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Allah Ta’ala has blessed the Ummah of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) in the sacred month of Ramadaan with so many mercies and bounties that is beyond our understanding and intellectual capacity. This is that month, the first ten days of which are mercy, the middle ten days are forgiveness and the last ten days are freedom from the fire of Hell. It is therefore incumbent on us to honour and respect this month of countless mercies and to maximise the blessings that we can attain during its days.
Hazrat Sayyiduna Maula Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) said, “If Allah Ta’ala had intended to punish the Ummah of Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) He would never have bestowed upon them Ramadaan and Surah Ikhlaas.” {Nuzhatul Majaalis}
Once, the Beloved Rasool (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “If the servants of Allah only knew what the month of Ramadaan contains, those servants of His would dearly wish that the month of Ramadaan could be the whole year!”
On hearing this, someone asked Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) to tell them about this month, to which he responded, by saying, “The Garden of Paradise will surely be adorned for the sake of the month of Ramadaan, from the beginning of the year through the whole of the intervening period. Then, as soon as the first night of the month of Ramadaan has arrived, a wind will blow from beneath the Heavenly Throne (Arsh), causing the leaves of the trees of the Garden of Paradise to be set in a state of motion. The brides of Paradise, those maidens with such pleasing eyes, will regard this as a good omen, so they will say, “O Allah! Grant us from among Your male servants in this month, such husbands that our eyes will be soothed by them, and their eyes will be soothed by us.” {Ghuniyatut Taalibeen}
Hazrat Sayyiduna Abu Saeed Khudri (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) narrates that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “On the first night of Ramadaan, the gates of the skies and the Heavens are opened which remain open until the last night. So if anyone offers Salaah in any night of this month, Allah Ta’ala will reward him with 1500 virtues for every Sajdah (prostration) and make a palace of red rubies for him that will have sixty thousand gates. The gates will have hinges of gold that will be embroidered with red rubies. Thus, the one who fasts on the first day of Ramadaan will be forgiven for his sins until the last day of the month and seventy thousand angels will ask for his forgiveness from morning till evening. Each time he prostrates during the day or at night, he will be granted a tree in Heaven and each tree is so huge that a horse rider can ride under its shadow for five hundred years.” {Shu’ab-ul-Imaan}
SubhanAllah! So great is the mercy showered by Allah Ta’ala especially on those who prostrate to Him. We cannot even imagine the vastness of one tree, imagine the number of trees a servant would receive for performing the five daily Salaah and Taraweeh, let alone Tahajjud and any Nafl Salaah!
There are also certain blessings we have received during this sacred month, only because we are the Ummatis of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Everything we have received is through the Sadaqah of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) but Allah Ta’ala further grants us exclusive blessings for the sake of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), which were not granted to any nation before us.
Hazrat Sayyiduna Jaabir (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) narrates that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “In Ramadaan, my Ummah has been gifted five such things which were not given to any other Prophet before me:
- On the first night of Ramadaan, Allah Ta’ala showers special mercy upon them and the one upon whom Allah Ta’ala showers special mercy will never be punished.
- Allah Ta’ala likes the smell emanating from their mouths (due to hunger) even more than musk.
- Angels pray for their forgiveness every night and day.
- Allah Ta’ala orders Heaven to be adorned for His (righteous) servants and says, “Soon they will get rid of the grief of the world and will find solace in My house and My bounties.”
- On the last night of Ramadaan, Allah Ta’ala forgives them all. {At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb}
In another narration Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “On the first night of Ramadaan, Allah Ta’ala has a Merciful Sight at His creation and if Allah Ta’ala has a Merciful Sight at any of His servants He will not punish that servant. He frees one million (sinners) from Hell every day, and on the 29th night He sets free (from Hell) as many as were freed throughout the month.” {Kanzul Ummaal} Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) further stated, “In Ramadaan, every day at the time of sunset, Allah Ta’ala frees one million such sinners from Hell for whom Hell had become Wajib due to their sins, and in every moment of Friday (in Ramadaan), He frees one million such sinners from Hell who had deserved damnation.” {Ibid}
SubhanAllah! Look at the extent of His Mercy during this month! In fact we have been so blessed just for being in the Ummah of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) that Allah Ta’ala spoke to Hazrat Sayyiduna Moosa (Alaihis Salaam) with regard to us and the blessed month of Ramadaan.
It is narrated that Allah Ta’ala said to Hazrat Sayyiduna Moosa Kaleemullah (Alaihis Salaam), “I have bestowed two types of Noor (light) upon the Ummah of Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) to protect them from two types of darkness.” Hazrat Sayyiduna Moosa Kaleemullah (Alaihis Salaam) humbly asked, “Ya Allah! What are those two types of Noor?” Allah Ta’ala said, “The Noor of Ramadaan and that of the Qur’an.” Hazrat Sayyiduna Moosa (Alaihis Salaam) further asked, “What are the two types of darkness?” Allah Ta’ala said, “The darkness of the grave and that of the Day of Judgement.” {Durratun Naasiheen}
Allahu Akbar! Even before the physical advent of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) Allah Ta’ala had ordained to protect the Ummah of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) through the Noor of Ramadaan and the Holy Qur’an. We must therefore always honour the month of Ramadaan and constantly recite the Holy Qur’an as this will be our protection in the Hereafter.
As Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “The fast and the Holy Qur’an will intercede for people on the Day of Judgement. The fast will say, “O Merciful Allah! I prevented him from eating and satisfying his desires during the day, accept my intercession in his favour. The Holy Qur’an will say, “I prevented him from sleeping at night, accept my intercession for him.” Their intercessions will be accepted. {Musnad Imaam Ahmad}
Such countless mercies however, does not mean that we must become complacent and heedless during this month, as the sin for disobedience to Allah Ta’ala during this month is also increased multifold due to the sacredness of this month.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq to honour and respect this sacred month and may He bless us with His Forgiveness and His Pleasure, Ameen.
