Why is Ramadan Important: Virtues and Significance of Ramadan

The blessed month of Ramadan is on its way. As it draws near, Muslims all around the world are preparing for it. However, preparations can’t be complete without a proper understanding of the impact and significance of the virtuous month. 

Knowing the importance of Ramadan will help you engage in worship sincerely during this blessed month. We have summarised some key virtues of this month that every Muslim should know. In the name of Allah, let’s begin.

18 Virtues, Significance and Importance of Ramadan

Ramadan is a month of countless virtues and significance. Here are some of the important ones.

1. Allah Revealed The Glorious Quran in Ramadan

Allah says in the Quran:

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ 

Meaning: “Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and decisive authority. So whoever is present this month, let them fast. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then let them fast an equal number of days after Ramadan.” [Sura Al-Baqarah: 185]

2. Fasting in Ramadan is One of the Pillars of Islam

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ

Meaning: “Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, performing the prayers, paying the Zakah, making the pilgrimage to the House, and fasting in Ramadan.” [Sahih-al-Bukhari: 8, Sahih Muslim: 16]

3. One Special Night (Laylatul Qadr) in Ramadan is Better Than a Thousand Months

Allah says in the Quran:

لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍۢ 

Meaning: “The Night of Qadr (destiny, power) is better than a thousand months.” [Sura al-Qadr: 3] 

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4. The Gates of Paradise are Opened, and the Gates of Hell are Closed

Our beloved Prophet ﷺ  said:

إِذَا دَخَلَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ، وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ جَهَنَّمَ، وَسُلْسِلَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ

Meaning: “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.” [Sahih-al-Bukari: 1899]

5. Harsh Warning for Those Who Spend Ramadan in Negligence

If you can not get your sins forgiven in Ramadan, then you will surely be at a great loss. Rasulullah ﷺ  said:

“Verily, Jibril (Gabriel) came to me and he said: ‘Whoever reaches the month of Ramadan and he is not forgiven, then he will enter Hellfire and Allah will cast him far away. So, say “Amin”.’ I said ‘Amin’.” [Sahih Ibn Hibban: 907]

6. Every Day of Ramadan, Allah Redeems People from Hellfire

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عُتَقَاءَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ يعني في رمضان 

Meaning: “Verily, Allah has people He redeems in every day and night of Ramadan.” [Musand Ahmad: 7450]

7. Allah Forgives the Sins of a Person from One Ramadan to Another

Allah’s Messenger ﷺ  said:

الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ وَالْجُمُعَةُ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ مُكَفِّرَاتٌ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ إِذَا اجْتَنَبَ الْكَبَائِرَ

Meaning: “The five (daily) prayers and from one Friday prayer to the (next) Friday prayer, and from Ramadan to Ramadan are expiations for the (sins) committed in between (their intervals) provided one stays away from the major sins.” [Sahih Muslim: 233]

8. This is a Month of Attaining Piety and Righteousness

Allah says in the Quran:

يٰٓا أَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُوْنَ

Meaning: “Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain taqwa (piety and mindfulness of Allah)” [Surah-al-Baqarah:183]

9. The Reward of Fasting in Ramadan is Paradise

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Indeed, there is a gate in Paradise called al-Rayyan. Those who fasted will enter through it on the Day of Judgement. No one else will enter through it along with them. It will be said: ‘Where are those who fasted?’ Then they will get up, and there will be none other than them to enter through it. Once they have all entered, it will be closed and no one else will enter through it.” [Sahih-al-Bukhari: 1896]

10. Fasting During Ramadan Equates to Fasting 10 Months of The Year

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ كَانَ كَصِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ

Meaning: “He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six (fasts) of Shawwal. it would be as if he fasted perpetually.” [Sahih Muslim: 1164]

In Islam, the minimum reward for good deeds is multiplied by 10. So, Ramadan equates to fasting for 10 months, and the 6 fasts of Shawwal equates to 6×10= 60 days, i.e. 2 months in total of 12 months. 

