ways of receiving the blessed month of Ramadhaan

People have various ideas and ways of receiving the blessed month of Ramadhaan and invest this occasion in fulfilling their favorite actions and activities. Some of them make this an occasion for laziness, idleness, sleep and neglecting the different acts of obedience that they could otherwise be doing. Others find this a good opportunity for watching shows on satellite television while others stay up late at night and use this precious time to pay visits, go to markets, relax, make trips and the like while others make it an occasion for exaggeration in eating, drinking and doing whatever they like, as if Ramadhaan is the month of food and drink, and not the month of fasting.

However, there are some other people for whom Allaah The Almighty wants good for and thus guides them to the right way so that they became able to differentiate between what is right and what is wrong. Such people receive this blessed month warmly and happily since they believe that it is a golden opportunity to attain forgiveness for sins and make a new start that would be sin-free. In fact, the blessed month of Ramadhaan is the month of forgiveness, mercy and emancipation from Hell.

 The Prophet,(SAL) used to give his Companions glad tidings on the arrival of Ramadhaan saying: “There has come to you Ramadhaan, a blessed month which Allaah has enjoined you to fast, during which the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the rebellious devils are chained up. In it there is a night which is better than a thousand months - whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived.” [An-Nasaa’i, Al-Albaani:Saheeh (Authentic)]

Therefore, those people whom Allaah has guided to receive the blessed month of Ramadhaan properly, are determined to do the following:

1. Sincere Repentance

Repentance of sins is obligatory at all times, especially in the month of Ramadhaan. If a person does not repent in Ramadhaan, then when would he repent? If one does not feel regret in Ramadhaan, then when would he feel regret? Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And turn to Allaah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.} [Quran 24:31]

You tell yourself:

 When I observe fast in Ramadhaan, I will repent. Well, here are the days of the blessed month of Ramadhaan fast approaching, yet you still refuse to turn to your Lord in repentance. You are turning away from Him, not coming closer to Him. You still insist resolutely on your disobedience. Do you not fear that the Angel of Death may come to you while you are in such a state? How could you be guided to the path of repentance while you firmly insist on going in the opposite direction?

Allaah The Almighty forgives all sins: He spreads out His Hand at night to accept the repentance of the one who has sinned during the day, and He spreads out His Hand by day to accept the repentance of the one who has sinned during the night. Allaah The Almighty rejoices over those who turn to Him in repentance and over the regret of the sinful people. Therefore, He opens a door from the direction of the west for seventy years for the purpose of repentance, and it will not be closed until the sun rises from the west as the Prophet, (SAL), said. [Ahmad and At-Tirmithi]

So where are those who long to turn to Allaah The Almighty in repentance?

2. Receiving Ramadhaan by devoting all actions sincerely and solely to Allaah The Almighty

 If your acts lack sincerity, then do not bother exhausting yourself because no action will be accepted without sincerity. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):{So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.}[Quran 18: 110]

Fasting is one of the greatest acts of worship that instill sincerity in the heart of the Muslim. This is because the fasting person cannot be known except by Allaah The Almighty, The Most Exalted, especially if he observes fasting in days other than the days ofRamadhaan and even in Ramadhaan, for one can pretend that he is fasting while he is not. In addition to this, the fasting person keeps away from the slightest thing that can affect his fasting out of sincerity to Allaah The Almighty and seeking His pleasure. Therefore, Allaah The Almighty has hidden the reward of fasting and made it for Himself in much the same way as the fasting person has hidden his fasting from other people, and of course Allaah The Almighty only gives that which is bountiful and plentiful.

  Allaah The Almighty says in a Qudsi (Sacred) Hadeeth: {Every deed of the son of Aadam (Adam) will be rewarded between ten and seven hundred fold, except fasting, for it is for Me and I shall reward it Myself.}[Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]


3. Receiving Ramadhaan by adhering strictly to the Sunnah of the Prophet,

No act can be accepted unless it meets two conditions: that it is accompanied by a sincere intention, which is that one should do it only for the sake of Allaah The Almighty, and in that it is in accordance with the guidance of the Prophet,(SAL)

The verse mentioned above refers to both of these conditions.

*{So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work} refers to following the guidance of the Prophet,(SAL)  , and
*{And not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.}[Quran 18: 110] refers to a sincere intention.

4. Receiving Ramadhaan with patience

In fact, Ramadhaan is the month of patience and forbearance. In it, one abstains from some of his usual habits, food, drink, sexual intercourse and anything else that would break the fast as a form of obedience to Allaah The Almighty and worship that brings one closer to Him.

Patience is one of the most difficult things for the soul. Therefore, patience represents half of faith and the patient will be given an immense reward as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.}[Quran 39: 10]

Patience is of three types:
1- Patience concerning the obligations (required by Allaah The Almighty) that one should fulfill;

2- Patience in abstaining from actions forbidden by Him, that one should not do;
3- Patience:  concerning afflictions, that one should not resent or complain of his Lord to.
One should have all three of these.

If one pays attention and adheres to these factors, then they will be the finest help for him in fulfilling acts of obedience and refraining from doing sinful acts, particularly, in this month of fasting that entails exerting oneself in doing many righteous acts and keeping away from committing sins.