Ramadan | It’s obligation, status & wisdom 

Ramadan 

All praise is due to Allah and may peace and blessing of Allah be upon the Messenger ﷺ, his family, companions and all those that follow their path of righteousness until the day of judgment. 
To proceed I would like to remind you about Ramadan. 
Obligation, Status and Wisdom of Fasting in Ramadan
Allah (سبحانه و تعالى‎) says 
“O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).” 
[Surah al-Baqarah 2:183]
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, Islam is built upon five pillars, testifying that none has the right to be worshiped except Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger, establishing the prayer, paying the Zakah, fasting the month of Ramadan and performing Hajj.
[Saheeh Muslim 16 (1/21). Narrated by Abdullah Ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه)]
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen (رحمة الله) said, The wisdom behind fasting is that it trains one to restrain the soul, and it gives one strength to withhold his soul by its bridle, such that one can govern it and lead it towards that which is good for it and what will make it successful. 
[Majaalis Shahr Ramadan Page 41-43]

_______________

Some of the benefits and blessing of fasting in the Month of Ramadan
• Fasting has no limited reward
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, Allah (سبحانه و تعالى‎) said: Every act of the son of Adam is for him except fasting. It is done for My sake, and I will give a reward for it.
[Saheeh Muslim 1151 (13/210). Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه)]
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (رحمة الله) explains: The reward for acts of worship is tenfold up to seven hundredfold, up to many times more, except fasting, for it is Allah Who will reward for it. What that means is that the reward for it is very great indeed. The scholars said that this is because fasting combines three types of patience, namely patience in obeying Allah, patience in refraining from disobeying Allah, and patience in accepting His decree. It is patience in obeying Allah because the individual is patient in doing this act of obedience. It is patience in refraining from disobeying Him because he avoids that which is prohibited for the fasting person. And it is patience in accepting the decree of Allah because the fasting person experiences the pain of thirst, hunger, tiredness and lack of energy. Hence fasting is one of the most sublime forms of patience, because it combines the three types of patience.
Allah (سبحانه و تعالى‎) says “Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning” 
[az-Zumar 39:10]. 
[ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘ (6/458)]
• The Fasting person has two occasions of joy 
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “There are two (occasions) of joy for the observer of fast. The joy when he breaks his fast and the joy when he meets his Lord.”  
[Saheeh Muslim 1151 (13/214). Narrated by Abu Hurayrah & Abu Said (رضي الله عنه)]
• The fasting person breath is more beloved to Allah then the fragrance of Musk.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “By Allah in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of the observer of fast is beloved to Allah than the fragrance of musk.”

[Saheeh Muslim 1151 (13/210). Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه)]
• The Devils are chained, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed. 
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.” 
[Saheeh al-Bukhari 1899 (30/9). Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه)]

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen (رحمة الله) said, The majority of the scholars hold that the sins in Ramadan outweigh the sins outside Ramadan 
[Bulūgh, Volume: 7, Page 166] 
• Forgiveness of sins
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”
[Saheeh al-Bukhari 1901 (30/11). Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه)]
• Ar Raiyan, one of the doors of Paradise which only the observer of Fasts shall enter

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, ‘Where are those who used to observe fasts?’ They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it.” 
[Saheeh al-Bukhari 1896 (30/6). Narrated by Sahl (رضي الله عنه)]

_______________

Recite and Revise the Quran in month of Ramadan for verily it was revealed in this blessed month!

Allah (سبحانه و تعالى‎) says
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).” 
[Surah al-Baqarah 2:185]
And Allah says

“Verily! We have sent it (this Quran) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree)”

[Surah al-Qadr 97:1]
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The Night of Qadr is in the last ten nights of the month (Ramadan)”

[Saheeh al-Bukhari 2022 (32/9). Narrated by Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه)]

And also

“Gabriel used to meet him (Muhammad ﷺ) every night during Ramadan to revise the Qur’an with him.” 
[Saheeh al-Bukhari 3554 (61/63). Narrated by Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه)]

_______________

Things to avoid whist fasting
• False speech and evil actions 
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)” 
[Saheeh al-Bukhari 1903 (30/13). Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه)]
• Acting foolishly, fighting & sexual relations
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, ‘I am fasting.” 
[Saheeh al-Bukhari 1894 (30/4). Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه)]
If there is any good then it from Allah and if there are any mistakes or errors then it is from myself a son of Adam and slave of Allah.

__________
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, Whoever invites to guidance, he will have a reward similar to the reward of those who follow him, without reducing anything from their rewards. 
[Recorded by Muslim in the Book of Knowledge, Chapter: Whoever Institutes a Good or Evil Practice]

Leave a comment