What is Ramadan?
As-Saum (fasting) is a pillar of Islam, and most of us are aware that Ramadan is a month of great blessing for the Muslims around the world as they withhold their thirst and hunger from dawn until dusk. Muslims all around the world anticipate the holy month; a month like no other, to reconnect with their Lord (Jalla Wa Ala) and once again, enjoy its blessings and rewards.
It is also the month where Allah SWT has revealed the Qur’an as He has mentioned in Surah al-Baqarah in verse 185, Allah says:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَان
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong) …”
This verse indicates that Ramadan is indeed a very special month as Allah has increased its stature amongst the other months, as the Qur’an was specifically revealed in it.
In addition to that, the Prophet ﷺ also mentions on the benefits of Ramadan in a hadith, reported by Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, He who observes fasting during the month of Ramadan with Faith while seeking its reward from Allah, will have his past sins forgiven.”
(Riyad as-Salihin 1219)
We can learn from this hadith that Ramadan is a golden chance for us to attain forgiveness from Allah SWT, and that the obligation to withstand or to withhold our thirst and hunger is only a small part of the larger picture amongst the many acts one can do during Ramadan.
Illuminating the month of Ramadan with Prophetic practices
There is much more to Ramadan than meets the eye!
A hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah RA: The Prophet ﷺ said,
“Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e., Allah will not accept his fasting.)”
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 1903
In this hadith, it is stated that we must abstain from ill-speech and remain patient in the face of challenges that Allah SWT puts us through while fasting. Undoubtedly, fasting promotes the well-being of the body and has been proven scientifically. However, we must also place great emphasis in taking care of our spiritual well-being by refraining from sins and the increase in good deeds, especially in the special month where more doors are opened for forgiveness. Verily, the sons of Adam are sinners, and the best of sinners are those who are repentant.
We have certainly committed sins time and time again, but fret not, we still have a chance to prove ourselves with more good deeds, that will replace the bad ones as mentioned by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala in Surah Hud verse 114:
وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ طَرَفَىِ ٱلنَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ ٱلَّيۡلِۚ إِنَّ ٱلۡحَسَنَٰتِ يُذۡهِبۡنَ ٱلسَّيِّئَاتِۚ ذَٰلِكَ ذِكۡرَىٰ لِلذَّكِرِينَ
“And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.
A simple deed that we can all rush towards is during the last few hours of fasting. We would be preparing ourselves for iftar and preparing the food and drinks after a long day of fasting. We can assist in preparing food for our family members or even for others who are fasting. A greater reward is given for those who help to feed those who are fasting. On top of that, we must not forget to increase our supplications and syukur for the blessing of Iftar and the ability to fast.
Generosity in Ramadan
Getting ready for iftar or breaking of the fast is a reward after fasting for the whole day. On top of preparing food for ourselves, we can reap rewards by feeding and giving others as well. Feeding the fasting person may seem like a simple and small act, but it is not an act everyone would consistently practise.
This act is mostly a blessing especially for a person who is excused from fasting. They too can attain the same reward as stated in a hadith in Sunan at-Tirmidhi (Hadith 807).
The Prophet (saw) said, ‘Whoever feeds a person breaking his fast will earn the same reward as him, without anything being lessened from the reward of the fasting person’.
May Allah SWT make it easy for us to reap as much good deeds during the blessed month of Ramadan!
Kickstart the Sunnah(s) of Ramadan!
Let us ponder and reflect! Are the points I have mentioned the only practices or prophetic traditions that we can derive from Ramadan itself? Definitely not.
The sunnah of Prophet ﷺ (prophetic tradition) is abundant and we will never fully be able to practice it or learn all of it in its totality. This should not be used an excuse to not start learning the sunnah. For those who are keen to start, Ramadan is the best month to learn or relearn Islam and its values, especially with the spiritual and collective spirit that allows us to be more enthusiastic in getting closer to God. This should then lead to an increase and consistency in voluntary acts even after Ramadan has ended. Thus, let us begin with seeking the proper and authentic prophetic traditions from our local resources of our beloved scholars, as Prophet ﷺ has stated in a hadith,
“Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise.”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2699
In another hadith narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“For whomever Allah wants good, he gives him understanding in the religion.“
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 71
May Allah keep us steadfast upon seeking knowledge of His deen!
If you are reading this outside the month of Ramadan, may Allah SWT allow us to reach the next Ramadan again for many times and for many years to come, with His mercy! And if you happen to be reading in the month of Ramadan itself, may Allah SWT make us steadfast in continuing the good deeds even after Ramadan has ended!
Verily there are many opportunities in Ramadan that we can reap to make the best of it, blessings, that can only be attained in this month itself, something so rare that you can never find it anywhere else, pearls of Ramadan.