Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) 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”. Ramadan literally means ‘intense heat’, denoting the scorching summer month to which it was originally ascribed. It formed part of the pre-Islamic Arab calendar well before Islam came to Mecca, the holy city in today’s Saudi Arabia, in the seventh century. Muslims embrace Ramadan as the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Ramadan is the holy month of fasting, introspection and prayer for Muslims (the followers of Islam).It is celebrated as the month during which Muhammad (S.A.W) received the initial revelation of the Quran (the holy for Muslims).Fasting is one of the five fundamental principles of Islam. Each day during Ramadan, Muslims don’t eat or drink from sunrise to sunset. They are also supposed to avoid impure thoughts and bad behavior. Fasting in Ramadan develops the real sprit of social belonging, unity, brotherhood, and of equality before GOD. This spirit is the natural product of the fact that when people fast they feel that they are joining the whole Muslim society (which makes up more than one fifth of world’s population) in observing the same duty, in the same manner, at the same time, for the same motives and for the same end. During the holy month, Muslims wake up early to eat a pre-dawn meal called sahar and they break their fast with a meal referred to as iftar. It is common for mosques to host large iftars , especially for the poor and needy. Preparing the food can also be a means of reward during this month for there is great reward for feeding the fasting person. In Ramadan night prayers called Tarawih are also held in mosques after Iftar. Besides fasting and the tarawih prayer, the one other thing in Ramadan is most known about is the Laylat tul Qadar. It is blessed night in the last ten days of Ramadan and within those days it is in the odd nights of the Ashra.In Quran Allah Almighty says : “Verily, we have sent it (this Quran)down in the night of Al-Qadr,” From this ayah of Quran it is more than clear that perhaps the biggest virtue associated with Laylatul Qadr is that night Allah Almighty bestowed Quran upon humanity, which is perhaps the biggest gift that Allah has sent upon humanity. Quran was first revealed on the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).According to Quran, as Muhammad (S.A.W) sat alone in the wilderness, the Angel Gabriel came to him with golden tablet in his hands and told the Prophet Quran just as to read what was written on it .This was the essence of the Quran just as the tablets of the law received by Moses on Mount Sinai were essence of the old testament. In order to pray the best during the nights it is imperative that one should pray during the night with dedication and without distraction. The best way of going about it would be observe the Sunnah of Itikaf, it means that you have left all the distractions of the worldly life and for ten days, your focus is prayer and recitation of Quran throughout the days and nights.Let it not be the case that we leave this month without having benefited from its blessings.”Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said, “Poor is the one who leaves Ramadan the way HE was before”.
Fasting is only 1% of not eating and drinking, the rest 99% is bringing your heart closer to Allah. “O Allah make this month of Ramadan a turning point in our lives where we turn towards you for this month and forever.
The effect of Ramadan should be visible upon us in the same manner the morning dew rests upon the flower petal. It allows the flower to twinkle and absorbing it, the flower is revitalized. Such is Ramadan. It’s blessed effects will allow us to shine, and if we absorb the goodness of this month into our souls, our souls will also be revitalized. In Ramadan many Muslim’s also donate money to charities during this month, and a lot of Islamic charities organize food packs for people in poorer countries or refugee camps, giving donations to charity, known as zakat, is particularly important during the holy month. With the recent pandemic of coronavirus going around, Muslims should already be in a state where they are spreading time each day in supplicating to Allah for protection from all types of calamities. And, if we ponder over this, we will find that this is also good preparation for Ramadan. Before the arrival of the blessed month, we will have inculcated a good habit of supplicating and doing extra remembrance of Allah. Let us allow this month to nourish our souls and get closer to our creator in the dunya, so that in shaAllah, in the Hereafter, we will also be from amongst those who are closest to Him. Fasting is only 1% of not eating and drinking, the rest 99% is bringing your heart closer to Allah. “O Allah make this month of Ramadan a turning point in our lives where we turn towards you for this month and forever.
(The author is a Research Scholar at LPU. Views are his own)
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