TALIB ABU TAHREEM
Ramadan is a month of spiritual struggle. It is a time when Muslims strive in the way of Allah and seek His nearness through fasting, charity, prayers and other acts of worship. The core objective of these physical acts and rituals is to bring about a positive change in oneself and make it a part of their life.
Thus, the essence of Ramadan should be confined to a single month. That is, the spiritual and moral discipline observed in this month should not be abandoned once the month ends but become a continuous practice throughout the year.
For a true believer, the struggle of self-reformation is a lifelong journey, and Ramadan serves as a reminder and a training period for this. Hence, truly observing this blessed month requires one to maintain its spirit all year round.
Ramadan as a training period
Apart from an increased observance of Divine commandments and a special focus on devotion to God, Ramadan also requires Muslims to refrain from even permissible acts such as eating and drinking. This self-restraint is not simply an exercise in deprivation, but a form of spiritual training designed to prepare one’s body and enable one’s soul to control their desires and resist the temptation to sin.
That is, when one abstains from lawful things for the sake of God while fasting, they cultivate the strength to refrain from unlawful deeds as well. If this crucial aspect of Ramadan is overlooked, one fails to attain the true essence of the month. The Holy Prophetsa says:
“Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink.”[1]
In other words, fasting is not merely an abstinence from food and drink. Rather, it is a means to help a person fulfil the very purpose of their life—to reform their deeds, increase in righteousness and earn the pleasure of God.
The year-long spirit of Ramadan
It is obvious that the true essence of Ramadan, as discussed above, cannot be limited to a period of just one month. A profound Hadith of the Holy Prophetsa corroborates this understanding. He says:
“When the month of Ramadan enters, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the devils are chained.”[2]
At first glance, if taken literally, this statement may seem at odds with reality—since we do not witness a complete absence of wrongdoing during Ramadan. However, its deeper meaning sheds light on the true purpose of the month and its lasting significance.
The key word here is ‘enters’. The Holy Prophetsa did not simply say ‘when Ramadan comes’ but rather used the term ‘enters’. It would be more than unjust to brush over the literary richness of this statement and consider it a coincidental choice of words. On the contrary, it carries profound implications.
What is intended here is that when the spirit of Ramadan truly enters a believer’s heart, their inner state changes and as a result, the desired results are achieved. That is, for such a person who internalises the spirit of Ramadan, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and Satan is chained.
Now, what would be more unwise than to assume that these virtues should manifest only during the month of Ramadan? This clearly implies that these spiritual benefits are neither temporary in merit nor in practice. Rather, when a person truly achieves this and Ramadan enters their soul, they undergo a lasting transformation. This understanding, again, is substantiated by a narration of the Holy Prophetsa where he is reported as saying:
“If my people knew what Ramadan is, they would wish that the entire year was Ramadan.”[3]
This is the reason that the early generations of Muslims (the Salaf), who observed Ramadan understanding this spirit, considered this month as a continuous cycle of spiritual struggle. Hence it has been reported regarding them:
“They used to pray to Allah for six months that He would allow them to reach Ramadan, and they used to pray for six months afterwards that He would accept it from them.”[4]
Thus, as this year’s Ramadan draws to a close, we should, like the companions and early Muslims, seek to carry its blessings forward throughout the year. As we bid farewell to this blessed month, let us not bid farewell to the spirit of righteousness it ignited within us.
END NOTES
[1] Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Adab (The Book on Good Manners)
[2] Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab as-Saum (The Book on Fasting)
[3] Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Kitab as-Siyam (The Book on Fasting)
[4] Lataaif al-Ma’aarif, Ibn Rajab, p. 264
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