and legislation. It is neither the irrational motionless ‘Imsak’ of pre Islamic Arabs nor the mere abstaining from eating and drinking but is in fact, the building of one’s character, control over desires and an inspiration towards social and scientific creativity.
Fasting is one of the duties to be performed by all Muslims according to the Islamic Sharia. For one Lunar month a year, In Ramadan, everyday from dawn till sunset, it is obligatory upon every mukallaf (One who has reached maturity and thus most perform ones Islamic duties) to fast. Allah (SWT) says:- ‘’O you who believe’ fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed fro those before you, so that you may have taqwa” (Q2:183).
The holy prophet (SAW) said : ‘’ keep the fast and break it (at the proper time) and stand in prayer and devotion (in the night) and have sleep. Also the holy prophet (SAW) said” the gates of paradise are opened and the hell fire are closed for those who perform virtuous act during this month. The accursed Satan is shackled in this month.
Some of the virtues of the fasting in the month of Ramadan
The month of Ramadan has been reserved to as the month of the mercy blessing and bounty of Allah. The following are some of the saying of the holy prophet (SAW) concerning the virtues of the fasting in this month of Ramadan.
1. When the month of Ramadan comes the doors of paradise are opened and the doors of hell are closed and the devils are tied.
2. “O Muslims! Such a great month is about to over shadow you that one night (Qadr night) in this month is more useful than a thousand months.
3. This month is such a month that it is compassion in its early days, pardon, and forgiveness in the middle, and liberation from the hell in the late days.
4. Doing a little favour for Allah’s sake in this month is like doing the obligatory things in other months.
5. Allah (SWA) says in Hadith Al-Qudsi:- “Fasting is for me and the reward is from me.”
6. Giving something to a fellow Muslim brother/Sister something to breakfast even if it is water, half date or any lawful food will attracts a great reward to that person.
7. This is the month in which you have been invited (as a guest of Allah) to receive the hospitality of Allah; you have been selected as the recipients of honours from Allah.
8. Your breathing is praise and your sleeping is worship; your good deeds are accepted in this month-so are your innovations.
9. The angels are engaged oin asking forgiveness of you from Allah (SWT).
10. In this month of Ramadan, reading a verse from the Glourious Qur’an is like reading the whole Qur’an in other months.
11. The first night of Ramadan Allah (SWT) regards the believers with compassion; he never torments a born servant, of his whom He regards with compassion.
12. At the time of Iftar (break fast) the fasting person’s breath smells to Allah (SWT) more fragrant than any sent.
13. In Ramadan Allah (SWT) allots a place in the paradise to give those who fast in the next world.
14. This month is the month of taqwa, the month of the spring of the Qur’an, the month of forgiveness, prayers and Du’as and lastly the best of all months.
15. In this month Allah (SWT) forgives the sins of all believers who have fasted with sincerity and devotion.
May Allah (SWT) accept our fasting, prayers, du’as, and all our good deeds in this month and may He provide us with good things here and hereafter, amen.
ABUBAKAR MUSTAPHA DADA writes in from Kano.
