1: Blessings of Ramadhan:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may have taqwa. (al-Baqarah, 2:183).
It is reported by Imam Baihaqi on the authority of Salman Al-Farsi (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) delivered a sermon on the last day of the month of Sha’ban in which he said: “O People! A great and blessed month (i.e. Ramadan) has arrived for you with its mercies, blessings and forgiveness. Allah has decreed this month the best of all months. The days of this month are the best among the days and the nights are the best among the nights and the hours during Ramadan are the best among the hours. This is a month in which you have been invited by Him (to fast and pray). Allah has honored you in it. In every breath you take is a reward of Allah, your sleep is worship, your good deeds are accepted and your invocations are answered. Therefore, you must invoke your Lord in all earnestness with hearts free from sin and evil, and pray that Allah may help you to keep fast, and to recite the Holy Qur’an. Indeed!, miserable is the one who is deprived of Allah’s forgiveness in this great month. While fasting, remember the hunger and thirst on the Day of Judgment. Give alms to the poor and needy. Pay respect to your elders, have sympathy for your youngsters and be kind towards your relatives and kinsmen. Guard your tongue against unworthy words, and your eyes from scenes that are not worth seeing (forbidden) and your ears from sounds that should not be heard.”
“O people! You have made your conscience the slave of your desires. Make it free by invoking Allah for forgiveness. Your back may break from the heavy load of your sins, so prostrate yourself before Allah for long intervals, and make this load lighter. Understand fully that Allah has promised in His Honor and Majesty that, people who perform salat and sajda (prostration) will be guarded from Hell-fire on the Day of Judgment.”
“O people! The gates of Paradise remain open during this month. Pray to your Lord that they may not be closed for you. The gates of Hell are closed, so pray to your Lord that they never open for you. Satan has been chained; so ask your Lord not to let him have power over you” and the Prophet (SAW) continued to give other gems of advice.
2: Importance of Ramadhan and Link to Quran:
The month of Ramadan is the month when the Quran was sent down (al-Baqarah, 2:185). شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآَنُ
Truly We sent it down on the Night of Power (al-Qadr, 97:1). إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ
Therefore, it seems the ultimate significance of the Ramadhan is the revelation of Holy Quran in this month. There is a very strong bond between Ramadhan and Quran.
Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that Prophet Muhammad: “Jibreel used to meet him (Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam) every night in Ramadan to study the Holy Quran carefully together” (Bukhari).
Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Whoever (stood) prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven (Al-Bukhari- Chapter no: 32, Hadees no: 226, (Taraweeh) Book of Night Prayer in Ramadhan).
The purpose of standing-up in the night to listen and follow the message of the Holy Quran.
3: Reality and Importance of Quran:
There is no doubt that we all at least claim that we Love ALLAH and want to live our whole life obeying HIM. How we can obey ALLAH? Only if we know what are the do(s) and don’t(s) INDEED commanded by ALLAH.
And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember (Al-Qamar 54-17)? وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ
Abu Umaamah (RA) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Recite the Qur’an for indeed it will come on the Day of Judgement as an intercessor for its Ashaab (those who read, memorize and implement it) (Saheeh Muslim).”
There is no doubt that we can reach to ALLAH PAK without the guidance from the Holy Quran.
How we can get guidance from the Holy Quran? Only if we read it with complete understanding.