Ramadan is indeed a Month of blessing, virtue and forgiveness for Muslims. In the Quran Allah swt puts emphasis on Ramadan as being one of the main pillars of Islam. You will find countless revelations in the Quran and evidences in the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) about Ramadan. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught his Ummah about the rewards of Ramadan and how to utilize your time in such a great month of Mercy.
Let us now look at some main Hadith’s on this topic.
1. Gates of Heaven & Hell
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:
“The Messenger of Allah said: ‘There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month, which Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has enjoined you to fast. In it the gates of heavens are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and every devil is chained up.
In it Allah has a night which is better than a thousand months; whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived.
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa’i 2106
In-book reference: Book 22, Hadith 17
2. Forgiveness
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven”
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 38
In-book reference: Book 2, Hadith 31
3. AR-Rayyan Gate
Sahi narrated that:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said : In Paradise there is a gate called AR ‘Rayyan, it will be said on the Day of Resurrection: “Where are those who used to fast? Would you like to enter through AR-Rayyan?” whoever enters through it will never thirst again. Then when they have entered it will be closed behind them, and no one but they will enter through it.
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa’i 2237
In-book reference: Book 22, Hadith 148
4. Ramadan and Sins
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The five (daily) Salat (prayers), and from one Jumu’ah prayer to the (next) Jumu’ah prayer, and from Ramadan to Ramadan are expiations for the (sins) committed in between (their intervals); provided the major sins are not committed”
Reference: Sahih Muslim – Riyad Us Sahileen
In-book reference: Book 1, Hadith 130
5. Sins
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah said: The Fast is for Me and I will give the reward for it, as he (the one who observes the fast) leaves his sexual desire, food and drink for My Sake. Fasting is a screen (from Hell) and there are two pleasures for a fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord. And the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better in Allah’s Sight than the smell of musk.” (See Hadith No. 128, Vol. 3).
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 7492
In-book reference: Book 97, Hadith 118
6. Itikaf and Night of Qadr
Narrated `Aisha:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, “Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan.”
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 2020
In-book reference: Book 32, Hadith 7
7. Hell-Fire
Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Every slave of Allah who observes Saum (fasting) for one day for the sake of Allah, Allah will draw his face farther from Hell-fire to the extent of a distance to be covered in seventy years.”
Reference: Al-Bukhari and Muslim
Riyad us Saliheen: Arabic/English
In-book reference: Book 9, Hadith 1218
8. Nights of Ramadan
‘Urwah bin Az-Zubair narrated that Aishah told him that:
The Messenger of Allah used to encourage the people to pray Qiyam in Ramadan, without insisting on that. He said: “Whoever spends the nights of Ramadan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, he will be forgiven his previous sins.”Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa’i 2192
In-book reference: Book 22, Hadith 103
9. Feeding poor
It was narrated from Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will have a reward like theirs, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest.”
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
English reference: Sunan Ibn Majah: Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1746
10. Patience
It was narrated that ‘Aishah said that the Prophet said:
“Fasting is a shield against the Fire. Whoever starts the day of fasting, let him not act in an ignorant manner during that day. If anyone treats him in an ignorant manner, let him not insult him or curse him, rather let him say: “I am fasting.’ By the One in whole hand is the soul of Muhammad, the smell that comes from the mouth of a fasting person is better before Allah than the fragrance of musk.“
Grade: Hasan (Darussalam)
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa’i 2234
In-book reference: Book 22, Hadith 145
