How Muslims Can Welcome Ramadan 

Sheikh Abdul Moez Nafti speaks on the welcoming the blessed month of Ramadan and the secrets of this great and beautiful month. How to Welcome Ramadan Allah has granted Ramadan with a special honour and has favoured this month and the Ummah of Muhammad to enjoin in it. It is obligatory upon all Muslims to fast during the month of patience, in order to perfect our love and happiness with Allah.

Muslims abstain from what Allah has made halal (food, water, etc.) and spend the nights in worship by praying and reading the Noble Quran. In order to Welcome this month of Ramadan our predecessors would welcome Ramadan with happiness and prepare months before Ramadan. Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu’minin narrates that she never saw the Prophet ﷺ  fasting the whole month except Sha’ban which he combined with Ramadan. Sunan Abu Dawud. Secrets of Fasting Fasting is the renewal of one’s covenant with Allah, it highlights the meaning of having complete submission to the Oneness of Allah, this can be sensed during the month of Ramadan by being a sincere in obedience to Allah. A Muslim should not be slave to their desires, be refraining from what is halal we can attain connection with Allah Almighty. Allah says, “And I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” Quran 51:56. This verse should be a reminder for a Muslim especially in this blessed month. Another secret of Ramadan is to reform ourselves during this month, by being able to control ourselves and our desires. This is the power of a Muslim. When the month of Ramadan comes a Muslim finds himself compelled to rearrange their matters (prayer, etc.). It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said, attributing to the Prophet ﷺ , “The stronger believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, although both are good. Strive to seek that which will benefit you and do not feel helpless. Sunan Ibn Majah. Sunnahs of Ramadan Aisha narrates: The Prophet ﷺ used to offer prayer at night that his feet used to crack. I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Why do you do it (prayer all night) since Allah has forgiven you, your faults of the past and those to follow?” He said, “Shouldn’t I be love to be a thankful slave (of Allah)?” Al-Bukhari. Some of the sunnahs which a Muslim should observe during Ramadan is Qiyam Al-Lail, reading Quran, try to finish the Quran in this month as it is the known as the Month of the Quran, set short-term goals that will help you succeed during this month, practice being patient. Avoid wasting your time by going out on a constant basis to restaurants to socialise or continuously watching movies and television series, as these can waste your time. It was narrated from Az-Zuhri, from Abu Salamah, from Abu Hurairah that, the Prophet ﷺ used to encourage praying Qiyam Al-Lail in Ramadan but not forcibly. And he said, “When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.” Sunan Al-Nisa’i. As Muslims we need to be able to control our organs which Allah has blessed us with, our eyes, tongues and ears from haram, but use them to keep busy in the worship and remembrance if Allah, as He is the All Giver and we should always be grateful to Allah.