Ramadan Articles - Making the Most of Ramadan - II

The month ofRamadanis the month of great gains and profits. The wise
trader is the one who makes the most of specialoccasions to increase
his profits. So make the mostof this month by increasing in your acts
of worship, praying a great deal, reading the Quran, forgiving people,
being kind to others and givingcharity to the poor.
In the month ofRamadanthe gates of Paradise are opened and the gates
of Hell are closed, the devils are put in chains and a caller cries
out each night: O seeker of good, proceed! O seeker of evil,stop!
Therefore, O slaves of Allaah, be among the blessed people, by
following the path of your righteous predecessors who were guided by
theSunnah)tradition( of your Prophet,, so that we may come out
ofRamadanwith our sins forgiven and our righteous deeds accepted.
The month ofRamadanis the best of months, as Ibn al-Qayyimsaid,
"An example of the differentiation between the things that Allaah
hascreated – is the fact that the month of Ramadan is superior to all
other months, and the last ten nights are superior to all other
nights."]Zaad Al-Ma'aad[
This month is superior to others for four reasons:
1 – In it there is the best night of the year, which
isLaylat-ul-Qadr.Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Indeed, We
sentthe Quran down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you
know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a
thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by
permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace itis until the
emergence of dawn.{]Quran 97:1-5[
So observing worship on this night is better than worshipping for a
thousand months.
2 – In this month the bestof Books was revealed to the best of the
Prophets,. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:
·}The month of Ramadan]is that[ in which was revealed the Quran, a
guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and
criterion{]Quran 2:185[
·}Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to
warn ]mankind[. On that night is made distinct every precise matter
]Every[ matter]proceeding[ from Us. Indeed, We were to send]a
messenger{]Quran 44:3-5[
Ahmad and At-Tabaraani narrated on the authority of Waathilah ibn
Al-Asqa'that the Messenger of Allaah,, said:"The Scriptures of
Ibraaheem were sent down on the first night of the month of Ramadan.
The Torah was sent down on the sixth ofRamadan. The Gospel was sent
down on the thirteenth of Ramadan. The Zaboor was sent down on the
eighteenth of Ramadan, and the Quran was sent down on the
twenty-fourth of Ramadan."]Al-Albaani:Hasan[
3 – In this month the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell
are closed, and the devilsare chained up.
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrahthat the Messenger of
Allaah,, said:"When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened
and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils areput in
chains."]Muslim[
Abu Hurayrah also narrated that the Messenger of Allaah,, said:"When
Ramadan comes, the gates of mercy are opened, the gates of Hell are
closed, and the devils are put in chains."]An-Nasaa'i;
Al-Albaani:Saheeh[
Al-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah and Ibn Khuzaymah narrated in one report:"When
the first night of the month of Ramadan comes, the devils and
rebellious jinn are chained up, all the gates of Hell are closed, and
none of its gates are opened. All the gates of Paradise are opened,
andnone of its gates are closed. A caller cries out: 'O seeker of
goodness, proceed; O seeker of evil, desist. Allaah has those whom He
redeems from the Fire every night."
]Al-Albaani:Hasan[.
If it is asked, how is it that we see many evil actions and sins
committed inRamadan, whereas if the devils were chained up, that would
not happen?
The answer is that evil actions become less for those who observe the
conditions and etiquettesof fasting, or that those who are chained up
are some of the devils – namely the rebellious ones – not all of them,
or that what is meant is thatevil is reduced inRamadan, 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 thedevils, such as evil souls, bad
habits and the devils among humankind.
4 – There are many acts of worship particular toRamadan, some of
whichare not done at other times, such as fasting,Qiyaam)voluntary
night prayers(, feeding people,staying in seclusion in the mosque,
giving charity, and reciting the Quran.