THE BLESSINGS EXCLUSIVE TO THE MONTH OF RAMAḌĀN

THE BLESSINGS EXCLUSIVE TO THE MONTH OF RAMAḌĀN

1) The Devil is Shackled, the Gates of Hell are Shut, and the Gates of Paradise are Opened:

Ramaḍān is distinguished in that during this month the devil is shackled and the doors of Hell are closed shut while the doors of Heaven are opened and countless numbers of people are salvaged from Hellfire daily during each breaking of the fast.

It is related on the authority of Abū Hurayra (R.A) saying, “When it is the first night of Ramaḍān, the devils and the jinn are shackled and the doors of Hell are closed and not a single door of it is left open. While the doors of Heaven are opened and not a single one is

kept shut.
And a caller calls out, ‘O seeker of goodness come forward! O seeker of iniquity stay back! And God saves people from the Hellfire.” -Al-Mustadrak: vol.i/p.421.

It is also reported on the authority of Jābir (R.A)  saying that the Prophet (SAWS) said, “God saves people from the Hellfire at each breaking of the fast and the same each night,” -Sunan Ibn Māja: vol.i/Kitāb al-ṣiyām 7, Bāb 2/h.1643

meaning throughout the month of Ramaḍān.

2) The Multiplication of Reward for Good Deeds

From among the other blessings specific to the month of Ramaḍān is the multiplication of the reward for good actions performed during this month.
It is narrated on the authority of Salmān al-Fārisī (R.A) saying that the Messenger of God (SAWS)

 said, 
“…Who performs any type of good, it is as though he performed an obligatory act. Who performs an obligatory act, it is as though he performed seventy obligatory acts outside of [Ramaḍan].”

-Kanz al-ʿummāl: vol. 8/h.23714

3) Prayers Are Answered

Another blessing specific to this holy month is that prayers are answered in it. It is related on the authority of Abū Hurayra (R.A) saying that the Messenger of God (SAWS) said, “There are three whose prayers are not refused: the just ruler, the fasting person when he breaks his fast, and the prayer of the oppressed.”

-Sunan al-Tirmidhī: vol.4/ Kitāb ṣifat al-janna 39, Bāb 2:h.2526

God the Exalted also says directly following the verses on fasting, “And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.”
-[al-Baqara:186]

4) The Entire State of the Fasting Person is One of Worship

Another blessing specific to the fasting person is that the entire state of the fasting person is a state of fasting. Whether he refrains from excessive speech or whether he sleeps to gain strength to fast, he is in a state of worship.

It is related on the authority of ʿAbd Allāh b. Abī Awfī al-Aslamī (R.A) saying, “The Messenger of God (SAWS) said: ‘The sleep of the one fasting is worship, his silence is remembrance (tasbīḥ) , his [good] acts are multiplied, his sins are forgiven, and his prayers are answered.”

-Shuʿab al-Īmān li-al-Bayhaqī : vol.iii/ Bāb fī al-ṣiyām 23/h.3931

5) The Fasting Person is Granted Two Moments of Joy

From the distinct blessings of the month of Ramaḍān is that the fasting person is granted two moments of joy: once when he breaks his fast and once when he meets his Lord. 

It is related on the authority of Abū Hurayra (R.A) saying, “The Messenger of God (SAWS) said: ‘…The fasting person has two [sources of] joy with which he is made happy.

When he breaks his fast, he is made happy with the breaking of the fast and when he meets his Lord he is made happy by his fasting.”

-Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: vol.ii/Kitāb al-ṣiyām 13, Bāb 30/h.163

6) There is Great Reward in Breaking the Fast of the Fasting Person Without Diminishing their Reward

Another blessing that is specific to Ramaḍān is that God has reserved a great reward for the one who breaks the fast of a fasting person without decreasing the reward of the one who fasted.

This is a form of honoring the person who fasted and this immense reward is established even if achieved through a simple offering such as water or a date. 

It is related on the authority of Salmān al-Fārisī (R.A) saying, “The Messenger of God (SAWS) said: ‘Who breaks the fast of the fasting person during Ramaḍān through lawful earnings, the angels will send prayers upon him for the rest of the nights of Ramaḍān. Jibrīl will greet him on the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) and the one

who is greeted by Jibrīl has the tears in his eyes increase and his heart softens. 
A man said, ‘O Messenger of God (SAWS), what about a man who does not possess this [i.e. sufficient wealth to break the fast of others]?’ He said: ‘Then with a piece of bread.’ He said: ‘And what about one who does not have this?’ He said: ‘Then [with] a portion of food.’

He said: ‘And what about someone who does not have this?’ He said: ‘Then a bit of milk.’ He said: ‘And what about someone who does not have this?’ He said: ‘Then a sip of water.’”

-Kanz al-ʿummāl : vol. viii/h. 23658

7) God has Bestowed Five Things on those Fasting from the Prophet’s (SAWS) Ummah that no other Ummah has been Bestowed

From the amongst the blessings exclusively reserved for the month of Ramaḍān is what has been described in the hadith related on the authority of Jābir b. ʿAbd Allāh (R.A.) saying that “The Messenger of God (SAWS) said: ‘In the month of Ramaḍān, my community has been granted five [blessings] that no community before me has been given. 

First, during the first night of Ramaḍān God looks at them [i.e. the Muslims] and whoever God looks at will never be anguished. 

Second, the smell of their mouth as the day becomes later is more beautiful to God than the smell of musk. 

Third, the angels make repentance for them each day and night.

Fourth, God commands His Paradise, “Prepare and ornament yourself for the believers. They have come close to becoming relieved of the fatigue of this world, and [moving] into My abode and bounty.” 

Fifth, they are forgiven in their entirety during the last night.’ 

A man then said, ‘Is this the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) ?’ He said: ‘No. Do you not see how it is when workers work? When they have completed their work they receive their wages.’”
-Shuʿab al-Īmān li-al-Bayhaqī : vol.iii, Bāb fī al-ṣiyām 23/2603.

8) There is an Immense Reward for those Fasting on the Day of Judgment

From amongst the favors granted to those fasting is the immense reward they will receive on the Day of Judgment. God has reserved for them a specific door through which they will enter Paradise known as al-Rayyān. 

Nobody else will be allowed to enter through this door before or after them as a demonstration of their rank and distinction.

A caller will call out, “Where are those who used to fast?” And on that Day all will desire to be from amongst this elite group. 

The Messenger of God (SAWS) said describing this scene: “In Paradise there is a door called al-Rayyān through which those who used to fast will enter on the Day of Judgment. None other than them will

[be allowed to] enter.
It will be said: ‘Where are those who used to fast?’ They will rise and nobody other than them will enter. Once they have entered the door will shut and nobody else will be allowed to enter from it.”

-Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: vol.ii/Kitāb al-ṣawm 36, Bāb 4/h.1797.