In a few recorded ahadith, Rasulallah SAW told his companions to try their best this month, because Allah boasts to the angels about His servants. Imagine yourself, and imagine that Allah is pointing You out to His angels, He is calling you by your name and saying to His angels, "I am pleased with so and so." How do you feel? It seems too fantastic, almost unbelievable to imagine. But its true.
I was reading the book, the Virtues of Ramadan" by Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhalvi, and the last hadith really opened my eyes to the importance of this month. Please take the time out to read this, and give Allah your best this month.
May Allah accept us and forgive us.
Ibn Abbas RA says that he heard our Nabi SAW say,” Jannah is made fragrant with the sweetest perfumes in Ramadan. From the very beginning of the year till the end, it is brightly decorated for the coming of this blessed month. And when the first night of Ramadan appears, a wind blows from beneath the Arsh. It is called mutheera and causes the leaves of the trees of Jannah to rustle and door handles to vibrate, thus giving forth such a melodious sound as had never been heard before.
The dark eyed damsels of Jannah then step forth till they appear in the center of the balconies of Jannah exclaiming, “Is there anyone praying to Allah for us so that Allah may join us in marriage with him?” Then those damsels call out, “Oh Ridhwaan, Keeper of Jannah! What night is this?”
He replies, **“Labbaik, it is indeed the first night of Ramadan, when the doors of Jannah are opened to those who observe the fast from amongst the Ummah of Muhammad SAW.” **
Rasulallah SAW further said, “Allah says, ‘O Ridhwaan! Open the doors of Jannah!’ and, ‘O Maalik! (Keeper of Jahannam) close the doors of Jahannam for those who fast from amongst the ummah of Ahmad SAW. O Jibrail!, proceed down to the Earth and bind all the rebellious shayateen, put them in chains, cast them in the oceans, so that they make no mischief to spoil the fast of the Ummah of My beloved Muhammad SAW.’
Allah commands a caller from the heavens to call out three times on every one of the nights of Ramadan “Is there anyone begging of Me that I may grant him his desire? Is there anyone repenting to Me that I may turn in Mercy to him? Is there anyone begging my forgiveness that I may forgive him? Who is there who shall give a loan to the One whose wealth does not diminish, and the One who duly pays back without any deduction?”
Rasulallah SAW said further:
“Every day at the time of Iftaar, Allah says free one thousand such souls from the fire of Jahannam who had been previously found deserving of Jahannam. On the last night, He sets free as many more as had been set free throughout the month. On the night of Laylatul Qadr, Allah command Jibrail AS to descend to the earth with a large group of Malaaikah. They descend carrying a green flag, which is then planted on top of the Kaaba. Jibrail AS himself has one hundred wings, two of which are spread out on this night only. He spreads out these two wings so that their width extends from east to west. Jibrail AS then sends out the malaaikah in all directions to offer salutation to anybody they find standing in prayer or sitting, performing Salaat or celebrating the praises of Allah.
They shake hands with them and say Aameen to all their prayers until dawn. When dawn comes, Jibrail AS calls out, “Depart o Malaaikah of Allah, depart.” The malaaikah then inquire, “O Jibrail what did Allah do regarding the needs that the faithful ones from among the Ummah of Ahmad SAW put before Him?” Jibrail AS replies, Allah looked at them with Mercy and pardoned them all.
Except four kinds of people.”
Thereupon we the sahaabah inquired,** “Who are they, O Rasulallah SAW?”**
Rasulallah Saw replied, “They are the ones who are addicted to wine, those who are disobedient to their parents, those who cut themselves off from their near relatives, and those who harbor ill will against their fellow beings and break off relations with them.”
And then the night of Eid ul fitr, the night that is called Laylatul Jaa’izah (the night of prize giving) comes along. On the morning of Eid, Allah sends down His malaaikah to all the lands of the Earth, where they take their positions on all the streets and lanes calling out with a voice that is heard by all except men and Jinn, “O Ummah of Muhammad SAW come forth from your houses toward the Lord Who is Noble and Gracious, Who grants abundantly and pardons the major sins.”
When they proceed for their Eid salaat, Allah says to the Malaaikah, “What indeed is the reward of that employee who has rendered full service?”
The malaaikah reply, “**O Our Lord and Master, it is only right that he shall receive his reward in full for his service. **“
Allah then says, **“I call you to witness, oh My Malaaikah, that for their having fasted for Me during this month of Ramadan, and for their having stood before Me in prayer by night, I have granted to them as a reward of My pleasure and have granted them forgiveness. O My servants, ask now of Me, for I swear by My Honor and Greatness, that whatsoever you shall beg of Me this day in this assembly of yours for the needs of your Hereafter, I shall grant you; and whatever you shall ask for your worldly needs I shall grant you what is to your advantage. By My Honor do I swear, as long as you obey My commands, I shall cover up your faults. By My Honor and My Greatness do I swear, that I shall never disgrace you in front of the transgressors and disbelievers. Return now from here; you are forgiven. You have indeed pleased Me, and I am pleased with you.” **
The malaaikah, upon seeing this great reward bestowed upon the Ummah of Muhammad SAW on the day of Eid, become greatly pleased and happy, (O Allah, make us also in those fortunate ones Aameen).
Rasulallah SAW said, “Whoever stays awake for ibaadah on the night preceding either Eid, with the aim of gaining reward, his heart shall not die on that day when hearts shall wither.”
Taken from “Faza il e A’maal : The Virtues of Ramadan”