Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar; month of blessed, month of revealed the Holy Quran, the best month in a year, and month to achieve Jannah. Fasting on Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, pillars are referred here as duties.

Meaning of Ramadan: Ramadan means burning, the word Ramadan derived from �Ramad� means burn, the real meaning is burning of sins, if we fast in the way that Allah (SWT) likes and wants, then He (SWT) will forgive all of our sins such as fire burn the garbage.

Narrated by Abu Huraira (R) that our beloved Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, and then all his past sins will be forgiven."(Al-Bukhari).

Abu Huraira also narrated that Prophet (PBUH) said: �Whoever fails to leave off ruinous speech, and acting on it [during Ramadan], Allah (SWT) does not need him to leave off eating and drinking.� (Al-Bukahri).

Fasting:

Meaning of Fasting: The Arabic word for Fasting is Sawm, literally means "to refrain" - and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but also from evil actions, thoughts, and words.
Types of Fasting: According to Imam Al-Ghazali (Rahmatullah Alayhi) there three types of Fasting:

1. Regular Peoples Fasting: Abstain from foods, drinks and other desire: Ordinary peoples fasting,
2. Special Persons Fasting: Number 1, plus control all body parts from sins: Most pious peoples fasting,
3. Super Special Persons Fasting: Number 1 and 2, plus, control mind from all kinds of bad thinking and remembering Allah (SWT) : Prophets fasting

During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast.

In a Hadith, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: � that the feet of the son of Adam will not be able to move until he is questioned regarding the following four things:

1. How did you spend your youth ?
2. How did you utilize your body limbs ?
3. How did you spend your brain / talent / knowledge ?
4. How did you earn money and how did you spend it? 

Therefore, fasting is not merely physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of the fast.

SIGFICANCE OF RAMADAN AND FASTING

1. Question: Why Fasting ? 
Answer: Ramadan Clean Heart�s Spots: 

Clean LampDark Chimni
Fig. Harican Lamp
During 11 months, with the influence of Saitan people do bad deeds as a result their heart became black due to deposition of black spots, like chimni (glass) of a Harican Lamp become black due to deposition of spots in its inner side. (People use Harican in the rural area where there are no electricity or city areas in absence of electricity). To remove the black spot from the glass (chimni) people usually clean it every evening prior to use at night, similarly to clean our heart�s dart Allah (SWT) arrange such a system which is called Fasting in Ramadan.

2. In Details description about Fasting in the holy Quran:

Allah (SWT) mentioned in the Holy Quran " I have created Jinns and men, only for My Ibadah". Sura: Adh-Dhariyat: 51: 56

We know that what ever we do it will be treated as �Ibadah� if we do according to the Quran and Sunnah. Allah (SWT) discussed in detailed (1 ruku) about only one Ibadat in Holy Quran that is Sawm / Fasting. The rest of the �Ibadat� were discussed in brief such as Salat, He says �Ikimus Salat� means establish prayer, nothing mentioned about that Fajr prayer how many rakah , Dhur how many rakah etc. For Zakah only says �Ya A-tu Zakah� nothing mentioned how much Zakah for different types of wealth such as gold, silver, crop, and property. For Hajj, He (SWT) mentioned to perform Hajj, but nothing mentioned about all the necessary performance during Hajj, so that we can realize the importance of Sawm / Fasting.

3. Fasting For ME (SWT):

Abu Hurayra (R) reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), said, "Allah, the Mighty and Exalted said, 'Every action of the son of Adam is for himself except fasting, for that is solely for Me. I give the reward for it�. (Al Bukhari).

On the above mentioned hadith we know that Allah (SWT) says that �As-sawmuli� means Sawm (Fasting) is for Me (SWT). He never says Al-Hajjuli (means Hajj for Me) or As-Salatuli (Namaz is for Me) or Aj-Zakatuli (Zakat for Me). Off course all prayers what we do are for the sake of Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) also says �As-Sawmuli Wa ala Ajjabii� means Fasting is for Me and I (SWT) will give Myself its reward. We know that all of our good deeds are written by Angle except Fasting. Have you ever think that how much reward Allah (SWT) can offer for you for Sawm.

Our Beloved Prophet (PBUH) said that "If my followers realize what Ramadan really is (based on reward), they would wish that the whole year be Ramadan�.

4. The Month of Quran: 

Quranquran

Fig: Picture: Original Noble Quran

The month of Ramadan is called the month of the Qur'an. The Holy Quran was revealed this month. �Balhum Quranum Mazidun Fi Lawhay Mohfuz:

Ibn `Abbas and others have said, "Allah sent the Qur'an down all at one time from the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz) to the House of Might (Baytul-`Izzah), which is in the heaven of this world. Then it came down in parts to the Messenger of Allah based upon the incidents that occurred over a period of twenty-three years.''

