So that you may be mindful of God

“It was in the month of Ramadan that the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind, clear messages giving guidance and distinguishing between right and wrong. So any one of you who is present that month should fast, and anyone who is ill or on a journey should make up for the lost days by fasting on other days later. God wants ease for you, not hardship. He wants you to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him for having guided you, so that you may be thankful.”

(Qur’an 2:185) 

‘Ramadan’ is the name of the ninth month in the Hijri Calendar. Muslims will fast (no food, water or intimacy) during the day and pray long into the night. The aim of fasting is to strengthen one’s relationship with Allah: 

“You who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be mindful of God.”

(Qur’an 2:183) 

Allah ﷻ knows best how fasting increases our mindfulness of Him. Though in my opinion, the state of hyper awareness associated with abstaining from what is normally permissible trains one to be more aware that Allah is watching. Sinning requires effort and so the exhaustion of fasting diminishes the desire to sin. Exiting the month of Ramadan puts the mind in a different space to where it was previously. After this one-month journey, completely going back to how things were isn’t easy. Naturally, the beneficial practices obtained over the past month will stay with you for a while. Thus Ramadan is a bootcamp into better habits.

Certain bad habits to control during Ramadan would be lying, speaking badly of someone behind their back or exerting your anger: 

Abu ‘Ubaydah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Fasting is a shield, as long as you do not damage it.” 

In another narration, the Prophet added, “By lying or backbiting.” 

Source: Sunan al-Nasā’ī 2235

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani 

Abu Huraira reported: A man came to the Prophet and he said, “Advise me.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Do not be angry.” The man repeated his request and the Prophet said, “Do not be angry.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6116

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Bukhari

There are too many stories for me to simply pick one to prove it, but I am thoroughly convinced that a big part of Islam is being active in looking after other people. Since the urgency of seeking forgiveness in Ramadan is more important than usual, the deeds that earn His forgiveness are also more urgent. Charity is one of those deeds, so naturally Muslims are charitable during Ramadan: 

Narrated `Adi bin Hatim heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying:

“Save yourself from Hell-fire even by giving half a date-fruit in charity.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1417 

Additionally 

It was narrated from Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will have a reward like theirs, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest.”

Source: Sunan Ibn Majah 1746

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam) 

So Muslims are more alert to making sure everyone they could possibly reach is taken care of financially and has something to eat.

Gratitude is also a central theme of Islam that is particularly important during Ramadan. We cannot appreciate the extent to which we rely on Allah ﷻ. Our strength, our mobility, our mind, every single feeling of ease. Nothing we have we got on our own. It is only through the Mercy of Allah ﷻ. The fact we have Ramadan as an opportunity, the fact we have clear guidance and the Qur’an, the fact Allah ﷻ makes concessions to make religion easy, the fact we even have the opportunity to go to Paradise despite never actually deserving it, but Allah ﷻ is Merciful enough to give it to us anyway if we make a little effort. It is humbling how powerless we are, but how much Allah ﷻ gives us anyway. He deserves our gratitude. Reflection through engaging with the Qur’an in Ramadan helps rekindle that understanding. Even in abstaining from food and drink during the day we become so much more grateful for the food and drink we do get.

Ramadan is particularly special as it is a month of Mercy so the exhaustion from fasting during the day and praying during the night is a sincere sacrifice to seek Allah’s forgiveness for our shortcomings. We are desperate for Allah’s approval and for Him to overlook our sins. 

Narrated Abu Huraira:

I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) saying regarding Ramadan, “Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2008

And 

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 38 

Ramadan is also special as a time to ask Allah ﷻ for whatever we want. Allah ﷻ always answers the caller who calls, but Ramadan is an even more blessed time to ask: 

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, Allah has people He redeems in every day and night of Ramadan. Every servant among them has a supplication that will be answered.”

Source: Musnad Ahmad 7443

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Arna’ut

Ramadan also, in its last 10 days, contains the night of power, which is better than 1000 months. So Muslims will exhaust themselves in prayer and good deeds even more: 

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said when the month of Ramadan began, “Verily, this month has presented itself to you. There is a night within it that is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of it has been deprived of all good. None is deprived of its good but that he is truly deprived.”

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 1644

Grade: Hasan (fair) according to Al-Albani

The Night of Power is another mercy from Allah ﷻ that if a believer found themselves lacking in any way within the the first two-thirds of Ramadan, then they have another chance to seek out that mercy within the last third of Ramadan:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever fasted the month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith (i.e. belief) and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven, and whoever stood for the prayers in the night of Qadr out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2014 

The virtue of The Night of Power warrants a stronger effort to maximise its benefits. 

Narrated Aisha:

With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2024 

I’ll conclude with three reminders: 

1) The opportunity of Ramadan may appear overwhelming to some and scary that “what if I fail, or don’t take full advantage of Ramadan”. To address that fear I’d say, know that the mercy in Ramadan is the mercy from Allah. It is Allah ﷻ that maximises the small efforts on a daily basis, even outside Ramadan to weigh more than they are. So do not worry, for it was never you who needed to be special to earn the mercy of Allah ﷻ. It is Allah ﷻ that is so Great that He accepts our efforts, however small, and admits us into His mercy. So try your best and do not worry, for Allah ﷻ is The Most Compassionate. 

2) If you find yourself unable to fast or pray (due to periods for example), do not be sad, for Allah ﷻ rewards by intention and you are already rewarded for your intention to fast and pray had you been able to do so. This is the mercy of Allah ﷻ that He rewards you without you having to prove yourself. So rejoice in His mercy and do not grieve. 

3) There is no way you can leave Ramadan on the level of exertion you had during Ramadan. That’s not even the point. It wouldn’t be exertion if you could keep it up forever. However, the goal is to leave with something: 

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Take on only as much as you can do of good deeds, for the best of deeds is that which is done consistently, even if it is little.” 

Source: Sunan Ibn Majah 4240

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam) 

And if you find yourself lost and with little at the beginning of the next Ramadan, then try again.

Hadith 37, 40 Hadith an-Nawawi

On the authority of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), from what he has related from his Lord:

Verily Allah ta’ala has written down the good deeds and the evil deeds, and then explained it [by saying]: “Whosoever intended to perform a good deed, but did not do it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as a complete good deed. And if he intended to perform it and then did perform it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as from ten good deeds up to seven hundred times, up to many times multiplied. And if he intended to perform an evil deed, but did not do it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as a complete good deed. And if he intended it [i.e., the evil deed] and then performed it, then Allah writes it down as one evil deed.” [Al-Bukhari] [Muslim].

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever restricts his tongue, Allah will cover his faults. Whoever restrains his anger, Allah will restrain his punishment on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever apologises to Allah, Allah Almighty will accept his apology.” 

Source: Shu’ab al-Imān 7818

Grade: Hasan (fair) according to Al-Albani