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Ramadaan is one of the twelve Arabic months. It is a month which is venerated in the Islamic religion, and it is distinguished from the other months by a number of characteristics and virtues, including the following:
1 – Allaah has made fasting this month the fourth pillar of Islam, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that month…” [al Baqarah 2:185]
and it was narrated in al Saheehayn (al Bukhaari, 8; Muslim, 16) from the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “Islam is built on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah; establishing prayer; paying zakaah; fasting Ramadaan; and Hajj to the House (the Ka’bah).”
2 – Allaah revealed the Qur’aan in this month, as He says in the verse quoted above (interpretation of the meaning):
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)…” [al Baqarah 2:185]
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree).” [al Qadr 97:1]
3 – Allaah has made Laylat al Qadr in this month, which is better than a thousand months, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the Night of Al Qadr (Decree).
And what will make you know what the Night of Al Qadr (Decree) is?
The Night of Al Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allaah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).
Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] by Allaah’s Permission with all Decrees,
(All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allaah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn” [al Qadar 97:1-5]
“We sent it (this Qur’aan) down on a blessed night [(i.e. the Night of Al Qadr) in the month of Ramadan — the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship]”[al Dukhaan 44:3]
Allaah has blessed Ramadaan with Laylat al Qadr. Explaining the great status of this blessed night, Soorat al Qadr was revealed, and there are many ahaadeeth which also speak of that, such as the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (radiAllaho 3anh) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “There has come to you Ramadaan, a blessed month which Allaah has enjoined you to fast, during which the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the rebellious devils are chained up. In it there is a night which is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived.” Narrated by al Nasaa’i, 2106; Ahmad, 8769. classed as saheeh by al Albaani in Saheeh al Targheeb, 999.
And Abu Hurayrah (radiAllaho 3anh) said: The Messenger of Allaah (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “Whoever spends Laylat al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, will be forgiven his previous sins.” Narrated by al Bukhaari, 1910; Muslim, 760.
4 – Allaah has made fasting Ramadaan and spending its nights in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward a means of forgiveness of sins, as was proven in al Saheehayn (al Bukhaari, 2014; Muslim, 760) from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah according to which the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.”
And al Bukhaari (2008) and Muslim (174) also narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “Whoever spends the nights of Ramadaan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.”
The Muslims are unanimously agreed that it is Sunnah to pray qiyaam at night in Ramadaan. Al Nawawi said that what is meant by praying qiyaam in Ramadaan is to pray Taraweeh, i.e., one achieves what is meant by qiyaam by praying Taraaweeh.
5 – In this month, Allaah opens the gates of Paradise and closes the gates of Hell, and chains up the devils, as is stated in al Saheehayn (al Bukhaari, 1898; Muslim, 1079), from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah who said that the Messenger of Allaah (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “When Ramadaan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.”
6 – Every night Allaah has people whom He redeems from the Fire. Imam Ahmad (5/256) narrated from the hadeeth of Abu Umaamah that the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “At every breaking of the fast, Allaah has people whom He redeems.” Al Mundhiri said: there is nothing wrong with its isnaad; and it was classed as saheeh by al Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 987.
Al Bazzaar (Kashf 962) narrated that Abu Sa’eed said: The Messenger of Allaah (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “Allaah has people whom He redeems every day and night – i.e., in Ramadaan – and every Muslim every day and night has a prayer that is answered.”
7 – Fasting Ramadaan is a means of expiation for the sins committed since the previous Ramadaan, so long as one avoids major sins. It was proven in Saheeh Muslim (233) that the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “The five daily prayers, from one Jumu’ah to the next and from one Ramadaan to the next are expiation for (sins committed) in between, so long as you avoid major sins.”
8 – Fasting in Ramadaan is equivalent to fasting ten months, as is indicated by the hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim (1164) narrated from Abu Ayyoob al Ansaari: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be like fasting for a lifetime.” Ahmad (21906) narrated that the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan, a month is like ten months, and fasting six days after al-Fitr will complete the year.”
9 – Whoever prays qiyaam in Ramadaan with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer, because of the report narrated by Abu Dawood (1370) and others from the hadeeth of Abu Dharr (radiAllaho 3anh) that the Messenger of Allaah (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “Whoever prays qiyaam with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer.” Classed as saheeh by al Albaani in Salaat al Taraaweeh, p. 15
10 – ‘Umrah in Ramadaan is equivalent to Hajj. Al Bukhaari (1782) and Muslim (1256) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allaah (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said to a woman among the Ansaar, “What kept you from doing Hajj with us?” She said, “We only had two camels that we used for bringing water.” So her husband and son had gone for Hajj on one camel, and he left the other for them to use for bringing water.” He said, “When Ramadaan comes, go for ‘Umrah, for ‘Umrah in Ramadaan is equivalent to Hajj.” According to a report narrated by Muslim, “… is equivalent to doing Hajj with me.”
11 – It is Sunnah to observe i’tikaaf (retreat for the purpose of worship) in Ramadaan, because the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) always did that, as it was narrated in the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (radiAllaho 3anhaa) that the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) used to spend the last ten days of Ramadaan in i’tikaaf until he passed away, then his wives observed i’tikaaf after him.” Narrated by al Bukhaari, 1922; Muslim, 1172.
12 – It is mustahabb in the sense of being strongly recommended in Ramadaan to study the Qur’aan together and to read it a great deal. You may study the Qur’aan together by reciting it to someone else and by having someone else recite it to you. The evidence that this is mustahabb is the fact that Jibreel used to meet the Prophet (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) every night in Ramadaan and study the Qur’aan with him. Narrated by al Bukhaari, 6; Muslim, 2308.
Reading Qur’aan is mustahabb in general, but more so in Ramadaan.
13 – It is mustahabb in Ramadaan to offer iftaar to those who are fasting, because of the hadeeth of Zayd ibn Khaalid al Juhani (radiAllaho 3anh) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (salla Allaho 3alaihi wasallam) said: “Whoever gives iftaar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the fasting person’s reward in the slightest.” Narrated by al Tirmidhi, 807; Ibn Maajah, 1746; classed as saheeh by al Albaani in Saheeh al Tirmidhi, 647. see question no: ( 12598 )
And Allaah knows best.
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