The Power of Ramadan: Stories of Forgiveness, Faith, and Divine Generosity

The Holy Prophet ﷺ would make Du’ā abundantly

She رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا has further said, ‘In Ramadan, the colour of the blessed face of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would change. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would offer Ṣalāh abundantly, make Du’ā in an extremely humble manner and remain overtaken by divine fear.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Īmān, pp. 310, vol. 3, Ḥadīš 3625)

The Holy Prophet ﷺ would donate abundantly

Dear Islamic brothers! In this month, donating money abundantly is also a Sunnah. Sayyidunā ‘Abdullāh Ibn ‘Abbās رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُمَا has said, ‘In Ramadan the Prophet of mankind, the Peace of our heart and mind, the most Generous and Kind صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would set free every prisoner and give something to every such person who asked for.’ (Ad-Dur-rul-Manṣūr, pp. 449, vol. 1)

Most generous

Sayyidunā ‘Abdullāh Ibn ‘Abbās رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُمَا has stated, ‘The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the most generous of all people and his ocean of generosity would turn turbulent the most in the moments of Ramadan when the honourable Jibrāīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام visited him.

Jibrāīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام would come every night and they both would recite the Holy Quran. Rasūlullāh صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would demonstrate more generosity than even a fast blowing wind.’ (Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 9, vol. 1, Ḥadīš 6)

Thousand times more reward

Dear Islamic brothers! The reward of good deeds is multiplied several times in Ramadan, so one should perform as many virtuous deeds as possible. Sayyidunā Ibrāhīm Nakh’ī رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated, ‘One day’s fast in Ramadan is greater than a thousand fasts (in any other month), making Tasbīḥ (i.e. saying سُبْحٰنَ الله) once in Ramadan is better than saying it a thousand times in any other month and offering one Rak’at of Ṣalāh in Ramadan is greater than offering a thousand Rak’at in any other month.’ (Ad-Dur-rul-Manṣūr, pp. 454, vol. 1)

Excellence of Żikr in Ramadan

Amīr-ul-Muminīn, Sayyidunā ‘Umar Fārūq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ has narrated that the Prophet of mankind, the Peace of our heart and mind, the most Generous and Kind صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated, ‘The one who remembers Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ in Ramadan will be forgiven, and the one who asks Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for anything in this month will not be deprived.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Īmān, pp. 311, vol. 3, Ḥadīš 3627)

Sunnah-Inspiring Ijtimā’ and Żikr of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ

Dear Islamic brothers! How fortunate are the people who attend Sunnah-Inspiring Ijtimā’āt and ask Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ for success in the world as well as in the Hereafter. اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ عَزَّوَجَلَّ! The Sunnah-Inspiring Ijtimā’ of Dawat-e-Islami, a global & non-political movement for the propagation of the Quran and Sunnah, consists of Żikr from beginning to end because Tilāwah, Na’at, Sunnah-Inspiring speech, Du’ā and Ṣalāt-o-Salām are all different forms of Żikr of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Here is a blessing of an Ijtimā’ of Dawat-e-Islami.

Birth of son after six daughters

An Islamic brother of Markaz-ul-Auliyā (Lahore) gave the following account: Probably, in 2003, an Islamic brother invited me to attend Dawat-e-Islami’s 3-day Sunnah-Inspiring global Ijtimā’ held in (Ṣaḥrā-e-Madīnah, Madīna-tul-Auliyā, Multan, Pakistan). I told him that I was the father of six girls and that my wife was expecting another baby, I asked him to make Du’ā for a baby boy this time.

Adopting an extraordinary manner of individual effort, the Islamic brother said, ‘سُبْحٰنَ الله عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Then you definitely need to attend the 3-day Sunnah-Inspiring Ijtimā’. In terms of the number of attendees, this is the biggest Ijtimā’ of the devotees of Rasūl after Hajj. Attend it and make Du’ā, innumerable pious Islamic brothers attend the Ijtimā’, your Du’ā may be accepted due to the blessing of their presence.’ His words touched my heart and I decided to attend the Sunnah-Inspiring Ijtimā’. Words cannot express the faith-refreshing atmosphere I felt there. I felt such spiritual peace for the first time in my life.

