LESSON FOUR

VIRTUES AND BLESSINGS OF RAMADAAN

عَنْ اَبِىْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اِذَا دَخَلَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِحَتْ اَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ وَغُلِّقَتْ اَبْوَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَسُلْسِلَتِ الشَّيَاطِيْنُ وَفِىْ رَوَايَةٍ اَبْوَابُ الرَّحْمَةِ  (رواه البخارى ومسلم)

Abu Hurayrah RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrated that Rasulullah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “When the month of Ramadaan comes, the gates of Jannat are thrown open, the gates of Jahannum [hell] are shut, and the devils are chained.” [In another narration, “the gates of mercy” are mentioned in place of “the gates of Jannat”.] (Bukhari and Muslim)

COMMENTARY: The following is a crux of what Shah Waliullah V writes in Hujjatullallil-Baalighah, while commenting on this hadith,

“Since the pious and obedient servants of Allaah apply themselves to acts of worship and good doing during the month of Ramadaan and spend their days in zikr [remembrance of Allaah] and recitation of the Quraan while fasting, and a major part  of their nights in Taraweeh and Tahajjud, supplication and repentance, under the influence of their high spirituality and devotional exertions, the hearts of the common Muslims too become inclined towards acts of worship and piety and they, on the whole, succeed in abstaining from many sins. Owing to the atmosphere created of inclination to taqwa as well as worship and virtue in the Islamic circles, people who possess some ability develop a fondness for things that are pleasing to Allaah and an aversion for things that are repugnant to him. Moreover, in this blessed month, the reward on even small acts of moral goodness is made much greater by Allaah Ta’ala than on other days. The result of all of this is that the gates of Jannat are opened and of Jahannum are closed for such people, and the devils are not left free to tempt and mislead them.”

According to this explanation, all these three bounties [a.) throwing open the gates of Jannat and mercy b.) closing the gates of Jahannum c.) and the binding of the devils in chains] are in respect only of those servants of Allaah Ta’ala who are inclined towards attaining goodness in the month of Ramadaan, and out of the keenness to acquire its blessings, engage themselves enthusiastically in worship and other acts of obedience. As for the disbelievers, atheists, the negligent and the heedless, who care little for divine injunctions and produce no change in their daily lives at the advent of Ramadaan, these tidings do not apply to them. When they have deprived themselves and they willingly follow Satan in the other months, there is nothing except deprivation by Allaah as well.

عَنْ اَبِىْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اِذَا كَانَ اَوَّلُ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ صُفِّدَتِ الشَّيَاطِيْنُ وَمَرَدَةُ الْجِنِّ وَغُلِّقَتْ اَبْوَابُ النَّارِ فَلَمْ يُفْتَحْ مِنْهَا بَابٌ وَفُتِحَتْ اَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ فَلَمْ يُغْلَقْ مِنْهَا بَابٌ وَيُنَادِى مُنَادٍ يَا بَاغِيَ الْخَيْرِ اَقْبِلْ وَيَا بَاغِىَ الشَّرِّ اَقْصِرْ وَلِلَّهِ عُتَقَاءُ مِنَ النَّارِ وَذَلِكَ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ (رواه الترمذى وابن ماجة)

Abu Hurairah RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrated that Rasulullah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “When the first night of Ramadaan arrives, the devils and the defiant jinn are bound in chains, all the gates of Jahannum are closed and none of them remain open, all the gates of Jannat are thrown open and none of them remain closed, and the heavenly caller announces, “O seeker of goodness and virtue! Proceed. And O seeker of evil! Stop.”  A large number of [sinful] servants are released from the Fire by the command of Allaah [i.e. a decision of forgiveness is passed on them.] All this takes place on every night of Ramadan.” (Tirmidhi and ibn Majah)

COMMENTARY: The subject matter of the first part of the above hadith is the same as that of the preceding one. As for the announcement by the caller of the unseen world which is mentioned at the end of the hadith, though we do not and cannot hear it, we see the effect and manifestation of it with our own eyes in the present world. In Ramadaan, the inclination among the believers towards good and virtuous deeds generally grows stronger, to the extent that many heedless and free-minded Muslims also somewhat change their ways. This we believe is the result and outcome of the divine caller’s proclamation.

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اَجْوَدَ النَّاسِ بِالْخَيْرِ وَكَانَ اَجْوَدَ مَا يَكُوْنَ فِىْ رَمَضَانَ كَانَ جِبْرِيْلُ يَلْقَاهُ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ فِىْ رَمَضَانَ يَعْرِضُ عَلَيْهِ النَّبِىُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ القُرْاَنَ فَاِذَا لَقِيَهُ جِبْرِيْلُ كَانَ اَجْوَدَ بِالْخَيْرِ مِنَ الْرِّيْحِ الْمُرْسَلَة (رواه البخارى ومسلم)

Abdullah ibn Abbas RadhiyAllaahu Anhu narrates, “Rasulullah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam was superior to all men in generosity and the doing of good to the people in general, but in the month of Ramadaan, his generosity knew no bounds. In Ramadaan, Jibreel Alayhis Salaam came to him every night, and Nabi SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam recited the Qur’an to him. When Jibreel Alayhis Salaam would meet him, he would be appeared to be faster than the wind sent by Allaah in generosity and benevolence.”

COMMENTARY: It shows that Ramadaan was the spring season of the year for Rasulullah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam and a special period of joy and of growth in the attributes of compassion and love for mankind. The coming of Allaah’s special messenger, Jibreel Alayhis Salaam every night and reciting the Qur’an Majeed, also added to the effects.