The Prophet, peace be upon him, mentioned Ramadan in his words many times, which reached us to follow his guidance, peace be upon him, in the forms of worship that we perform in this month.
The Muslim takes comfort when he reads the words of the Messenger, because it is like how he should act during his day, so he learns how to fast, when to break the fast, and what matters that decrease or increase the reward for his fasting.
In this article, we discuss some hadiths that were reported by the Prophet, peace be upon him, regarding the virtues of the month of Ramadan and the types of worship that are desirable in it.
Devils are bound throughout the month
In Ramadan, there is no opportunity for Satan to corrupt a Muslim’s worship like the rest of the months, and this was mentioned in the hadith of the Prophet, peace be upon him.
Abu Hurayrah (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported that the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
“When Ramadan enters, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed and the devils are chained.”
Umrah equals Hajj only in Ramadan
If it is possible for you to go to perform Umrah in Ramadan, then this is a great reward that is not equal to any of the other virtues mentioned for the month of Ramadan.
Umm Saleem (RadhiAllahu Anha) reported that the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
(The performance of) `Umrah during Ramadan is equal (in reward) to performing Hajj with me.
The reward for fasting is indefinite, which means it is great
God Almighty rewards the servant for fasting as he wills, and he does not have a specific reward like the rest of the acts of worship that a Muslim performs. Therefore, fasting for one day does not know what a person can be rewarded for, so his reward may be Paradise!
Abu Hurayrah (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
Every action a son of Adam does shall be multiplied—a good action by ten times its value, up to 700 times. Allah says: With the exception of fasting, which belongs to Me, and I reward it accordingly. For, one abandons his desire and food for My sake.
There are two occasions of joy for a fasting person: one when he breaks his fast, and the other when he meets his Lord, and the (bad) breath (of a fasting person) is better in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of musk.
(Al-Bukhari)
Hold your tongue from speaking foul words
We know as Muslims that fasting is not only about food and drink. A Muslim fasts from obscene speech, anger, and every bad manner. Abu Hurayrah (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported that the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said
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)
Complete remission from fasting one month
There is always an opportunity to expiate sins by fasting Ramadan with faith and commitment not to spoil the fast with foolish things.
Abu Hurayrah (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported that the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.
(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Ramadan is a way to give with everything one can
Ibn ‘Abbas (RadhiAllahu Anhu) narrated:
“The Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) was the most generous of all people, and he used to become more generous in Ramadan when Gabriel met him. Gabriel used to meet him every night during Ramadan to revise the Qur’an with him. Allah’s Messenger then used to be more generous than the fast wind.”
(Al-Bukhari)
The last ten days of the month have an advantage over the rest of the month
A Muslim may spend a lot in worship during the whole year, but in the act of the Prophet, peace be upon him himself, the days of Ramadan had a more powerful pursuit of worship, especially the last ten days of the month.
`A’ishah (RadhiAllahu Anha) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) used to strive more in worship during Ramadan 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)
Ask God to make you reach Ramadan in hope of forgiveness from year to year
Abu Hurayrah (RadhiAllahu Anhu) reported that the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
The five (daily) prayers, and from one Friday prayer to the next, and from Ramadan to Ramadan are expiation for sins committed in between provided one stays away from the major sins.
(Al-Bukhari)
Let us try to make the most of Ramadan in order to ensure the virtue of the month and have an experience of faith that the nature of life may not allow us in the rest of the months.
Digging deeper into the biography of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and the hadiths narrated by his companions about him makes us strive actively in worship to be with him in heaven and enjoy eternal bliss.
