1- Revising the Quran:
The month of Ramadan is a chance for those who have forgetten the portions of the Quran they had once memorized to revise them during the night and day through offering voluntary night prayers, and reciting it while reflecting on its meanings and rulings. The righteous predecessors used to pondering over the Quran and recite it completely many times in the noble month of Ramadan.
2- ‘Umrah equals Hajj:
One of the virtues of this month is that it is a great opportunity for those who want to perform ‘Umrah (lesser pilgrimage). The Prophet, , said: “Performing ‘Umrah in Ramadan equals (the reward of) performing Hajj.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] It is a great pleasure and gain for those who perform ‘Umrah in Ramadan sincerely for the sake of Allah The Almighty following the Sunnah (tradition) of the Messenger of Allah, .
3- Inviting new reverts to Islam:
Ramadan is a good chance to call non-Muslims to Islam, incline their hearts to Islam, make them feel the greatness of this religion, the truthfulness of its law and the falsehood of other religions. Numerous callers to Islam affirm that many people revert to Islam in Ramadan -- more than any other time because of the great rite of fasting, its merits and how the Muslims interact during this time.
4- Purifying hearts:
This month provides us with a great chance to renew our brotherly relations and restore kinship ties which were severed due to quarrels or disputes. The believer will seek refuge in Allah The Almighty from the devil and purify his heart to cleanse it from grudges and envy. He renews his relations with his kindred and relatives according to the Islamic Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) along with fulfilling the rights of Muslims which were ordained by Allah The Almighty. It is important to utilize this month to reconcile disputing people. It is well-known that this act results in a great reward and virtue.
5- Good speech:
It is a chance to be accustomed to saying good words, shunning foul words, avoiding repaying a bad deed with a worse deed, repaying the bad deed with a good deed, and overlooking people’s offenses. The Prophet, , guided the fasting person by saying: “When any one of you is observing fasting on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise his voice; and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say, ‘I am fasting.’”
6- Renewal and change:
It is a good chance for whoever wants to renew his faith and change his life for the better. It is a practical starting point to remove the cover resulting from the accumulation of sins from the heart. It is a chance to motivate the self to do whatever pleases Allah The Almighty so that it would certainly know that it has changed the path of its life to a new, much desired and longed for path.
7- Patience:
Ramadan is an intensive course for learning the three aspects of patience: patience with obeying Allah The Almighty by fasting the days of Ramadan, patience with stopping evil deeds by abandoning foul words, evil actions and whatever displeases Allah The Almighty, and patience with the decree of Allah The Almighty by being patient with the obligation of fasting this month completely. Once Al-Ahnaf ibn Qays was told, “You are a very old man and fasting weakens you.” He replied, “I save it for a long journey and being patient with obeying Allah The Almighty is easier than being patient with His punishment.”
Ramadan is an intensive course for learning the three aspects of patience: patience with obeying Allah The Almighty by fasting the days of Ramadan, patience with stopping evil deeds by abandoning foul words, evil actions and whatever displeases Allah The Almighty, and patience with the decree of Allah The Almighty by being patient with the obligation of fasting this month completely. Once Al-Ahnaf ibn Qays was told, “You are a very old man and fasting weakens you.” He replied, “I save it for a long journey and being patient with obeying Allah The Almighty is easier than being patient with His punishment.”
8- Reducing consumption:
One of the benefits of this month is the reduction of our consumption of food and drink. However, many people do not adhere to this, but instead buy different kinds of food as if Ramadan were the month of eating and drinking. However, the reality of this month is to reduce eating, drinking and to be economical without stinginess or extravagance. Rather, the person should adopt a moderate approach by following a rational way without buying everything he desires.
9- Upbringing of children:
Parents could instill the love of doing virtuous deeds and abstaining from vice in the hearts of their children. They could make them love fasting, prayer, and recitation of the Quran in different ways. What a nice tradition it is to gather the children half an hour before Iftaar (the time for breaking the fast) to explain to them what they do not know and supplicate Allah The Almighty before the Athaan is called, raising their hands beseeching Allah The Almighty and reciting the invocations mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) .
10- Supplication:
The times of entreating Allah The Almighty are times when the believers feel tranquility and happiness. The best time for entreating Allah The Almighty is in Ramadan. The verse on supplication was mentioned in the middle of the verses on fasting Ramadan in order to remind the believers of the significance of supplication in this month. So, the Muslim should not forget himself and his fellow Muslims in supplications hoping that Allah The Almighty will relieve him and all Muslims of distress and sadness.
The times of entreating Allah The Almighty are times when the believers feel tranquility and happiness. The best time for entreating Allah The Almighty is in Ramadan. The verse on supplication was mentioned in the middle of the verses on fasting Ramadan in order to remind the believers of the significance of supplication in this month. So, the Muslim should not forget himself and his fellow Muslims in supplications hoping that Allah The Almighty will relieve him and all Muslims of distress and sadness.
11- Entering Paradise:
There is a great chance to enter Paradise in this month -- especially the people who fast out of faith and hope for the reward of Allah The Almighty will have a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayyaan to enter from it. Moreover, there will be an immense reward for the fasting people on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting is observed for the sake of Allah The Almighty and it is He Who will immensely reward His fasting slaves.
12- Thanking Allah The Almighty:
In this month, there is a great chance to thank and praise Allah The Almighty especially if the person obeys Allah The Almighty and avoids sins. Consequently, the person would praise Allah The Almighty and thank Him by his heart, tongue and actions because Allah The Almighty favored him by enabling him to do virtuous deeds and avoid vice. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.} [Quran 2:185]
In conclusion:
This description of the opportunities available to us in Ramadan has been compiled after deep thought, in order to present them to fellow Muslims hoping that they will be fulfilled. By Allah The Almighty Who is the only One worthy of worship, Ramadan is the best month for striving for rewards and the most beloved month by Muslims. In this month, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed. So, we congratulate those who spend Ramadan in performing acts of obedience and those who neglect this great chance by not fulfilling its rights will surely have cause for great remorse and regret.