Get Blessed with the Essence of Ramadan

Ramadan is the most iconic month of the year to Muslims.

Like the other months of the Gregorian Calendar this June with few days from the prior month supposed to have the same appeal. According to the Islamic calendar, Ramadan starts from 27th May, and the Islamic calendar itself depends on the sighting of the moon. But for the people who always look for a special time to earn the mercy and the blessing of Allah (SWT), though Allah never waits for special time to bless someone, however, Ramadan definitely brings a lot special for them.

In the Holy Quran, Allah (SWT) describes the month as the month of ultimate mercy and significant. Furthermore, this month contains a night which is greater than thousand nights what is called Shab-e-Qadr.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”

A practicing Muslim considers this month as the greatest chance to make a prosperous hereafter. Therefore, he tries to cultivate every second with heart and soul.

Benefits and the dignity of this month are recounted in the Holy Quran. Ramadan brings great benefits and rewards – from spiritual to physical are accomplished through fasting.

“Ramadan is the (month) in which the Quran was sent down, as a guide to mankind and a clear guidance and judgment (so that mankind will distinguish from right and wrong)..” -Quran 2:183

O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you many learn piety and righteousness” -Quran 2:183

Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain Taqwaa.” -Quran 2:183

The most honored by Allah amongst you are those best in Taqwaa.” -Quran 49:13

..And it is better for you that ye fast if ye only knew.” -Quran 2:184

These are few sayings extracted from the Holy Quran what recount the glory and the significance of Ramadan. Ramadan leaves us purified and spiritually enriched.

What the Essence of Ramadan?

[wpsm_quote author=”” float=”none” width=”50″]A righteous Muslim is like a master businessman who never spoils a single minute during Ramadan. -Anamul Hemel [/wpsm_quote]

The essence of the holy month of Ramadan is what we would achieve observing the fasting with perfection and sincerity. Or what Ramadan leaves us.

We need to know what makes Ramadan glorious, attractive, and profitable from the business perspective.

Allah (SWT) says: Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you many learn piety and righteousness” -Quran 2:183

We just need to make sure our savings for hereafter, remain “piety and righteousness” until our last breath. Fasting in Ramadan offers us learning “piety and righteousness” which is a condition for heaven.

The glorious month of Ramadan comes with great opportunities after eleven months long. Our predecessors used to take huge preparation to take the maximum advantages out of this month. As this month belongs to 30 or 29 days they did not spoil even a single moment.

Fasting in Ramadan is definitely major pillar (Aa’mal) while some people ends up observing only fasting in daytime.  There are some more significant tasks need to be performed with devotion and sincerity along with fasting in Ramadan.

A master businessman always waits for the right time to earn some extra bucks. When he ultimately gets it he spares everything for the sake of profit.

The verse I quoted from the Holy Quran gives us a clear indication to master in piety and righteousness through fasting and other practices this month. People like a master businessman should pursue the goal, as the month is consisting of maximum 30 days. Pious Muslim values every single minute of life to yield a prosperous hereafter. As Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrates:

In a very distinguished hadith, Muhammad (ﷺ) said, “Allah, the Almighty and Master of Honor, says: ‘All actions of a person are for himself, except the case of his fasting which is exclusively for Me and I shall pay (recompense) for him for the same.’ The fast is a shield (against vice and the fire of Hell). Therefore when anyone of you is fasting he should abstain from loose talk and avoid verbosity and noisy exchange of words.” –Bukhari and Muslim

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) 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.” The Prophet (ﷺ) added, “By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person), ‘He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times.”

Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: “I came to the Messenger of Allah (saw) and said: ‘Order me to do a deed that will allow me to enter Paradise.’ He said: ‘Stick to fasting, as there is no equivalent to it.’ Then I came to him again and he said: ‘Stick to fasting.” -Imam Ahmad, Imam Nasa’i, and Imam Hakim

Sahl ibn Sa’d (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saw): “There is a gate to Paradise that is called ar-Rayyan. On the Day of Resurrection, it will say: ‘Where are those who fasted?’ When the last [one] has passed through the gate, it will be locked.” -Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim

Ramadan brings something that makes the month glorious and picks a borderline between other months. Pious people, therefore, wait a long time for it.

Find Its Exact Meaning

[wpsm_quote author=”” float=”none” width=”30″]Ramadan is (the month) in which the Quran was sent down as a guide to mankind… -Quran 2:183[/wpsm_quote]

Another way to understand the significance of Ramadan is to know the Holy Quran, the constitution of human beings. This holy guideline was sent down in this month to turn us to the right way (from the wrong one).

“Ramadan is the (month) in which the Quran was sent down, as a guide to mankind and a clear guidance and judgment (so that mankind will distinguish from right and wrong)…” -Quran 2:183

Let Ramadan give you a divine shape you’re longing for with practicing every task, obligatory and optional. (During this month the reward for every optional (Nafl) prayer goes up to the level of that of obligatory (Farj) prayers and the reward for every obligatory (Farj) prayer goes up to 70 times of that of normal obligatory prayers.)

A righteous Muslim is like a master businessman who never spoils a single minute during Ramadan as Ramadan comes with 70 times extra.

So, in this Ramadan, to be a better Muslim, be a better businessman!

This is a guest contribution from Anamul Hemel.
Anamul Hemel studies English Literature at North East University, writes blogs on his websites HuePage sitting on a big chair like a boss. Now he is working on some short films for his YouTube channel and writing as a freelance writer for international clients.