By Ramadan, the holiest month of the Islamic year, is only two months away from us. It’s absolutely mind-blowing how quickly time passes. And while the majority of us had hoped we’d get to spend this Ramadhan the way we used to pre-pandemic, most of the world will be spending it the way we have the last two years: in a sort of hybrid type way, but soaking in the beauty and blessings anyway. While precautions will be in place, and restrictions will prevail, the heightened spirituality and love for Allah SWT and our religion will be thriving!
But what makes Ramadhan so special anyway, even during the third year of a pandemic?
Let’s start with the most obvious; the reason behind fasting during the month of Ramadhan. Sawm, the Arabic term for Fasting, is the fourth pillar of Islam, following Zakah, Salah and the Shahdah (Belief in the Oneness of God and His Messenger). The act of fasting itself is highly rewarded and recommended, but the act of observing fast for the entire month of Ramadhan, the 9th month in the Islamic Calendar, is even more rewarded. It’s a sacred time and one we should appreciate regardless of our circumstances.
Aisha (RA) once reported to have said: The Messenger of Allah used to strive more in worship during Ramadhan than he strove in any other time of the year; and he would devote himself more (in the worship of Allah) in the last ten nights of Ramadan than he did in earlier part of the month. (Muslim).
While the month of Ramadhan is highly blessed, one because the holy Quran was first revealed to our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAWS (and he was revealed as the true and final prophet and messenger of Allah SWT) but also because during this month, Allah SWT has given us the opportunity to achieve many things.
RAMADAN IS A TIME FOR Forgiveness
According to a hadith, Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported to have said that the Prophet Muhammad SAWS said: Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadhan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.
This hadith cements the mercy of Allah AlMighty all over again. Imagine being given an entire month each year to have all our past sins forgiven? It’s quite inevitable that we as humans will make mistakes and commit sins. But we’re always told time and time again that seeking repentance and asking for forgiveness should come extremely naturally to us as well. Allah SWT is so merciful, we should have no doubt that he will forgive us, especially during such a holy month.
RAMADAN BRINGS A shield of protection
Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is fasting he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise his voice in anger. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say “I am fasting!” (Muslim)
During the month of Ramadhan, we practice restraint and discipline. The gates of Hellfire are shut and Shaytaan is locked up, which means this is the perfect time to control our desires and make sure we reduce the amount of sin we commit. Whether it be backbiting or raising our voices against our parents and elders, or treating our youngers in a bad way or watching and listening to vulgar and inappropriate things, Ramadhan is a time to practice staying away from Haram.
In another hadith, it has been reported that the Prophet Muhammad SAWS said: Anyone who fasts for one day for Allah’s sake, Allah will keep his face away from the Hellfire for (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years. (Bukhari and Muslim)
If you’re unable to fast, don’t worry; there are lots of other ways you can participate in Ramadan, get closer to Allah, and reap the benefits.
FOCUS ON becoming closer to allah and gaining rewards
Aisha (RA) once reported to have said: The Messenger of Allah used to strive more in worship during Ramadhan than he strove in any other time of the year; and he would devote himself more (in the worship of Allah) in the last ten nights of Ramadan than he did in earlier part of the month. (Muslim).
Like our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAWS, we should take full advantage of the month of Ramadhan to get closer to Allah and worship Him out of sincerity and purely for our love for Him. We’ve been given a chance to become closer to Him in the best way possible and we’re guaranteed a reward. The Prophet Muhammad was the most generous during Ramadhan, he would give to as many people he could and would spend every night with Angel Jibraeel going over the Quran, hence getting closer to Allah.
And because we have just two months before the most precious time of the year is upon us, it’s also an excellent time to start preparing for Ramadhan!
Make a list of goals for this Ramadhan. Think of the things you’d absolutely like to achieve, whether that be completing reading the entire Quran in one month, or donating a certain amount to charity or even waking up for Tahajjud for a certain number of nights, or maybe even just spending time connecting to Allah SWT and increasing your spirituality. Our goals for Ramadhan can be endless, and whatever we strive to do during this month for the sake of Allah SWT will be rewarded.
Start practicing the act of fasting! Fasting is excellent for our health, as recent scientific facts have shown us, and we as Muslims have the advantage over science here. It was the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SAWS to fast every Monday’s and Thursdays, no matter what time of the year. Get into the habit of fasting a couple days a month so that when Ramadhan does come upon us, you’ll be well-prepared!
Put your goals into practice! Start putting your goals into practice and act on them now so that by Ramadhan, they’ve become a habit and after Ramadhan, they’ll stick. The majority of actions we will be doing in Ramadhan are things we should be doing in our daily life anyway, just with more intensity and a bit more vigour.
Be thankful for another Ramadhan! Enjoy your time preparing for Ramadhan and when this blessed month approaches be thankful that Allah has given us another month to worship Him, another year to spend with our loved ones and another opportunity to get closer to Him. We don’t know when our time on this earth will end, and now that we’ve experienced just how quickly diseases can take lives firsthand, we should be forever grateful for even the smallest of things Allah SWT blesses us with.