The holy month of Ramadan is one of the great blessings of Allah which He has bestowed upon mankind. This month has in its folds one such night that is better than a thousand months. Allah’s mercies and blessings that are normally showered in thousands of months are all showered in one night. The downpour of Allah’s blessings and mercy begins with the auspicious arrival of Ramadan; doors of heaven are opened and taking up the path of goodness becomes easy; doors of hell are closed and fasting becomes a shield against evil, taking up the path of evil becomes difficult; Satan is chained so that his chances of spreading evil become limited. The Prophet (SAW) has given glad tidings that a person who observes fasting during the month of Ramadan will stand purified from all his past sins; similarly, a person who stands in the night for prayers will also be purified of his sins; and a person who seeks the Night of Power during the last decade of Ramadan with prayers and supplications will also be purified. The only condition is that he should believe in the words and promises of Allah Almighty, obey Him in all times and climes with fortitude while always remaining conscious of his own self and the importance of self-accountability. This month is undoubtedly great and blessed, but not everyone who happens to live it is automatically entitled to get the blessings it brings. In Ramadan we become soft-hearted and moist-eyed, sow the seed of belief and determination inside ourselves, and add to our capabilities.
Before the advent of Ramadan, the Holy Prophet (SAW) used to tell his Companions about its greatness and exhort that they should spare no efforts to get maximum benefit from it. This is what I intend to do here, i.e. discover the secret of the greatness of Ramadan, understand the importance of preparations and resolve to welcome it, use the opportunity it provides to get optimum benefit, appreciate the points that merit our attention and focus, recommend ways and means that make the journey to the destination easy and more rewarding, and avoid the path and approach that may frustrate the whole purpose and lead to failure and destruction.
Almighty Allah says that if you walk to Him a foot, He will walk to you two feet; if you move towards Him walking; He will come to you running. But if you stand still, impervious and oblivious, then Allah’s will cannot be in your favour. So, be careful lest the whole blessed month of Ramadan passes, with its downpour of blessings and goodness, and you remain empty-handed. Make a resolve to get your share of Ramadan’s blessings by keeping in view quite a stern warning of the Prophet (SAW): There are many who observe fast, but they get nothing except hunger and thirst. There are many who pray in the night, but they gain nothing except sleepless nights. It all depends on you! Get yourself ready to welcome Ramadan most befittingly, and try to make most of it. Before the advent of Ramadan, the Holy Prophet (SAW) used to tell his Companions about its greatness and exhort that they should spare no efforts to get maximum benefit from it. This is what I intend to do here, i.e. discover the secret of the greatness of Ramadan, understand the importance of preparations and resolve to welcome it, use the opportunity it provides to get optimum benefit, appreciate the points that merit our attention and focus, recommend ways and means that make the journey to the destination easy and more rewarding, and avoid the path and approach that may frustrate the whole purpose and lead to failure and destruction.
