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8 days of Ramadan have already went by, and for those still trying to gather their enthusiasm and trying to find some or just one reason why they should cling to Ramadan that keenly, this article is for you.
The purpose of Ramadan was never for us to suffer, but rather the opposite.
You do not have to think or wonder what’s the purpose of Ramadan. Besides the divine wisdom that we’ll never be able to fully gather or completely grasp no matter how hard and differently we try or have tried, there are many purposes for Ramadan.
Whenever I come across a verse of the Holy Quran wherein Allah promises great reward for those who engage in good deeds and obedience to Him, I feel amazed by the Mercy of Allah the Almighty. Allah has actually promised us great rewards for deeds that are already rewardful, and living up Ramadan is one of those deeds.
Thousands of doctors, academic professors and nutrition experts have been uncovering countless benefits for fasting, the Muslims’ way of fasting And they’re yet to uncover more. On the other hand, Allah has promised great reward for fasting the Holy month of Ramadan, which constitutes one of the Five Pillars of Islam each Muslim must fulfill- an obligatory act of worship, which if one neglects exposes him to great punishment from Allah.
Abdullah bin Umar
narrated that that Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him said: The superstructure of al-Islam is raised on five (pillars), i. e. the oneness of Allah, the establishment of prayer, payment of Zakat, the, fast of Ramadan, Pilgrimage (to Mecca). A person said (to Abdullah bin Umar the narrator): Which of the two precedes the other? Pilgrimage or the fasts of Ramadan Upon this he (the narrator) replied: No (it is not the Pilgrimage first) but the fasts of Ramadan precede the Pilgrimage.
- - Sahih Muslim Chapter No: 1, Faith (Kitab Al Iman)
So Ramadan is one brick completing the foundation of Islam for each one of us.
Furthermore, and besides being an obligatory act of worship, fasting Ramadan is one act that’s rich in reward, and known to be one route to Salvation and earning the mercy and forgiveness of Almighty Allah.
Read on…
Abu Hurairah narrated "I heard the Messenger Allah saying regarding Ramadan,
"Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven."
- - Sahih Bukhari Chapter No: 32, Night Prayer in Ramadaan (Taraweeh)
So, fasting Ramadan is one Channel of Salvation Allah has availed to us, how can it be ignored.
Ramadan is one time in the year, where Muslims are granted immense reward for every act they normally do, in other words, the reward of some acts is maximized during Ramadan, asserting the chance to salvation availed through it.
Ata heard Ibn Abbas saying, "the Messenger of Allah asked an Ansari woman (Ibn Abbas named her but Ata forgot her name), 'What prevented you from performing Hajj with us?' She replied, 'We have a camel and the father of so-and-so and his son (i.e. her husband and her son) rode it and left one camel for us to use for irrigation.' He said (to her), 'Perform Umra when Ramadan comes, for Umra in Ramadan is equal to Hajj (in reward),' or said something similar."
- - Sahih Bukhari Chapter No: 27, Minor Pilgrimage (Umra)
So Ramadan is like no other time in the year.
Moreover, Ramadan is a gateway to the satisfaction of Allah, by engaging in reward-full deeds which the concluding Prophet, Muhammad, peace be upon him used to commit to…
Ibn Abbas
narrated that the Messenger of Allah was the most generous of all the people, and he used to reach the peak in generosity in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel met him. Gabriel used to meet him every night of Ramadan to teach him the Qur'an. Allah's Apostle was the most generous person, even more generous than the strong uncontrollable wind (in readiness and haste to do charitable deeds).
- - Sahih Bukhari Chapter No: 1, Revelation
And over and above, Ramadan is an opportunity of celebrating a key event that’s cornerstone to the history of Islam, that is the revelation of the Quran and Lailatul Qadr, or the Night of Decree, a night that’ like no other night in the year. And celebrating this night through good deeds, supplication, remembrance of Allah and supplication, earns one great reward, grants him forgiveness from Almighty Allah, and renders his supplication accepted with God’s will.
“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.”
- Quran 97:1-5
Ibn Abbas
narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, "The Night of Qadr is in the last ten nights of the month (Ramadan), either on the first nine or in the last (remaining) seven nights (of Ramadan)." Ibn Abbas added, "Search for it on the twenty-fourth (of Ramadan).”
- - Sahih Bukhari Chapter No: 32, Night Prayer in Ramadaan (Taraweeh)
So Ramadan is simply one gate to Paradise. Are you still pondering over its purpose and the reason why you should invest that much in it?
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said,
"When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened."
Pursue this trusted channel to salvation, knock this gate to Paradise and never miss it.
Blessed Ramadan to all!
Wassalaam
Maha Youssuf
Posted on: July 28, 2012
