RAMADAN: MONTH OF HUMANIST SPIRITUALITY
Dr Suhaib Ashraf Bhat.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is deemed auspicious and the holiest. During this month, which consists of 29 to 30 days, Muslims worldwide observe Roza (a fast from sunrise to sunset). This month focuses on Sawm (fasting – one of the five pillars of Islam). 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 – Allah swt 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 Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “Islam is built on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god except Allah swt and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah swt Muhammad; establishing prayer; paying zakaah; fasting Ramadan ; and Hajj to the House (the Ka’bah).” 2 – Allah swt 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 swt 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 swt has made Laylat al-Qadr in this month, which is better than a thousand months, as Allah swt 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 swt 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 swt’s Permission with all Decrees,(All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allah swt 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 swt 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 swt be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah swt Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month which Allah swt 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 swt be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah swt Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt 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 swt 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 Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt 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 Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt 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. 5 – In this month, Allah swt 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 Allah swt Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.” 6 – Every night Allah swt has people whom He redeems from the Fire. Imam Ahmad (5/256) narrated from the hadeeth of Abu Umaamah that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “At every breaking of the fast, Allah swt 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 Allah swt Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “Allah swt has people whom He redeems every day and night – i.e., in Ramadan – and every Muslim every day and night has a prayer that is answered.” 7 – Fasting Ramadan is a means of expiation for the sins committed since the previous Ramadan , so long as one avoids major sins. It was proven in Saheeh Muslim (233) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “The five daily prayers, from one Jumu’ah to the next and from one Ramadan to the next are expiation for (sins committed) in between, so long as you avoid major sins.” 8 – Fasting in Ramadan is equivalent to fasting ten months, as is indicated by the hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim (1164) narrated from Abu Ayyoob al-Ansaari: “Whoever fasts Ramadan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be like fasting for a lifetime.” Ahmad (21906) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan , a month is like ten months, and fasting six days after al-Fitr will complete the year.” 9 – Whoever prays qiyaam in Ramadan 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 (may Allah swt be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah swt Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) 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 Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj. Al-Bukhaari (1782) and Muslim (1256) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allah swt Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) 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 Ramadan comes, go for ‘Umrah, for ‘Umrah in Ramadan 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 Ramadan , because the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) always did that, as it was narrated in the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah swt be pleased with her) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) used to spend the last ten days of Ramadan 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 Ramadan 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 Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) every night in Ramadan and study the Qur’aan with him. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6; Muslim, 2308. Reading Qur’aaan is mustahabb in general, but more so in Ramadan . 13 – It is mustahabb in Ramadan to offer iftaar to those who are fasting, because of the hadeeth of Zayd ibn Khaalid al-Juhani (may Allah swt be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah swt Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) 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. May this Ramadan be successful for all of us and provide us with good health and wealth. Remove all our sins, May this holy month of Ramadan be a month full of blessings. May we all be showered with peace, joy and prosperity. Aameen.
The writer can be reached at suhaibbhatt85@gmail.com