11. Praying Qiyam al-Layl Behind an Imam is Counted as Praying The Entire Night 

Rasulullah ﷺ  said:

مَنْ قَامَ مَعَ الإِمَامِ يعنى في رمضان حَتَّى يَنْصَرِفَ كُتِبَ لَهُ قِيَامُ لَيْلَةٍ

Meaning: “Verily, whoever stands for prayer in Ramadan with the Imam until he is finished, it will be recorded as if he prayed the entire night.” [Sunan-at-Tirmidhi: 806]

12. Performing Umrah in Ramadan is Equivalent to Hajj 

Allah’s Messenger ﷺ  said:

 إِنَّ عُمْرَةً فِي رَمَضَانَ حَجَّةٌ

Meaning: “Verily, the Umrah pilgrimage during Ramadan is equal to Hajj.” [Sahih-al-Bukhari: 1782, Sahih Muslim: 1256]

13. Gain Double Rewards by Giving Iftar 

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ  said:

“Whoever gives iftar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the fasting person’s reward in the slightest.” [Sunan-at-Tirmidhi: 807, Sunan Ibn Majah: 1746]

14. Ramadan is the Perfect Time to Get Used to Good Habits

Waking up for Sheri, praying Tahajjud, going to the masjid for Fajr, and being generous to people are some of the good habits that we gain in Ramadan. 

Also, many Muslims are determined to quit smoking, telling lies, and backbiting this month. So, Ramadan is the perfect time for attaining good habits and giving up bad ones. 

15. If You Want to Increase Your Generosity, Look No Further Than Ramadan

Allah’s Messenger ﷺ  was more generous in Ramadan than any other month. Abdullah Ibn Abbas (R) said:

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was the most generous of all people, and he was the most generous during the month of Ramaḍān when Jibrīl would meet him……the Prophet ﷺ  would be more generous than strong winds (which cause rain and prosperity).” [Sahih-al-Bukhari: 3220]

So, if you want to attain the habit of being generous, then Ramadan is the best time to start. Moreover, it’s a Sunnah!

16. Be Among the Siddiqin and Shuhada

A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: “O Messenger of Allah, if I testify that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah, and that you are the Messenger of Allah, I pray the five prayers, I give zakah, I fast Ramadan and I stand in prayer during its nights; then who do you think I am from?” 

He ﷺ replied: “From the Siddiqin (the truthful ones) and the Shuhada (martyrs).” [Ibn Hibban: 3438]

We hope that Allah makes us among them. 

17. Be Forgiven by Allah in Ramadan

Rasulullah ﷺ  said: 

مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

Meaning: “Whoever stands (in the voluntary night prayer of) Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Sunan-an-Nasai: 5027]

He ﷺ also said:

مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

Meaning: “Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.” [Sahih-al-Bukhari: 38]

18. Fasting and the Quran Will Intercede for You to Allah

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Fasting and the Quran will intercede for the servant on the Day of Judgement. Fasting will say: My Lord, I prevented him from eating and his desires during the day, so accept my intercession on his behalf. The Quran will say: I prevented him from sleeping at night, so accept my intercession on his behalf. Then, both of their intercession will be accepted.” [Musnad Ahmad 6626]

FAQs

Q. Is there a virtue to die in Ramdan?

Ans. There is a hadith that states that if a person dies while fasting, then he will enter into paradise. But that is subject to whether the person died in Iman or not. Also, the hadith does not specifically state ‘in Ramadan’, although most people usually fast only in Ramadan. So, it could mean fasts in and out of the month of Ramadan. Allah knows best. 

Q. Are deeds multiplied 70 times, and 1 Nafl is equal to 1 Fard in Ramadan?

Ans. The correct opinion is that deeds are multiplied from 10 times to infinite times in and out of Ramadan based on intention and sincerity. The hadith that states the ‘70 times factor is weak.

Conclusion

The virtues and importance of Ramadan in a Muslim’s life are unmatched. Thus, we should learn about the significance of Ramadan and worship Allah to the best of our abilities. May Allah bless our efforts and make this Ramadan our best Ramadan.