Ramadan
is the month of Qur'an
By Amanulla Vadakkangara
IT is an indubitable fact that Ramadan is the month of Qur'an.
The greatest significance of this month is that it is blessed with the revelation of the
Holy Qur'an. Beginning of sending down of Qur'an to the Prophet began during this month
that too in a special night called Laylatul Qadr. The details of which we will discuss
when we come across Laylatul Qadr (Insha Allah).
The Holy Qur'an has mentioned fasting in several places.
According to some scholars the Qur'an mentions fasting in 13 places in which the major
references are in the Sura AlBaqara.
Let us examine some of the verses in this regard with their
explanations. The Qur'an says:
Ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed
to those before you, that ye may (learn) selfrestraint, (fasting) for a fixed number of
days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (should be made up)
from days later. For those who can do it (with hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one
that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will, it is better for him.
And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew.
Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a
guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong).
So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in
fasting, but if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up)
by days later. God intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to
difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify him in that
He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.
When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to
them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also,
with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me: that they may walk in the right way.
Permitted to you, on the night of the fasts, is the approach to
your wives. They are your garments and ye are their garments. God knoweth what ye used to
do secretly among yourselves; But He turned to you and forgave you; So now associate with
them, and seek what God Hath ordained for you, and eat and drink, until the white thread
of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast till the
night appears; But do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the
mosques. Those are limits (set by) God: Approach not nigh thereto. Thus doth God make
clear His Signs to men: that they may learn selfrestraint.
These verses give clear indications to the purpose and reality of
Islamic fasting and foretells the revolutionary change it can make in the individual and
in the society.
The Muslim fast is not meant for selftorture. Although it is
stricter than other fasts, it also provides alleviations for special circumstances. If it
were merely a temporary abstention from food and drink, it would be salutary to many
people, who habitually eat and drink to excess.
The instincts for food, drink, and sex are strong in the animal
nature, and temporary restraint from all these enables the attention to be directed to
higher things. This is necessary through prayer, contemplation and acts of charity, not of
the showy kind, but by seeking out those really in need. Certain standards are prescribed,
but much higher standards are recommended.
Allah the Almighty has prescribed the fasting as an exalting
exercise in selfdiscipline. He does not ignore the natural instincts and necessities of
man and doesn't want to put any burden upon him. The concession given to the patient,
travellers and very old people is evident enough to prove this fact. All these are to make
man pious and Godfearing so that his life in this world as well as in the Hereafter will
be successful.
It is reported that fasting is a very important form of worship
which brings the servant closer and closer to the creator and Allah has guaranteed a reply
to the prayers of the faster. One hadith has the meaning - Allah would not reject the
prayers of three:
1. A faster when he breaks his fast
2. A ruler who follows justice and
3. The tortured.
In verse 186 of Sura AlBaqara the Qur'an asks us to pray Allah.
When we listen to the commands of Allah and execute it in the proper way sincerely and
firm faith in Him. He will definitely answer our prayers. This is a distinguishing feature
of a Muslim that he will keep on praying Allah in all walks of his life. In other words,
the life of a believer is very much connected with Duas. That is why the Prophet (pbuh)
has said prayer is the essence of worship. The Prophet (pbuh) has urged the Muslims to
enrich their days with increased Duas during Ramadan and avail countless reward as
promised by the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
The Qur'an says: You go swift to the forgiveness and paradise of
your Lord, which is as broad as the earth and the skies and which is prepared for the
pious people. Muslims should use this golden opportunity to get their sins forgiven and to
attain the mercy of Allah by offering Sunnah prayers and other acts of charities in
addition to their sincere fast.
Islam considers all weaknesses of man and gives enough chances to
get rid of such evil temptations and acts. Fasting in general and Ramadan in particular is
a special occasion aimed at such moral and spiritual upliftment of man.
The Prophet (pbuh) has said, All sons of Adam (human beings) are
bound to make mistakes but the best among them are those who return to Him with
repentance. It is reported that the Prophet (pbuh) has said. "When a believer commits
a sin, it forms a black spot on his heart. If he repents and seeks forgiveness, the heart
becomes free of it. But if he continues to sin, the spots multiply until they cover the
whole heart over." It is a case of one sin piled upon another, till the heart is
blinded and it dies.
But Allah is the Most Merciful. We are never sinful that Allah is
unwilling to take us back into His Mercy so long as we turn to Him in repentance, Allah
say, O my servants who have transgressed against themselves, don't despair about the Mercy
of Allah. Surely he will forgive all sins." In another place Allah says: Whoever does
evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah
forgiving, most Merciful. (4:110).
It comes in a Hadith, "Allah the Almighty has said: O son of
Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have
done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky
and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you
to come to Me with sins nearly as great as earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing
no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it."
Allah's Messenger (pbuh) is reported to have said. By Allah I
seek forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance more than 70 times a day. If this was the
condition of the Prophet (pbuh) whose past, present and future were all forgiven by Allah
in advance what about the ordinary people like us. We must think if very seriously and
turn to repentance without delay. There is no time more appropriate for this than the
blessed month of Ramadan.
Islamic scholars have made certain conditions to accept the
repentance of a person. First of all he should feel sincere regret within himself for what
he has done; secondly, he should stop doing the mistake; thirdly, he should pledge that he
will not repeat that in the future. This is the true repentance which Allah will accept
and with which He will exempt them from the hell fire. During Ramadan, Allah has arranged
all facilities and atmosphere for inculcating good habits, deeds and after all a chance
for sincere repentance.
It is noticeable that Allah the Almighty has explained Himself as
'RABB' which implies cherishing, guarding from harms, sustaining granting all the means
and opportunities of development. He created us with a clear purpose. The story of our
creation is wonderful and continuous.
There are several processes whicwe contemplate in glorifying
Allah. First, He brings us into being. Secondly, He endows us with forms and faculties
exactly suited to what is expected of us, and to the environments in which our life will
be cast, giving to everything due order and proportion. Thirdly, He has ordained laws and
decrees, by which we can develop ourselves and fit ourselves into His whole scheme of
evolution for all His Creation. He has measured exactly the needs of all, and given us
instincts and physical and psychical predispositions which fit into His degrees. Fourthly,
He gives us guidance, so that we are not the sport of mechanical laws. Our reason and our
will are exercised, that we may reach the higher destiny of man.
Fifthly, after maturity comes decay. But even in that decay, as
when green pasture turns to stubble, We subserve other ends. In so far as we are animals,
we share these processes with other forms of material Creation, animal, vegetable, and
even mineral, which all have their appointed laws of growth and decay. But man's higher
destiny is referred to in subsequent verses.
Allah the Creator has counted as his attributes that apart from
creating He had granted guidance, given order and proportion. So he decided to begin the
life of man on earth with a prophet and throughout the ages He sent prophets with clear
message of salvation. The Qur'an says, that no people or country is left without a prophet
and Mohammad (pbuh) was sent as the Last Prophet to the whole world and the Qur'an as the
guidance to all people who live on earth after Mohammad (pbuh) till the day of doom.
It is the time for us to realise all these facts and return to
Allah in this holy month where we celebrate the anniversary of sending down of the Qur'an.
This month we must engage ourselves in reciting, learning and memorising the Holy Qur'an
and make it habit throughout our life. The Prophet has said. The best among you are those
who learn the Qur'an and teach it.
May Allah bless us to live according to the teachings of the
Qur'an and the Sunnah of His Prophet (pbuh) and to die with Faith and piety and assemble
us with good people.
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