The Excellence of the Month of Ramadan

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the number of months before Allah is twelve in Allah’s Book, from the day He created the heavens and earth. In front of the months is the month of Allah, whose mention is most majestic, and that is the month of Ramadan. The heart of the month of Ramadan is the night of al-Qadr (destiny). The Holy Quran came during the first night of the month of Ramadan; thus, the month is welcomed with the Holy Quran.”

I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), giving advice to his children in the beginning of the month of Ramadan. The Imam said, ‘Make yourselves to work hard; in it (month of Ramadan), sustenance is distributed and the duration of lives is written down. During this month, it is decided who should join the delegation before Allah. In it, there is a night when one good deed is better than a good deed for one thousand months.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one is not forgiven in the month of Ramadan, one will not be forgiven until the coming month of Ramadan unless he attends ‘Arafah (the ninth of the month of Dhul Hajjah).”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Once, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, delivered a speech on the last Friday of the month of Sha‘ban. He thanked Allah, praised Him, and then said, “O people, a month is upon you when there is a night that is better than one thousand months. That month is the month of Ramadan. Allah has made fasting obligatory in the month of Ramadan. He has made one night in it wherein performing optional salat (prayer) is equal in reward to seventy nights of performing salat (prayer) in other months. For performing one good and virtuous deed voluntarily in it, He has assigned a reward equal to that for fulfilling an obligation toward Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious. For fulfilling an obligation toward Allah in this month, He has assigned a reward equal to that for fulfilling seventy obligations toward Allah in other months. It is the month of patience, and the reward for patience is Paradise. It is the month of cooperation. In this month, Allah increases the sustenance of the believing people. If one serves food for a fasting person at the end of a fasting day, Allah counts it equal in reward to setting free a slave and forgiveness of his sins of the past.” It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, not every one of us is able to serve food to a fasting person at the end of a fasting day.” The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, said, “Allah is gracious, He grants such reward even for serving some milk mixed with water or some sweet water or a few pieces of dates, if he is unable to do more than this. For one’s easing off the tasks for His servants to perform, Allah eases off his accountabilities. The beginning of this month is mercy and kindness, its middle is forgiveness, and its end is acceptance and freedom from the fire. You must have four characteristics during this month. With two of these characteristics, you will please Allah, but without the other two, you cannot have anything. The two with which you will please Allah is your testimony. ‘No one deserves worship besides Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’ The other two are asking Him to meet your needs and for Paradise, and asking Him to grant you good health and protection against hell fire.’””

”Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once, just three days before the month of Ramadan, said to Bilal, ‘Call people (to come to the Masjid).’ People then gathered, and he climbed on the pulpit, thanked Allah, praised Him, and then said, “O people, Allah has granted you a privilege with this month. He has made it especially for you, and it is about to be upon you. There is one night in it that is better than one thousand months. The doors of hell fire remain closed in this month, and the doors of Paradise are open. If one’s sins remain without being forgiven in this month, Allah keeps him away. One who lives with his parents, but is not forgiven, Allah keeps him away; and one before whom I am mentioned but who does not say salawat (O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to your cause) and is not forgiven, Allah keeps him away.’”

The Messenger of Allah (sw) used to turn his face to the people and say, "O people, when the crescent of the month of Ramadan appears, the rebellious devils are chained; the gates of the sky, the gates of Paradise, and the gates of mercy are opened; the gates of Hell are closed; and prayers are answered. Allah has, at every breaking of the fast, people whom He frees from Hell. A caller calls out every night, 'Is there anyone asking? Is there anyone seeking forgiveness? O Allah, grant every spender (of charity) a replacement (reward), and give every withholder destruction.' Then, when the crescent of Shawwal appears, the believers are called out to, 'Go to your rewards, for it is the day of prize.'"
Then Abu Ja'far (as) said, "By Him in Whose hand is my soul, it is not a prize of dinars or dirhams."

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Every night in the month of Ramadan, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, liberates many people and releases them from hellfire, except those who drink intoxicating liquor. During the last night of this month, Allah frees and releases a number of people equal to all that He had freed during the whole month.’”