RAMADAN: THE MONTH OF THE QURAN...!

RAMADAN: THE MONTH OF THE QURAN...!

RAMADAN: THE MONTH OF THE QURAN...!


Ramadan is the month of mercy and forgiveness, and the month of the
Quran. It has a night more honorable than a thousand months. As such, Muslims
should receive this month in the best possible way.
The Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "If
worshippers know the value of Ramadan, my people would wish that the whole
year was Ramadan", He also said (May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him): "The month of Ramadan has arrived. A Holy II1onth, Allah ordered you to
fast in it. /n it, the doors of Heaven are opened and the doors of Hell are closed.
and the devils are tied down in it. There is a night in it for Allah, belieI' than a
thousand II1onths, in which anyone who, is deprived of its goodness is a deprived
person. "
This honorable month is now near, so we must look forward to it. We
should start working hard and put more effort into worshipping Allah. We should
ensure that we pray Taraweeh (Ramadan prayer) at night, and fast all day.
Fasting has many benefits. This includes purifying the soul by obeying the
orders of Allah. It also signifies complete submission to Allah, which elevates
the spiritual side in preference to bodily needs. This may be the secret to the daily happiness felt by every Muslim whenever he completes fasting all day until
he breaks his fast. This was expressed in the saying of the Holy Prophet: "The
fasting Muslim has two sources o( happiness: if he breaks his fast he is pleased
with his breakfast, and if he dies he is pleased with his fasting". Fasting is the
only means of worship that has no outer appearance. It is only abstinence and
faith. As a result, when a person performs it, only Allah knows what he is doing. This makes him more aware of Allah's presence and increases his faith and fear of Allah.
Allah says:
"0 YOII who believe! Fasting is ordained for YOII as it was ordained for
those before YOII, that YOIIII/ay be pia liS. "
(AI-Baqarra (The Cow): 183)
To indicate the great honor in fasting, Allah has claimed it for Himself
alone in his Greatness, as stated in the Holy Saying: "Every deed by Adam's son is for him except fasting, it is for Me and r reward it".
Ramadan is a Holy month. It is a method to purify the soul and the society. In it, all Muslims have a collective feeling that the days of Ramadan are not like other days. They are days for obedience to Allah. Its daytime is spent in fasting, worshipping Allah and reading the Quran. Its nights are spent in prayer. In this way, human cravings are suppressed and people rush to do good, give alms to the poor and obey Allah.
Allah chose this month to reveal the Quran in it. He Says:
"The month of Ramadan is that in which the QI/ran was revealed as a
gl/iclance for people, in it are clear signs of gl/idance and the criterion" (AI­Baqarra (The Cow): 185)
It is, therefore, not strange that people try to read and listen to the Quran as much as possible all through the month of Ramadan. Voices are heard in all
places reading the Quran. In this great month, AI-Azhar sends many Islamic preachers and reciters of the Quran to all Muslim countries and countries that have large Muslim communities. They help to celebrate Ramadan.by spending its nights in preaching and reading the Quran.
In Ramadan, there is a general feeling of compassion in Muslim communities. It is, indeed, a month for providing for the poor and needy and weak. Islamic Law encourages this feeling of compassion and brotherhood. The Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever breaks /he fas/ of someone who is fas/ing will have /he same reward as him, wi/hall/ decreasing /he reward of/he person who wasfas/ing".
Fasting is a means of reminding us of all the gifts and blessings bestowed upon us by Allah. Continuing to benefit from these blessings may cause us to forget or disregard them. When it is stopped, as in Ramadan, the person remembers these bestowments and the generosity of Allah. Hunger reminds the fasting Muslim of the gift of food, while thirst reminds him of the gift of water. This causes him to remember Allah, the I?rovider of these blessings.
Fasting also keeps us away from misdeeds by lowering our gaze and preventing our tongues from mentioning any bad words or lies or talking about people behind their backs. It prevents disputes and arguments. It is mentioned in
the sayings of the Holy Prophet: "He who does no/ abs/ain from being a false wi/ness, /hen Allah does no/ need him /0 abs/ainfromfood and drink".
Piousness is the main aim from fasting, as mentioned in the Holy Quran: "Fasting is ordained for you as it was ordained for those before you that may
be pious. " (AI-Baqarra (The Cow): 183)
In being pious, a Muslim is rewarded by Allah's approval. Allah says:
':Allah doe_' not get its meat or its blood. bl/t he gets YOl/r piol/sness"
(Al-Haj (The Pilgrimage): 37)

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Fasting teaches us perseverance, and trains us to be patient. The Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Fasting is half of
patience". He also said: "Ramadan is the month of patience. and patience is rewarded by heaven". The patience ofa Muslim is a result of abstaining from bad deeds and bodily needs, and in abstaining from things that are halal (lawful). All this is solely to please Allah. This causes him to reject all evil, and avoid immorality. It encourages him to behave properly and treat others well. By fasting, the Muslim gets rid of all sins and regains his purity. This was indicated by the Holy Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) when he said: "Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and belief will have his sins
forgiven" .
In this way, the fasting Muslim abides by Islamic laws, and he is revived by obedience to Allah. He tries to get close to. Allah by doing good deeds and this makes him more serene and peaceful. He also feels joy in his nearness to Allah and feels that his deeds are accepted favorably. His soul seeks Allah by praying with conviction that his prayers will be answered. Allah says while mentioning fasting:
"And if My bond men ask YOll abollt Me, sllrely I am near, I answer the prayer of he who calls Me, so let them respond to My call and believe in Me, tllat they may be rightly gllided".

(AI-Baqarra (The Cow): 186)
The Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "The
person who fasts has an invocation that is answered", It is, therefore, preferred
for the fasting Muslim to invocate while breaking his fast, and this invocation may be: "0 Allah, for You [ have fasted, and in You I believe, and with Your bestowments I break my fast, thirst is ended and blood vessels are wetted, and the reward is taken with the grace of Allah. 0 Allah, help us to fast by day and pray through the night, and to lower our gaze, and to hold our tongues".
It is also preferred, during the night of AI-Qadr, to say this prayer: "0 Allah, you are all forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me". This is because
the spiritual side of the person who fasts reaches its peak on the last ten days of
Ramadan, especially in the greatest and most honored night, the night of AI­Qadr.