month of Ramadan

Ramadan is the most keenly awaited month in the Muslim calendar. It was during the month of Ramadan that the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the cave of Hira in Mecca. Muslims all over the world, observe this special month by fasting, praying, giving charity, reciting the Quran and abstaining from food and drink from dawn to dusk with the intention of doing so as an act of worship. 

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has said:

"It (Ramadan) is the month, whose beginning is mercy, its middle, forgiveness and its end, emancipation from the fire (of hell)."

The month of Ramadan can be divided into three "ashra". Ashra is an Arabic word which means "ten." In Islamic terminology, the 1st Ashra refers to the first 10 days of the holy month of Ramadan. The second Ashra refers to the middle 10 days (11-20), and the third Ashra refers to the last set of 10 days (21-30).

The blessed month of Ramadan is a great opportunity for the Muslims to seek mercy from Allah, repent from sins and find redemption from hell fire. This can be done by fasting with a sincere heart, doing lots of acts of worship, praying a great deal, reading the Qur'an, forgiving people, being kind to others and giving charity to the poor. Muslims who spend the days of Ramadan in fasting and the nights in prayers with earnest faith, have been given the glad tidings of Paradise.

What is Ramadan?

10 things one should know about Ramadan

How Muslims observe Ramadan in non-Muslim countries

How to fast during the holy month of Ramadan

Month of Ramadan in Light of Prophet Muhammad’s Ahadith

• "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained."
• "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."
• "There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting."
•  "Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)"
•  "There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it."

• Allah's Apostle used to practice Itikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, "Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan ,"

• "Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire (Hell) and from committing sins."