Please read the disclaimer before reading the post!
Assalamu3alaikum guys 😀
Continuing from where we left in the last post which dealt with the blessings of fasting in general. This post will focus on the blessings of fasting in Ramadan.
*****
Blessings of Fasting in Ramadan
Without unnecessary commentary, I will now list the reasons of why fasting in Ramadan is so imperative to our faith.
1) The Qur’an was revealed in Ramadan.
It is mildly astonishing (and sadly so) that some Muslims are unaware that the Qur’an was revealed in the month of Ramadan.
[PS: Bonus points to those who know where and what verses were the first verses to be revealed to the Prophet (PBUH). I will answer this at the end of the post.]
Allah says in the Qur’an:
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful. (Baqarah 185) (1)
And also in another verse:
By the clear Book,
Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind]. (Dukhan, 2-3) (2)
While in the lecture most of the ladies seemed to be informed about these verses, the Aalimah narrated a Hadith that stressed more on its importance.
It was narrated by the Prophet, (PBUH) that “the Scriptures of Ibrahim (Suhoof-e-Ibrahim) were sent down on the first of the month of Ramadan. The Torah [of Moses] was sent down on the sixth of Ramadan. The Injeel [Gospel of Jesus] was sent down on the thirteenth of Ramadan. The Zaboor [Psalms of David] was sent down on the eighteenth of Ramadan, and the Qur’an was sent down on the twenty-fourth of Ramadan” (Al-Albaani). (3)
The books mentioned above were the Revelations/Books sent down to the Prophets before the Qur’an was sent down to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). This hadith makes such a a big impact if one reads it for the first time! All of Allah’s Books/Revelations were revealed in Ramadan. Subhan’Allah. Such an important month that comes every year and we simply let it pass without even understanding it’s significance!
(Did anyone notice that the Qur’an was revealed on the 24th of Ramadan? There are two extremely vital points that we can understand from it. If you know what it is, leave a comment below! :D)
2) Fasting in Ramadan is a pillar of Islam.
It is narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah son of ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:
(The superstructure of) al-Islam is raised on five (pillars), testifying (the fact) that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is His bondsman and messenger, and the establishment of prayer, payment of Zakat, Pilgrimage to the House (Ka’ba) and the fast of Ramadan. (Sahih Muslim, 16 c) (4)
The Pillars of Islam, in layman’s terms are basically the things that make a person Muslim. Therefore, fasting in Ramadan is one of the conditions that make us Muslims. So if a Muslim does NOT fast simply because he does not want to, he is going against the very things that make him a Muslim. May Allah guide such people to the right path. Ameen.
3) Closing of the Gates of Hell; Opening the Gates of Heaven.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “When the month of Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of the (Hell) Fire are closed, and the devils are chained.” (Sahih Bukhari 3277) (5)
On the very first night of Ramadan, Satan and the rebellious Jinn are chained. Every gate of Jahannum is closed while every gate of Jannah is open. A very common question that is asked relating to this hadith is ‘why do people still commit sins if Satan is chained and unable to influence a person anymore?’ The answer though very simple, is not easy to implement. While Satan is indeed chained, our Nafs (inner desires/ego) has been already been influenced by Satan’s ways. Just because he is chained does not mean we are free from what has already transpired. The focus, hence, should be on controlling our ways and going the entire month trying to not give into committing sins. Allah knows our desires and intentions more than anyone and He knows who fights his Nafs to please Allah and who doesn’t.
4) Allah liberates souls from Jahannam every day at the time of breaking the fast.
It was narrated from Jabir that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
“At every breaking of the fast Allah has people whom He frees (from the Fire), and that happens every night.” (Graded as ‘ Hasan’, Sunan Ibn Majah) (6)
The excellence of this month! Blessed are those souls which even after being sent to Jahannam, are released every night in Ramadan by Allah.
5) Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power)
“Ramadan began, and the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: ‘This month has come to you, and in it there is a night that is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of it is deprived of all goodness, and no one is deprived of its goodness except one who is truly deprived.’” (Sunan ibn Majah) (7)
A night better than a thousand months. Need I say more?
(PS: I will insha’Allah dedicate a post to Laylatul Qadr in more detail in Ramadan.)
6) The one who fasts will be among the Truthful and the Martyrs (Siddiqeen and Shuhadaa)
It was narrated that ‘Amr ibn Murrah al-Juhani said:
A man came to the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) from Qadaa’ah and said to him: “O Messenger of Allaah, what do you think if I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah and that you are His Messenger, and I pray the five daily prayers, and fast the month (of Ramadaan), and pray qiyaam in Ramadaan, and pay zakaah?” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever dies doing that will be one of the siddeeqs(truthful) and martyrs.” (Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah, 2212) (8)
To be bestowed with the honor of being counted among the Shuhadaa and the Siddeeqs, simply by fasting and praying in Ramadan for the purpose of worshiping Allah! Allah asks so little of us in return for his favors. And we overlook blessings of this magnitude simply because we don’t know the significance of this month.
And lastly,
7) The Sawaab of Umrah in Ramadan is equal to that of the Hajj
Narrated by Ata:
I heard Ibn `Abbas saying, “Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) asked an Ansari woman (Ibn `Abbas named her but `Ata’ forgot her name), ‘What prevented you from performing Hajj with us?’ She replied, ‘We have a camel and the father of so-and-so and his son (i.e. her husband and her son) rode it and left one camel for us to use for irrigation.’ He said (to her), ‘Perform `Umra when Ramadan comes, for `Umra in Ramadan is equal to Hajj (in reward),’ or said something similar.” (Sahih Bukhari 1782) (9)
A question that was raised in the lecture was that ‘if a person does Umrah in Ramadan, does it mean he is exempt from Hajj’? The answer is no. Doing Umrah in Ramadan will only earn you the sawaab (blessing for the good deed committed) of doing a Hajj and not for the Hajj itself. Hajj is a pillar of Islam and therefore, we are not exempt from Hajj.
(FYI, Umrah is voluntary, Hajj is compulsory)
*****
Alhamdulillah! This has been nothing short of amazing. All thanks to Allah. To answer the question I asked above, the first five verses of Surah Al Alaq were revealed to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) in Mount Hira.
References:
1) http://quran.com/2/185
2) http://quran.com/44
3) http://www.alkalima.com/?page=Archives&vol=8&issue=1&id=85
4) http://sunnah.com/muslim/1/21
5) http://sunnah.com/bukhari/59/86
6) http://sunnah.com/urn/1270460
7) http://sunnah.com/urn/1270470
8) http://islamqa.info/en/ref/50070
9) http://sunnah.com/bukhari/26/10
The Struggle Within 