Fasting this month is a pillar of Islam The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Islam is built on five (pillars): The testimony that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Establishing prayer. Paying Zakah. Fasting in Ramadan. Haj to the House (the Ka'bah).” – Bukhari and Muslim 2 – Revelation of Qur'an “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'aan, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)…” (Qur'an, 2:185) “Verily, We have sent it (this Qur'an) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree).” (Qur'an, 97:1) 3 – Laylat-al-Qadr (Night of Decree) is in this month The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months). “Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] by Allah's Permission with all Decrees, (all that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn” (Qur'an, 97:1-5) 4 – Forgiveness of sins The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” – Bukhari and Muslim The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever spends the nights of Ramadan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” – Bukhari and Muslim 5 – Paradise opens and Hell closes The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.” – Bukhari and Muslim 6 – Every night people are saved from Hell The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “At every breaking of the fast, Allah has people whom He redeems.” – Musnad Ahmad - classed as saheeh by Al-Albani 7 – Equivalent to fasting 10 months The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be like fasting for a lifetime.” – Saheeh Muslim The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan, a month is like ten months, and fasting six days after al-Fitr will complete the year.” – Musnad Ahmad 8 – Taraweeh equivalent to praying all night The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever prays qiyaam with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer.” – Abu Dawood - Classed as saheeh by Al-Albaani in Salaat Al-Taraaweeh, p. 15 9 – Umrah equivalent to Haj The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “When Ramadan comes, go for ‘Umrah, for ‘Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to Haj.” (Bukhari) According to a report narrated by Muslim, “… is equivalent to doing Haj with me.” 10 – Offering Iftar The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever gives iftaar to one who is fasting will have a reward like the fasting person, without detracting from the fasting person's reward in the slightest.” – Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah - classed as saheeh by Al-Albani
