As Ramadan approaches everyone gets busy in its preparation, namely, shopping. This preparation will reach its climax on the eve of Ramadan when the crescent is sighted. It is a sight full of hope and joy. The preparations should not only be of the materials required. One should also prepare themselves spiritually for the Holy Month.
Ramadan is the best of the months. This is the month in which we observe the fourth pillar of Islam- Sawm- by the Sole Command of the Sole Lord of the worlds (SWT).
It is the month of worship to seek rewards from Allah (SWT). The Prophet (May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) said: “Whoever spend the nights of Ramadan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.”
The superiority of this month is based on its many facets.
1 - The best of all nights falls in Ramadan – the Night of Decree. Allah SWT says: “Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’an) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree). The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months.” [Surah al-Qadar : 1-2]
Hence worship on this night is better than worshiping for a thousand months, which is approximately eighty-three years!!
No one exactly know when this Night falls, however Rasool Kareem (May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) told us to seek this Night in the last odd ten days of Ramadan.
2 - It was in the month of Ramadan that the Qur’an Majeed –the best of all Books- was revealed to the Rasool of Allah (May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him).
Allah (SWT) says: “Ramadan is the (month) in which the Qur’an was sent down, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting.” [Surah al-Baqarah :185]
This makes it clear that there is a great relation between the Qur’an and Ramadan. It is highly meritorious to complete reciting the whole Qur’an (Qur’an is derived from the root word qaraa’ means recitation) in this month.
3 - In this month the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are shut, and the devils are chained up. It is a proven fact that evil actions are drastically reduced in Ramadan. Those who observe the etiquette of Ramadan will be safe from evil actions.
4 - Ramadan is the month of complete worship. In this month certain acts of worship are performed that are not carried out in other months. These are: fasting, praying the Taraweeh, feeding the poor, I’tikaaf, Sadaqah, and reading Qur’an.
The Prophet (May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) used to give glad tidings of the arrival of Ramadan to the Sahabah Karaam (May Allah (SWT) be pleased with them all) and explain its merits. This is the month that should be welcomed with hopefulness and sincerity that our repentance will be accepted. One should resolve not to repeat any wrong deeds after the repentance. It is the blessed month in which Muslims should be determined to worship Allah – Rabb ul-‘Arsh il-Kareem.
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