The Great Blessings of the Holy Month of Ramadan

Allah (SWT) has always shown his love ,kindness and mercy toward his creatures but there are some special months, days and times which are told above from rest, Ramadan is also one of those special months in which Allah showers his countless blessings.

The month of Ramadan is a month in which the Mercy and Blessings of Allah Ta'ala descend upon us continuously. The whole Qur'aan was sent down to the first sky from Lawhe Mahfooz. There is the night of Qadr, which is better than 1000 months. The thawaab of good deed is equal to the fardh of another month. The first ten days are of mercy, second ten days are of forgiveness and the last ten days are of being freed from Hell. The month of Ramadan is one of the greatest blessings of Allah (SWT) upon the Ummah of his beloved Prophet (SAW).

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and is also when the Holy Qur'an was sent down from heaven to guide the Muslims. In the Qur'an it is stated 'Ramadan is the month in which was sent down the Qur'an as a guide to mankind, also Clear Signs for guidance and judgment between right and wrong." (Suratul Baqara, 2:185). This is especially an important month for Muslims across the world; in era when we are constantly struggling with the idea of up keeping the Remembrance of Allah due to complications of modern day life.

Ramadan in the light of Hadith:

The Holy Prophet (SAW) said 'O People! The month of Allah (SWT) has come with His mercies and blessings. This is the month that is the best of all months in the eyes of Allah (SWT). Its days are the best of days, its nights are the best of nights, its hours are the best of hours'.

Abu Hurairah (RA), reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said 'When there comes the month of Ramadan, the gates of mercy are opened, and the gates of Hell are locked and the devils are chained'. (Al-Bukhari). In Ramadan the Ummah of Holy Prophet (SAW) is invited to receive the honors from Allah, the Merciful. Every breath taken has the reward of Tasbeeh and good deeds are rewarded in abundance. A person who does not receive the mercy and benevolence of Allah (SWT) is most unfortunate.

Allah's Apostle said, "Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, 'I am fasting." The Prophet added, "By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person), 'He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten time

SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO BE KEPT IN MIND:

Gaining Taqwaa : Allaah legislated fasting for gaining taqwaa, "O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it has been prescribed upon those before you, so that you may attain taqwaa." (Meaning of SoraatulBaqarah (2):183) Taqwaa means that one should protect his self from all kind of sins so after getting done with fast we should ask some questions from our self that “has this fast help me to go more close to Allah? was it just for show off or to protect ourselves from the fire of hell?

Getting closer to Allah: We can get closer to Allah by offering prayers ,reciting Quran by attending the taraaweeh prayers, remembering Allaah, sitting in circles of knowledge and, for those who can, making `umrah. Also for those who can, making I`tikaaf (seclusion) in the last ten nights of Ramadaan, so as to leave all worldly pursuits and seclude oneself in a masjid just thinking of Allaah, so as to bring oneself closer to Allaah (SWT).

Showing patience: Allaah has mentioned patience more than seventy times in the Qur’aan and has commanded patience in more than sixteen ways in His Book. So through fasting we are tested by out God and if we show patience, our Allah gets happy from us , Allah wants us to be strong willed who can follow sunnah in right meanings.

Sensing the unity of the Muslims: Islam ties all of us in a strong knot of unity, ) In this month we sense that there is a possibility for unity, because we all fast together, we break fast together, we all worship Allah together, and we pray Salaatul-`Eid together. Therefore we sense that the unity of Muslims is possible. The Prophet (may Allaah send His blessing and peace upon him) said, "...Those of you who will live after me will see many differences. Then you must cling to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided khaleefahs. Hold fast to it and stick to it." (Aboo Daawood).

Teaching the young to worship Allaah :how can we flourish Islam if we wont teach it to our children?so it is very important aspect, the young should be brought to the masjid and they should pray with their parents, parents should teach them to recite Qur’an so that they are able to get into the habit of becoming worshippers of Allaah. If one does not encourage children to fast when they are young, they will find it very difficult to fast for thirty days at the age of puberty. This is why the Prophet (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) said, "Command your children to pray at the age of seven and beat them at the age of ten (if they do not pray." (Haakim)