Flow Diagram Showing the Original Source of Noble Quran and How it Came to Our Beloved Prophet (PBUH):

[Night of Qudr] [Through Jibril (AS)] 

Original Place: Arsh-al-Ajim ?Law-hi-Mahfuj ? Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
[Memorized it and Wrote by his companion for Preservation]

Allah (SWT) gave us many gift

Allah (SWT) gave us many gift, among them the best one is Al-Quran, the guidance for all human beings, not only for Muslims.

5. Renewal of Contact with the Qur�an 

Cvae Hira Fig: Cave Hira

Ramadan and the Qur�an are linked together from the beginning. In this month this divine message was revealed to our Prophet (PBUH). We are told that the Prophet (PBUH) was fasting when he received the first revelation. Fasting prepares the believers' hearts to learn the Word of Allah. It is the most suitable condition for our spiritual and mental communication with the Qur�an. The Muslim Ummah pays more attention to the Qur�an in this month. This renewed contact with the Qur�an must help us in following its message.

" Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong)". Sura Baqara: 2:185.

"This is the Book, In it is guidance sure, without doubt. To those who fear God". Sura Baqara: 2:2.

"He is the One Who sends to His Servant Manifest Signs, that He may lead you from the depths of Darkness into the Light and verily Allah is to you most kind and Merciful". Sura: Hadid: 57: 9

6. Taqwa: 

Taqwaa

"O You who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain God-consciousness / Taqwa�". Sura Bakara: 2:183
What is Taqwa ? Taqwa is the sum total of Islamic life. It is the highest of all virtues in the Islamic scheme of things. It means, God-consciousness, piety, fear and awe of Allah and it signifies submission to Allah and total commitment to all that is good and rejection of all that is evil and bad.

Example of Taqwa: One day Hazrat Umar (R) asked Hazrat Amer Bin As (R), can you give an example of Taqwa ? Amer ( R) said yes: Suppose you are walking in a street that�s surroundings are covered by spinney bushes. Amer ( R ) asked Omar ( R ) how do proceed through that street neither harming you nor tore your garments. Than Omar (R) said that I will fold my dress as well myself in such a way that the spine can�t get any chance to crutch me as well as my garments. Than Amer (R) said that is an example of Taqwa. We will live in the society with lot of bad things but we should refrain ourselves all of those bad things / unlawful acts like the fish (certain type) who lives in the mud, but mud wouldn�t touch the fish.

7. Jihad or Struggle: 

Fasting in Ramadan and Jihad both of them were prescribed in the same year, that is the second year of Hijrah in Madinah. Fasting prepares for hardships and sacrifice. Jihad is not possible without these two important things. Muslim learns in Ramadan how to struggle against the forces of evil for himself, in the society around him, and in the world at large. 
Prophet (PBUH) said that: "The mujahid is he who makes jihad against his nafs (ego) for the sake of obeying Allah (Tirmidhi and Ahmad).

8. A Fresh Sense of Care and Sympathy:

Fasting in the month of Ramadan helps us to understand the suffering and the pains of the poor and needy. We learn how to be more kind and generous in this month.

Ibn �Abbas ( R) and his father, relates that �The Prophet (PBUH), was the most generous of people. He was even more generous in Ramadan when Jibriel (A) would meet him and review the Qur�an with him. Jabriel (A) would come to him every night of Ramadan to review the Qur�an. During these times, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), was more generous than the freely blowing wind.� (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

9. Great opportunity to listen the whole Quran:

Great opportunity to listen the whole Quran

During taraweeh prayers, especially those who are not able to recite the Quran (busy people / ones who didn�t know how to recite) is a great opportunity for them to listen the Holy Quran during the month of Ramadan. Those who can read the Arabic script should do so in Arabic, even if they do not fully understand what they are reading. They should also try to read through the English translation. Those who are unable to read Arabic or English, should try to read through the entire Bangla translation.

10. During Ramadan the gates of Heaven are open and the gates of hell are closed and Saitans are chained:

Our beloved Prophet (PBUH) said �during the month of Ramadan of gates of Heavens are open and the gates of hell are closed and Saitans are chained�. 

There might be a question arise in our mind that if the Saitans are chained during the month of Ramadan, why people are doing sinful act during Ramadan? 

Manual Winding Watch Fig. Manual Winding Watch

There is a logical answer to that question. People use hand watch to check their daily time to perform work on time. There are a different types of winding system for hand watch, mainly the old fashion ones (except that battery operated / automatic ones). Some winding system may exist one day, some of them one week and certain watch for a month. Saitan also follows the winding technology for human being to do bad things. So those people who continue to do bad things / sinful acts during the month of Ramadan, in that case Saitan winded him / her in such a way that his winding system exist more than one month. Therefore in absence of Saitan, winding system existed in human being and continues to do bad things / sinful acts during Ramadan.

