1b] The Muslim in Ramadaan

1b]
(i.e. worshipping Allaah in that night is better than worshipping Him
a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months).
Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] by
Allaah's Permission with all Decrees,
(All that night), there is peace (and goodness fromAllaah to His
believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn"
[al-Qadar 97:1-5]
So worship on this night is better than worshipping for a thousand months.
2 - In this month was revealed the best of Books to the best of the
Prophets (peace be upon them). Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"The month of Ramadan in which was revealed theQur'aan, a guidance for
mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between
right and wrong)"
[al-Baqarah 2:185]
"We sent it (this Qur'aan) down on a blessed night [(i.e. the Night of
Al-Qadr) in the month of Ramadan -- the 9th month of the Islamic
calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will
reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our
Oneness of worship].
Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments.
As a Command (or this Qur'aan or the Decree of every matter) from Us.
Verily, We are ever sending (the Messengers)"
[al-Dukhaan 44:3-5]
It was narrated by Ahmadand by al-Tabaraani in al-Mu'jam al-Kabeer
that Waathilah ibn al-Asqa' (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
"The Scriptures of Ibraaheem were sent down on the first of the month
of Ramadaan. The Tawraat was sent down on the sixth of Ramadaan.The
Injeel was sent down on the thirteenth of Ramadaan. The Zaboor was
sent down on the eighteenth of Ramadaan, and the Qur'aan was sent down
on the twenty-fourth of Ramadaan.
Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 1575.
2 - In this month the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of
Hell are shut, and the devils are chained up.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him)
that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: "When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and
the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are put in chains."
(Agreed upon).
Al-Nasaa'i narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "When Ramadaan
comes, the gates of mercy are opened and the gates of Hell are shut,
and the devils are put in chains."
Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami', 471.
Al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah and Ibn Khuzaymah narrated in one report:
"When the first night of the month of Ramadaan comes, the devils and
rebellious jinn are chainedup and the gates of Hell are closed, and
not one gate of it is opened. The gates of Paradise are opened and not
one gate of it is closed. And a caller cries out: 'O seeker of good,
proceed; O seeker of evil, desist. And Allaah has those whom He
redeems from the Fire, and that happens every night."
Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami', 759.
If it is asked, how come we see many evil actions and sins committed
in Ramadaan, for if the devils are chained up that would not happen?
The answer is that evil actions become less for those who observe the
conditions and etiquette of fasting;
or that the ones who are chained up are some of the devils - namely
the rebellious ones - not all ofthem;
or that what is meant is that evil is reduced in Ramadaan, which is a
proven fact. If evil happens at this time, it is still less than at
other times. Even if all of them (the devils) are chained up, that
does not necessarily mean that no evil or sin will happen, because
there are other causes of that besides the devils, such as evil souls,
bad habits and the devils among mankind. Al-Fath, 4/145
4 - There are many kinds of worship in Ramadaan, some of which are not
done at other times, such as fasting, praying qiyaam, feeding the
poor, i'tikaaf, sadaqah, and reading Qur'aan.
I ask Allaah, the Exalted, the Almighty, to help us all to do that and
to help us to fast and pray qiyaam, and to do acts of worship and to
avoid doing evil. Praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds.