Ramadhan is just around the corner and for us here in the Philippines, it is a blessing that it is during the summer months. Despite the longer fasting hours, it is a good thing for us because many Muslims particular those from the younger generations are on vacation and may perform fasting and many good deeds during Ramadhan without being added the burden of going to school, doing projects and other extra-curricular activities. So here is how you make the best out of Ramadhan.
Make the best out of this Ramadhan by knowing its virtues. Most Islamic centers and mosques offer free lectures on the subject. Islamic audio-visual presentations are being shared on social media as well about Ramadhan. Knowing about the virtues of Ramadhan make us appreciate it even more and strive in the performance of good deeds in the limited number of its blessed days. Ramadhan is the month when Allah began the revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad, therefore, one should strive in reading the book of Allah as much as possible. Allah said in the Quran, “The month of Ramadhan is when the Quran was sent down, as guidance to mankind and as teachings from the guidance and the criterion between right and wrong.”
Ramadhan is also a virtuous month as it is a month that Allah has made special by making fasting obligation in all of its days. Among the virtues of fasting is for people to attain piety. Allah said in the Quran, “O you who believed, fasting has been made obligatory upon you the same way it has been made an obligation to those before you so that you may attain piety.” Ramadhan is a special act of worship that only Him knows who are the people who truly fast and He shall be the only one to reward it.
It is also important to know that good deeds done during Ramadhan are better rewarded in this month. Sheikh Bin Baz said, “Because Ramadan is of such a high status, acts of obedience during the month are of immense virtue and earn a greatly multiplied reward, and the sin of acts of disobedience during this month is greater and more serious than sins at other times. So the Muslim should make the most of this blessed month by doing acts of worship and righteous deeds, and giving up bad deeds, in the hope that Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, will bless him by accepting those deeds and will enable him to adhere to the truth. But the bad deed always incurs an equal burden of sin, and is never multiplied, either in Ramadan or at other times, whereas a good deed receives multiple rewards, tenfold up to many times more than that.”
The scholars also said, “Both good deeds and bad deeds are multiplied at special times and in special places, but there is a difference between the multiplication of the reward of good deeds and the multiplication of the punishment of bad deeds. The multiplication of good deeds is in both quantity and quality. What is meant by quantity is number, so a good deed is multiplied by ten times the like thereof, and what is meant by quality is that the reward is great and vast. With regards to bad deeds, it is multiplied in terms of quality only, which means that the sin is greater and the punishment is more severe. With regard to quantity, a bad deed receives one sin, and it cannot be more than one.
Good deeds and bad deeds are multiplied in a special place such as Makkah, Madeenah and Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), and in the mosques; and at special times such as on Fridays, during the sacred months and in Ramadhan.” Because of this, Muslims should try to avoid sins in this month as he should do his best to perform good deeds as much as he could.
Other good deeds that Muslims may perform during Ramadhan is the I’tikaf or the residence in a mosque for a period of time to devote one’s self in performing acts of worship such as reading the Quran, prayers, and others. Charity, feeding the poor and other good deeds are recommended also.
Another important thing to do to ensure that you have proper knowledge on how to perform the good deeds in Ramadhan especially fasting during the day and offering voluntary prayers during the night. Fasting is done by avoiding everything that shall invalidate the fast from the beginning of the sunrise at dawn until sunset. Actions that invalidate the fast are eating, drinking, sexual intercourse, ejaculation, blood-letting, intravenous fluids, and intentional vomiting. However, if one eats or drinks during the day and he is fasting, then his fasting is still valid due to what Prophet Muhammad said, “Whoever eats and drinks due to forgetfulness that he was fasting should continue his fast because it was Allah who fed him and made him drink.”
The people who are obliged to fast are Muslims, those who attained the age of puberty, those who are not traveling or sick, and those who do not have menstruation or post-partum bleeding among the women. Children below the age of puberty are not obliged to fast but they are told to do so in order to get them accustomed to it. Traveling and sick Muslims are allowed not to fast for their convenience and speedy recovery respectively. Allah said in the Quran, “Whoever is sick or is traveling should fast the days that he has not fasted in other days.” Special consideration is also being given to those who may need to break their fast in order for them to perform arduous tasks such as rescue workers in order for them to have enough strength in performing their duties.
With all these said, it is important to be reminded that Muslims must avoid evil actions and speech during the Holy month of Ramadhan.
