Blessings of Ramadan

Palace with portal of gold

Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id Khudri رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ has narrated that the Holy Prophet ﷺ has said, ‘On the first night of Ramadan, the portals of the skies and Paradise are opened which remain open until the last night (of the month). So if anyone offers Salah in any night of this month, Allah عزوجل will reward him with 1,500 virtues for every Sajdah (prostration) and make a palace of red rubies for him that will have 60,000 gates. The gates will have hinges of gold that will be embroidered with red rubies. Thus, the one who fasts on the first day of Ramadan will be forgiven for his sins until the last day of the month and 70,000 angels will ask for his forgiveness from morning till evening. Each time he prostrates during the day or at night, he will be granted a tree in Heaven and each tree is so huge that a horse rider can ride under its shadow for 500 years.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, pp. 314, vol. 3, Hadis 3635)

Five special blessings

Sayyiduna Jabir Bin ‘Abdullah رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ has narrated that the Beloved and Blessed Prophet ﷺ has stated, ‘In Ramadan, my Ummah has been gifted five such things which were not given to any other Prophet ﷺ before me:

  1. On the first night of Ramadan, Allah عزوجل showers special mercy upon them and the one upon whom Allah عزوجل showers special mercy will never be punished.
  2. In the evening, Allah عزوجل likes the smell emanating from their mouths (due to hunger) more than even musk.
  3. Angels pray for their forgiveness every night and day.
  4. Allah عزوجل orders Heaven to be adorned for His (righteous) people and says, ‘Soon they will get rid of the grief of the world and find solace in My house and My bounties.’
  5. On the last night of Ramadan, Allah عزوجل forgives them all.’Standing up, a person asked, ‘Ya RasulAllah ﷺ! Is that Laila-tul-Qadr?’ He ﷺ replied, ‘No. Do you not see that a laborer is given his wage when he finishes his job?’

Compensation for minor sins
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ has narrated that the Prophet of Rahmah, the Intercessor of Ummah ﷺ has stated, ‘The five daily Salah and Salat-ul-Jumu’ah compensate for sins till the next Friday, and Ramadan compensates for sins until the next Ramadan, provided that the major sins are avoided.’ (Sahih Muslim, pp. 144, Hadis 233)

Method of repentance
سُبحٰنَ اللہ عزوجل! Ramadan is such blessed month in which rain of mercy showers upon us and it is a means of our minor sins being forgiven. Major sins are forgiven by repentance. The way to repent is to mention the sin one has committed and then feel resentment for it in one’s heart and firmly vow not to commit it again. Let us say, for instance, that someone lied. He should say, ‘Ya Allah عزوجل! I repent of the lie I have told and I will not tell lies again.’ Whilst repenting, he must despise the act of lying and be sincere when he says the words ‘I will not tell lies again’ otherwise his repentance will not be valid. If the right of another person was violated, then it is necessary to seek forgiveness from him in addition to repentance.

Heart-warming saying of the Holy Prophet ﷺ

Sayyiduna Salman Farsi رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ has narrated that on the last day of Sha’ban, the Prophet of Rahmah, the Intercessor of Ummah, the Owner Jannah ﷺ said, ‘O people! An auspicious and blessed month has approached you. In this month, there is a night that is better than a thousand months. Allah عزوجل  has made it Fard to fast in this sacred month. To offer (Tarawih Salah) in its nights is Sunnah. If you do a good deed in this month, it will be equivalent to carrying out a Fard act in any other month and if you perform a Fard act in this month, it will be equivalent to carrying out 70 Fard acts in any other month. This is the month of patience whose reward is Heaven. This is the month of sympathy, and the believer’s sustenance is increased in this month.

In this month, the one who serves a fasting person with something to do Iftar, will be forgiven for his sins and his neck will be freed from the fire of Hell, and he will be rewarded the same as the one who fasted, without any reduction in the reward of the fasting person.’ The companions asked humbly, ‘Ya RasulAllah ﷺ! Not all of us possess enough money (to present a meal to the fasting person) for Iftar.’ He ﷺ replied, ‘Allah  عزوجل  will give this reward to the one who offers a sip of milk, a date or a sip of water to the fasting person, and the one who serves the fasting person with a meal so that his stomach is full will be given water from my pond (Kawsar) such that he will never feel thirsty and will enter Heaven.