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ عَزَّوَجَلَّ! A few days later, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ blessed me with a baby boy, as beautiful as the moon. My family members were also overjoyed. اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ عَزَّوَجَلَّ! I joined the Madanī movement of Dawat-e-Islami. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ granted me another baby boy. اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ عَزَّوَجَلَّ! At present, I am making efforts as the responsible for Madanī Qāfilah of Dawat-e-Islami in my locality.

Dear Islamic brothers! It is not surprising that mercy is showered on the Madanī environment of Dawat-e-Islami and other Sunnah-Inspiring gatherings because there are probably numerous Auliyā رَحِمَهُمُ اللهُ تَعَالٰی amongst these devotees of Rasūl.

A’lā Ḥaḍrat رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said, ‘There are great blessings in congregations and the Du’ā made in the gathering of Muslims is more likely to be accepted. Scholars have said, ‘Wherever forty pious Muslims gather, there will certainly be one Walī of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ amongst them.’ (Fatāwā Razawiyyah (Jadīd), pp. 184, vol. 24) (Taīsīr Sharḥ Jāmi’ Ṣaghīr, pp. 312, vol. 1, Ḥadīš 714)

Even if your Du’ā is not accepted apparently, you must still avoid uttering words of complaint. Indeed, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ knows what is best for us. We must be grateful to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ at all times. If He عَزَّوَجَلَّ gives you a boy, thank Him, if He عَزَّوَجَلَّ gives you a girl, thank Him, if He عَزَّوَجَلَّ gives you both, thank Him, and if He عَزَّوَجَلَّ doesn’t give you either, still thank Him in all circumstances and situations. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ says in verses 49 and 50 of part 25:

For Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth, He عَزَّوَجَلَّ creates whatever He عَزَّوَجَلَّ likes. He عَزَّوَجَلَّ bestows daughters on whoever He عَزَّوَجَلَّ likes and He عَزَّوَجَلَّ bestows sons on whoever He عَزَّوَجَلَّ likes. Or He عَزَّوَجَلَّ couples both, the sons and the daughters, and He عَزَّوَجَلَّ makes whoever He عَزَّوَجَلَّ likes barren. Undoubtedly, He عَزَّوَجَلَّ is all knowing, the omnipotent. (Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)) (Part 25, Ash-Shūrā, verses 49, 50)

‘Allāmah Maulānā Sayyid Muhammad Na’īmuddīn Murādābādī عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ الْهَادِی has stated, ‘Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is omnipotent and He عَزَّوَجَلَّ distributes His bounties as He عَزَّوَجَلَّ likes. This was the case with the honourable Prophets عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام as well. Sayyidunā Lūṭ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام and Sayyidunā Shu’aīb عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام had only daughters, no sons. Sayyidunā Ibrāhīm عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام had only sons and no daughters, and the Noble Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had four sons and four daughters while Sayyidunā Yaḥyā عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام and Sayyidunā ‘Īsā عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام did not have any children.’ (Khazāin-ul-‘Irfān, pp. 777)

Devotee of Ramadan

There was a man whose name was Muhammad. He would not offer his Ṣalāh all year round, but in the blessed month of Ramadan he used to wear clean and pure clothes and offer all five daily Ṣalāh. He would also make up for his missed Ṣalāh. People asked him as to why he does so, he replied, ‘This is a month of mercy, blessings, repentance and forgiveness, maybe because of this, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ forgives me.’ After his demise, someone saw him in a dream and asked: ‘مَا فَعَلَ اللهُ بِكَ؟’ ‘How has Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ treated you?’ He replied, ‘Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has forgiven me for honouring the blessed month of Ramadan.’ (Durra-tun-Nāṣiḥīn, pp. 8)

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ have mercy on him and forgive us without accountability for his sake!