Ramzan is the most important month for Muslims because of its religious value. It is the month in which Allah revealed the Quran, the last Holy Book, to the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). It is also the month during which Allah made fasting obligatory for every sane and able-bodied Muslim. As fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, everyone who observes this act of worship will be rewarded heavily in the afterlife. Let’s find out more about Ramzan and its many benefits for Muslims!
The Religious & Spiritual Significance of Ramzan in Islam
The fact that Allah chose Ramzan as the month for revealing the Quran goes to show how important it is in Islam. Ramzan is also the month in which Laylatul Qadar (The Night of Power), one of the most sacred nights in Islam, falls. It is the night on which the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) through the angel Jibrael.
During Ramzan, Muslims engage in different acts of worship, including the Taraweeh prayer, which is performed every night. There’s a significant reward for every good deed done in Ramzan. As a result, Muslims pray more during Ramzan, recite the Quran daily, and give charity to the poor.
Ramzan is also the month of great spiritual growth for Muslims. Through regular acts of worship in Ramzan, Muslims feel closer to Allah. Fasting also helps people understand the value of food and makes them more mindful of the blessings Allah has showered on them. Apart from avoiding food, Muslims are also required to stop themselves from saying, hearing, and seeing bad things. As a result, fasting not only purifies the body but also the soul.
Fasting – Rules & Guidelines
In Islam, there are set guidelines for every act of worship to make it easier for people to follow the commands of Allah. Here are some rules and guidelines about fasting in Islam:
- Who can fast?
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- Fasting is obligatory for every able-bodied and sane-minded person who has reached puberty.
- Are there exceptions?
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- Allah has exempted those for whom it would be difficult to skip meals from fasting. The list of people exempted includes old people who are too sick to fast, pregnant women, and travelers. Nursing women and women on their periods are also exempted from fasting. However, all of these people should either make up for their missed fasts later or pay fidya for each missed day.
- What is fidya?
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- In Islam, fidya is a charity that people who cannot fast must give for each of their missed fasts. The amount of fidya is whatever would be enough to feed one person.
- What is one misses a fast voluntarily?
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- If one skips a fast voluntarily, they must either fast for 60 days consecutively or feed 60 people to make up for it.
- What breaks a fast?
- The following seven acts can invalidate your fast: sexual intercourse, intentionally eating or drinking something, smoking, masturbation, donating blood, vomiting deliberately, and mensturation. If you mistakenly eat or drink something while fasting, your fast will not be invalidated.
Acts of Worship During Ramzan
The most commonly observed acts of worship during Ramzan are as follows:
Taraweeh Prayer
The Taraweeh is a Sunnah prayer that is performed every night after the Isha prayer. It is a highly rewarded prayer and typically involves 20 rak’ahs. It is believed to help Muslims get closer to Allah. Taraweeh is prayed in congregation and is signified by the recitation of the Quran in it. Every day, at least 20 rukus of the Quran are recited during the Taraweed prayer so that the whole Quran can be completed within Ramzan.
Dua & Dhikr
During the holy month of Ramzan, Muslims recite different Islamic duas and do dhikr of Allah to earn rewards and have their sins forgiven. Various duas are recited on different days of Ramzan.
Dua for the first ashra of Ramzan
“Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum bi rahmatika astaghees”
(O Everliving, O the Self-Sustaining Sustainer, by Your Mercy, I seek help)
Dua for the second ashra of Ramzan
“Astagfirullaha rab-bi min kulli zambiyon wa-atoobuilaiyh”
(I seek forgiveness for my sins from Allah, who is my lord, and I turn to Him.)
Dua for the last ashra of Ramzan
“Allahumma Ajirni minan naar”
(O Allah, save me from the hellfire)
Reading the Quran
Reading the Quran is one of the highest acts of worship and comes with a lot of rewards. Muslims try to complete the Quran in the month of Ramzan by reading one para every day.
Charity & Zakat
Islam values community and wants Muslims to look after their neighbors, the needy, and the poor. In Ramzan, many Muslims give in charity regularly to those in need. People also set aside money every month so they can give Zakat in Ramzan and get rewarded.
Conclusion
Ramzan is a very blessed month for Muslims, as it gives them the opportunity to strengthen their faith and boost their spiritual growth. As a Muslim, you can engage in various acts of worship during Ramzan and get rewarded for each of them in the afterlife. Allah also allowed sick and old people to abstain from fasting to make it easier for them to follow the religion. You can also recite the Quran daily, pray five times, and fast sincerely in the month of Ramzan to be rewarded by Allah in the afterlife.
FAQs
How to seek forgiveness in Ramzan?
There are different ways to seek forgiveness in Ramzan. You can give charity as it wipes away sin and sincerely repent. You can also recite the following dua to ask for Allah’s forgiveness for your sins:
“Allahumma innaka afuwwun tuhibbu al-afwa fa’fu anni”
(O Allah, You are forgiving, and You love forgiveness, so forgive me.)
How can I complete the Quran in Ramzan?
The following strategies can help you complete the Quran in Ramzan:
- Complete one para (or chapter) daily so you can read all 30 in the month of Ramzan.
- Since Ramzan can also be of 29 days, depending on the sighting of the moon, try reading more than one para every day.
- Focus on pages instead of chapters for a different approach. Each chapter is approximately 20 pages so try to read 25 pages every day.
- Divide your recitation of the Quran in different parts throughout the day. This way, you can easily reach your daily goal even if you live a busy lifestyle.
