شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الْمُبَارَكُ
The Blessings of the Month of Ramadan
A month of open gates, forgiven sins, and a single night better than a thousand months
"The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion." — Al-Baqarah 2:185
A Month Blessed for Many Reasons
The month of Ramadan is blessed for many reasons, and we must be sure to take advantage of all of them. Allah says in the Qur'an:
📖 Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185
“The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur'an was revealed, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and the criterion [between right and wrong]. So whoever sights the month, let him fast it, and whoever is ill or on a journey — then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship, and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that to which He has guided you, that perhaps you will be grateful.”
🌿 The Gates of Heaven Are Opened
During Ramadan, Shaytaan finds it far harder to mislead the believers, so it becomes easier for a Muslim to do good. Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
🌙 A Time of Open Mercy
“When the month of Ramadan begins, the gates of heaven are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the devils are chained.” (Bukhari)
A Season of Forgiveness
Ramadan is blessed because Muslims can receive forgiveness of their sins through sincere prayer and fasting. Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The five [daily] prayers, and Friday to Friday, and Ramadan to Ramadan, are expiation for what is between them, so long as the major sins are avoided.” (Musnad Ahmad)
🕋 Fasting and the Night Prayer
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan out of faith and seeking its reward, all of his previous sins will be forgiven. And whoever stands in prayer on the Night of Decree out of faith and seeking its reward, all of his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih Muslim)
🌿 A Fast Reserved for Allah Alone
The virtue of fasting is magnified in Ramadan, even though fasting itself is already a great virtue. Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Allah said: All the deeds of the children of Adam are for them, except fasting, which is for Me, and I shall give the reward for it.”
The Prophet ﷺ further said: “Fasting is a shield. When one of you is fasting, he should not use foul speech or raise his voice; and if someone insults him or tries to fight him, let him say, ‘I am fasting.’ By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the smell coming from the mouth of a fasting person is more pleasing to Allah than the scent of musk. The fasting person has two moments of joy — when he breaks his fast, and when he meets his Lord, he will be joyful because of his fasting.” (Bukhari)
Jabir (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Allah has people whom He frees from the Fire at the time of breaking the fast, and this happens every night [of Ramadan].” (Ibn Majah)
The Night Better Than a Thousand Months
Ramadan is blessed because it contains the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr), during which worship for a single night surpasses worship performed over a thousand months. Allah says:
📖 Surah Al-Qadr 97:1–5
“Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.”
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Allah has placed a night in Ramadan that is better than a thousand months; whoever is deprived of its good is truly deprived.” (Musnad Ahmad)
🌿 Striving in the Last Ten Nights
The exact date of the Night of Decree is unknown to us, but it falls within the last ten nights of Ramadan — which is why we are encouraged to strive hard in worship during that time. Ibn Umar (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Look for the Night of Decree in the last ten nights of Ramadan; but if any of you is weak or unable, then let him not fail to seek it in the remaining seven nights.” (Sahih Muslim)
Aisha (RA) reported that the Prophet ﷺ would exert himself in worship during the last ten nights of Ramadan more than at any other time. (Sahih Muslim)
🕌 I'tikaf: Seclusion in the Masjid
It is recommended to observe i'tikaf, a retreat inside the masjid, during the last ten days of Ramadan, as a means of drawing on its blessings. Aisha (RA) reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to observe i'tikaf during the last ten nights of Ramadan until Allah took him, and his wives continued this practice after him. (Sahih Muslim)
Imam ash-Shafi'i noted that whoever wishes to follow the Prophet's ﷺ example in this should enter the masjid before sunset on the night of the twenty-first.
Increasing Our Good Deeds
Throughout Ramadan, Muslims should greatly increase their acts of worship — reciting the Qur'an, performing extra prayers, and giving generously in charity. Imam an-Nawawi noted that generosity and good deeds are especially recommended in Ramadan, and most of all in the last ten nights, following the example of the Prophet ﷺ and the pious generations before us, since good deeds done in this honoured month carry greater reward than at any other time.
We ask Allah to allow us to reach this blessed month, and to benefit fully from its virtues. Success comes only from Allah, and Allah knows best.
By Abu Amina Elias for FaithinAllah.org.