Introduction
There are many virtues reported about Ramadan in authentic and inauthentic hadith. In this compilation, I decided to collect the authentic virtues of Ramadan while avoiding the inauthentic ones or pointing them out.
There are four major acts of worship that Ramadan revolves around, according to the passage in Surah Baqarah about Ramadan:
- Fasting: Allah says ⟪Whoever sees the month [of Ramadan] should fast in it.⟫ (2:185)
- Reading and Understanding the Quran (including Qiyam ul-Layl and Taraweeh): Allah says ⟪The month of Ramadan in which the Quran was revealed, guidance for people, clear signs of guidance, and the criterion [of truth and falsehood].⟫ (2:185)
- Dua: ⟪When my servant asks you about me, then I am near. I respond to the dua of the one who makes dua when he makes dua to me. So, let them respond to me and believe in me so that they are guided.⟫ (2:186)
- Itikaf: ⟪And do not approach [your wives] when you are doing Itikaf in the Masjids.⟫ (2:187)
Each of these acts has many virtues to talk about. However, I did not focus on the virtues of these acts for the purposes of this collection.
Ramadan is also the month that contains Laylat ul-Qadr. There are many authentic hadith about Laylat ul-Qadr’s virtues and date. I did not focus on that for this collection.
Virtues of Ramadan
The Quran Was Revealed in Ramadan
Revelation of the Quran
Allah says ⟪The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Quran was revealed.⟫ (2:185)
The Prophet (SAW) was in the cave of Hira, and an angel appeared to him and said, “Recite.” He said, “I am not a reciter.” The angel hugged him tightly until he could not bear it anymore. Then, the angel released him and said, “Recite.” He said, “I am not a reciter!” The angel hugged him tightly again until he could not bear it anymore. Then, angel released him and said for a third time, “Recite!” He said, “I am not a reciter.” The angel hugged him tightly until he could not bear it anymore. Then, the angel released him and said ⟪Recite in the name of your Lord who created; Created man from a clinging clot; Recite and your Lord is most honored; The one who taught with the pen; Taught man what he did not know.⟫ (96:1-5)
There are two possible meanings to the Quran being revealed in Ramadan:
- The first encounter with Jibril (AS) happened in Ramadan, and the first verses of the Quran were revealed then.
- The Quran in the Preserved Tablets was sent down to the lowest heaven, so that Jibril could take from it and bring it to the Prophet (SAW) over a period of 23 years.
Locking of the Sky
When the Quran was being sent down, the sky was locked down so none of the Jinn could penetrate it.
Allah quoted the Jinn saying in the Quran ⟪And we have sought [to reach] the heaven but found it filled with powerful guards and burning flames. And we used to sit there in positions for hearing (the orders being given to the angels), but whoever listens now will find a burning flame lying in wait for him.⟫ (72:8-9)
Ibn Abbas (RA) said: The Shayateen were prevented from the news of the sky and flames were thrown at them. So, they returned to their people and said, “Our access to the news of the sky has been closed and flames are being thrown at us.” Their people said, “It must be a very important thing that prevents our access to the sky. Let us search the earth, the east and the west to find out what it is.” They searched until they found the Prophet (SAW) praying Fajr with some of his companions and heard the recitation of the Quran. (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
Ramadan Is a Month of Forgiveness
The Gates of Paradise Are Opened and the Gates of Hell Are Closed
Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said, “When Ramadan comes, the gates of Jannah are opened, the gates of Jahannam are closed, and the Shayateen are chained.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Another narration says, “The gates of mercy are opened.”
Abu Qilabah never met Abu Hurairah, but he narrated from Abu Hurairah: The Prophet (SAW) said, “The month of Ramadan has come to you, a blessed month. In it, Allah has obligated you to fast. In it, the gates of the sky are opened, and the gates of Hell are closed. In it, the rebellious Shayateen are chained. In it, there is a night that is better than a thousand months. Whoever loses its reward has lost [everything].” (Sunan Nasai) This is a disconnected hadith.