The first ten days of this month are mercy, the middle ten days are forgiveness and its last ten days are freedom from the fire of Hell. One who treats his slave leniently in this month (by not burdening him with heavy duties) will be forgiven and freed from the fire of Hell. In this month, there are four things which you should do in abundance, two of them will earn the pleasure of Allah عزوجل  for you cannot do without the other two. The two which will earn you the pleasure of Allah عزوجل are:

  1. To testify that there is none worthy of worship other than Allah.
  2. To ask for forgiveness.

The two which you cannot do without are:

  1. To ask Allah عزوجل for Heaven.
  2. To seek refuge of Allah عزوجل from Hell.’ (Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, pp. 1887, vol. 3)

Dear Islamic brothers! This Hadis describes the mercy, blessings and glory of Ramadan in great detail. In this month, we must make special efforts to please Allahعزوجل  by reciting the blessed Kalimah as many times as possible and by repenting in abundance. We must not neglect asking Allahعزوجل  for entrance into Heaven and protection from Hell. These are the two things we must persistently ask for.

Four names of Ramadan

اللہ اَکبر! How blessed Ramadan is! A renowned exegetes of the Quran, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan علیہ رَحمۃ المنان has stated in the exegesis of the Quran Tafsir-e-Na’imi, ‘There are four names of this sacred month:

  1. Ramadan
  2. The month of patience
  3. The month of sympathy
  4. The month of increased sustenance.’

Elaborating the foregoing names, heرَحمَۃاللہ تَعالیٰ عَلیہ  has further stated, ‘Fast is patience whose reward is Allahعزوجل . As fasts are observed in this month it is called the month of patience. Sympathy means ‘treating other well.’ This month is called the month of sympathy because the reward for behaving well (and sympathizing)  with the Muslims, especially relatives, is increased. In this month sustenance is increased and even the poor enjoy the bounties of Allahعزوجل ; therefore, it is called the month of increased sustenance.’ (Tafsir-e-Na’imi, pp. 208, vol. 2)

Heaven is adorned

Dear Islamic brothers! Heaven is adorned the whole year to welcome the month of Ramadan. Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ has narrated that the Prophet of mankind, the Peace of our heart and mind, the most Generous and Kind ﷺ has stated, ‘Indeed, Heaven is adorned for Ramadan from the beginning of the year to the end.’ He ﷺ has further stated, ‘On the first day of Ramadan, a breeze blows beneath heavenly trees, delighting the big eyed maidens of Heaven. The maidens say, ‘Ya Allahعزوجل  make such servants of Yours our husbands who would feast their eyes on us, and we would feast our eyes on them.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, pp. 312, vol. 3, Hadis 3633)

Sixty thousand forgiven every night

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn Masud رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ has narrated that the Beloved and Blessed Prophet ﷺ has stated, ‘At every night of Ramadan, an announcement is made in the skies till dawn, ‘O seeker of goodness! Complete (i.e. keep worshipping Allahعزوجل ) and rejoice, and O evil one! Give up you evil and take some lesson. Is there any seeder of forgiveness, his desire will be fulfilled? Is there anyone repenting, his repentance will be accepted? Is there anyone making Du’a, his Du’a will be accepted? Is there anyone who seeks anything, he will be given what he wishes for?’ Allahعزوجل frees sixty thousand sinners from Hell each evening of Ramadan at the time of sunset, and on the day of Eid He عزوجل forgives as many people as the total number of those freed throughout the month.’

One million sinners freed from Hell every day

Whilst mentioning the favors, bounties, mercy and forgiveness from Allahعزوجل , one day the Beloved and Blessed Prophet ﷺ said, ‘On the first night of Ramadan, Allah عزوجل sees His creation with mercy, and If Allah عزوجل sees any of His servants with mercy He عزوجل will not punish that servant. He عزوجل frees one million (sinners) from Hell every day, and on the 29th night He عزوجل sets free as many as were freed throughout the month. On the night of Eid-ul-Fitr, the angels rejoice and Allah عزوجل reveals the specific attribute of His Nur and says to them, ‘O group of angels! What is the reward for a laborer that has completed his work?’ They reply that he be given his complete recompense. Allah عزوجل then says, ‘Be witness that I have forgiven each one of them.’
(Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, pp. 219, vol. 8, Hadis 23702)

