The Joy Ramadan Brings to Our Hearts by Dr. Sameh Asal

The Joy Ramadan Brings to Our Hearts

The fruits and benefits that a Muslim reaps from the month of Ramadan makes the arrival of Ramadan a special occasion that brings to joy to the hearts. It was the habit of our righteous predecessors to rejoice at the arrival of Ramadan and that continued throughout the following centuries. Mu`alla ibnul-Fadl (rahemahu Allah) said, “The righteous predecessors used to make du‘a to Allah for six months to extend their life until they reach the month of Ramadan, and they used to make du`a for six more months asking Allah to accept their good deeds during Ramadan.” When we know of the causes of their joy and anxiousness for the coming of Ramadan, we will realize why they acted joyfully when they received it.

A Muslim knows that this life is transient and its pleasures are limited and temporary. On the other side, he realizes that the afterlife is the true endless life and its joys are ongoing and its pleasures are genuine. Therefore, he rejoices at the pleasures of the hereafter and is always anxious to do what brings him happiness in the hereafter. To him, chances to work for the hereafter are golden chances that are more precious than the treasures of this life. Allah (SWT) says what means: “Say, ‘In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy - in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate’" (Qurʾān: 10: 58).

A Muslim rejoices at the coming of Ramadan because there are many opportunities to obtain the pleasure of Allah and achieve everlasting happiness in the hereafter. It is always the dream of a Muslim to have his past sins forgiven and to obtain clearance from entering the Hellfire. This dream can be fulfilled in the month of Ramadan. The Prophet (PBUH) tells us that the fasting the month of Ramadan expiates all the past sins and so do the Tarawīḥ/night prayers in Ramadan. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for Allah’s reward, then all his past sins will be forgiven.” (Related by al-Bukhārī) The Prophet (PBUH) also said, “Whoever stood for the night prayers in Ramadan out of sincere Faith and hoping for Allah’s reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven." (Related by al-Bukhārī and Muslim). Moreover, the Prophet (PBUH) says, “Whoever stands in prayers during Laylatul-Qadr (Night of Decree), his past sins will be forgiven” (Related by al-Bukhārī and Muslim).

Fasting in Ramadan is so special because the reward for it is exceptional. One gets rewarded for all his good deeds based on the standards Allah (SWT) has set for rewarding them; however, the standards set for rewarding the fast are different. The Prophet (PBUH) narrates that Allah, the Almighty, says, “All the good deeds done by the son of Adam are for him except for fasting: It is for Me and I reward for observing it.” (Related by al-Bukhārī). Allah (SWT) has not declared the reward for fasting due to its greatness and He (SWT) added the fasting to Himself to show how important fasting is. It is the only act of worship that is not liable to shirk because it is a secret between the slave and Allah and none of the people can see it.

Allah (SWT) honors those who fast in the hereafter so much so, that he allocate a particular gate for them to enter Jannah and once they have entered, this gate will be closed. The Prophet (PBUH), “Indeed there is a gate to Jannah that is called ar-Rayyān through which the fasting ones enter Jannah. It will be asked, “Where are the fasting ones, so they stand and none else other than them enters through it. Once they have entered through it, the gate is closed so no one else enters behind them.”

These and many other fruits that we reap from the month of Ramadan bring joy to our hearts, and therefore, we are anxious for the coming of Ramadan so we can expose ourselves to the mercy of Allah, His favors and bounties. We ask Allah (SWT) to enable us to fast in Ramadan and revive its days and nights with prayers, recitation of the Qurʾan, charity and other good deeds, and accept that from us. Ameen.