All the months bestowed by Allah Almighty are the best, but Ramadan has more importance. Ramadan is, in fact, a reward from Allah for His servants, a gift through which God draws Muslims to good deeds. Ramadan is the most precious month in the Islamic calendar and it is obligatory for Muslims to fast during this month.
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) spent the months of Rajab and Sha’aban preparing for the blessed month of Ramadan. Its recorded in Baihaqi, at the start of this month, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) would pray: “O Allah, favour us with the blessings of Rajab and Sha’aban and take us to the Noble month of Ramadan.”
In this sacred month, every believer tends to do good deeds. A sacred month is similar to a sacred place. Just as it is recommended to bathe and purify oneself before entering the haram of Makkah and while in it one is more conscious of one’s actions. Likewise, with a sacred month, we should enter it in a state of purity and try to maintain that purity throughout by doing good and avoiding evil.
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is a great act of worship that is obligatory for every believing man and woman. Almighty Allah says: O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you1—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah’, (Surah Al-Baqarah – 183).
In the above verse, it has been pointed out that fasting is a major factor in attaining piety. Because fasting is one of the elements of Islam it weakens all the psychic desires within men or women which makes it easy for them to become pious. Fasting is a great and beautiful act of worship that will be rewarded by Allah Almighty Himself.
Allah Almighty gives a small reward for fasting to the believers in the form of “Iftaar” while Allah Almighty Himself will give the rest of the reward on the Day of Resurrection. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him said: “By the one in Whose Hand my soul is, the breath of the fasting person is more pleasant with Allah than the smell of musk.”
The month of Ramadan has been arranged by Allah Almighty in such a way that after its implementation, it becomes easy for a person to spend the remaining days of the year according to the Shari’ah. Through this blessed month, the believer is given an opportunity by the Almighty Allah to leave sins and earn good deeds.
In the month of Ramadan, the reward of worship gets double. The reward of one supererogatory is equal to the reward of one duty and the reward of one duty is equal to seventy duties. Therefore, in order to reap the blessings of Ramadan, it is necessary to set one’s own schedule for daily life.
A map should be drawn up for arranging the duties, sunnahs and nawafils, and recitation of the Holy Qur’an, i.e. planning to get the full benefit from this month and trying to live one’s daily life accordingly. Here are the tips that will make it easier to get the blessings of Ramadan.
Getting up early for Sehri, performing Tahajjud prayers and helping with household chores. Performing Fajr prayers in congregation, engaging in recitation of Qur’an, arranging Ishraq and Chasht prayers, because the reward of these prayers is equal to one complete Hajj or Umrah.
Perform all the prayers on time and recite the Holy Quran in my free time. Avoid backbiting, lying, slander, gossip, slander, jealousy, malice, arrogance, disdain and other evil deeds throughout the day. Special arrangements should be made for Dua and Istighfar before Iftaar, then Allah Almighty will surely accept it. All believers should remember that in order to benefit from the blessings of this sacred month, it is necessary to spend most of our time in worship.
