How to spend Ramadan?

Once, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, “Draw nearer to the pulpit.” The Companions moved closer to the pulpit. When the Prophet (ﷺ) placed his blessed foot on the first step of the pulpit, he said: “Ameen!” When he placed it on the second step, he again said: “Ameen!” And when he placed it on the third step, he once more said: “Ameen!” When he (ﷺ) had finished the sermon and stepped down, the Companions asked, “Today we heard you say something while ascending the pulpit which we have never heard before.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “When I stepped on the first step, Gabriel (upon whom be peace) appeared before me and said: ‘Doomed is the person who finds the blessed month of Ramadan and yet is not forgiven.’ I said: ‘Ameen!’ Then, when I stepped on the second step, he said: ‘Doomed is the person in whose presence your name is mentioned and he does not send blessings upon you.’ I said: ‘Ameen!’ And when I stepped on the third step, he said: ‘Doomed is the person whose parents or one of them reach old age, and he does not enter Paradise by serving them.’ I said: ‘Ameen!

Ramadan is the month of forgiveness

Ramadan is such a golden opportunity that if one makes the effort, one Ramadan is enough to forgive all sins. The person who fasts in Ramadan and does so believing that all promises of Allah Almighty are true, and He will bestow the best reward for all good deeds, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has said

حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ مَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ، وَمَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ ‏”‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

Faith and accountability mean having complete belief in all of Allah Almighty’s promises, intending reward for every deed, seeking sincerity for the sake of Allah and His pleasure, and considering God’s will at the time of every action. Faith and accountability are what elevate a person’s actions from the earthly to the divine. Essentially, what is missing is not malintent among Muslims, but rather the absence of intent; that is, they do not make an intention at all. We perform ablution, but we do not set an intention; we perform other pillars of Islam, but faith and accountability are not kept in mind. When many people perform a task, it becomes a mere ritual. Fasting becomes a common environment; in such circumstances, one might fast out of the fear that if we do not, what is the point of eating and drinking secretly? This thought destroys the spirit of fasting. Often in illnesses, one has to remain hungry, and often on journeys, food is not available; hence, the essence of fasting is not just remaining hungry, but to comply with the command of Allah, to forsake what we have been asked to abstain from.

Signs and Indications of the Acceptance of Deeds

The uniqueness and popularity of an act of worship are evidenced by the fact that its performance engenders feelings of tenderness, gentleness, humility, and modesty within the heart. However, when the opposite happens, and pride, arrogance, and self-admiration arise, then one should realize that our worship has not been accepted; there has been a deficiency in it. Therefore, it is essential to keep faith and self-accountability in view and to maintain their presence in order to eliminate these traits. Observing a fast without thoughtful intention or performing any act of worship meaninglessly is futile. A person remarked, “I fast because the joy that comes at the time of breaking the fast is unlike any other blessing in the world,” even though he did not have faith in Allah Almighty. We should refresh our intention several times during the day and always keep it in mind. The Noble Messenger (ﷺ) said that the son of Adam would receive a reward ten to seven hundred times for every action, but Allah said, “Except for fasting, for it is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.

الصَّومُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي به

This person leaves all beloved things for me, therefore I myself will take revenge.

Actions generate power

The second point is that all the pillars of faith generate strength; that is, one act of worship proves to be supportive for another, and it becomes a source of reinforcement. Just as one type of food supports another, similarly, the fulfillment of one obligation aids in the fulfillment of other obligations and provides them strength. It is not the case that each pillar is separate. While the duty and importance of each are undoubtedly significant in their own right, they are not separate from each other; instead, they are there to assist one another. Similarly, fasting generates strength for the worship of the entire eleven months of the year, fasting creates enthusiasm and energy for the performance of other acts of worship.

The purpose of fasting is to gain control over the self

The third point is that the purpose of fasting is to gain control over the self, and due to fasting, controlling the self becomes easier, the passion and enthusiasm for religion are generated, and there is keenness in performing acts of worship. It is the command of Allah Almighty:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ١٨٣

O you who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as they were enjoined upon those before you, so that you may be God-fearing, (2:183)