The month of Ramazan has commenced with all its blessings. This is the month attributed to Allah, the Merciful and Beneficent. Ramazan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar in which fasting is obligatory for the Muslim Ummah. In Islam, Friday is the noblest day of the week while Ramazan is regarded as noblest of all the months. The unmatched glory and nobility of the month of Ramazan has been described in the Holy Quran and Ahadith. According to Hadith, even the breath of a fasting Muslim in this month is considered as an Ibadat.
The nights of this months are better than other nights and days than other days. Hadith describes that in Ramazan, doors of heaven are opened while the doors of hell are closed and Shiatan is chained. In the holy month of Ramazan, the Holy Quran was descended on Loh-e-Mehfooz. The recitation of the Holy Quran in Ramazan is a very virtuous deed and the recital of a single Ayah is rewarded with the Sawab of the whole Holy Quran. A night in the last week of Ramazan is considered better than one thousand months Lailatul Qadar. It is the month in which the days are passed while observing fast while the nights in saying Namaz-e-Taraveh in which the Holy Quran is recited by Haffaz.
In this month, Allah increases the fortune of the Momineen and forgives the sins of those who seek His forgiveness. Hazrat Aysha Siddiqa (RA) said, “In Ramazan the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) complexion changed and he proliferated his Ibadat.” Traditions say, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) passed this month in excessive prayers and meditation. The word Ramazan has been derived from Ramz which means ‘to burn’. In Ramazan, the sins and misdeeds of the Muslims are burnt and they are granted absolution. According to a Hadith, “One who kept fasts of Ramazan to earn Sawab with altruism would be absolved of all his previous sins.”
The philosophy of Roza is aimed at producing Taqwa in Muslims through a month’s training in which a Muslim abstains from eating, drinking, lawful and
some other things for the whole day. Roza is not merely about giving up eating and drinking but it enjoins upon us to check our eyes, tongue, hands and ears from undesirable practices. In this way, the whole body of a fasting man is fighting against evils. A Hadith, in this context says that Roza is a shield against evils. The thirst makes him realise the thirst of the poor and value of water. Roza teaches the lesson of patience and purifies the Nafs.
Allah created man as His best creation (Ashraful Makhlookat) and reposed in him the characteristics both bestial and angelic. As an animal he eats, drinks, sleeps and reproduces etc, while as a human being he worships and carries out the Ibadat of his Creator. It calls for a balance in both characteristics and Roza helps in developing a balance between bestial and angelic natures of a human being. Human Nafs is like an intractable horse and Roza can control and train this horse.
The witness of Roza is Allah Himself. A fasting man does not eat or drink even if he is alone as he has faith that Allah is watching him. According to a Hadith, “Rozadar abandons eating and drinking for Me and I will reward him.”
The first part of Ramazan (Ten days) is specified with blessing. The second part is marked with absolution, while the last part is specified with redemption from Hell-fire. The last part of Ramazan is of prime importance as it grants redemption from Hell. (May Allah save the writer as well as the readers from hell-fire Amen). Allah invited his followers to ask for deliverance from hell. It is up to us now to have recourse to Allah and ask for His forgiveness. It we crave for absolution of our sins and redemption from Hell with all our heart and altruism, there is no reason why our prayers will not be heard. That is why a great number of people sit for Aitekaaf for a whole-hearted prayer and meditation. Aitekaf is carried out in the last leg of Ramazan. Another salient feature of last leg is the night called Lailatul Qadr which is most probably the night of 27th Ramazan. As described in Sura Qadr Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months and one who resorts to pass this night in Ibadat is granted the Sawab of more than a thousand-month Ibadat.
We are fortunate to get Ramazan in our life and earn its blessings. May Allah grant His bounties and favours upon us.