The Virtues of Ramadan

Ramadan is coming up so I decided to share an aricle related to Ramadan, to give you a better understanding of the month and its virtues.

During the month of Ramadan, the Prophet (peace be upon him), stood up on a Minbar, called the Companions and gave them a Khutbah. He said: 

"Oh people, know that a month is upon you. Know that you are witnessing a month that Allah (SWT) has made sacred, that Allah (SWT) made obligatory to fast during its days and He has requested that you stand during its nights (its not obligatory, but it is rather good to do so)."

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has said the following about this month:

~ During this month, all of the doors of Hell are shut and chained, and all of the gates of Ramadan are opened; meaning that every opportunity to do good is opened up. You are safe from the fire of Hell.
~ This is a month in which all of the evil Shayaateen are locked up, and they are not allowed to go around, whispering evil thoughts.

~ This is a month that every single night, Allah (SWT) saves people who were destined to go to Hell, and this month has a day which is better than a thousands months. This month is Ramadan.

The Preferred Month

Allah has preferred certain months over others, and Ramadan is the most preferred month in the sight of Allah (SWT). Realize that this month has been made very easy as the Shayaateen and gates of Hell are locked, and also realize that 100 percent of the evil deeds that you do in this month is solely from your soul. Therefore, Ramadan is a reflection of your soul.

The Three Ameens

One day, when the Prophet was giving the Friday Khutbah, he was climbing up the pulpit, which had three steps. When he climbed the first step, he said Ameen. Then he climbed up the second and said Ameen. Then he climbed up the third and said Ameen. 

So the companions were confused and asked, 'Oh Messenger of Allah, we have never heard you say Ameen every time you climb a step. What is the reason for this?' 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'When I was climbing the pulpit, Jibreel came to me and told me, "Oh Muhammad, anyone in your nation who manages to be alive when Ramadan comes and does not manage to get his sins forgiven, let him perish in the hell fire! Say Ameen!" So Muhammad said Ameen. Then when he climbed the second step, Jibreel said, "Anyone who manages to catch Laylatul Qadr and does not manage to get his sins forgiven, may he perish in the hell fire! Say Ameen!" So the Prophet said Ameen and when the Prophet climbed the third step, Jibreel said to him, "Oh Muhammad, anyone of your Ummah who manages to catch one of them or both, when they are elderly and they need his help and is not able to service them properly and get his sins forgiven, may he perish in the hell fire say Ameen!" So the Prophet said Ameen."'

So three duas are made. Three golden opportunities that even the worst of men can get all of their sins erased by turning to Allah. Two of those opportunities are related to the entire month of Ramadan and Laylatul Qadr. Therefore, if you cannot be righteous in this month, then there is no hope for you because there are no excuses.

Three Ways to Get All Bad Deeds Forgiven

So what do you have to do? The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned three things and anyone of them will unconditionally forgive all of ones bad deeds: 

1. Whoever fasts the entire month of Ramadan, believing in Allah and hoping for Allah (SWT)'s reward.

2. Standing up at night in Ramadan (Taraweeh).

3. The night of Laylatul Qadr.

Ar-Rayyan

One more blessing of Ramadan is that it is the month when you perfect your fasting, and you can enter through a special door set aside for those who fast. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 

"In Jannah, there is a special door called Ar-Rayyan and Ar-Rayyan means that which will give you a lot of water, because the way to get to that is to deprive yourself of water (by fasting)."

Ramadan has been put for you to achieve righteousness and piety this is the ultimate goal. Allah does not benefit when you tire yourself out. Rather, you are the one that benefits. May Allah make us among those whose sins are forgiven in this month, whose fasting is accepted, whose reading of the Quran is accepted, and whose Qiyyam is accepted, and may He make us among those who enter Jannah through the gate of Rayyan.

Ameen!