11. Months of Rahmah, Magferah (forgiveness) and seek salvation (najat) from Hell fire:

Our Beloved Prophet (PBUH) said that "Ramadan is a month whose beginning is Mercy, whose middle is Forgiveness and whose end is freedom from the fire."

Mercy > Forgiveness > Freedom from Fire 

Forgiveness

Duas during the Holy month of Ramadan:

1st 10 days : Yaa Hayyu Yaa Qayyoomu, bi-rahmatika astagheethu

2nd 10 days: astaghfirullaah-al Azeem-alladzi laa illaha illa Huwa-al Hyyu-l-Qayyoomu wa atobu ilayh

3rd 10 days: Rabbana aatina fi-ddunyaa hasanatanwa fil-aakhirati hasanatanwa qinaa adzaab-annaar

Abu Hurairah ( R) reports, Prophet (PBUH) declared, 'Three persons whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: the fasting person until he breaks his fast (in another narration, when he breaks fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed. (Ahmad, Tirmidhi).

Most Deprive Person: 

The following incident will highlight the utmost importance of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. Once while mounting the mimber (pulpit) of his Masjid for khutba (sermon), the Prophet (PBUH) was heard saying

"Aameen" on the first step of the mimber. He repeated the same act on the second and third steps. It was an unusual act for the Companions. After the Prophet (PBUH) completed the khutba and prayer, the Companions requested him to explain his act so that they could also benefit from it. The Prophet (PBUH) replied, 

"When I mounted the first step, Aangel Jibreel appeared and said �May the person be destroyed who got the month of Ramadan but did not secure forgiveness.� Thereupon I said �Aameen'.

When I mounted the second step, Jibreel said, 'May that person be destroyed who refrains from reciting salat (darood) when your name is mentioned in his presence'. Thereupon I said �Aameen'.

And when I mounted the third step, Jibreel said �May that person be destroyed whose both parents or one parent happen to reach old age and he did not attain Allah's forgiveness (by serving them).� Thereupon I said �Aameen'."

12. Medical and Moral Benefit for Fasting: 

Fasting extended our life, reduced our body growth due to consume less food. According to Medical report Fasting also increases disease resistance power such as hard disease, diabetic, cancer, gastric, and memory capacity.

Prophet (PBUH) said � If you fast you will be healthy (Ahmed)

Narated by Abu Huraira (R) Prophet (PBUH) said that � There is a Zakat for all wealth, but Zakat for Human body is Fasting (Ibn Maja)

13. Fasting is a special type of Ibadat, Training for the 1.83 Billion People (World�s Muslim Population) at the Same Time:

For Salat it takes few minutes, for Haj 2 weeks once in a life, for Zakat may be few hours for Calculation and submission, but Fasting is completely different. It includes the following 30 days course: Eat last night meal, fasting in the day time, abstain from sexual relation in the day time, besides that abstain from telling lies, backbiting, use fowl talk, avoid quarrel, julm, avoid dance, music, movie, cinemas, illegial activities, earn halal way, spend money for buying halal food and eat halal food during iftar, perform taragee prayer with jamat at Masjid, recite Quran prior or after sleep, get up at last night and pray Tahazzud seek forgiveness, eat last night meal, pray fazar prayer and sleep, get up and do work and observe fasting. This daily cycle goes unto 30 days whole Muslim Ummah in the World (1.83 billon). It will help to adjust / establish our body clock to Islamic life style.

14. Ramadan Generosity:

The month of Ramadan brings many blessings multiplied many fold for those who do good deeds. During this month people are more generous, more cordial, more friendly and more ready than other times of the year to do good deeds. The poor and the needy receive food, clothing and money from the well-to-do in the community. Many people go to the Masjid in the neighborhood for fast breaking and meals. People in the neighborhood send fruit, food and drinks to the Masjid - the atmosphere is that of a friendly pot luck dinner every evening of the month. Zakat, a wealth purifying tax, and donations are given at this time of the year since many Muslims wish to take the opportunity of multiplied rewards from Allah (SWT).

15. Laylat al-Qadr:

There is a night in the month of Ramadan called Qadr / Night of Power which is better than 1000 Months (84.3 years), Allah (SWT) mentioned in the following verse of the Holy Quran: Sura: Qadr: 97: 3 

In true sense the Laylat-al-Qard is better than 1000 months. Arabic word �alfun� means thousands and thousands, which means the welfare of this universe had never been happened within thousand and thousand years, but it happened on the night of Qadr. The welfare considered here the revelation of the Holy Quran, the best gift and the guide for all human being.

