"The month of Ramadân in which was revealed the Qur'ân, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)." (Quran 2: 185)
The blessed month of Ramadan is here, providing us a great opportunity to increase the weight of our good deeds and to ask forgiveness from Allah. It is a month when the gates of Paradise are opened and gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained up. It is a month with a night better than a thousand months. Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever observes fasting in Ramadan with firm belief and hope of reward, his past sins will be forgiven" (Al-Bukhari)
It is time for us to think about how we are going to pass this month of Barakah (blessings). Let's try to take full advantage of this month's blessings by increasing our good deeds insh'Allah. And let's try to continue our good deeds after Ramadan as well insh'Allah. This month is a time to train ourselves, develop good habits and to continue them for the rest of our lives.
Here are some beneficial reminders to keep in mind:
1) When we are in the state of fasting, we need to safeguard ourselves from our sins and shortcomings. It is very important to avoid all evil deeds such as false speech, backbiting, lies, obscene behavior, slandering and absurd acts. Narrated Abu Hurairah, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever does not give up lying speech - false statements (i.e. telling lies) and acting on those (lies), and evil actions, etc., then Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (Al-Bukhari).
He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said: "Fasting is shield; so on a day that one is fasting, he should not indulge in offensive behavior or arguing; if anyone verbally abuses him or provokes him, he should say: 'I am fasting.'" (Al Bukhari and Muslim)
2) We should also strive to perform the Night Prayer. Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever prays Night Prayer in Ramadan, with firm belief and expecting a reward for it, his previous sins are forgiven" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
The benefits of praying at night are abundant. Narrated Abu Huraira, Allah's Apostle (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Every night when it is the last third of the night, our Lord, the Superior, the Blessed, descends to the nearest heaven and says: Is there anyone to invoke Me that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone asking My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?. " (Al-Bukhari )
3) We should strive to be generous and pursue charitable deeds. Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: Allah's Apostle (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) 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 (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was the most generous person, even more generous than the strong uncontrollable wind (in readiness and haste to do charitable deeds). (Al - Bukhari)
In another version of the hadith, narrated Ibn 'Abbas: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was the most generous person, and he used to become more so (generous) particularly in the month of Ramadan because Gabriel used to meet him every night of the month of Ramadan till it elapsed. Allah's Apostle (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to recite the Qur'an for him. When Gabriel met him, he used to become more generous than the fast wind in doing good. (Al-Bukhari)
This hadith teaches us that doing charitable deeds and acts of kindness is particularly virtuous during Ramadan. Hence we should hasten to be generous and spend our wealth on those who are poor and needy during this blessed month!
4) From the above hadith we also learn that it will be very beneficial for us to increase the recitation of the Quran. In addition to reciting the Quran in Arabic, we should try to read the Noble Quran in a language we understand best to comprehend the meaning, reflect on its verses and to try to implement its teachings in our daily lives.
5) Another deed we should strive to do is to provide food/drink to another person to break their fast. As Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "He who provides a fasting person something with which to break his fasting, will earn the same reward as the one who was observing the fast, without diminishing the reward of the latter at all" (At-Tirmidhi)
6) Try to perform Umrah in Ramadan. Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) returned after performing his Hajj, he asked Um Sinan Al-Ansari, "What did forbid you to perform Hajj?" She replied, "Father of so-and-so (i.e. her husband) had two camels and he performed Hajj on one of them, and the second is used for the irrigation of our land." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said (to her), "Perform 'Umra in the month of Ramadan, (as it is equivalent to Hajj or Hajj with me (in reward)." (Bukhari)
7) Finally we should spend the last ten days of Ramadan searching for the Night of Decree, a night which is better than one thousand months. Allah says:
"The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allâh in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months)" (Quran 97: 3)
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Whoever establishes the prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards (not to show off) then all his past sins will be forgiven." (Al-Bukhari)
Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told us to search for the Night of Decree in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan.
Narrated 'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): Allah's Apostle (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan." (Al-Bukhari)
It was the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to spend the last ten nights of Ramadan in worship. Narrated 'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): "When the last ten nights (of Ramadan) began, Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would keep awake at night (for prayer and devotion), awaken his family and prepare himself to be more diligent in worship" (Muslim)
In another version of the Hadith, 'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to strive more (in worship) during the last ten nights of Ramadan than he did during any other time". (Muslim)
Hence we should struggle to spend the last ten nights of Ramadan worshipping Allah in the most diligent manner. Let's spend the last nights standing in prayer, remembering Allah and making supplications. Whoever is deprived of the goodness of the Night of Decree is indeed deprived.
8) Another important reminder is that we should pursue all righteous deeds purely for the sake of Allah and seeking His Pleasure alone!
Sources:
-'Ramadan Excellent Merits and Virtuous Deeds' written by Hafiz Salah-ud-Din Yusuf
-'Treatises Zakat and Fasting' by Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz
