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RAMADAN, THE MONTH OF MERCY

Allah SWT mandates fasting as one of the five pillars of Islam.

INTRODUCTION

Ramadan is a month in which fasting is obligatory for all Muslims. In addition, it is also the most awaited month by all believers, because of the various privileges offered by Allah SWT throughout this glorious and blessed month.

These offers and rewards are not found in other months than Ramadan. This article briefly examines the blessings of Allah SWT that are revealed specifically in the month of Ramadan.

DEFINITION OF GRACE

The word mercy is mentioned by Allah SWT in several verses of the Qur'an, including in surah al-A'raf 56:

"Indeed, God's mercy is close to those who improve their deeds".

Similarly, the words of Allah SWT in Surah Ali-Imran verse 159:

"So because of the (abundant) mercy of God (to you, O Muhammad), you have been gentle with them (your friends and followers), and if you had been rude and hard-hearted, they would have run away from you" .

Based on the interpretation of scholars, the word grace can be defined as favor, kindness, reward, kindness and guidance.

Rahmat is a suitable word to describe the privilege of the chief of all this month.

MOON OF GRACE

The month of Ramadan encourages Muslims to do the practices of pious people such as praying and reading the Quran.

The discussion about mercy in the month of Ramadan begins with the privilege of fasting on Muslims throughout this month, based on a hadith qudsi narrated from Abu Hurairah RA that the Prophet SAW said: That Allah SWT has said:

"Every good deed of the son of Adam is for himself except fasting, indeed fasting is for Me and I myself will give the reward".

(Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Likewise with a piece of hadith narrated from Abu Hurairah RA that the Prophet SAW said: That Allah SWT has said:

"Every act of the son of Adam will be multiplied 10 times like it up to 700 times, except for fasting because fasting is for Me and I am the one who rewards it".

(Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

From the two pieces of hadith above we can understand that fasting is an obligatory act of worship that has a very high position in the eyes of Allah SWT.

According to some scholars, the double gifted by Allah SWT for those who fast can reach up to an unlimited amount or infinity.

Next, the mercy revealed by Allah SWT in the month of Ramadan can be described by the forgiveness that Allah SWT offers to believers as in the hadith narrated from Abu Hurairah:

Once when the Prophet SAW ascended the pulpit, His Majesty SAW said: Amen, Amen, Amen. His Majesty SAW was asked: "O Messenger of Allah, when you ascended the pulpit, you said amen, amen, amen ". Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed Jibril AS has come to me, and Jibril said: Whoever meets the month of Ramadan but is not forgiven for it, he will be put in hell and kept away (from mercy) by Allah SWT. Say Amen (O Muhammad). So I said: Amen "

(Narrated by Ibn Hibban)

The above hadith mentions the loss of people who were in the month of Ramadan but did not take advantage of that opportunity to obtain forgiveness from Allah SWT.

Mercy in this glorious month of Ramadan is also closely related to the revelation of the Qur'an as described by Allah SWT in surah al-Baqarah verse 185 which means:

"(The time you are required to fast is) the month of Ramadan in which the Al-Quran was revealed, as guidance for all mankind, and as evidence that explains the guidance and (explains) the difference between right and wrong".

Imam Fakhruddin al-Razi in his interpretation Mafatih al-Ghaib stated that the glory of Ramadan is due to two great Islamic teachings happening at the same time, namely the obligation of fasting and the revelation of the Qur'an.

Therefore, the grace and blessings of these two great acts of worship cause Ramadan to become a blessing for Muslims.

Verily, We sent it (the Qur'an) down on the night of glory. And do you know what the night of glory is? That glorious night is better than a thousand months. — Surah al-Qadr: 1-3

Among the good deeds and rewards that should be a priority for Muslims in the month of Ramadan is to find a night in which worship on that night will be rewarded better than a thousand months or equal to 83 years and 4 months, this matter is promised by Allah SWT as recorded in in surah al-Qadr verses 1-5:

"Indeed We have revealed this (Al-Quran) on the night of al-Qadr (Lailatul-Qadar). And how can you know the greatness of the night of al-Qadr (Lailatul-Qadar)? The Night of Qadr (Lailatul-Qadar) is better than a thousand months. On that night, the angels and Gabriel descended with the permission of their Lord, because they brought all the things (which were destined to happen in the following year). May that (blessed) night be prosperous until dawn".

CONCLUSION

Muslims need to take the best opportunity when meeting Ramadan this time by doubling all forms of good deeds, especially the worship that is dedicated to this holy month, based on the hadith of the Prophet that it is something very harmful for someone who has been in the month of Ramadan but did not receive the forgiveness of Allah SWT.

Date of Input: 12/03/2024 | Updated: 12/03/2024 | asmunir

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