A Guide to the Blessings and Meaning of Ramadan

الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ وَالصَّلٰوةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلٰى سَيِّدِ الْمُرْسَلِيْنَ

أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَأَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْمِ ط بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ ط

Excellence of Ramadan

No matter how lazy Satan tries to make you feel, please read this chapter (every year) from beginning to end. اِنْ شَآءَ اللّٰه عَزَّوَجَلَّ, You will see its blessings for yourself.

Excellence of Ṣalāt-‘Alan-Nabī ﷺ

The Prophet of mankind, the Peace of our heart and mind, the most Generous and Kind صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said, ‘Indeed, he who recites Ṣalāt (Durūd) upon me the most, will be the closest to me on the Day of Judgement.’ (Jāmi’ Tirmizī, pp. 27, vol. 2, Ḥadīš 484)

صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبِيْب               صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! It is a great bounty of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ that He عَزَّوَجَلَّ has granted us a tremendous gift in the form of Ramadan, whose every moment is full of mercy. The reward of good deeds is multiplied many times in this month. The reward of a Nafl act is equivalent to that of a Farḍ one, while the reward of a Farḍ act is multiplied 70 times. In this month, even the sleep of a fasting person is considered an act of worship. The divine ‘Arsh-holding angels say ‘Āmīn’ for the Du’ā of the fasting people. According to a Ḥadīš, the fish in the seas ask for forgiveness until Ifṭār for the one who fasts in Ramadan. (Attarghīb Wattarhīb, pp. 55, vol. 2, Ḥadīš 6)

Door of worship

Fast is a hidden form of worship; no one can come to know about your fast until you tell it to others. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ likes hidden worship more. A blessed Ḥadīš says, ‘Fasting is the door of worship.’ (Al-Jāmi’-uṣ-Ṣaghīr, pp. 146, Ḥadīš 2415)

Revelation of the Quran

Ramadan is a blessed and sacred month in which Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ revealed the Holy Quran. He عَزَّوَجَلَّ mentions the revelation of the Holy Quran and Ramadan in these words:

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيْ أُنْزِلَ فِيْهِ الْقُرْاٰنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَ بَيِّنٰتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدٰى وَ الْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَ مَنْ كَانَ مَرِيْضًا أَوْ عَلٰى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيْدُ اللهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَ لَا يُرِيْدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ ۖ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَ لِتُكَبِّرُوا اللهَ عَلٰى مَا هَدٰىكُمْ وَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُوْنَ ﴿١٨٥﴾

The month of Ramadan in which was sent down the Quran - the guidance for mankind, the direction and the clear criteria (to judge between right and wrong). So whoever among you finds this month, must fast for the (whole) month; and whoever is sick or on a journey, may fast the same number in other days. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ desires ease for you and does not desire hardship for you so that you complete the count (of fasts), and glorify Allah’s greatness for having guided you, and so that you may be grateful.

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)] (Part 2, Sūrah Baqarah, verse 185)

Definition of Ramadan

Regarding the first part of this verse (شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيْ), a renowned exegetist of the Quran, Muftī Aḥmad Yār Khān عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ الْحَنَّانِ has stated in ‘Tafsīr-e-Na’īmī’, ‘Like ‘رَحْمٰن’ (Raḥmān), Ramadan is probably one of the names of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ because He عَزَّوَجَلَّ is worshipped the whole day and night in this month. Therefore, it is called Ramadan i.e., ‘The Month of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.’ As a Masjid or the Holy Ka’bah is referred to the house of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ because it is the place where Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is worshipped, similarly, Ramadan is the month of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ because everyone is occupied with fulfilling the commandments of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ in this month. Obviously, the fast and the Tarāwīḥ Ṣalāh are forms of worship but when a Muslim fasts, his Ḥalāl job or business is also considered worship. The word رَمَضَان (Ramadan) is derived either from the word ‘رَمْضَاء’ (Ramḍāun) or from the word رَمَض (Ramḍ). The word رَمْضَاء implies the autumn rain which washes the earth and produces a good spring harvest. Since this month also washes the dirt and dust of sins from the heart, making the crops of virtuous deeds blossoming, it is called Ramadan for this reason.

For a good harvest, rain is needed every day in the first month of the rainy season, four times in the second month and once in the last month. The last rain prepares the crops for harvest. In the like manner, a Muslim does virtuous acts for eleven months and then the fasts of Ramadan prepare the crops of virtues. The word 'رَمَض' (Ramḍ) implies heat or burning. As the Muslims endure the burning of thirst and hunger in Ramadan or as this month burns their sins, it is called Ramadan. (In Kanz-ul-'Ummāl, page 217, volume 8 there is a narration reported by Sayyidunā Anas رضي الله عنه that the Beloved and Blessed Prophet ﷺ has said, 'This month is called Ramadan because it burns sins.')

Reasons for names of months

Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān رحمه الله has stated, 'Some exegetists رحمهم الله have said that different names were given to different months in relation to their seasons. (For instance) the month that fell in summer was called Ramadan, the one in spring was called Rabī'-ul-Awwal and the one that fell in water-freezing winter was called Jumādil Ūlā.

In Islam there is always a wonderful reason for a name, and the name is given in relation to the attributes of the thing. This is not found in other terms. We see an ignorant person named 'Muhammad Fāzil' (learned) and a coward is called 'Shayr Bahādur' (a brave lion) and an ugly man is called 'Yūsuf Khān' but there is no such defect in Islam. Ramadan is a combination of virtues and excellence, which is why it is called Ramadan.'
(Tafsīr-e-Na'īmī, pp. 205, vol. 2)

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيب

صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد