This document discusses the importance and blessings of Ramadan according to Islamic scripture. It notes that fasting is prescribed in the Quran and encourages piety and righteousness. Several hadith are cited emphasizing the rewards of fasting such as forgiveness of sins and entrance to Paradise. Ramadan is described as a month of blessing when God overlooks sins and answers prayers. It is also the month the Quran was revealed and when the Night of Power occurs, said to be better than 1000 months. The goal of fasting is to earn God's pleasure and reward, including a better smell than musk. The document concludes by asking God to help believers prepare for and benefit from Ramadan.

1. Welcome Ramadan
Usratul Maria New York
Saadia Z. Yunus
June 27, 2010

2. Importance in the Quran
• "Oh you who believe!
•
Fasting is prescribed
to you as it was
prescribed to those
before you, that you
many learn piety and
righteousness" (AlBaqarah, 2:183)
The most honored by
Allah amongst you
are those best in
taqwaa“ (49:13)

3. Importance in Ahadith
• "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)
• Narrated Abu Huraira (R): The Prophet (S)
said, “Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of
sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's
rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven"
(Bukhari)

4. Ahadith Continued…
• "Ramadan has come to you. (It is) a month of blessing,
•
in which Allah covers you with blessing, for He sends
down Mercy, decreases sins and answers prayers. In it,
Allah looks at your competition (in good deeds), and
boasts about you to His angels. So show Allah goodness
from yourselves, for the unfortunate one is he who is
deprived in (this month) of the mercy of Allah, the
Mighty, the Exalted" (Narrated by Tabarani)
Abu Umaamah (R) said, “I said, 'O Messenger of Allah,
tell me of an action by which I may enter Paradise'. He
said, 'Take to Fasting, there is nothing like it‘” (AnNasaa'ee, Ibn Hibbaan, Al-Haakim, Saheeh)

5. The Month of the Quran
• "Ramadan is the (month) in which
•
the Quran was sent down as a guide
to mankind and a clear guidance and
judgment (so that mankind will
distinguish from right and wrong).."
(2:183)
Ibn 'Abbas narrates "the Messenger
of Allah (S) was the most generous
person, and he would be at his most
generous in Ramadan because Jibril
would come to him every night and
he would rehearse the Quran with
him" (Bukhari)

6. The Night of Power
• "Indeed We have revealed it
(Quran) in the night of Power.
And what will explain to you what
the night of Power is? The night
of Power is better than a
thousand months. Therein
descends the Angels and the
Spirit (Jibreel) by Allah's
permission, on every errand:
(they say) "Peace" (continuously)
till the rise of Morning!" (97:1-5)

7. Our Ultimate Goal
• "Every action of the son of Adam is given
manifold reward, each good deed receiving ten
times its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah
the Most High said, 'Except for fasting, for it is
for Me and I will give recompense for it, he
leaves off his desires and his food for Me.' for
the fasting person there are two times of joy; a
time when he breaks his fast and a time of joy
when he meets his Lord, and the smell coming
from the mouth of the fasting person is better
with Allah than the smell of musk" (Bukhari)

8. May Allah (swt) help us to
prepare for Ramadan and
enable us to reap the benefits of
this blessed month.
AMEEN