Virtues of Ramadan by Yasir Qadhi lecture notes by Arif Kabir

Ramadan Special: Virtues of Ramadan

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa sallam), during the time of Ramadan, stood up on a minbar, called the Companions, gave them a khutbah, and said, “Oh people, know that a month is upon you. Know that you are witnessing a month that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has made sacred, that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala made obligatory to fast during its days and He has requested that you stand during its nights (it’s not obligatory, but it is rather good to do so).

Locked Up

This month, as said by the Prophet, is one that all of the doors of Hell are shut and chained, and all of the gates of Ramadan are opened, meaning that every opportunity to do good is opened up, you are safe from the fire of Hell, and go to Jannah. This is a month that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa sallam) has said that all of the evil Shayaateen are locked up, and they are not allowed to go around, whispering evil thoughts and this is a month that every single night, Allah suhanahu wa ta’ala saves people who were destined to go to Hell, and this month has a day that is better than a thousands months. This month is Ramadan.

The Preferred Month

Allah has preferred certain months over others, and Ramadan is the most preferred month in the sight of Allah. Realize that this month has been made very easy as the Shayaateen and gates of Hell are locked, and also realize that 100 percent of the evil deeds that you do in this month is solely from your soul. Therefore, Ramadan is a reflection of your soul.

The Three Ameens

One day, when the Prophet was giving the Friday khutbah, he was climbing up the pulpit, which had three steps. When he climbed the first step, he said Ameen. Then he climbed up the second and said Ameen. Then he climbed up the third and said Ameen. So the companions were confused and said, “Oh Messenger of Allah, we have never heard you say Ameen every time you climb a step. What is the reason for this?” The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “When I was climbing the pulpit, Jibreel came to me and told me, ‘Oh Muhammad, anyone in your nation who manages to be alive when Ramadan comes and does not manage to get his sins forgiven, let him perish in the HellFire – Say Ameen!’ So Muhammad said Ameen. Then when he climbed the second step, Jibreel said, ‘Anyone who manages to catch Laylatul Qadr and does not manage to get his sins forgiven, may he perish in the Hellfire – Say Ameen!’ So the Prophet said Ameen and when the Prophet climbed the third step, Jibreel said to him, ‘Oh Muhammad, anyone of your Ummah who manages to catch their parents, whether one of them or both, when they are elderly and they need his help and is not able to service them properly and get his sins forgiven, may he perish – say Ameen! So the Prophet said Ameen. So three duas are made – three golden opportunities that even the worst of men can get all of their sins erased by turning to Allah. Two of those opportunities are related to Ramadan – the entire month and Laylatul Qadr. Therefore, if you cannot be righteous in this month, then there is no hope for you because there are no excuses.
Three ways to forgive all bad deeds:

So what do you have to do? The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa sallam) mentioned three things and anyone of them will unconditionally forgive all of one’s bad deeds:
1. Whoever fasts the entire month of Ramadan, believing in Allah and hoping for Allah’s reward
2. Standing up at night in Ramadan (ex. Taraweeh)
3. The night of Laylatul Qadr

Ar-Rayyan

One more blessing of Ramadan is that it is the month when you perfect your fasting in it, and you can enter through a special door set aside for those who fast. The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “In Jannah, there is a special door called Ar-Rayyan” and Ar-Rayyan means that which will give you a lot of water, because the way to get to that is to deprive yourself of water (by fasting).

Ramadan has been put for you to achieve righteousness and piety – this is the ultimate goal; Allah does not benefit when you tire yourself out. Rather, you are the one that benefit. May Allah make us among those whose sins are forgiven in this month, whose fasting is accepted, whose reading of the Qur’an is accepted, and whose Qiyyam is accepted, and may He make us among those who enter Jannah through the gate of Rayyan.

Source: http://ilmnotes.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/virtues-of-ramadan/