“The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.” {Al-Baqara.185}
Fasting Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam mentioned by our honorable Messenger, and it is obligatory for every Muslim, mentally sane, adult, able, and resident without impediments such as disease and long travel and others. “So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.” {Albaqara.158}
Fasting was imposed on the Messenger – upon him be prayers and peace – and the Muslims in the month of Shaaban in the second year of the Hijra to
So, it was the first Ramadan, Muslims fast with the Messenger (may God bless him and grant him peace).
The Battle of Badr took place on the seventeenth of Ramadan at that time (the second year of the migration), in addition to many battles and wars,
And the Islamic conquests recorded by history and won the victory of the Muslims in the months of Ramadan, such as the conquest of Mecca and the conquest of Amoriya,
And the battle of Ain Jalut between the Muslims and the Tatars, and the conquest of Andalusia; to make Ramadan the holy month of jihad, victory and strength.
* The life of the Messenger in Ramadan *
The life of the Messenger (may God bless him and grant him peace) was a wonderful example to be emulated in the month of Ramadan. He embodied order and righteousness in everything of worship. On the contrary, he used to hasten breakfast, to have the fast of water and some wet or dates, and then pray al-Maghrib (sunset) Prayer.
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“The people will remain upon goodness so long as they hasten to break the fast. Hasten to break the fast, for the Jews delay it.”
He also called for good manners at all times and during fasting, as Abu Hurairah, may God be pleased with him, narrated: The Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, ‘I am fasting.”
And he used to spending the night in worship, and pray and recite the Qur’an, even though he was forgiven for the previous sins. And he used to perform I’tikaaf (religious retreat) during the last ten days of Ramadan,
He cared and waited for the Night of Decree (Lailat Al-Qadr), in which the reward for worship is equivalent to more than a thousand months. “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” (Surat al-Qadr).
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whosoever performs Qiyam during Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), with Faith and being hopeful of Allah’s reward, will have his former sins forgiven.”
And he fasted – prayers and peace be upon him – nine Ramadan until he passed away in Rabi` al-Awwal in the eleventh year of the Hijra.
Thanks to God’s vast mercy Muslims have Ramadan and the virtual Night of Al-Qadr to do more worship in order to avoid the Hellfire.
To compensate the Muslim for what he missed from the acts of worship at a young age. Finally, in Ramadan, let us always seize the opportunity to change for the better.
References
Translated from رمضان شهر الصيام والخير والبركة .. حياة الرسول في شهر رمضان
