The sacred and blessed month of Ramadaan

The sacred month of Ramadan, 9th month of the Islamic calendar is regarded as the most sacred of all the months of the Islamic calendar. It is during this month full with blessings that Allah ta'ala (The Almighty) revealed the holy Koran (Al-Quraan), his last message, considered as the best of all the sacred books, to his last and most supreme of all the prophets, Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W) by the means of the head of all the angels, Hazrat Jibraïl (a.s) (archangel Gabriel). In regard and respect to these values, Allah ta'ala imposed the fast during this sacred month to us. Of course, the fast is compulsory for all those who are physically fit, i.e. having a state of health which allows it to them.

"You have a month which is approaching, a month which is of a certain value, a month of blessing, a month which contains one night better than a thousand months": These remarks are the extracts of a speech which the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) held towards the end of the month of Sha'baan. This hadith is brought back by Hazrat Salmaan Faarsî (r.a). In another hadith, Hazrat Obaadah bin Saamit (r.a) reports that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said one day, when Ramadan was very close:

"Ramadan, the month of blessings is coming to you, during this month Allah turns to you, covers you his special grace, forgives the sins, accepts supplications (du’as), admires your competition for the best and praises you to the angels. So show your efforts of virtues towards Allah".

We can see that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) took the care to make these speeches with an aim of warning against inactivity during this month. It is wise to recall that he addressed himself to Sahaabas (r.a) who were true practitioners. By that it should be understood that this teaching is conveyed to the people (ummah) in entirety till the last day, so that the ummah devotes more to the worship of Allah (ibaadats) during Ramadan because it is a very special month really. Ramadan is a month of such an importance that at the beginning of the year, the Paradise is subject to many ornaments and decorations.

Hazrat Ibne 'Abbaas (r.a) reports that he heard the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said:

"From the beginning to the end of the year, the Paradise is decorated and scented in the honour of Ramadan. Then, at the first night of Ramadan Mubaarak (blessed), a wind called Masseerah blows from the lower part of the throne of Allah ta’ala, and the doors quake, the leaves of the trees of the paradise are agitated and shivery and produce a melodious sound which was never heard before. And the houris (hoors) with large black eyes, leave their residences and come to the balconies of the Paradise and ask: "Is there somebody who requests to Allah one among us as wife? "Then they ask Ridwaan, the gatekeeper of the Paradise: "What is this night?". The latter replies: Labbaik! this is the first night of Ramadan, where the doors of the paradise are open for the fasters of the ummat of Mohammad ".

Further the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) adds: "During each night of Ramadan, Allah recommends to an angel to launch this call: Is there somebody who repent himself so that I can accept his repentance? Is there somebody who is sorry so that I can forgive him? Is there somebody who wants to lend money to a rich person, and a rich person who will refund all to him?

All these make us understand that Ramadan is a very blessed month. We will try to see its various aspects together.

Month of fast (roza)

Ramadan is first of all the month of fast. The principle of fasting is to abstain from eating, from drinking and from having sexual intercourse with ones wife during the day throughout the whole month of Ramadan. Allah ta'ala says to us in the Quraan: "It is during the month of the Ramadwan that Quraan was brought down, as a guide for mankind like a descent from the Lord, as an understanding. Whoever amongst you will see (live during) this month (the entire month), will fast". [Surah 2, verse 185].

With the exception for children, patients and travellers, it is compulsory upon any Muslim man and woman to observe the fasts of Ramadan. It is told in a hadith: "Whoever voluntarily neglects even one single fast of Ramadan without any major cause and without being sick, will never be able to replace it even if he fasts all his life".

One can fast during all his life with an aim of replacing only one fast missed voluntarily during Ramadan, but one will never be able to have the blessing which a fast observed during this blessed month contains. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) wanted to show that a fast observed during Ramadan is irreplaceable compared to the blessing which it contains during this sacred month. In another hadith it is said: "Whoever observes the fast of Ramadaan with faith and hope of reward will obtain the forgiveness of his/her preceding sins".

