Rejoicing at the coming of Ramadan

All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of the Worlds. We ask Him to Bestow
much of His Peace and Blessings upon our leader, Muhammadhis family
and Companions until the Day of Judgment.
The month of Ramadan occupies a refined status in the hearts of
Muslims who believe in the One and Only Lord, Allaah The Exalted,Lord
of the Worlds. For Muslims, Ramadan is of great sentimental and
spiritual value and emotionalsignificance. It is the best month of the
entire year. Ramadan is the month of mercy, forgiveness and
emancipation from Hellfire. In it, are the last ten nights and, in
them, the best night of the year )i.e. the Night of Al- Qadr(. Whoever
makes the most of this night )by worshipping Allaah The Exalted(, will
achieve a great deal of good and reward.
This blessed month is the month of joy and bliss )i.e. of obedience
and closeness to Allaah The Exalted(. In Ramadan, many of the basic
acts of worship are performed. It is the month of fasting, night
prayers, charity andother acts of worship.
Whenever the great, blessed and noble month of Ramadan approaches, the
hearts of believers look forward to witnessing it, are gladdened by
its coming and are overjoyed as itnears. The month of Ramadan is a
great blessing from Allaah The Exalted, not only in terms of its great
and abundant reward and emancipation from Hellfire, but also because
it abounds in priceless lessons. This value is only recognized by
those who realize the wisdom behind fasting, its benefits and deep
impact on the heart, soul, body and the society as a whole.
The month of Ramadan is distinguished from other months)as being the month of(:
1. Forgiveness:
Abu Hurayrah, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, reported that the
Messenger of Allaahsaid:"Whoever observes fasts during the month of
Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attainthe rewards of
Allaah, then all hispast sins will be forgiven."]Al-Bukhaari and
Muslim[
This means that whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and hope for the
reward only from Allaah The Exalted and not to be seen and admired by
people, his previous sins will be forgiven.
2. The gates of Paradise are opened and those of Hellfire are closed:
In the first night of this month, the gates of Paradise are opened and
those of Hellfire are closed. Abu Hurayrahreported that the Messenger
of Allaahsaid:"When it is the first night of Ramadan, devils and
rebellious jinn are chained, the gates of the Fire are locked and not
a single gate is opened. the gates of Paradise are opened and not a
single gate is closed. Then, a caller calls out: 'O seeker of
good,come forward, and O seeker of evil, desist. And there are many
whom Allaah Frees from Hellfire and this is in every night )of
Ramadan(."]At-Tirmithi[ ]Al-Albaani: Saheeh[
This Hadeeth underlines many virtues and merits of the month of Ramadan.
3. One of the greatest acts of worship is performed in Ramadan:
This is one of the main reasons behind rejoicing at the coming ofthis
month. Abu Hurayrahreported that the Messenger of Allaahsaid in a
Hadeeth Qudsi:"Allaah The Exalted Said: 'Every deed of the son of
Aadam is for himself except for fasting because it is for Me and I
Will Reward )him for( it … Fasting is a shield )from Hellfire and
committing sins(. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual
relations with his wife and quarreling and, if someone should fight
with him, he should say, 'I am fasting'. By Him in Whose Hands my soul
is, the unpleasant smell from the mouth of a fasting person is better
in the Sight of Allaah than the smell of musk. There are two joyous
occasions for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast
and the other when he meets his Lord, for thenhe will rejoice because
of his fasting."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
4. The believer should rejoice at the coming of this month. And they
should rejoice at such glad tidings as Allaah The Exalted Has Prepared
so much )reward( for those who fast. Sahl, May Allaah Be Pleased with
him, reported that the Prophetsaid:"There is a gate in Paradise called
Ar-Rayyaan through which none will enter but those who used to observe
fasting. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to observe
fasting?' They will get upand none except them will enter through it.
After their entry, the gate will be closed and nobody will enter
through it."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
My dear brother and sister,
The month of Ramadan creates a feeling of joy and delight in the
hearts of believers. The Messenger of Allaahsaid:"… There are two
joyous occasions for the fasting person; one at thetime of breaking
his fast and the other when he meets his Lord, for then he will
rejoice because of his fasting."]Muslim[. Ramadan is the optimal time
for Muslims to relish joy and delight. How could the believer not
rejoice at the coming of Ramadan when a gate of Paradise is opened for
him? How could a believer not rejoice at thecoming of Ramadan as he is
given a chance for his past and future sins to be forgiven? How could
a believer not rejoice at thecoming of Ramadan when he is given a
chance to be saved from Hellfire?
How could a believer not rejoice at the coming of Ramadan as thecaller
proclaims, "O seeker of good, come forward! Come forward in truth to
the Lord of allcreation and relish prosperity success and victory in
this worldly life and in the Hereafter"?There is no doubt that this is
the objective of each Muslim and the goal of all Muslims who believe
inthe One and Only True God.
How could a believer not rejoice at the coming of Ramadan nor
bepleased to have been endowed with such a divine gift, having been
granted a chance to escape Hellfire and winning the Pleasure of
Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds?
Lastly, we implore Allaah The Exalted to Bestow upon us the blessing
of witnessing this blessed month, Facilitate our fasting and prayers,
Accept our modest attempts to please Him)through good deeds and acts
of worship( and Pardon our numerous sins and misdeeds, forHe Is Able
and Competent to do that. He )Alone( Is Worthy )of thisplead( and Is
Able to bring this topass. We ask Him to Bestow much of His Peace and
Blessings upon our leader, Muhammadhis family and Companions until the
Day of Judgment. All praise is due to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds.