One’s day fasting in Ramadhaan = reward of one lifetime.

The great month of Ramadhaan is coming. What treasure does it hold? What benefit fasting brings to us? What is the status of the taraweeh salah (special prayer every night)? What change must one bring during this sacred month? Isn’t it time to change oneself?

Indeed, the glorious month of Ramadhaan will soon dawn. That month does not come to burden our working hours, but rather to help us enjoy a better spiritual as well as physical health. That month will help us to catch up with delays we have been accumulating during the whole year. It is blessed month which brings so much happiness for everybody. It is the ideal harvest time! It is up to us to make the most of it and acquire the maximum of benefits during this marvelous month.

During the month of Ramadhaan, the most profitable harvesting is that of fasting. Fasting is compulsory during the whole of this month (2: 183). The holy prophet Muhammad (saw) has shared with us the importance of this month by saying: Any person who breaks one fast of Ramadhaan without a valid reason or illness will never be able to replace if even if he fasts during his whole life. (Sahih Bukhari)

One day’s fasting in Ramadhaan brings a reward as if one has fasted a whole lifetime. Every single days of this precise month brings for us a reward of immense value. We only have to alter the times of our meals and of our sexual desires in order to become the owners of a priceless treasure. Whether we are children or adults, we should not miss one day’s fasting. The examinations are not a valid excuse to miss one day’s fasting. (It should be noted that fasting is obligatory for a male teenager who has reached the age of puberty as well as for a young girl who is pubescent. However, it is not prohibited to train and encourage a child as from the age of 7 to fast along with his parents in order to please Allah)

On the contrary, this is the time to turn towards one’s Creator, particularly at iftaar time (for breaking of fast), when prayers are most answered.

Then, during the nights of Ramadhaan, there are additional prayers known as Taraweeh. These prayers are as important for men as they are for women. They consist of 20 rakaats. The holy prophet Muhammad (saw) has said: “Whoever stands in qiyaam (taraweeh) during Ramadhaan with faith and hope of reward will have his past sins wiped off. (Sahih Bukhari)

We should also not forget that the most blessed night of the year is that of Lailat-ul-Qadr (Night of destiny). Whoever stays awake during this night in ibaadat (prayers) will have a reward of more than a thousand months. This blessed night is to be found in odd nights, either 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th night of the month of Ramadhaan.

It should also be noted that, during this month, the male and female devils are chained up. The door of hell is closed and the door of heaven is fully opened. This gives us the golden opportunity to shed our bad manners and increase our good actions. It is very important to perform more salaats, Qur’an readings, zikr (remembrance of Allah), Darood Shareef, and to make sacrifices and other actions in the spiritual field. Besides, a daily Qur’an reading is very much appreciated and is very beneficial.

But the most important aspect of Ramadhan is fasting. It is one of the five pillars of Islam. The object of fasting is to develop in us Taqwa (piety). It is a very effective means of controlling sexual desires and bad actions. In actual fact, fasting is a shield against all the snares of the devil, provided nothing is done to pierce it.

It should be noted that Prophet Muhammad (saw) used to break his fast with dates. When dates were not available, he used to drink water.