We are getting ready for an honored season, that is the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is an occasion of renewal because it is the time of resuming the commitment to the method that the Exalted Allah assigned for us.
Haven't you read the Exalted Allah's words: "Allah Most Gracious ! It is He Who has taught the Quran. He has created man" (Ar Rahman, 1-3). The Exalted Allah made the Holy Qur'an the source. He created man when the Holy Qur'an was existent so that man be connected with the Holy Qur'an since his coming into being.
The Exalted Allah refers to this connection when He made this blessed and honored month a suitable time for the revelation of the Holy Qur'an. He said: "Ramadan is the {month} in which was sent down the Quran as a guide to mankind, also clear {Signs} for guidance and judgment {between right and wrong}" (Al Baqarah, 185).
The month of Ramadan can have many definitions. It might mean intensity of heat. Other meanings of Ramadan might be keenness or tenderness. But when the Exalted Allah defines it, he presents a definition that agrees with the idea of guidance for man and a source to which man appeals to find in it everything he needs
I meditated upon the speech of the Beloved, Al Mustafa (PBUH) who said: "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", (produced in Al Sahih). People are accustomed to explaining this Hadith as a favor from the Exalted Allah to man by creating an environment and an occasion on which man gets ready to avail himself of this opportunity.
But another meaning of this Hadith occurs to me concerning the obligation of man who is charged by the Exalted Allah in the month of Ramadan. I see the other side of the Hadith and understand another meaning the Hadith implies. It is as the following:
-Why are the gates of heaven be opened when the month of Ramadan starts?
It is the result of the abundant good deeds of the believers that ascend to heaven.
Thus, what makes the gates of heaven be opened and never close in this month?
It is the abundance of good deeds of the worshippers that please the Exalted Allah. It is the good treatment that is accepted by the Exalted Allah Who said: "To Him mount up {all} Words of Purity; it is He Who exalts each Deed of Righteousness" (Fater, 10).
When too many good deeds are raised in this month, the gates of heaven cannot be closed because of the good work of the people of faith that satisfies the Exalted Allah.
Consider the obligatory meaning that calls us to share in opening the gates of heaven, for they do not open by themselves waiting for us.
Why are the gates of Hell closed?
It is because in this month the believers turn away from sins and violations due to the secret of fasting. Consequently, oh man… closing these gates is made by you.
This is the way the Companions (ABPWTH) understood the words of the Messenger of Allah. When Abdul Rahman Ibn Awf (ABPWH) heard the Prophet (PBUH) say: "I saw Abdul Rahman enter Paradise creeping", he said: "By Allah, I shall enter it straight". Did this honorable companion belie the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), Allah forbid, or he understood the words of the Prophet (PBUH) and invested them in the best way?
The Messenger of Allah meant that Abdul Rahman will enter Paradise walking slowly.
But the Companion (ABPWH) had a different understanding of the words of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). He realized the purport of the Hadith. That is, in his obedience and his spending money for the sake of Allah, he is moving towards paradise, but his movement is slow. Therefore, in order to enter it straight, he went on spending more money for the cause of Allah with the purpose of entering Paradise straight and not creeping.
Similarly, at every moment, we may either be walking towards Paradise, or getting back from it towards Hell Fire, we seek refuge from it with the Exalted Allah.
Consequently, you may be either the cause of opening the gates of heaven or closing the gates of Hell.
'The gates of Hell are closed' because, in this month, the believers turn away from disobeying the orders of the Exalted Allah as a result of their fasting, their optional night prayers and their good manners.
-How could the devils be chained?
The devils are chained by virtue of your obedience and the lights that you get as a result of your intention to forget about the dullness of life and disregard the interest in the others' affairs and be devoted to the Exalted Allah to satisfy Him so that you acquire His lights.
It is you who chain the devils when you leave no opportunity for him to control you. How can the devils approach you when you surround yourself with lights that chain them.
This is the meaning of the month of Ramadan in the environment of the believers who comprehend the meaning of being connected to the Holy Qur'an in Ramadan.
But is this the reality of the Ummah nowadays?
