Welcoming the Month of Ramadhan

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is adapted from “Welcoming the Month of Ramadhan” by Dr. Jibril Fu’ad Haddad. 

Ramadhan is derived from “ramdha’” which means “Sun-baked”, perhaps a reference to the pangs of fasting.  Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik (r.a.) said that when the month of Ramadhan came, the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Glory to Allah!  What are you facing now!  What is coming ahead?” 

Sayyidina Abu Hafsw ‘Umar ibn al-Khaththab al-Faruq (r.a.) said, “My father’s life for you, and my mother’s!  O Prophet of Allah, what is it?  Did you receive Revelation, or is an enemy coming?” 

He replied, “No, but the month of Ramadhan has come, in which Allah Forgives all the people of this community.”  He also said, “If Allah’s servants knew what Ramadhan was, they would have wished it lasted for the whole year.”  The month of Ramadhan, in which was Revealed the Qur’an, is a time of tremendous blessings and the gate of repentance and return to Allah (s.w.t.). 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) also said, “The month of Ramadhan has come to you, a blessed month for the duration of which Allah (s.w.t.) has Prescribed fasting for you.  In it, the gates of the Heaven are open, and the gates of Gehenna are shut.”  Another version adds: “And devils are put in chains.” 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) named fasting, “zakat al-jasad”, “the poor-tax of the body”; and he named it, “asw-swiyamu junnah”, “a shield”; and also, “asw-swabru niswfu asw-swawm”, “half of restraint”; and he named it, “asw-swabru diya’”, “restraint of pure light”.  He was asked about the wanderers in the verse: 

سُوۡرَةُ التّوبَة

ٱلتَّـٰٓٮِٕبُونَ ٱلۡعَـٰبِدُونَ ٱلۡحَـٰمِدُونَ ٱلسَّـٰٓٮِٕحُونَ ٱلرَّٲڪِعُونَ ٱلسَّـٰجِدُونَ ٱلۡأَمِرُونَ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَٱلنَّاهُونَ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنڪَرِ وَٱلۡحَـٰفِظُونَ لِحُدُودِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ (١١٢) 

Those that turn (to Allah) in repentance: that serve Him and praise Him; that wander in devotion to the Cause of Allah; ― that bow down and prostrate themselves in prayer; that enjoin good and forbid evil; and observe the limits set by Allah; (these do rejoice).  So, proclaim the glad tidings to the believers. (Surah at-Tawbah:112) 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “hum asw-swa’imun”, “The wanderers in the cause of Allah are those who fast”.  Thus, a true dervish fasts, and many of the great shuyukh said that the Path consists of hunger.  The Prophet (s.a.w.) also said, “There is no conceit in fasting.” 

The month of Ramadhan is a tremendous witness on the Day of the Judgement, and the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “I declare myself clear of them whose detractor is Ramadhan.”  It brings immense Rewards as he said, “Those who fast the month of Ramadhan believing and seeking a Reward, all their past sins are Forgiven.”  Another version adds: “and pray in it,” referring to the voluntary night-prayer; and in the end, he said, “he comes out of his sins as on the day his mother gave birth to him.” 

According to Sayyidina ‘Ubadah ibn asw-Swamit (r.a.) the Prophet (s.a.w.) used to say, upon entering this month, “Allahumma sallimnii li Ramadhaana wa sallim Ramadhaana wa sallimhu minnii mutaqabbilan”, “O Allah, Greet and Save me for Ramadhan; Greet and Save Ramadhan; Greet and Save Ramadhan on my behalf, and Grant me its acceptance.”