The Virtues of Ramadan: Prophetic Sayings
Numerous authentic Hadiths describe the immense virtues of the month of Ramadan. Here are some key narrations:
- The gates of paradise are opened, the gates of hell are closed, and the devils are chained: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “When Ramadan arrives, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.”
- Sins are forgiven during this month: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) conveyed this through several Hadiths, including:
- He said, “The five daily prayers, and from one Friday to the next, and from one Ramadan to the next, are expiations for whatever is between them, as long as one avoids major sins.”
- He also stated, “Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and in anticipation of reward, his past sins will be forgiven; and anyone who spends the Night of Decree in prayer with faith and in anticipation of reward, his past sins will be forgiven.”
- It is equivalent to fasting for a lifetime: “Three days every month, and Ramadan from one to the next, this is the fasting of the whole year.”
- Fasters will enter paradise through the Gate of Rayyan on the Day of Judgment: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated, “In Paradise, there is a gate called Rayyan, through which the fasting people will enter on the Day of Judgment. No one else will enter through it, and it will be said: ‘Where are the fasting people?’ They will enter through it, and once the last of them has entered, it will be closed and no one else will enter.”
- Allah, the Exalted, identified fasting as an act of worship that brings immense reward and prevents Muslims from Hellfire: “Allah, the Almighty said: ‘Every deed of the son of Adam is for him except fasting; it is for Me, and I will reward it. Fasting is a shield. When one of you is fasting, let him not indulge in obscenity or raise his voice. If someone argues with him or engages in a fight, let him say: ‘Indeed, I am fasting.’ By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the bad breath of a fasting person is more fragrant to Allah on the Day of Resurrection than the scent of musk. And the fasting person has two moments of joy: when he breaks his fast, he rejoices in it, and when he meets his Lord, he rejoices in his fasting.”
- It is one of the five pillars of Islam: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Islam is built upon five: the testimony that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, establishing prayer, giving zakat, performing pilgrimage, and fasting Ramadan.”
- A reason for entering Paradise: It is narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked by a man: “O Messenger of Allah, if I perform the obligatory prayers, fast Ramadan, permissible acts, and avoid forbidden ones without doing anything extra, will I enter Paradise?” He replied: “Yes.”
- There are many who are freed from hellfire during Ramadan: The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned, “A caller will call out: ‘O seeker of good, come forth! O seeker of evil, refrain!’ And there are those who are freed from the Fire, and this happens every night.”
- It includes the Night of Decree: Allah (exalted) has distinguished the month of Ramadan by granting it a night that forgives sins and multiplies rewards, as stated in the Quran: “Indeed, We sent it [the Quran] down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.”
- The Quran was revealed during this month: Allah (exalted) stated, “The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proof of guidance and criterion.”
Hadiths on Righteous Deeds in Ramadan
One must utilize and seize every moment in life, especially during the months in which acts of worship are abundant and rewards multiplied. Ramadan is a significant season for such endeavors. Various Hadiths convey the merits of righteous deeds during this blessed month, including:
- Prayer at night during Ramadan, with faith and anticipation of reward, leads to the forgiveness of sins: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever stands in prayer during Ramadan with faith and anticipation of reward will have his previous sins forgiven.”
- Engaging in acts of obedience to Allah in Ramadan leads to the forgiveness of sins: The Prophet (peace be upon him) declared, “May the nose of a man become dusty who enters Ramadan and then leaves without being forgiven.”
- A Umrah in Ramadan is akin to performing a Hajj: The Prophet (peace be upon him) advised a woman from the Ansar, “Why did you not perform Hajj with us?” She explained her circumstances, and he replied: “When Ramadan arrives, perform Umrah during it, for indeed an Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to a Hajj, or something similar.”
- The great reward for feeding a fasting person: The Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever provides iftar for a fasting person will have a reward like that of the fasting person, without decreasing any of the fasting person’s reward.”
- Intercession of fasting and the Quran for the fasting person on the Day of Judgment: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Fasting and the Quran will intercede for the servant on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: ‘O Lord, I prevented him from food and desires during the day, so let me intercede for him.’ The Quran will say: ‘O Lord, I prevented him from sleep at night, so allow me to intercede for him.’ They will both intercede.”
- The significance of night prayers in Ramadan: The Messenger (peace be upon him) stated, “You should pray at night, for it was the practice of the righteous who were before you; it brings you closer to Allah, atones for sins, and wards off disease from the body.”
- Attaining elevated ranks in Paradise: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Indeed, in Paradise, there are chambers whose exteriors can be seen from their interiors, and their interiors can be seen from their exteriors.” A Bedouin then asked, “For whom are they intended, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “For those who speak kindly, provide food, maintain fasting, and pray at night while others are asleep.”
Prophetic Guidance during Ramadan
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was known for his increased good deeds during Ramadan. Here are some Hadiths highlighting his practices during this holy month:
- Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was the most generous of people, and he was most generous during Ramadan when he met with Gabriel, who would come to him every night of Ramadan to study the Quran with him. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was more generous in doing good than the swift wind.”
- The Prophet’s retreat (I’tikaf): He (peace be upon him) observed I’tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan, seeking the Night of Decree. When it was made clear to him, he had the initial structure dismantled and then rebuilt. He then addressed the people, saying: “O people, the Night of Decree was revealed to me, but two men came to me and I forgot it. Seek it in the last ten days of Ramadan; seek it on the odd nights.”
- Aisha, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), narrated about the Prophet’s dedication during the last ten days of Ramadan: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would strive in worship during the last ten nights like he would not at any other time.”
- She also mentioned: “When the last ten nights of Ramadan began, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would tighten his waistcloth, spend the night in worship, and wake his family.”
- Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) also reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) observed I’tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan until he passed away. His wives continued this practice after his departure.
- Aisha further relayed when asked about the Prophet’s night prayers: “He would not increase the number of Rak’ahs in Ramadan or outside Ramadan beyond eleven. He would pray four, do not ask about their beauty and length, then four more, and do not ask about their beauty and length, and then he would pray three.”
For more details on Ramadan supplications, please refer to the article: “The Most Beautiful Supplication in Ramadan.”