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TAG: Ramadan (calendar month)

5 Things About Ramadan

Here are some facts about this holy month:

  1. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is a month of daily fasting, in which Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and sexual activities from dawn to sunset. Fasting is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility, and spirituality and is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of God. During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.
  2. The name “Ramadan” had been the name of the ninth month in Arabian culture long before the arrival of Islam; the word itself derived from an Arabic root rm, as in words like “rami’a” or “ar-rama’ denoting intense heat, scorched ground and shortness of rations.
  3. The most prominent event of this month is fasting. The fast is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised awareness of closeness to God. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity (Zakat).
  4. Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are to slow down from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing, and enlightenment; this is to establish a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and forgiving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need.
  5. As compared to the solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backward about ten days each year depending on the moon. Hila’l (the crescent) is typically a day (or more) after the astronomical new moon. Since the new moon indicates the beginning of the new month, Muslims can usually safely estimate the beginning of Ramadan. There are some disagreements each year on when Ramadan starts.

Etiquette In The Month Of Ramadan

Respect for the Month of Ramadan
Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has said, The person who serves his parents according to the best of his abilities in the month of Ramadaan, Allah looks at him with special Mercy and takes the responsibility of forgiving him upon Himself. The wife who remains busy in Ramadaan pleasing her husband will be granted the companionship of Hazrat Mariam and  Hazrat Aasiya (Radiallahu Taala Anhuma) in Paradise. Once, in the city of Bukhara, the son of a fire worshiper was eating in the market of Muslims during the month of Ramadaan. Upon seeing him, his father slapped him on the face and expressed great disappointment. The son said, O my Father! You also eat all day long during the month of Ramadaan. The father replied, I do not fast at all and do eat but I do it in secret at home. I do not eat in front of the Muslims out of respect for this month. Sometime later, the fire worshiper died and a pious resident of Bukhara saw in his dream that the fire worshiper was walking in Paradise. He asked him, You were a fire worshiper, how did you get into Paradise? The fire worshiper replied It is true that I was a fire worshipper but, close to the time of death,  Allah Taala granted me the guidance to accept Islam. This is the blessing of respecting the month of Ramadaan that I died as a Muslim and Allah Taala granted me Paradise as a result of respecting Ramadaan and accepting Islam. [Nuzhatul Majaalis]

Subhaanallah! When a fire worshiper who respected the month of Ramadan was granted faith and Paradise by Allah Taala, if we Muslims respect the month of Ramadan and do not violate its sanctity, then we will definitely be deserving of the Grace of the Almighty, Insha Allah.

On the Day of Judgement, a person will be brought in such a state that the angels will be beating him mercilessly. He will seek support from Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) who will ask the angels, What is his sin? Why are you beating him so much? The angels will reply, He obtained the month of Ramadaan but still continued to disobey Allah Taala. Rasoolullah(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) will be about to intercede for him when a voice will state, O My
Beloved! The petitioner against him is the month of Ramadan.Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) will say, I am disgusted with those people whom Ramadaan petitions against.

Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, The person who safeguards three things is undoubtedly a Friend of Allah Taala, and know that the person who forsakes these three is an enemy of Allah Taala. These three things are fasting, Namaaz(Prayer), and compulsory bathing (Ghusl-e-Janaabat). The Paradise of Allah Taala longs for four kinds of people:
A person who fasts in the month of Ramadan.
A person who regularly recites the Holy Quran.
A person who safeguards his tongue.
A person who feeds his hungry neighbors.

On the Day of Judgement, when Allah Taala orders the people to rise from their graves, He will say to the Angel of Paradise, O Ridwan! Go and greet my bondsmen who used to fast, and used to go hungry and thirsty for My sake. Go with all the bounties of Paradise and present it to them.

Hazrat Ridwan (Alaihis Salaam) will call out, O workers of Paradise, bring large serving plates of Paradise, and bring food and drink equivalent to the grains of sand in the world, equal to the drops of rain, and equal to the stars in the sky and leaves on the trees. This will all be brought and placed in front of the people who used to fast. They will then be told, Eat as much as you please. This is the reward for the fasts that you observed in the world.