Ramadan

“We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to thee what the night of power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by God’s permission, on every errand: Peace!…This until the rise of morn!” [Surah Al Qadr 97:1-5]

The Month of Ramadan is the month of obedience to Allah, the time the people have to bring themselves to Allah. Many people think that Ramadan is the month of being lazy and laid back. That is not the month of Ramadan, it is the month of working hard, keeping away from sins, keeping away from desires. The month of Ramadan is the best month. It is the time that Allah revealed the Quran. It is the time when Jibreel (radhiAllahu anhu) came to Muhammad (sallAllahu ’alayhi wasallam) and taught him the Quran.

“By the Book that makes things clear– We sent it down during a Blessed Night: for We (ever) wish to warn (against Evil).” [Surah Al Dukhan 44:2-3]

Reading the Quran in Ramadan

The salafus-saalih (righteous predecessors) used to try to finish the Quran every three days, or every seven or every ten. Also, it was narrated that Imaam as-Shafi’i finished the Quran in one night. It is very important that one tries to push oneself to read the Quran and to more than one would normally do. We know that Ramadan is the month that Allah revealed the Quran. How can a Muslim stay away from the Quran? How can person go a day or two or three without opening the Quran? This was the character of the Salafus-Saalih that they would become awestruck when they heard the Quran.

So, brothers and sisters, try to increase in reading the Quran in this blessed month of Ramadan. If you read Quran in the month of Ramadan you will receive more reward than the other months.

Increasing the Du’a in Ramadan

al-Haakim stated in his ‘Mustadrak’ from the hadith of Ali Ibn Abi Talib (radhiAllahu anhu) from the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ’alayhi wa sallam) that he said, “Supplication is the weapon of the believer, the pillar of the religion, and the light of the heaven and earth.” (Abu Ya`laa [no. 439], Ibn Adi [2/296], al-Haakim [1/492] and al-Quda’i [no. 143])

Du’a was the habit of the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ’alayhi wa sallam). Increase in du’a to Allah, the one who does this is like the one who is at a door, eventually someone will answer him. Likewise the one who supplicates to Allah, is like the one who knocks a door, he will soon receive an answer. Keep in mind; the du’a without actions is nothing. Do not just make du’a and believe that you will be fine. You should make du’a and worship Allah. One of the salaf said, ‘the example one who makes du’a but doesn’t act upon his du’a is like the one who has a weapon without ammunition.’ So you must have du’a and you must have actions and worship Allah.

Salatul-Layl (The Night Prayer) in Ramadan

Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah’s Messenger said: “Whoever establishes prayers during the nights of Ramadan faithfully out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards (not for showing off), all his past sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih Bukhari, Kitabul-Emaan, Hadith No. 36)

Remember, the one who stands in the night of ‘laylat-ul-qadr’ will have the reward of 83 years. You have to strive hard, give up sleep and this may not be sweet in the dunyaa but it will be sweet in the hereafter. One must have patience in obeying Allah and patience in staying away from sins. The person who is the loser, is the one who doesn’t become closer to Allah in this month.

Source : Preparation for Ramadan by Shaykh ‘Abdullaah Ibn ‘Abdur-Raheem al-Bukhari