So Alhamdulillah we have spent many days during this Ramadaan, looking at the various bounties which we need to be grateful for, but how about being grateful for this month of Ramadaan itself.

Not for a second should we ever think that the treasures of Allah are diminishing and therefore Allah wants us to skip a meal or two in Ramadaan, No! No! Many of us will actually attest to the reality that we sometimes eat more in Ramadaan than out of Ramadaan, yes just at different times.

Ramadaan, the ninth month in the lunar calendar, is synonymous with fasting or also known as saum and roza. Fasting is among the five pillars of Islam and is thus incumbent upon all Muslims to observe (unless they have a shar`i reason not to).
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful. [Quran 2:185]

This above verse makes it very clear that fasting during the month of Ramadaan is compulsory, but the verse also guides us to the importance of the Holy Quraan. We are therefore advised to recite of much of it as possible during this Holy month.
The purpose of fasting is not because Allah (Na`oothu billah!) doesn’t have sufficient to feed us, nor is it a practise to try and lose weight, but the rather the primary objective is to instil within us the fear of Allah.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you so that you may learn self-restraint. [Quran 2:183]

Many people opt to pay their Zakaat in this month in the hope that their rewards will be multiplied. Optional charity is also increased many fold and people are very willing to help and assist the poor and needy in this month.

Another great virtue of this month is “Laylatul Qadr” or the night of power. Says Allah,
لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ
The Night of Power is better than a thousand Months. [Quran 97:3]

So Allah has granted us one night, yes just spend one night in His worship, and Allah is prepared to reward us as if we worshipped him for a thousand months, equivalent to over 83 years of worship.

The Ahaadith of Nabi ﷺ are replete with the virtuous of this month. We will just mention a few.
إِذَا دَخَلَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ، وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ جَهَنَّمَ، وَسُلْسِلَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.” [Bukhari]

مَنْ قَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ
“Whoever spends the nights of Ramadan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, he will be forgiven his previous sins.” [Bukhari]

انَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُجَاوِرُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، وَيَقُولُ ‏ “‏ تَحَرَّوْا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ ‏”‏‏.‏
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, “Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan.”

We should most certainly be grateful to Allah for granting us such a virtuous and auspicious month, the like of which can never be found all year round.