Forgiveness of one million in every moment of Friday

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنھُما has narrated that the Beloved and Blessed Prophet ﷺ has stated, ‘In Ramadan, every day at the time of sunset, Allah عزوجل frees one million such sinners from Hell for whom Hell had become Wajib due to their sins, and in every moment of Friday (in Ramadan), He عزوجل frees one million such sinners from Hell who had deserved damnation.’ (Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, pp. 223, vol. 8, Hadis 23716)

Dear Islamic brothers! The foregoing Hadis contains a blessed account of great bounties and rewards from Allah عزوجل. سُبحٰنَ اللہ عزوجل! Every day in Ramadan one million sinners that had deserved Hell are forgiven, and one million sinners are set free from the punishment of Hell in every single moment of Friday, and then on the last night of Ramadan alone, sinners are freed equal to the total number of the people freed from the punishment of fire throughout the month.

May Allah عزوجل also include us in those fortunate forgiven ones!
آمِین

Immense goodness

Amir-ul-Muminin, Sayyiduna ‘Umar Faruq رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ would say, ‘We welcome the month that purifies us. The whole Ramadan contains goodness; whether it is the fasting of the day or Salah of the night. Spending (money etc.) in this month is like spending in Jihad.’ (Tanbih-ul-Ghafilin, pp. 176)

Spend more

Sayyiduna Damurah رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ has narrated that Prophet of Rahmah, the Intercessor of Ummah ﷺ has stated, ‘Spend more (money etc.) on your family in Ramadan because spending in Ramadan is like spending in the path of Allahعزوجل .’ (Al-Jami’-us-Saghir, pp. 162, Hadis 2716)

Big eyed maidens

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنھُما has narrated that the Beloved and Blessed Prophet ﷺ has stated, ‘On the first day of Ramadan a breeze called Masirah blows beneath the divine ‘Arsh, swaying the leaves of heavenly trees and making such an extremely pleasant sound that no one had heard before. On hearing this sound, big eyed maidens appear, they stand on top of the high heavenly palaces and say, ‘Is there anyone to ask for our hand in marriage?’ Then they ask (Sayyiduna) Rizwanعَلیہ السَّلَام , ‘What night is this?’ (Sayyiduna) Rizwan عَلیہ السَّلَام recites Talbiyah (i.e. Labbaik) and says, ‘It is the first night of Ramadan, the portals of Heaven have been opened for the fasting (Muslims) of the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ.’ (Attarghib Wattarhib, pp. 60, vol. 2, Hadis 23)

Two types of darkness removed

It is narrated that Allahعزوجل  said to Sayyiduna Musa Kalimullah (علیہ السَّلام), ‘I have bestowed two types of Nur upon the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ to protect them from two types of darkness.’

Sayyiduna Musa Kalimullah علیہ السَّلام humbly asked, ‘Ya Allahعزوجل ! What are those two types of Nur?’ Allah عزوجل said, ‘The Nur of Ramadan and the Quran.’ Sayyiduna Musa Kalimullah علیہ السَّلام further asked, ‘What are two types of darkness?’ Allahعزوجل  said, ‘The darkness of grave and that of the Judgment Day.’ (Durra-tun-Nasihin, pp. 9)

Dear Islamic brothers! Did you see how Allah عزوجل is merciful to those who spend Ramadan worshipping wholeheartedly. There is a description of huge mercy and blessings of Ramadan in the previous two narrations. One can earn the pleasure of Allah عزوجل and the eternal rewards of Heaven by fasting in Ramadan.

Further, the second narration describes two types of Nur and darkness. The existence of light is essential for the removal of darkness. What a great favor our Allah عزوجل has bestowed upon us by giving us the light of Ramadan and the Quran to remove the darkness of grave and the Judgment Day.

Fast and the Holy Quran will intercede

Fasts and the Holy Quran will intercede for the Muslims on the Day of Judgment. The Prophet of mankind, the Peace of our heart and mind, the most Generous and Kind ﷺ has stated, ‘The fast and the Holy Quran will intercede for people on the Day of Judgment. The fast will say, ‘O Merciful Allah عزوجل! I prevented him from eating and satisfying his desires during the day, accept my intercession in his favor.’ The Holy Quran will say, ‘I prevented him from sleeping at night, accept my intercession for him.’ Their intercessions will be accepted.’ (Musnad Imam Ahmad, pp. 586, vol. 2, Hadis 6637)

