“When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.”

Dear Brother and Sister,

Blessed month of Ramadan is casting its shadow upon us, Lets give warm welcome to this month by learning more about the virtues, blessings and rulings of this month. Don’t neglect this month of blessing during which Allaah opens the gates of Paradise and closes the gates of Hell, and chains up the devils, as is stated in al-Saheehayn (al-Bukhaari, 1898; Muslim, 1079), from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah who said that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.”

Ramadan – A Blessed month of Mercy and Forgiveness. Its days are the best of days, its nights are the best of nights and its hours are the best of hours.

It is the month which invites you to be the guest of Allaah and invites you to be one of those near to Him. Each breath you take glorifies Him; your sleep is worship, your deeds are accepted and your supplications are answered.

It is the month of revelation of the Quran, the month of reading and reciting the whole Quran, the month of Tahajjud and the month of Tarawih prayers, of Sadaqah and Zakah-ul-Fitr.

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan), he must fast that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not fast must be made up) from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him” (2: 185).

No one can go anywhere without preparation, and no one invites a guest without preparing to welcome him/her. Similarly, to welcome Ramadan, the month of fasting, one has to prepare.

The Sahaba RadhiAllahu Anhum used to prepare for Ramadan months before it dawned upon them as they believed it would be injustice and bad manners if they did not. The Sahaba would prepare for Ramadan six months in advance. We are also following their beautiful manner which is by default emulating the prophetic way at least a month before Ramadan begins. Let’s prepare our selves for this Ramadan who knows will we see the next Ramadan or not? Lets take the best of benifit from this month.

Abu Huraira related that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. Whoever prays during the nights in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. And he who passes Lailat al-Qadr in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven (Bukhari, Muslim).

The month of Ramadan and Fasting is a gift of Allah for the believers, Its the month where you can make habit of controlling your desires, its the time when you can develop your taqwa more strongly, where you can repent and seek forgiveness of your every past sin, Its the best time to get double reward of every good deed you do. No doubt Ramadan is the month of blessings in which devils are chained up, gates of hells are closed and the heaven gates are opened! Let’s utilize these blessed moments in complete and proper way! -islamgreatreligion