Ramadan and Its Prominent Features
Ramadan and the Revelation of the Quran
Ramadan is the month in which the Holy Quran was revealed.
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur’ān was revealed as guidance for mankind, and as clear signs that show the right way and distinguish between right and wrong. So those of you who witness the month must fast in it. But the one who is sick, or is on a journey (should fast) as much from other days (as he missed). Allah intends (to provide) ease for you and does not intend (to create) hardship for you. All this is so that you may complete the number (of fasts as prescribed) and proclaim the Takbīr of Allah for having guided you, and (so) that you may be grateful. (2:185)
Allah, the Lord of Majesty, has clarified the importance of Ramadan by associating it with the Quran, because when even the least significant thing is connected to something superior, the lesser becomes superior as well.
Ramadan and the Revelation of All Heavenly Books
A distinctive feature of Ramadan al-Mubarak is that Allah, the Lord of Majesty, has chosen this month to reveal all heavenly books. Thus, it is mentioned in authentic Hadith:
عن واثلة رض قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ : أُنْزِلَتْ صُحُفُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ أَوَّلَ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ، وَأُنْزِلَتِ التَّوْرَاةُ لِسِت مَضَيْنَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، وَأُنْزِلَ الْإِنْجِيلُ لِثَلاث عَشْرَةً مَضَتْ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، وَأُنْزِلَ الزَّبُورُ لِثَمَانِ عَشْرَةً خَلَتْ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ وَأُنْزِلَ الْقُرْآنُ لأرْبَعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ خَلَتْ مِنْ رَمَضَان مسند احمد
It is narrated from Hazrat Wathila (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The Scrolls of Abraham were revealed on the first night of Ramadan, the Torah was revealed when six days of Ramadan had passed, the Gospel was revealed when thirteen days of Ramadan had passed, the Psalms were revealed when eighteen days of Ramadan had passed, and the Quran was revealed after twenty-four days of Ramadan had passed.
Elimination of Inner Diseases in Ramadan
This is the blessed month that, if its true value is recognized and the struggle in worship is maintained, then its blessings lead to the elimination of spiritual diseases like the whispers in the heart, envy, malice, and hostility. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) says:
صَوْمُ شَهْرِ الصَّبْرِ وَثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ يُذْهِبْنَ وَحَرَ الصُّدُورِ .
In the month of patience, namely Ramadan, observing the obligatory fasts as well as fasting for three days in every month eradicates heart diseases, satanic whispers, malice and hostility, envy and jealousy, anger and rage—all these things come to an end.
In another tradition, it is said:
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا حِبَّانُ بْنُ مُوسَى، – خُرَاسَانِيٌّ – قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ إِذَا دَخَلَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَسُلْسِلَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ ” .
It was narrated Az-Zuhri, from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said: “When Ramadan begins, the gates of mercy are opened and the gates of Hall are closed, and the devils are chained up.” (Sunan an-Nasa’i)
The Most Descent of Angels
A distinctive feature of this month is that it witnesses the most descent of sacred and luminous creatures, such as the angels of Allah, the Lord of Honor. Hence, Hazrat Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
إِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ عَدَدِ الْحَصَى
Indeed, on the night of decree, the number of angels on the earth is more than the number of pebbles.
Ramadan and the Elimination of Sins
A significant feature of the blessed Ramadan is that if a Muslim spends this month performing worship and servitude, and then avoids major sins for the rest of the year, this month becomes the reason for the eradication of all their minor sins.
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ وَالْجُمُعَةُ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ مُكَفِّرَاتٌ لَمَّا بَيْنَهُنَّ إِذَا اجْتُنِبَتِ الْكَبَائِر» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم
Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The five [daily] prayers, Friday to Friday and Ramadan to Ramadan make atonement for what has happened since the previous one when major sins have been avoided.”
Muslim transmitted it. (Mishkat al-Masabih)
Ramadan and a Night Better Than a Thousand Months
Ramadan Al-Mubarak has been bestowed with another distinguished feature that no other month possesses; it includes such a sacred, blessed, and merciful night that the worship of just this one night cannot be matched by eighty years of worship.
وَعَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ: دَخَلَ رَمَضَانُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ هَذَا الشَّهْرَ قَدْ حَضَرَكُمْ وَفِيهِ لَيْلَةٌ خَيْرٌ مَنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ مَنْ حُرِمَهَا فَقَدْ حُرِمَ الْخَيْرَ كُلَّهُ وَلَا يُحْرَمُ خَيْرَهَا إِلَّا كل محروم» . رَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه
Anas b. Malik told of God’s messenger saying when Ramadan began, “This month has come to you, and it contains a night which is better than a thousand months. He who is deprived of it is deprived of all good, but only those who are denied prosperity are deprived of it.” (Mishkat al-Masabih)
Ramadan and the Acceptance of Prayers
Ramadan is that sacred month, in which every day and every night, each and every prayer of a Muslim is indeed accepted.
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ : إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى عُتَقَاءَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ – يَعْنِي فِي رَمَضَانَ – وَإِنَّ لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ دَعْوَةً مُسْتَجَابَةً .
Hazrat Abu Sa’id Khudri (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “Allah Almighty frees people from Hell every day and night of Ramadan, and for every Muslim, each day and night of Ramadan is a time for a prayer that is granted acceptance.
Ramadan and Umrah
In Sahih Bukhari, an astonishing greatness of the blessed month of Ramadan has been narrated, and from it, one can understand how much sanctity Allah has bestowed upon this month. Thus, the fortunate individual who gets the opportunity to perform Umrah during this month is as if they have performed Hajj, and that too, the Hajj that is done in the company of the Beloved of Allah (ﷺ).
Ramadan and Taraweeh
This month also holds the distinction that whoever prays the complete Taraweeh with the Imam, indeed faces some hardship, but Allah appreciates the effort, granting such reward as if this person has spent the entire night standing in prayer before Allah. Hence, it is mentioned in the blessed Hadith:
مَنْ قَامَ مَعَ الْإِمَامِ حَتَّى يَنْصَرِفَ فَإِنَّهُ يَعْدِلُ قِيَامَ لَيْلَةٍ
The person who remains standing with the Imam until he finishes, his standing is equivalent in reward and merit to standing the entire night