Reason for forgiveness

Amir-ul-Muminin, Sayyiduna ‘Aliکَرَّم اللہ تعالیٰ وجھَہُ الکَریم  has said, ‘If Allah عزوجل had intended to punish the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ He عزوجل would never have bestowed upon them Ramadan and Surah Al-Ikhlas.’ (Nuzha-tul-Majalis, pp. 216, vol. 1)

Reward of hundred thousand Ramadan

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنھُما has narrated that the Prophet of Rahmah, the Intercessor of Ummah ﷺ has stated, ‘The one who spends Ramadan in Makka-tul-Mukarramah, keeps fasts and offers Salah at night as much as possible, Allah عزوجل will reward him equivalent to one hundred thousand Ramadan spent elsewhere. He عزوجل will give him the reward of freeing a slave every day and every night each as well as the reward of providing a horse for Jihad every day. He عزوجل will also give him the reward of a good deed each day and each night.’ (Sunan Ibn Majah, pp. 523, vol. 3, Hadis 3117)

May Allah عزوجل bless us all with the privilege of spending the blessed month of Ramadan in Makka-tul-Mukarramah and worshipping as much as possible, and then, as soon as Ramadan ends, may we get to the sacred tomb of the Noble Prophet ﷺ to celebrate Eid, crying and begging him for our ‘Eid presents’ and may we receive our Eid presents from his blessed hands! All this is possible by the mercy of the Blessed Rasul ﷺ.

The Holy Prophet would worship devotedly

Dear Islamic brother! We should worship Allah عزوجل abundantly in Ramadan and do every such act that earns us the pleasure of Allah عزوجل and His Beloved Prophet ﷺ. If anyone is not forgiven even in this merciful month, when will he be forgiven then? The Beloved and Blessed Prophet ﷺ would devote himself to worship as soon as Ramadan arrived.

Sayyidatuna ‘Aishah Siddiqahرضی اللہ تعالیٰ عَنھَا  has said, ‘In Ramadan, the Prophet of Rahmah, the Intercessor of Ummah, the Owner of Jannah ﷺ would devote himself to the worship of Allah عزوجل and did not use to come to his blessed bed the whole month.’ (Ad-Dur-rul-Mansur, pp. 449, vol. 1)

The Holy Prophet would make Du’a abundantly

She رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عَنھَا  has further said, ‘In Ramadan, the color of the blessed face of the Holy Prophet ﷺ would change. He ﷺ would offer Salah abundantly, make Du’a in an extremely humble manner and remain overtaken by divine fear.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, pp. 310, vol. 3, Hadis 3625)

The Holy Prophet would donate abundantly

Dear Islamic brothers! In this month, donating money abundantly is also a Sunnah. Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنھُما has said, ‘In Ramadan the Prophet of mankind, the Peace of our heart and mind, the most Generous and Kind ﷺ would set free every prisoner and give something to every such person who asked for.’ (Ad-Dur-rul-Mansur, pp. 449, vol. 1)

Most generous

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنھُما has stated, ‘The Holy Prophet ﷺ is the most generous of all people and his ocean of generosity would turn turbulent the most in the moments of Ramadan when the honorable Jibrail عَلیّہِ السَّلام visited him. Jibrail عَلیّہِ السَّلام would come every night and they both would recite the Holy Quran. Rasulullah ﷺ would demonstrate more generosity than even a fast blowing wind.’ (Sahih Bukhari, pp. 9, vol. 1, Hadis 6)

Thousand times more reward

Dear Islamic brothers! The reward of good deeds is multiplied several times in Ramadan, so one should perform as many virtuous deeds as possible. Sayyiduna Ibrahim Nakh’Iرحمَۃُاللہ تعالیٰ علَیہ  has stated, ‘One day’s fast in Ramadan is greater than a thousand fasts (in any other month), making Tasbih (i.e. sayingسُبحٰنَ اللہ ) once in Ramadan is better than saying it a thousand times in any other month and offering one Rak’at of Salah in Ramadan is greater than offering a thousand Rak’at in any other month.’ (Ad-Dur-rul-Mansur, pp. 454, vol. 1)

Excellence of Zikr in Ramadan

Amir-ul-Muminin, Sayyiduna ‘Umar Faruq رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ has narrated that the Prophet of mankind, the Peace of our heart and mind, the most Generous and Kind ﷺ has stated, ‘The one who remembers Allahعزوجل  in Ramadan will be forgiven, and the one who asks Allahعزوجل  for anything in this month will not be deprived.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, pp. 311, vol. 3, Hadis 3627)

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