     diehard | Unrecorded Date
In the Name of Allah, most Compassionate, most Merciful
"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." (Suratul Baqara, 2:185)
Of course, the blessed month of Ramadan requires fasting for most Muslims. Yet, in our
emphasis on refraining from food, drink, and marital relations during the daylight hours, we
sometimes forget many other important aspects of this sacred time. Perhaps, it would help
us to remember not only the outward act of fasting, but also its underlying purpose:
"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those
before so that you may attain taqwa (consciousness of Allah S.W.T)." (Suratul
Baqara, 2:183)
"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." (Suratul Baqara, 2:185)
"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those
before so that you may attain taqwa (consciousness of Allah S.W.T)." (Suratul
Baqara, 2:183)
The benefits of the month of fasting are too many to be counted. If one does recognize
them and realize their importance, he wishes to have the month of Ramadan to be
throughout the whole year. These blessings are given by Allah to the fasting Muslims, who
are to fast with full faith and expectation.
These blessings and benefits of the month of fasting during Ramadan have been grouped
and summarized into different categories. They are summarized here without commentary.
It should be remembered that all of these blessings were taken directly from Qur'an and
Hadith. The following is a partial list for the blessings and benefits of the month of fasting
during Ramadan:
1.Taqwa: This concept may mean the following complementary descriptions:
Fearing Allah (SWT)
Practicing the Revelations of Allah (SWT)
Accepting the little things that one has achieved
Preparing for departure from this world to the Hereafter
Self-discipline
Self-control
Self-restraint
Self-education
Self-evaluation
By accepting these criteria and by practicing them, the Muslim will achieve the
concept of Taqwa in his private and public life.
2.Protection: This idea is to mean the following complementary explanations:
Avoiding Immorality
Avoiding outcry/uproar
Avoiding stupidity
Avoiding all makrooh/mashbooh/haram
By achieving these good manners, a Muslim will come out of fasting a better human
being in the society.
3.Revelation of Qur'an: The Qur'an was revealed during the month of Ramadan.
The Qur'an is meant to be:
A Guidance to mankind
A Manifestation of right from wrong
A Summation, purification and culmination of all previous revelations
A Glad-tiding to the believers
A Healer
A Mercy
4.Doors of heaven are open
5.Doors of hell are closed
6.Devils are chained down
7.Fasting with iman (faith) and expectation:Such type of intention leads to
forgiveness by Allah (SWT) to the individual's sins.
8.Door of Rayyan:There is in Paradise a door called Al-Rayyan. It is for the fasting
Muslims. Only those who fasted the month of Ramadan are the ones to enjoy the
bliss of Paradise inside that area.
9.Rejoices: There are two types of rejoices for the Muslims who fast. These are:
When breaking fast
When meeting Allah (SWT)
10.Mouth Smell: The smell of the mouth of the fasting Muslim will be better than the
smell of musk during the day of judgement
11.Glad-Tidings: These glad-tidings are given to the well-wishers while the ill-wishers
are to be stopped during fasting.
12.Ramadan-Ramadan: Whoever fasts two consecutive fastings of Ramadan with
good intention will receive forgiveness for the mistakes committed throughout the
year.
13.Multiplication of Rewards: Doing good =10x, 70x, 700x or more during the
month of Ramadan.
14.Feeding Others: Whoever invites others to break the fast, and whoever takes
care of the hungry, needy, during the last ten days of Ramadan will receive equal
rewards to the fasting person(s).
15.Fasting Muslims are in Good When They:
Hasten their Iftar
Delay their Sahoor
16.Blessings of Sahoor (The Afternight Breakfast):
Night Prayers
Zikr, Remembrance, Contemplation
Recitation of Qur'an
Food for Sahoor
Fajr Salat in Jamaat
Du'a' of Fajr
Preparation for assuming leadership
17.Taraweeh Prayers: Whoever performs the Taraweeh prayers with sincerity and
good intention will receive forgiveness of his past mistakes.
18.Shafa'at (Pleading One's Case for Forgiveness): Whoever fasts Ramadan will
receive the Shafa'at of:
Ramadan
Qur'an
19.Ihya' (Passing Nights Awake): Last ten days of Ramadan. When a Muslim
makes this type of effort, he will get rewards, forgiveness, and multiples of
blessings.
20.Itikaf (Retreat): A Muslim who performs I'tikaf during the last ten days of
Ramadan will get:
Blessings and rewards
Peace of mind
Contemplation and evaluation
Better citizen
21.Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Power): Whoever observes it with sincerity and
good intention will get the following benefits:
Forgiveness of mistakes
Better than 1,000 months
Du'a'
Zikr
Prayers
Reading Qura'n
Rewards
Blessings
Better human being
22.Generosity: Kindness, hospitality, visitation, etc. All of these and many more are
among the benefits of Ramadan.
23.Sadaqatul Fitr (Charity During Fasting): The benefits of paying such as charity
to the needy are tremendous, among which are the following:
Purity
Feeding the needy
Sharing happiness
Improving human relations
Improving society
24.Zakat (Religious Tax Payment): The benefits of paying Zakat are many. These
are summarized as follows:
Purity
Flourishing of wealth
Improving economy
Circulation of wealth
Elimination of inflation
Elimination of poverty
25.Fasting and Health: By fasting, one gets the following benefits:
Purification of body from toxins
Reducing of weight
Purity of brain
Rejuvenation of body
Living of life with happiness
Looking younger
26.Change of Lifestyle: By living a different life style, one gets rid of the monotony
of life and hence enjoys his life span.
Night-living
Shops closed in morning
27.Sharing-Living: Of hunger, thirst and rituals with others in the society.
28.Eid-Ul Fitr (Feast): Sharing of happiness and visitation of one another as
members of the society.
29.Graveyards Visitation: One will get the following benefits by visiting graveyards.
Du'a' for the deceased
Preparing oneself for departure from this world
Feeling respect for the deceased
Making the person to be humble in his life
30.Du'a' at Iftar is Accepted by ALLAH (SWT): The supplication of a fasting
person is accepted by Allah (SWT) at Iftar time.
31.'Umrah in Ramadan: Visiting Makkah during the fasting month of Ramadan is:
Equal to one Hijjah (pilgrimage)
Equal to one Hijjah with Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
32.Successes in Ramadan: Muslims throughout their history received many benefits
during the month of fasting, among which are the following:
Battle of Badr
Battle of Khandaq
Opening of Makkah
Battle of Tabuk
Tariq Ibn Ziyad opened Europe
Salahuddin liberated Jerusalem from the crusaders
Egypt and Israel, 1973--Egyptians kicked the Israelis out of Egypt during
Ramadan |