According to authentic teachings of our Beloved Prophet (PBUH) Muslims are advised to seek Lailat-ul-Qadr in the odd nights out of the last ten nights of Ramadan.''(Al-Bukhari).

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said that �those who prays on the night of Qadr with faith and hope, Allah (SWT) will forgiven his all previous sins� (Al-Bukhari).

Dua: The Mother of believers Aishah (R) reported: I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Lailat-ul-Qadr, what should I supplicate in it?'' He (PBUH) replied, "You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka `afuwwun, tuhibbul-`afwa, fa`fu `anni. Meaning: O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me).� (At-Tirmidhi).

16. Fasting is Like Shield:

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, "Verily fasting is a trust. Let each, therefore, take good care of his trust." He further said, "Fasting is a shield against sins (Ahmad). When a person fasts in the proper manner and implements all the etiquette of fasting, he will free himself of sins and gain salvation from hell. If one of you is fasting, you should avoid obscenity and quarrelling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with you, you should say, �I am fasting'."

We can observe in our Muslim Community that there are many brothers who smoke daily (some one chain smoker), but during the month of Ramadan they quit smoking in the day time just for fear Allah (SWT). This is one of the good example that how Fasting act as a shield to prevent our bad habit.

17. Multiple Rewards: 10 to 700 Fold:

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: "Every good deed is rewarded from ten to seven hundred times, except for the reward of fasting�. In other words, there is no limit for the reward of fasting. Allah (SWT) will give the reward for fasting Himself and will not delegate this task to the angels.

During this month Nafal is rewarded as Farz, and one Farz is rewarded as seventy Farz.

Abu Umamah reported: "I came to the Messenger of Allah and said: 'Order me to do a deed that will allow me to enter Paradise.' He said: 'Stick to fasting, as there is no equivalent to it.' Then I came to him again and he said: 'Stick to fasting."' [Ahmad and an-Nasa'i].

18. Fasting and Noble Quran will intercede on the day of Judgement:

`Abdullah ibn `Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUM) said: "The fast and the Qur'an are two intercessors for the servant of Allah on the Day of Resurrection. The fast will say: 'O Lord, I prevented him from his food and desires during the day. Let me intercede for him.' The Qur'an will say: 'I prevented him from sleeping at night. Let me intercede for him.' And their intercession will be accepted." [Ahmad].

19. Month of Forgiveness

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): Allahs�s Messenger (PBUH) said, �The gates of Paradise are opened on Mondays and Thursdays, and then every slave (of Allah) is granted forgiveness if he does not associate anything with Allah in worship. But the person in whose heart there is rancor (ill feeling) against his (Muslim) brother (or sister), they will not be pardoned and with regard to them it will be said twice: �Hold both of them until they are reconciled with each other.��[Muslim]

Uqbah bin Amar (RA) reported that Prophet (PBUH) said,� Whoever sees a fault in his Muslim brother and he keeps it hidden he is like one who saved a live buried gril�

Jabir b. Abdullah reported that Prophet (PBUH) said: "Allah is not merciful to whim who is not merciful to people ". ( Bukhari, Muslim )

Our Beloved Prophet (PBIH) said: �A Muslim is the brother of a fellow-Muslim. He should neither commit oppression upon him nor ruin him, and he who meets the need of a brother, Allah would meet big needs, and he who relieved a Muslim from hardship, Allah would relieve him from the hardships to which he would be put on the Day of Resurrection, and he who did not expose (the follies of a Muslim) Allah would conceal his follies on the Day of Resurrection�. ( Bukhari, Muslim )

Dear brother and sister please try to do good deeds as much as possible during this Holy Month of Ramadan. We need more and more hasana, because we don�t know what will happen on the day of judgment. In case if you have shortage of just one hasana to go to the Jannah, can you get it from any body? No, even mother will go her son and request him to give her just one hasana. The Mother will say my dear son, I beared you 10 month and 10 days, I fed my breast 2 � years, I toke care of you during your childhood, and supported your educational expenses, give me just one hasana. The son will say, sorry mother I need it for myself. How critical should be the day of Judgment.

My dear brothers and sisters there is no any guaranty that this blessed Month of Ramadan will came back in our life next year. Please remembers everyday all of your family members including your beloved parents, relatives, friends & well wishers, teachers and neighbors among them who have already been departed from us, and make dua for their magferah prior to break fast and also in sujud during Tahazzud prayer. Personally I wish all of your happy Ramadan and ask Allah (SWT) to forgive all Muslim brothers and sisters past sins (Ameen). Allah hafiz