In order to be enthusiastic about making use of Ramadan in good deeds, heed the following instructions:
1. Sincerity to Allah in fasting:
Sincerity to Allah Almighty is the spirit of acts of worship, a key to accepting one's good deeds, and a means for receiving help and success from the Almighty Lord. the more a believing servant is sincere and true to Allah in doing good, the greater the help he receives from Him. Ibn Al-Qayyim said, "In proportion to the intention, resolve, and desire of a servant, Allah Almighty helps him and grants him success."
Allah, the Exalted, commanded us to render our deeds sincerely to Him, alone with no partner; He says (what means): {And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth.} [Quran 98:5]
If the fasting person knows that sincerity in fasting brings him help and success from Allah Almighty, he will be motivated to make use of Ramadan in performing righteous deeds for the sake of the All-Merciful. Fasting + Sincerity to Allah = Enthusiasm and Motivation.
2. Knowing that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, would give glad tidings to his Companions about the advent of this blessed month:
There is something that can motivate you to use Ramadan in performing good deeds for the sake of the All-Merciful: knowing that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, would give good news to his Companions, saying: "The month of Ramadan has come to you, a blessed month that Allah prescribed upon you to fast…" This indicates the greatness of making use of this month in good deeds and worship. Hence, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, would give them glad tidings so that they could get prepared for utilizing it.
3. Considering the great reward Allah Almighty prepared for fasting people, which includes the following:
a. the reward of the fasting person is great and none knows it but Allah, the Exalted, "Every act of the son of Adam is for himself except fasting; it is done for My sake and I will give a reward for it."
b. "Whoever fasts a day for the sake of Allah, Allah will keep his face away from Hell-fire at a distance of seventy years." What about a person who fasts the whole month!
c. Fasting will intercede on behalf of the servant on the Day of Judgment until he enters Paradise.
d. "There is a gate in Paradise that is called Ar-Rayyan, through which only those who observe fasting will enter."
e. Fasting Ramadan expiates all one's past sins.
f. During Ramadan, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed.
g. the supplication of a fasting person in Ramadan is answered.
Dear brother! Be keen to get this immense reward which Allah Almighty prepared for fasting people. You only have to roll up your sleeves and work with determination and activeness so that you may be one of the winners of those great prizes.
4. Knowing that it is a Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, to engage a lot in various acts of worship.
He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, used to engage in worship during Ramadan in a manner peculiar to this blessed month, apart from any other month. This should fill one with enthusiasm for using this noble month. Indeed, Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, is our role model, which we are required to follow. In the Quran, Allah Almighty says (what means): {There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern.} [Quran 33:21]
So, engage a lot in different acts of worship during this month.
5. Realizing the blessings available in this blessed month. Aspects of these blessings include the following:
a. Blessing in spiritual feelings. In this month, a believer has greater faith and a more conscious heart. He contemplates a lot and readily accepts advice. This matter is perceptible and none can argue about it and about the fact that it is part of the generosity of Allah Almighty toward fasting people.
b. Blessing in physical strength. Although you abstain from food and drink, you grow in strength and endurance. Allah blesses your physical ability and you can perform the obligatory prayers and the supererogatory Sunnah prayers, as well as the other acts of worship, despite your hunger and thirst.
c. Blessing in time. Consider how your time is blessed during this month. You may perform deeds during one day and night of Ramadan that you cannot otherwise accomplish in a whole week in other months.
So, seize the blessing of Ramadan and add the blessing of the noble Quran to it. Be careful to derive support from this in obeying the All-Merciful and adhering to the right path at all times and all places. This should increase your enthusiasm and motivation for exploiting the blessings of this month.
6. Among the things that motivate one to utilize this noble month in worship is recalling the good characteristics of Ramadan:
Dear brother! Allah Almighty preferred Ramadan over other months by many characteristics and merits, which include the following:
a. the breath of a fasting person is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk.
b. the angels ask for forgiveness for the fasting people until they break their fast.
c. Allah Almighty adorns His Paradise everyday and says, "My servants are about to throw off the burden and harm and then come to you."
d. the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell-fire are closed.
e. It includes the night of Al-Qadr (destiny), which is better than one thousand months. He who is deprived of its blessings has been deprived of all goodness.
f. the fasting people are forgiven in the last night of Ramadan.
g. there are those whom Allah Almighty emancipates from the Hellfire in the last night of Ramadan.
7. Knowing that Allah, the Exalted, picked the fast from among the acts of worship for Himself:
This is a great advantage that is to be seized by a person who exploits Ramadan in doing good. It drives such a person not to miss this great opportunity. This advantage is that Allah Almighty kept the reward of fasting, apart from all other deeds, known to Him alone. This is related in a hadith in which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, said that Allah Almighty says: "Every act of the son of Adam is for himself except fasting; it is done for My sake and I will give a reward for it." This specialty increases the believer's enthusiasm for utilizing this great favor.
8. Knowing to what extent the noble Companions and the righteous predecessors were diligent worshippers during this blessed month:
The noble Companions grasped the merit of the month of Ramadan in the sight of Allah, and so they were diligent in worship. they would spend its nights in qiyam (voluntary night prayer) and recitation of the Quran. they would give charity to the poor and needy and give food to the fasting people to break their fast. they would also engage in jihad against the enemies of Allah in order for the word of Allah to be supreme and religion to belong entirely to Him.
9. Knowing that fasting will intercede on behalf of the fasting person on the Day of Judgment:
Another characteristic that makes one more attached to fasting and more keen on observing it is the fact that fasting will intercede for the fasting person before the Almighty Lord on the Day of Judgment and will serve as a means for erasing his sins. Excellent is that companion indeed who intercedes for his companion in the most difficult situations. the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, is reported to have said:
Fasting and the Quran will intercede on behalf of the servant on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say, "O Lord! I prevented him from food and satisfying his desires during the day.
So, make me an intercessor for him." the Quran will say, "I prohibited him from sleeping at night. So, make me an intercessor for him." they shall be allowed to intercede. [Ahmad]
10. Knowing that Ramadan is the month of the Quran and the month of patience:
And that fasting it and performing qiyam al-layl (voluntary night prayer) during it are means for forgiving one's sins; and that fasting provides remedy for many social, psychological, sexual, and health problems. Familiarity with these worldly and otherworldly characteristics of fasting motivates one to seize them.
These are some incentives that prompt one to make use of these seasons of worship and the month of abundant mercy and blessings. Beware of neglecting such seasons, lest you will regret when regret will be of no avail. Allah Almighty says (what means): {But the hereafter is greater in degrees [of difference] and greater in distinction.} [Quran 17:21]
We implore Allah Almighty to accept our fasting and qiyam al-layl. And our last invocation is praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. And peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and Companions. O Allah! Make us live until we witness Ramadan and accept our deeds therein; indeed, You are the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
May Allah grant us clear victory and help us worship Him. Indeed, He is the One Worthy of this and He is able to do it.
To Allah Almighty we render our worship and good deeds.