The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) conveyed glad tidings to his companions before each Ramadan, telling them that a blessed month had arrived in which the gates of Heaven are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the evil devils are chained. He emphasized that whoever is deprived of its goodness is truly deprived — a powerful reminder that this month is a golden opportunity no believer should waste.
The True Spirit and Definition of Fasting
The Arabic word for fasting, “Sawm,” comes from a root meaning to abstain or refrain. Legally, it means complete abstinence from eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse from the true dawn until sunset. But the real core of fasting goes far deeper — every limb must abstain from what displeases Allah. The tongue, eyes, ears, and hands all have their own fast to observe. The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned that many observers of fasting receive nothing from their fast except the pain of hunger and thirst.
“Ramadan has come to you — a blessed month. Allah has made it obligatory on you to fast it. During this month the gates of Heaven are open, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the evil devils are chained.” — Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Key Rulings on Beginning and Ending the Fast
- Sighting the moon — The fast begins when the crescent moon of Ramadan is sighted and ends when the crescent of Shawwal appears; even a single Muslim’s verified sighting obligates the community
- The simplicity of Islam — Allah tied worship to natural signs like the moon and sun so that even an illiterate farmer can know when to fast without complex calculations
- The lunar month — Islamic months are either 29 or 30 days, never 28 or 31
- Hastening iftar — The Prophet said people will remain on the right path as long as they hasten to break their fast at sunset and delay their suhoor
The Goal: Achieving Taqwa
“O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may achieve taqwa.” — Quran 2:183
The ultimate fruit of Ramadan is taqwa — God-consciousness that transforms how we live. Taqwa means fearing Allah, being content with what He provides, acting upon His revelation, and preparing for the day of departure from this world. During the holy month, we must guard our eyes from watching what displeases Allah, protect our tongues from harmful speech, and dedicate ourselves to reading the Quran with understanding. The pious predecessors would even leave their study circles during Ramadan to devote themselves entirely to worship and recitation of Allah’s Book.
