Excellence of Ramadhan - A short description

 

Description of the excellence of Ramadhan

 

First Hadith

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  When the month of Ramadhan starts, then the gateways of the heavens are opened (meaning the mercy of Allah descends repeatedly, good deeds are raised to the heavens without any obstruction and supplications are accepted).

In another Hadith, it is also mentioned that the gateways of Paradise are opened (i.e. in the month of Ramadhan, the fasting person is guided to perform such deeds which make him/her deserving of admittance into Paradise) and the gateways of hell are closed (i.e. by purification of the Self, the fasting person is saved from such sins which would take him into hell) and the devils are imprisoned (due to which the fasting person is saved from the whisperings and exhortations towards sins of the devils)

In another Hadith, it is also mentioned that the doors of mercy are opened.

Bukhari and Muslim have unanimously related this Hadith.

This Hadith mentions the excellence of Ramadhan that when a Muslim fasts and his stomach remains empty, he/she is saved from most sins, the gateways of Paradise are opened…the devils are imprisoned.  This is because Satan overpowers human being when their bellies are full.  Thus, most people who are not regular in offering Salaat also fast in Ramadhan and start offering Salaat.  This is the first proof that devils are imprisoned.  All in all, there is no doubt in the blessings of Ramadhan.

 

Second Hadith

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  When the first night of Ramadhan comes, the devils and rebellious djinn are imprisoned. The doors of hell are closed and no door of hell remains open.  The gateways of Paradise are opened and no gateway of Paradise remains closed.  A caller calls out:  O seeker of good!  Pay attention (and come towards good). O malicious one!  Desist (from sins as this is the time to repent for sins) and (in this month) Almighty Allah delivers (sinners) from hell.  This (call) is given every night (of Ramadhan).

Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah have related this Hadith.

Imam Ahmad has also related this Hadith.

This Hadith says that in the month of Ramadhan, the devils and rebellious djinn are imprisoned.  The author of Mirqaat writes about this that devils and rebellious djinn are imprisoned to ensure that they don’t cast their whispers into the hearts of the fasting people.  Its sign is that in Ramadhan, most sinners repent for their sins and turn to Allah Most High.  Some people are seen that even in Ramadhan they don’t repent for their sins.  The reason is that the old effect of the machinations of Satan remains in their hearts and they indulge in sins as per their habit.

[Excerpted from Noor ul Masabeeh, Vol. 4, Kitaab us Saum]