Do we live today the same circumstances that the Hadith talks about, or there is much confusion that takes place nowadays?
In another Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH), I found another meaning of this month. Imam Ahmad produced the Hadith from the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) who said:
"No other month is better than Ramadan for the believers, and no other month is worse than Ramadan for the hypocrites. Accordingly, the believers prepare themselves to be strong for worship, but the hypocrites prepare themselves to be heedless and indecent"
Notice the word 'get ready'. It is preparation and readiness. The believer prepares himself beginning with the intention because he wants this month to be an opportunity for him to change himself to the better and renew his commitment with Allah. He gets ready to make this month the month of understanding the Qur'an with meditation, verification and application in behavior. He wants to be the speaking Qur'an, the cord of Qur'an, the secret of Qur'an. He does not intend to recite the Qur'an with his mere tongue then contradict it in his behavior.
The Muslim gets ready to be related to the Holy Qur'an in his speech, his deeds and his states, so that the Holy Qur'an becomes the aspect of all his state. By verifying and applying the Holy Qur'an, he becomes the real aspect of this Holy Book.
This is the aspect of getting ready for Ramadan.
-"No other month is better than Ramadan for the believers, and no other month is worse than Ramadan for the hypocrites. Consequently, the believers prepare themselves to be strong for worship, but the hypocrites prepare themselves to be heedless and indecent".
It is the preparation to be strong for worship.
It is readiness and planning so that this month becomes the month of worship. Worship, as you frequently know, is obedience to the Exalted Allah in every movement of ours. One branch of this worship is praying and fasting, but worship is not separated from treatment in bringing one's deeds to perfection, avoiding cheating and turning away from behavioral aberrations.
Avoiding doing wrong is a worship in itself.
- But the hypocrites prepare themselves to be heedless". There is a miracle in this Hadith. Don't you see how some people nowadays spend months before Ramadan to draw people's attention from worship in this holy month, especially on the information level so that people turn away from the real purpose of Ramadan into heedlessness and errors.
- "and indecent". The month of Ramadan has been changed into a month of entertainment by spending time in watching serials and films. It has been changed into a month of passing time and an opportunity for dissolving the Islamic culture. It has been changed into a month of preparing too many kinds of food and spending time on occasions for joking and laughing. It has become an opportunity for psychological enjoyment that does not restore man to his humanity. On the contrary, it makes him get away from it.
Consequently, you face tow alternatives:
*Either you get ready to start the month of Ramadan resolute to be committed to the Quran,
*or you become lost and seek enjoyment, and wait for the yearly vacation to get out of your seriousness and your production.
When was the expedition of Badr?
Wasn't it in Ramadan?
When was the expedition of opening Mecca, Ummul Qura (mother of towns), in which the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) entered Mecca prostrating to the Exalted Allah on his camel. Wasn't this in Ramadan?
The month of Ramadan may change the Ummah when the Ummah comprehends the connotation of this month. On the other hand, it could be an occasion for relaxation for the second group, the group of hypocrites.
The image of worship is not the real purpose in this month, i.e., to be hungry and pray. No, the purpose is rather to make you be connected with the Exalted Allah.
Haven't you read the verse: "So every one of you who is present during that month should spend it in fasting". This is the image of worship. "but if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period {should be made up} by days later".
The image of worship in the form of fasting and praying might be present in its usual form because the Exalted Allah intends every facility for you, and does not want to put you to difficulties, but in addition, He looks into your hearts.
Increasing the image of worship is not required in this month without the inner worship when the heart turns to Allah.
Ramadan is the month of behavioral treatment. The Messenger of Allah said:
'All the deeds of Adam's sons are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.' Fasting is a shield (protection) from the Fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarreling (he is not obscene in his speech and deed because the devoted slaves of Ar Rahman are those who walk on the earth with humility), and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, 'I am fasting.'
It is an announcement of the identity in which behavior is changed. It is an identity of the Qur'an in man.
We are at the gates of Ramadan, so be diligent and choose the readiness and preparation you like.
Allahum…, guide us to You favorably, and make us from those who listen to wisdom and follow the best of it.
I say my words and ask Allah's forgiveness.