Allah ta'ala likes so much the one who observes the fast that the odour coming out from the mouth of the faster is more pleasant to Allah than the soft perfume of musk. In addition, the faster will receive his reward in a completely special way. Indeed in a hadith-qudsi, Allah ta'ala says: "The fast belongs to Me and it is ME personally who will give its reward". Is there greater honour for a mu'minn (believer) to receive his reward from his Creator personally?

Allah Soubhaanahû wa ta'ala never rejects the du’as of a faster. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) says: "The du’a of three categories of people is not rejected; that of a righteous king, that of a faster until he breaks the fast (iftwaar) and that of the oppressed"

It is especially recommended to do many du’as when the time of Iftwaar approaches, because the moments which precede the time of Iftwaar are favourable to the acceptance of the du’as by Allah ta'ala. But unfortunately, one often does not benefit the maximum of this favourable hour, because one is at that time, too busy preparing food. It even happens that one forgets the du’a of Iftwaar.

It is also sad to notice that one has consumption with no reserve during this month and this often at the costs of the rest the community which is affected concerning the satisfaction of its most immediate needs. Such behaviour is against the spirit of fast and the teachings of Islam, which do not cease to exhort believers to slow down their selfishness. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) , humble and modest, refused the luxury to eat several kinds of dates, bread and meat in the same meal. Unfortunately one cannot say so nowadays. For many Muslims, Ramadan has become the month where they eat more and especially the best dishes. One must understand very clearly that Ramadan is not a month where one fills up the stomach with rich and tasty food. It is the month when one tests, while abstaining from food and sex, to blur one’s animal instinct and to find a certain balance.

Month of reciprocity (mutual aid)

Ramadan recalls to the fasters the pain of those who do not have anything to eat and thus the fasters must show kindness and generosity to the poor. Consequently, they feel interdependent and close to each other. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said: "It is a month of reciprocity. The food of the mu'minn (believer) is increased during this month. Whoever will give the Iftwaar to a faster will have the forgiveness of his sins, the protection from the burning hell and furthermore will have thawaabs equal to the faster because of this act".

This is why it is advised, to those who have the means, to give to the poor part of what they have prepared for the Iftwaar and the Sehri. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said that those who give to a faster something halaal for the Iftwaar will have in the nights of Ramadan the blessing of the angels and, in the night of Al-Qadr, the visit of Hazrat Jibraaïl (a.s). As signs of that visit they will feel their hearts tenderized and their eyes filled with tears. It is also said, in another hadith, that the one who will give to a faster a few water to drink, Allah ta’ala will make him drink from his sacred hawz (blessed well) and then he will not be thirsty anymore and this, until he enters the paradise.

Month of swabar (patience)

Ramadan is also a month of swabar. It teaches the fasters patience to face their difficulties. If they come across some difficulties, caused mainly by the fast or some other thing, they must accept them and support them without dispute, but in fact with satisfaction and joy. One should not be carried away by impatience and anger, and complain in period of heat (summer), especially one did not take anything for the Sehri. Moreover, for the Taraaweeh, if one is a little bit tired, one should not react as if it was a burden to him. Whoever seeks quarrel, it must be said to him that fast is being observed. If he insists and obstinate to importune us, we should not, at any moment, get into the trap of Satan and get carried away. One must say to oneself: "I am fasting and I abstain from letting myself carried away by anger".

Month of the holy Koran (Quraan shareef)

It is in this blessed month of Ramadan that Allah soub'haanahu wa ta'ala sent down the Quraan from the Lawhé-mahfooz (protected table) to Baÿt-ul-‘izzah. And it is also in this month that Allah chose to send Hazrat Jibraïl, the archangel Gabriel (a.s) to reveal his message, for the first time, to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) to save the world from chaos and to bring safety to mankind, to bring out humanity from the darkness of ignorance, to guide it towards a better world, the light of the faith and the peace of the heart. Allah ta'ala tells in the holy Quraan: "It is during Ramadan that Quraan was revealed as a guide for mankind"

The descent of the Quraan during this month is more than enough to show the value and the splendour of Ramadan. In fact, Ramadan was always the month of the revelation. In addition to the Quraan, the other sacred books were also revealed in this blessed month. It is said that Hazrat Ibraaheem (a.s) (Prophet Abraham) received his suhuf (small book) 1st or 3rd of this blessed month, Hazrat Daawood (a.s) (Prophet David) received Zaboor (psalms) the 12th or 17th of this blessed month, Hazrat Moosaa (a.s) (Prophet Moses) received Tawrah (Torah) the 6th of this blessed month and that Hazrat 'Isaa (a.s) (Prophet Jesus) received Injeel (the Gospel) the 12th or the 13th of Ramadan shareef.