Arfajah narrated: We were sitting with Utbah ibn Farqad (RA) and talking about Ramadan when one of the companions of the Prophet (SAW) walked in and Utbah stopped talking out of reverence for him. Utbah said to this companion, “Tell us what you heard from the Prophet (SAW) about Ramadan.” The companion said he heard the Prophet (SAW) saying, “The gates of Jannah are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, the Shayateen are chained, and a caller calls out at night, ‘O seeker of good, proceed! O seeker of evil, stop!'” (Sunan Nasai) This would be a Hasan hadith if not for the unknown companion.
The meaning is both physical and symbolic. The gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed to indicate how Allah is willing to forgive people much more in Ramadan.
Seeking Forgiveness in Ramadan
Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated: The Prophet (SAW) said, “Whoever fasts in Ramadan faithfully and expecting reward, his past sins will be forgiven. Whoever stands [in prayer] on Laylat ul-Qadr faithfully and expecting reward, his past sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)
He also narrated: The Prophet (SAW) said, “Whoever stands [in prayer] in Ramadan faithfully and expecting reward, his past sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)
In a hasan or weak hadith, the Prophet (SAW) said, “May the man upon whom Ramadan enters and passed without him being forgiven be humiliated.” (Sunan Tirmidhi; Hasan Ghareeb according to Tirmidhi)
There is a long, weak hadith that says: The Prophet (SAW) said, “[…] The beginning [of Ramadan] is mercy, the middle is forgiveness, and the end is freedom from the fire. […]” (Ibn Khuzaymah; Weak)
The Devils Are Chained
The Shayateen Are Chained
Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said, “When Ramadan comes, the gates of Jannah are opened, the gates of Jahannam are closed, and the Shayateen are chained.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Some narrations specify that the more rebellious and evil Shayateen are chained, not all of them. See the above narration of Abu Qilabah. Also, Mujahid (one of the students of Ibn Abbas) said, “On the first night of Ramadan, the Shayateen, the rebellious of the Jinn, are chained […]” (Sunan Tirmidhi)
Some people wrongly think the Shayateen are chained inside Hell, but that is not true. The Shayateen are chained on earth.
It is possible some of the major Shayateen are imprisoned completely or that all the Shayateen are restricted in their power, but the hadith cannot be interpreted to mean that all the Shayateen are entirely imprisoned because of the next section.
The Shayateen are chained to make it easier for us to worship Allah in the month of Ramadan and as training for the rest of the year.
Shayateen Still Have Some Power in Ramadan
Safiyyah (RA), the wife of the Prophet (SAW), went to talk to the Prophet (SAW) in the last ten days of Ramadan while he was in Itikaf. When she was leaving, the Prophet (SAW) walked her to the gates of the masjid. When they reached the gate, two men of the Ansar saw them and started hurrying away. The Prophet (SAW) said, “Slow down, this is Safiyyah bint Huyaiy (i.e. my wife).” They said, “Subhanallah, Messenger of Allah, [how could you think we would doubt you?]” The Prophet (SAW) said, “Shaitan flows through mankind like blood flows through them. I was afraid he would cast some evil thoughts into your hearts.” (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) He would not have said this if Shaitan cannot whisper to people in Ramadan.
Abu Hurairah (RA) said: The Prophet (SAW) put me in charge of guarding the Zakah of Ramadan (i.e. Sadaqat ul-Fitr), so a thief came at night trying to take some food and I caught him. I said, “I am definitely going to take you to the Prophet (SAW)!” [But, he complained to me that he was poor and his family was hungry, so I let him go. The same happened the second night. On the third night, I refused to let him go.] He said, “If you let me go, I will tell you something that will benefit you.” I said, “Tell me.” He said, “When you go to bed, recite Ayat al-Kursi and there will be a guard from Allah watching over you and no Shaitan will be ever to come close to you until the morning.” When I told the Prophet (SAW) about this, he (SAW) said, “He told you the truth despite being a liar. That was Shaitan.” (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
Abu Saeed (RA) said: The Prophet (SAW) said, “O people, I was shown Laylat ul-Qadr but two people came fighting with each other and there was a Shaitan with them, so I was made to forget it.” (Sahih Muslim)
And Allah knows best.
