The Sanctity of Ramadan: Divine Rewards and Warnings Against Sins

Whole year's deeds ruined

Sayyidunā 'Abdullāh Ibn 'Abbās رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالَٰی عَنْہُمَا has narrated that the Prophet of mankind, the Peace of our heart and mind, the most Generous and Kind صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم has stated, 'Verily, Heaven is adorned for the month of Ramadan from one year to the next. When Ramadan comes, Heaven says, 'Yā Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! In this month, give me the people from amongst Your servants who will live in me.' The Heavenly maidens say, 'Yā Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, give us our husbands from amongst Your servants.' Then the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم said, 'In this month, if anyone protects his Nafs avoiding intoxicant, refraining from laying a false blame on a Muslim and all type of sins, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will marry him to 100 heavenly maidens every night, and He عَزَّوَجَلَّ will make for him a palace of gold, silver, rubies and emeralds in Heaven. This palace will be so enormous that even if the whole world is placed into it, the world would take up only as much amount of space as a herd of sheep takes up in the world. If anyone drinks an intoxicant or falsely accuses a Muslim or commits a sin, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will ruin his one year's (good) deeds.'

Therefore, refrain from heedlessness in Ramadan because it is the month of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has given you eleven months to take advantage of His bounties and enjoy them, and He عَزَّوَجَلَّ has specified one month for Himself, so fear (Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ) concerning Ramadan.' (Mu'jam Awsaṭ, pp. 414, vol 2, Ḥadīš 3688)

Dear Islamic brothers! We have learnt that as there are glad tidings of reward and mercy for those who honour Ramadan, there are warnings as well for those who disrespect it by indulging in sins.

The foregoing Ḥadīš specifically mentions drinking intoxicant and laying a false blame on a Muslim. Remember! Alcohol is the mother of all evils, drinking it is Ḥarām and will lead to Hell. Sayyidunā Jābir رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالَٰی عَنْہُ has narrated that the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم has stated, 'It is Ḥarām to consume even a small amount of the thing that intoxicates in large amount.' (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, pp. 459, vol. 3, Ḥadīš 3681)

Laying a false blame on a Muslim is also Ḥarām and leads to Hell. A Ḥadīš states, 'If anyone lays a false blame on a Muslim, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will keep him in Radgha-tul-Khabāl until he is relieved of (the harm of) what he said.' (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, pp. 427, vol. 3, Ḥadīš 3597)

Radgha-tul-Khabāl is the part of Hell where the blood and pus of Hell-dwellers accumulate. (Mirāt-ul-Manājīḥ, pp. 313, vol. 5) Commenting on the part of the Ḥadīš 'Until he is relieved of (the harm of) what he said' Shāh 'Abdul Ḥaq Muḥaddiš Dihlvī رَحْمَۃُ اللہِ تَعَالَٰی عَلَيْہِ has stated, 'It implies that he will be cleansed of this sin either by repenting of it or by suffering its punishment.' (Ashi'at-ul-Lam'āt, pp. 290, vol. 3)

Sins in Ramazan!

Sayyidunā Umm-e-Fānī رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالَٰی عَنْہَا has narrated that the Beloved and Blessed Rasūl صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم warned, 'My Ummah will not be disgraced as long as it fulfils the rights of Ramadan.' He صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم was asked as to what was meant by the disgrace of Ummah in this matter, he صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم replied, 'Committing sins in this month.'

He صَلَّى اللہُ عَلَيْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم has further stated, 'If anyone fornicates or drinks alcohol in this month Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and All his Angels curse him, if he dies before the next Ramadan, he will not have a single virtue to save him from the fire of Hell. So, fear (Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ) concerning Ramadan. As the reward of good deeds is increased in this month compared to other months, the severity of sins also increases.' (Mu'jam Saghīr, pp. 60, vol. 9, Ḥadīš 1488)

تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّٰه ﴿﴾ اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّٰه

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيْب ﴿﴾ صَلَّى اللَّٰه تَعَالَى عَلَى مُحَمَّد

Beware, ungrateful ones!

Dear Islamic brothers! Tremble with fear! Don't waste the blessed moments of Ramadan in sinful activities. As rewards for virtuous actions are increased in this month the nuisance of sins is also increased. One who fornicates or drinks alcohol in Ramadan is so unfortunate that if he dies before the next Ramadan, he will not have a single virtue to save him from the fire of Hell.

Remember! The fornication of the eyes is to misuse them (by looking at Nā-Mahram women etc.) and that of the hands is to touch a woman (or an attractive young boy with lust), so beware! In Ramadan, do your best to avoid misusing your eyes in any way. Do not look at women and attractive boys. Apply Madanī guard to your eyes as long as possible (make every possible effort to keep your eyes lowered). Alas! Sometimes even the Muslims who offer Ṣalāh and fast face the wrath of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and the punishment of fire as a result of desecrating Ramadan.

Black spot-on heart

A Ḥadīš states, 'When a person commits a sin, a black spot is marked on his heart. If he commits another sin another black spot is marked on his heart (and this carries on) until his (whole) heart becomes black. Then advice has no effect on his heart.' (Ad-Dur-rul-Manšūr, pp. 446, vol. 8)

It's obvious that if someone's heart is rusty and black then how can words of piety and advice affect him? It becomes extremely difficult for such a person to avoid sins in Ramadan as well as in other months, and he finds it hard to perform good deeds. If somehow, he does manage to occupy himself in acts of piety he does not enjoy himself carrying them out and tries to find the ways to avoid the Sunnah-Inspiring Madanī environment. His Nafs makes him have long hopes and he becomes heedless and eventually dissociates himself from the Madanī environment. Such a person wastes the blessed moments of Ramadan, playing and listening to music, playing cards and chess, gossiping, chatting etc. and thereby ruins these sacred and blessed moments.