Ramadan 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
[Points 1 – 4 out of 13]:
1 – Allah 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 (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Islam is built on
five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god except Allah and that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; establishing prayer; paying zakaah; fasting
Ramadan; and Hajj to the House (the Ka’bah).”
2 – Allah 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 Allah 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 – Allah has made Laylat al-Qadr in this
month, which is better than a thousand months, as Allah 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 Allah 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 Allah’s Permission with all Decrees,
(All that night), there is
peace (and goodness from Allah 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]
Allah has blessed Ramadan 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 (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace
and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There has come to you Ramadan, a
blessed month which Allah 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 (may Allah be
pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) 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 – Allah has made fasting Ramadan 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 (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan 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 (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever
spends the nights of Ramadan 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 Ramadan. Al-Nawawi said that what
is meant by praying qiyaam in Ramadan is to pray Taraweeh, i.e., one achieves
what is meant by qiyaam by praying Taraaweeh.
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