The holy month of Ramadan has embarked on Muslim Ummah with all its grace, glory and blessings. This month is special for Muslims for its intense spiritual meaning. In an age where religious festivals have become commercial events, the month of Ramadan retains its sanctity and divine dignity in complete sense of term. Going without food, drink, snacks and other habitual amenities from before Sunrise to after Sunset, observed on daily basis for full month, is a unique practice in Ramadan. It is not merely to abandon eating and drinking. In one of the sayings (Hadith), our beloved Prophet (SAW) says “Your day of fasting should not be like ordinary days; when you fast, all your senses, eyes, ears, tongue, hands, and feet must fast with you”. Its spiritual magnificence reaches its crescendo with additional prayers (Taraveh and nufl) offered in the night and pre-dawn hours besides already prescribed daily prayers. What makes it even more special is the revelation of Quran in the month. This has been named as “Shahrul-Quraana” (the month of Quran). “Ramadan is the (month) in which the Qur’an was sent down, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting.”(Quran-2:185). This squarely explains the inseparable link between the Quran and the month of Ramadan. The revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him) began in this month. The night in which the Quran was revealed is known as The Night of Power or The Night of Destiny. The Quran is the literal Speech of Almighty God to His arch angel Gabriel who then recited the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Muslims have been ordained to recite the Qur’an regularly and even more so in the holy month of Ramadan. The books on Seerat reveal that in Ramadan Archangel Gabriel would come to Prophet (SAW) him every night, and he would rehearse the Qur’an with him once every Ramadan and twice in the year he (SAW) left this world.
To mark the significance of this momentous occasion – the revelation of the Qur’an – we fast during the day and pray at nights, particularly Laylat al-Qadr, the night the Qur’an was revealed. The reward for fasting and praying in this month is so great, that the Prophet (SAW) states that if people (believers) know about all the blessings of Ramadan they would wish Ramadan to last for the whole year. A true Muslim always welcomes Ramadan with great bliss and delight. He avails the opportunity to perform good deeds and earn more and more reward from Almighty Allah. Prophet (SAW) states “Whoever prayed at night during it (Ramadan) out of sincere faith and hoping for reward, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Agreed Upon]. These are three opportunities that we have been given to attain forgiveness for all our sins. The spiritual doctors of the heart are in agreement that fasting softens the heart, making it more receptive and humble to the recitation of the Qur’an. Perhaps this is the wisdom that links together fasting and night prayer, the two most distinctive acts of worship in this month. It is important to note that our relationship with the Qur’an in this month should not be limited to just the nightly Tarawih prayers only. We must also devote ourselves to studying the Qur’an outside of prayer as well. What is most desired is understanding the Quran and its meaning, and then adopt it in our daily lives. Some Islamic scholar has rightly said that Ramadan is like a “free market for spiritual shopping.” “It’s a month of God’s reception … we let the Quran be revealed in our hearts.”
