Virtues of Ramadaan
A great act of worship
Fasting the month of Ramadaan is a great act of worship for a Muslim, one
that has been prescribed by Allah in Qur'an.
"O you who believe! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)."
(Qur'an - 2: 183)
If this act of worship was not so great, nor so much of reward could be gained from it, then Allah would not have made it obligatory for all nations.
It atones for previous sins
Among the great virtues of Ramadaan is that it atones for previous sins.
"He who observes the fast of the month of Ramadaan out of sincerity and hope for the reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven."
(Hadith - Bukhari)
Allah will forgive the past sins of a Muslim who fasts the month of Ramadaan with belief and without doubting its reward or resenting having to observe it as an act of worship.
Abu Hurayrah narrated that Allah's Apostle (PBUH) said, "When the month of Ramadaan starts, the gates of Jannah (Paradise) are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained."
(Hadith - Bukhari & Muslim)
Abu Hurayrah reports that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "The time between the five prayers, two consecutive Friday prayers, and two consecutive Ramadaans are expiations for all that has happened during that period, provided that one has avoided grave sins."
(Hadith - Muslim)
In the month of Ramadaan, the gates of paradise are opened because of the great number of good deeds that are performed during this month, and as an encouragement for those who seek Allah's rewards. The gates of hell are closed during Ramadaan because the believers commit few sins during this time. The devils are chained during Ramadaan so that they may not have the chance to misguide the Muslims as they try to do during the other months.
Unlike other acts of worship such as praying, giving charity, undertaking pilgrimage and so on, it is not something apparent to the onlooker if a person is fasting. So whilst a person may erroneously undertake other acts of worship with the wrong intention (i.e. to be seen by people), fasting is not like that. It is between Allah and the fasting person that they are observing the fast, for no one else could know if they have kept their fast. When a person fasts with sincerity and belief, they do it only for the sake of Allah out of faith, love and conviction.
Abu Hurayrah reported the Prophet (PBUH) as saying: "Allah said: All the deeds of Adam's children belong to them, except fasting, which belongs to me and I will reward it. Fasting is a shield (against the Hell and against the commission of sins). If one of you happens to be fasting he should avoid sexual relations with his wife, and should avoid quarrelling. Should someone fight or quarrel with him let him say, 'I am fasting.' By Him in Whose hand my soul is, the smell of the breath of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than that of musk. The fasting person will have two moments of joy: one when he breaks his fast, and the other when he meets his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting"
(Hadith - Bukhari & Muslim)
It acts as a shield
Fasting acts as a shield because the fasting person is less likely to commit
sins as they are engaged in an act of worship for the sake of Allah. A
fasting person remembers Allah often and is better able to control their
desires.
Fasting is about more than leaving one's drink and food, it is about
applying self-restraint in many other ways. So amongst other things, the
fasting person should not indulge in idle talk or gossip, nor fight, nor
backbite, nor slander people.
Joy will be experienced on two occasions
Fasting is so meritorious for a believer that they will have two occasions
of joy. The first is at the time of breaking their fast, when they enjoy
the bounties of Allah because they have been favored with Allah's mercy to
observe the fast while many others have been deprived of this great
blessing and because upon breaking the fast the person appreciates the
blessings they have been given in that they have food and drink with which
to break their fast, whilst others do not. The fasting person will rejoice
on the second occasion, when they meet their Lord and enjoy the abundant
reward for having observed fasting.
The person will be called into Paradise from the gate of Al-Rayyaan
There are eight gates into Paradise. One of the rewards for having
observed the fast, is that when the believer enters Paradise they will be
allowed to enter through the gate called Al-Rayyaan, which is reserved
only for those who have fasted.
Sahl said that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "In Paradise there is a gate called al-Rayyaan, through which those who used to fast will enter on the Day of Resurrection, and no one but they will enter it. It will be said, 'Where are those who fasted?' They will get up, and none will enter it but them. When they have entered, it will be locked, and no one else will enter."
(Hadith - Bukhari & Muslim)
It acts as an intercessor
Fasting acts as an intercessor for the believer on the Day of Judgement,
in that Allah would forgive the person for some of their sins and not punish
the person for them.
'Abdullaah ibn 'Amr reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Fasting and the Qur'an intercede for the servant on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: 'O my Lord! I prevented him from food and desires, so accept my intercession for him'; and the Qur'an will say: 'I prevented him from sleep at night, so accept my intercession for him'. So their intercession will be accepted."
(Hadith - Ahmad, Al Haakim, Abu Nu'aym and others)
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