What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the month in which Allah Almighty has united all the blessings. It is considered the most precious month. Ramadan also called Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan, or Ramathan. Muslims wait for this month to come the whole year. Rewards for good deeds multiplies and prayers are highly accepted this month.
Allah Subhanahu Watalla says:Importance of Ramadan in the light of the Holy Quran:
“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 is until the emergence of dawn.”
Ref: AlQuran (97:1-5)
On another place:
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] 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, and perhaps you will be grateful.
Ref: Al Quran (21:128)
Importance of Ramadan in the light of the Hadith:
Abu Hurairah (Radi Allahu Anhu) narrated:
“The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, he will be forgiven his previous sins.”
Ref: Sunan An Nisai Book# 22 and Hadith #1116
In another hadith Abu Hurairah (Radia Allahu Anhu) narrated:
I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) 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.”
Ref: Sahih Al Bukhari Book # 31 and Hadith #1
Hazrat Ayesha (RadiAllahu Anha) says:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, “Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan.”
Ref: Sahih Al Bukhari Book # 32 and Hadith #7
Some precious facts about the holy month of Ramadan:
- The holy book Al Quran was revealed in this month.
- Muslims do fasting (Roza) in this month and which is considered as the fourth pillar of Islam.
- Muslims attain the happiness of Allah Almighty by fasting (Roza), praying and reading holy Qurán.
- This month has a great night known as Laylat ul Qadr which is better than thousands of nights.
- Allah Almighty closed the door of hell and opened the door of Jannah in this month. And the devils are chained up.
- If someone does Umrah this month, then he will be rewarded just as the Hajj.
- In the last 10 days of the Ramadan, Muslims do Itikaf and seek Allah’s forgiveness.
- The reward becomes double for the one who is performing Aitkaf.
- Muslims become fast in giving Zakat and Sadaqah in this month. Because the act of virtue has a lot of rewards than normal days.
15 things to do in this holy Ramadan
Ramadan is a great way to make Allah Almighty happy. So, we should plan plenty of things to do this month and can get a lot of rewards from Almighty.
- Do a lot of sadaqah in this month and become the follower of the sunnah of the Holy Prophet. Because Muhammad (peace be upon Him) loves to do sadaqah in this month especially.
- Make sure to do special prayer at the time of Sehri and Iftari. Because duas are accepted mostly these times.
- Perform AtTravih Salah. You will ultimate peace while listening to the holy Quran from Qari in prayer. Choose a mosque with a peaceful environment and good reciter.
- Do not miss Fajar prayer and stay in Masjid after Fajar prayer and make yourself busy in doing Zikr.
- Spend your day and nights reading Qurán. Try to read the full Quran at least once.
- Read Tahajjud and make a lot of prayers.
- Read Qurán in Nawafil if you can.
- Donate Islamic books so that you can be beneficial for others too.
- Do not hurt anyone.
- Try to control your anger. Because to save your fast (Roza) you need to be calm and you should behave very nicely. Only fasting (Roza) is not enough. Your behavior towards others matters most.
- Forgive others, Allah SubhanahuWatalla will forgive you.
- Communicate with your relatives with those you are angry about or don’t want to talk about. Connect with them for the sake of Allah Almighty.
- Find out the needy and homeless people. Help them out so that they can also enjoy Ramadan.
- Encourage your children to read travih with you.
- Plan for sehri and iftari meal at least for one needy person
The holy prophet (peace and blessings be upon Him) says:
“Charity never decreases wealth. Rather, it increases it, it increases it, it increases it.’’
In Qurán, Allah Almighty says:
“and spend out of that in which He has made you successors. For those who have believed among you and spent, there will be a great reward”
Ref: Al Qur’an: 57: 7
Doing sadaqah does not mean spending money only. We can do sadaqah in many forms. And we should do it, especially in this month. Let’s see in how many ways, we can do sadaqah:
- Hadith says: if you smile to your brother, its also considered as the sadaqah.
- Guiding someone on the right path and forbidding from wrong is also sadaqah.
- Helping the one who cannot see properly to pass the path is also sadaqah
- To convert someone’s difficulty in easiness is also sadaqah.
- You can also do sadaqah by removing the hard things from the walking area.
So, do not miss any opportunity of a good deed in this month. Do not miss fasting (Roza) because fasting (Roza) itself is a great deed.
Moreover, Allah bestows upon whomever He wills whatever He wills of increase up to seven hundredfold, and even beyond that, such as cannot be estimated, as He, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning”
Ref: az-Zumar 39:10
And He said: Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I shall reward for it” after mentioning the seven hundredfold reward for it.
Ref: Muslim 8/84
Reciting Quran in Ramadan
Ramadan is beneficial for those who did good deeds and put themselves in the obedience of Allah SubhanahuWatalla. Lazy people can’t enjoy Ramadan. As we know the Holy Quran was revealed sent down to the holy prophet (peace be upon Him) in this holy month. So, reciting Quran in Ramadan is considered a great source of pleasure.
Recitation is the secret of happiness and calmness of the hearts. Today, everyone is depressed, worried due to different circumstances. In this situation, reciting the Quran works like a miracle. Not only happiness but a bundle of rewards from Allah Subhanhuwatalla. Reciting each letter will become 70 times in reward.
The holy prophet (peace be upon Him) said:
“Whoever draws near to Allah during it (Ramadan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts at other times.”
Ref: Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 1887
Another hadith says:
“Verily the one who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have TWICE that reward.”
Ref: Sahih Al Bukhari & Sahih Al Muslim
Undoubtedly, Allah loves the one who recites the Qur’an perfectly and beautifully. But the person who utters and can’t read perfectly but he continues trying will be given a double reward for struggling also. Just imagine! How many rewards will the person get who is trying to correct recitation in the month of Ramadan? Allah counts every effort of the man in his path.
Develop your strong relationship with the Quran:
And it’s the sunnah of the holy prophet to complete the reading of the Quran at least once in a month. And in His last year of life, he completed two times in the month of Ramadan. HazratJibreel (a.s) visit Him in every Ramdan and He (peace be upon Him) read the Qu’ran with Him. Especially in the last 10 nights of Ramadan, you should recite Quran as much you can.
Do not be lazy!
Who not to recite and achieve all rewards, happiness, and calmness from Almighty? Enjoy a great sense of happiness by reciting the Quran in this blessed month. Science has also proved the effects of reading and listening to the Quran. Not only in Ramadan but also try to keep reciting after Ramadan.
when is ramadan in 2021
In India, Ramadan will begin on the evening of Monday, April 12, 2021, and ends in the evening of Wednesday, 12 May (Dates maybe changed).