Ramadan is thus the month of the revelation, the month of the holy Koran (Al-Quraan). Consequently, it is very advised and recommended to read the Quraan shareef in abundance during this month. It is said, in a hadith, that Hazrat Jibraïl (a.s) was accustomed to recite completely the Quraan with the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) during Ramadan.

Sahaabas (r.a) (companions) of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) and other pious men (swaaliheen) observed this practice rigorously. Hazrat Qataada (r.a) made, during the Ramadan, an entire reading of the Quraan (khatm-ul-Quraan) in three nights. And during the last ten days of this month, he made a khatm-ul-Quraan each night. Imaam Shaafi’i (r.a) made sixty khatm-ul-Quraans in his swalaats of the day and the night during Ramadan. All this appears extremely difficult, even impossible for us nowadays, but faith makes things which seem impossible to become possible.

Ramadan is in fact, the festival of Tilaawat (reading) of the Quraan shareef. Whether it is at home, in the mosque or elsewhere we notice each one wanting to read more than his brothers and sisters to please Allah more. It is a true environment of piety and competition which reigns. It is precisely about this competition that mention is made in the hadith reported by Hazrat Obaadah bin Saamit (r.a). And it is this kind of competition which Allah ta'ala likes and is praised with the angels and not the unhealthy competition, where people fight for earthly gains.

Month of spiritual development and training (amal)

Ramadan plays a very significant role to direct man towards spirituality. One must consequently, devote oneself entirely for mental and spiritual preparation. Initially one must fast, by scrupulously observing all the principles of the fast in order to extract the maximum of benefits from it and "to record" some progress on the spiritual level. One must remember that the exclusive continuation of the body appetites prevents the blooming of the spirit. When one abstains from food and sex for the pleasure of Allah, the spiritual side develops. It takes the top on the desires of the body, puts an end to any excess and gives birth to oneself certain moderation. It then becomes possible to subordinate ones physical desires to the force of the spirit.

Hazrat Luqmaan (a.s) had said to his son: "Son, if the belly is too full, the thought (mind) falls asleep, wisdom is keep silent; the members becomes heavy and are diverted from prayers".

Therefore, a full stomach (of food) cannot taste with the savour of the ibaadat (prayer). The fast involves those who observes it, to think that if one can resist the desire to eat, of drinking and the flesh (things allowed apart from the period of fast) during Ramadan in order to please Allah, then how much it is necessary to resist things which are defended all the time, such as lie, the snobbism, pride, gambling, interest, bribe, cheating, dishonesty, avarice, selfishness, hypocrisy, arrogance, ostentation, adultery, drugs and the other defects which ruins the community.

The fast aims to strengthen the heart, guiding it towards the high virtues, applying the orders of Allah strictly and at inculcating the fear of the Majestic one. Allah ta'ala says in the Quraan-shareef: "Oh you who believe, fast was prescribed unto you as it was prescribed unto the people who preceded you so that you become pious" (sourah 2, verse183)

The fundamental goal of the deprivations (of food and the sex during the day) which one must assert during fast is, like it is precised in the verse above, to purify the heart and the spirit so that one becomes Master and not slave of his passions. Thus fast supports the taqwa (fear/fright of Allah). The fear of Allah brings closer and guides towards obedience, prayers, the good deeds and moves away from the sins, the evil and the ill deeds.

Ramadan is the occasion that Allah, the most powerful, gives to mankind to fight his animal side and to dominate his passions by avoiding all that Allah defended. One must benefit from this sacred and blessed month to plunge oneself in the atmosphere of enthusiasm and piety which reigns and which encourages good deeds, to multiply good works, to achieve with sincerity and in congregation the daily swalaats at the fixed times, to make the tilaawat-ul-Quraan with profusion, to make charity, to do many Du’as and nawaafil (benefic overtime acts and prayers). It is said in a hadith that a supererogatory act (nafil) during this month is equivalent to a farz (obligatory act) of the other days and a farz during this month is equivalent to seventy faraaïz of the other days. This contributes to the motivation of the Muslims. One must thus seek during this mubaarak (blessed) month, by the means of fast, charity, prayers and other good deeds, to reach a high spiritual development.

