The special character, which distinguishes the month of Ramadan from the rest of the year is derived from the type of action we do during this month, be they obligatory or voluntary. We have spoken about fasting and the reasons for making it obligatory, as well as the role it plays in the building of the special character, which the nation of Islam has. We have pointed out that fasting has much to do with the preparation of Muslims for the task assigned to them by God, namely, conveying the divine message of Islam to mankind. Although fasting is the main thing, we do in Ramadan, it is only the obligatory part. There are other aspects of worship, which we associate with Ramadan in one way or another and which contribute to its distinctive characteristics.
Every Muslim knows that emulating the Prophet (peace be upon him) in any action he did during the 23 years of his mission is strongly recommended. It goes without saying that some of these actions we must do since they are Islamic duties. What is not obligatory and has been done by the Prophet constitutes a recommended practice, which earns a reward if done by any Muslim. When we look at what the Prophet did in Ramadan, we find that he was exceptionally charitable in this blessed month. In order to appreciate his generosity, we need to remember that the Prophet was the most generous of people at all times. He never hesitated to give away whatever he had, trusting always that God will give him more for his charity. In Ramadan, however, he was exceedingly charitable, with no limits to his generosity.
Moreover, prayer, which is the mainstay of Islamic worship, and indeed the Islamic faith, receive even stronger emphasis during Ramadan. When you go anywhere in the Muslim world during Ramadan, you find that mosques witness some unusual activity during this month. Worshippers gather for a late congregational prayer, which is offered after Isha, the night prayer, and takes much longer than any of the five obligatory prayers offered daily. Nevertheless, this worship exercise is not obligatory. We do it, following the guidance of the Prophet. It is authentically reported that he came out into the mosque one night during Ramadan and a group of his companions joined him in a congregational prayer. He did the same on the following two nights with the congregation increasing every night. On the fourth night, the mosque was overcrowded, but the Prophet did not come out. In the morning, when he came out for the obligatory dawn prayer, Fajr, said to his companions that he was aware of their presence. He simply did not want to come out because he feared that this worship might become obligatory to them. He wanted to keep it voluntary. However, the indication is clear that congregational night worship during Ramadan is strongly recommended.
