Ramadan is a unique month filled with blessings. We have many opportunities to earn good deeds by fasting during the day and praying at night. During this month, Allah (swt) increases the reward for every good deed, showing us the special blessings of Ramadan.
The Quran was revealed during Ramadan.
The Quran is our main source of guidance from Allah (swt), and it was revealed during Ramadan. When the Quran mentions Ramadan, it is talking about the time when the Quran was sent down to us:
Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the standard (to distinguish between right and wrong). So whoever is present this month, let them fast. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then (let them fast) an equal number of days (after Ramadan). Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful. (Surah Al-Baqarah)
Allah (swt) has given Ramadan a special honor because it is the month when the Quran was revealed. Fasting can be seen as a way to celebrate receiving the Quran. Without it, we would not have clear guidance, values, or laws to live by. The Quran shows us right from wrong and teaches us the values that please Allah (swt). Ramadan is truly a blessed month, made even more special by the gift of the Quran.
Learning to control oneself
Allah (swt) has made fasting obligatory during Ramadan, but fasting can also be done during the remaining days of the year as an additional form of worship. Unfortunately, the vast majority of us don’t fast outside of Ramadan, but let’s take a closer look at an important verse:
O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you – as it was for those before you – so you may become mindful (of Allah). (Surah Al-Baqarah)
When we fast, it’s easy to focus on when we can eat again. Sometimes, this distracts us from the real purpose of fasting, which is to become more mindful of Allah. Fasting helps us avoid certain things and encourages us to worship and do good deeds. It puts us in a position where we think more about pleasing Allah (swt) and being aware of Him. Even though we feel hungry and fight our desire to eat or drink, we see mosques become busier, more charity is given, and people try to act better. The challenge of fasting truly helps us improve ourselves.
The expiation of sins
Expiation means making amends for something that has been done wrong (i.e. sins). Allah (swt) says, “Surely, good deeds erase the bad deeds”. The good deeds in Ramadan are indeed a means of making amends and seeking forgiveness for the evil deeds we have committed. Ramadan is a month in which so many good deeds are done that they begin to wipe out our bad ones like no other time of the year. The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
Whoever fasts Ramadan knows its limits and avoids whatever he should avoid in it (Ramadan), which will be an expiation of what is before it. (Ahmad)
For anyone who is mindful of Allah, Ramadan motivates us to do more good deeds than in any other month. The fact that these acts are required is actually a great blessing.
How many of us would fast in Ramadan if it were not required? How many of us would give charity during this month?
Instead of seeing Ramadan as a hard month, we should focus on what we gain from it. The words of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) help us understand this:
Allah wonders at those people who will enter Paradise in chains. (Al-Bukhari)
Allah (swt) is forcing us to do something we naturally don’t want to do, forgiving us of our sins and making us better people. It’s a one-sided deal in our favour! The Hadeeth implies that we don’t want to go to Jannah (Paradise); we would rather stay here in this World. But Allah (swt) wants much better for us. Instead, he (swt) would force us to fast, pray, and give Zakat so He (swt) could take us to His Jannah. Ramadan is the month in which we can worship so that we can be forgiven, all for that end goal of a place in Jannah and Allah’s (swt) mercy.
Ramadan brings people together.
Throughout the year, we are all busy with our own lives. Sometimes, shared experiences bring us together, whether in tough times or happy ones. Ramadan especially brings families closer. We wake up and eat together, break our fast together, and worship in larger groups than usual. We support each other and share a common purpose. After Ramadan, we celebrate Eid together. These moments help us connect and appreciate each other more than at any other time of year.
So, how is this a blessing? One of the effects of fasting is that it slows you down, and naturally, the body will reserve energy so that we can sustain ourselves until we can re-energise at Iftar. Slowing down allows us to engage with people better; our families become more conscious about each other and share the burden of the fast. So, we are becoming more mindful of Allah (swt) and humbling ourselves to become more conscious of the people around us. We begin to appreciate what is around us and what we take for granted outside of Ramadan, and learn to become more forgiving.
During Ramadan, instead of focusing on how hard fasting is, let’s think about and appreciate its many blessings. Often, we pay attention to the challenges, but we forget how Allah (swt) has blessed us this month so He can forgive us. By the end of Ramadan, we can celebrate Eid as better people.