It should be remembered that the prayer and the other good deeds are applied only to the price of efforts and sacrifices, because they are in conflict with the desires of the nafss (heart and body passion). There will always be a certain opposition on behalf of the nafss against the good deeds. All along one’s life, one must thus carry out a fight against them (these nafss). This combat consists in forcing practices on its nafss in order to accustom them to it for example, to make the swalaat by achieving many nawaafil. It is the so-called Mujaahada-e-jismaani (combat of the body) who consists mainly with: 1. to eat less, 2. to speak less, 3. to sleep less, 4. to join people less. This does not mean that it is necessary to reduce ones consumption of food to such point that one becomes weak. It is quite simply necessary to avoid any excess and to show moderation in the four things mentioned above.

The mujaahadah (combat) against the impulse of his nafss (passions) towards the evil becomes easy when one manages to control the licit desires of one’s nafss. Ramadan thus is an exceptional occasion in this way because, while fasting, one reduces, in a way or another, one’s food consumption at a condition, of course, if one shows a certain control at the time of Iftwaar and of Sehri. Moreover one abstains from speaking much, for fear that one falls into scandal mongering, calumny or lie. One will lie down only after the Taraaweeh-swalaat and one awakes early the morning to make the Tahajjud, the Sehri and the Fajar. Lastly, if one adds the reading of the holy Quraan, the achievement of the nawaafil swalaats, the tasbihaat (chains) and Du’as, the program becomes so charged that one has very little time to join people. All this contributes as a whole to the training and the spiritual development of the faster. During Ramadan the community reacts in mass. It is in fact a collective event where the muslims mobilize themselves to achieve good. The motivation to do good deeds is so large that it becomes easy to fast. One can besides notice, that it is relatively more difficult to observe a fast, although its duration could be shorter, apart from Ramadan. If the community continues to act collectively after Ramadan, it would become much less difficult then, not to say easier, to achieve good deeds, especially to go regularly to the masjids (mosque) during the eleven following months. This collective movement could contribute largely to withdraw the community of its spiritual torpor. This will only be possible if one benefits a maximum from this blessed month and the fact of becoming a month of life training.

At the time of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) , the sahaabas (r.a) went to the mosque in so great number that the munaafiqeen (hypocrits) could only follow their example. Nowadays those who say they are good muslims have become deaf to the call of the prayer (azaan). What a difference! Isn't it about time to seize ourselves? Why not seize the occasion which Ramadan offers to do it?

Month of forgiveness (maghfiirat)

In a hadith referred above, it is said that in each night of Ramadan, an angel on the request of Allah ta'ala, give a call where he says: "Is there somebody who is sorry so that I (Allah) forgive him?". In another hadith, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said that the month of Ramadan is divided into three parts (thirds). First is the blessing of Allah, the second is the forgiveness of Allah and the third is the release from the hot fire. In other words, he forgives pious people and pours on them his blessings from the very start of Ramadan. The mean sinners are forgiven after having achieved some fasts which brings barkat to them (blessings). Even the hardened sinners are not exempted from the forgiveness of Allah ta’ala during this month; they even have very much to gain. They can have some of their sins erased after having achieved sufficient fasts. During this last part, Allah ta'ala shows more compassion and forgives more people. Moreover the famous night of al-Qadr is most probably in this last third of the blessed month. May Allah ta'ala gives us all the privilege to profit fully from all the benefits of this sacred month. Let us have a special thought however, at the time of our du’as, for the needy people, those who suffer from disease or misery, that Allah the Lenient one, the most merciful, the most excellent pours on all of us his blessings. To end this special file, let us quote this famous hadith of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) , reported by Hazrat Ibn-Khuzaïmah (r.a): "If men (mankind) knew what Ramadan is really, all my community (people - ummah) would have wished that the whole year be Ramadan". Aameen.