Ariyo Fadlul-Hakeem Ahmad, Student, Jamia Ahmadiyya International Ghana
The holy month of Ramadan is one of the most revered months in the Islamic world during which Muslims adopt paths which lead to God. Allah, in turn, also promises His believers that when He sees them truly striving on His path, they will find Him. (Surah al-Ankabut, Ch.29: V.70)
Thus, Allah the Exalted, in His bid to lead to Himself those who sought Him and draw closer to those who are already treading on His path, placed in the month of Ramadan three special favours which exhibit some of His attributes. Alluding to this, a narration of the Holy Prophetsa says:
“This is a month, the first part of which brings Allah’s mercy, the middle of which brings His forgiveness and the last part of which brings emancipation from the fire of Jahannum (Hell).” (Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, 2003, Vol. 2, p. 911, Kitab-us-sawm, Bab fada’il-i shahr-i Ramadan inna sahha al-khabar, Hadith 1887)
This narration declares that Ramadan is divided into three segments (i.e., three Ashar, sing. Ashra), and each has a theme, so to speak: Ashra of Mercy, Ashra of Forgiveness, and Ashra of salvation from hell.
Ashra of mercy
This refers to the first ten days of the month of Ramadan. It entreats a believer to see himself as someone whose being is merely due to the mercy of God. He should then try to mould his life, abiding by righteousness like a Mohsin (i.e., he who does good), thus using Ramadan to bring enduring and pious changes within himself.
Prayers are enjoined to attain the mercy and other favours of God Almighty. Such prayers are mentioned in the Holy Quran. Allah states:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَاَنْتَ خَیْرُ الرَّاحِمِیْنَ
“My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and Thou art the Best of those who show mercy.” (Surah Al-Mu’minun, Ch.23: V.119)
رَبَّنَا اٰمَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا وَاَنْتَ خَیْرُ الرَّاحِمِیْنَ
“Our Lord, we believe; forgive us therefore [our sins], and have mercy on us; for Thou art the Best of those who show mercy.” (Surah Al-Mu’minun Ch.23: V.110)
Similarly, on the topic of seeking Allah’s mercy, the following was revealed to the Promised Messiahas:
رَبِّ ارْحَمْنِيْ اِنَّ فَضْلَكَ وَرَحْمَتَكَ یُنْجِيْ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ
“Lord, have mercy on me. Surely Your grace and Your mercy deliver from torment.” (Tadhkirah [English], 2018, p. 1002)
Also:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وارْحَمْ مِّنَ السّمَآء
“Lord, forgive and send mercy from heaven.” (Tadhkirah [English], 2018, p. 60)
Ashra of forgiveness
Since Satan is forever on the lookout to lead people astray, once the mercy of God Almighty has been attained, to stay firm, help is needed from the divine. So, for one to be granted this help, he has to spend the following ten days of Ramadan seeking help and power from God. For this, he must recite istighfar (seeking forgiveness from God):
أسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ رَبي مِنْ كُلِ ذَنبٍ وَأتُوبُ إلَيهِ
“I seek forgiveness from Allah, my Lord, for all my sins, and turn towards Him.”
When a true believer makes God’s quality of covering faults and His mercy a part of his life, both in terms of worship of God as well as his practices, this results in Divine forgiveness wrapping and covering him and further doors to Divine mercy opening up.
It is stated in the Holy Quran that we must pray:
اَنْتَ وَلِیُّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا وَاَنْتَ خَیْرُ الْغَافِرِیْنَ
“Thou art our Protector; forgive us then and have mercy on us and Thou art the Best of those who forgive.” (Surah Al-A’raf, Ch.7: V.156)
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا اَنْفُسَنَا وَاِنْ لَّمْ تَغْفِرْلَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَکُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخٰسِرِیْنَ
“Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves and if Thou forgive us not and have not mercy on us, we shall surely be of the losers.” (Surah Al-A’raf, Ch.7: V.24)
Similarly, it is narrated that the Holy Prophetsa would recite the following prayer:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لي ذَنْبِي كُلَّهُ دِقَّهُ وَجِلَّهُ وَأَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ وَعَلَانِيَتَهُ وَسِرَّهُ
“O Allah! Forgive all my sins, the small and the great, first and the last, the open and the secret.” (Riyad as-Salihin, Kitab al-adhkar, Bab fadl al-dhikr wa al-hath ‘alayh, Hadith 1429)
It was also revealed to the Promised Messiahas that:
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا اِنَّا کُنَّا خَاطِئِیْنَ
“Lord, forgive us, we were in error.” (Tadhkirah [English], 2018, p. 253)
Ashra of salvation from hell
The Holy Prophetsa told us that the last ten days of Ramadan are salvation from the fire of Hell. Once a person comes under Divine forgiveness and attains light and power from God, obviously, he will be closer to God. And He won’t leave him without a reward.
By calling the last ten days of Ramadan days of salvation from the fire of hell, the Holy Prophetsa tells us that God Almighty gives glad-tidings of Paradise to those who fulfil the requisites. If we repent sincerely and seek Divine forgiveness and try and stay firm on virtues, the worship of the thirty days of Ramadan, fulfilment of rights and constant practice of repenting and istighfar will permanently close the doors to Hell on us.
For deliverance from torment of hell, Holy Quran teaches us to pray:
رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَھَنَّمَ اِنَّ عَذَابَھَا کَانَ غَرَامًا
“Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell; for the punishment thereof is a lasting torment.” (Surah al-Furqan, Ch.25: V.66)
رَبَّنَا اٰتِنَا فِی الدُّنْیَا حَسَنَۃً وَّفِی الْاٰخِرَۃِ حَسَنَۃً وَّقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّار
“Our Lord, grant us good in this world as well as good in the world to come, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.” (Surah Al Baqarah, Ch.2: V.202)
About the prayer for the night of Decree (Lailatul Qadr) which falls on the last 10 days of Ramadan, it is reported that Hazrat Aishara asked, “O Messenger of Allah! If I find Lailat-ul-Qadr (the Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?”
The Holy Prophetsa replied, “You should supplicate:
للَّهُمَّ إنَّكَ عَفُوٌ تُحِبُّ العَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنّي
“O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me.” (Riyad as-Salihin, Kitab al-fada’il, Bab fadl qiyam laylat al-qadr wa bayan arja layaliha, Hadith 1195)
Conclusion
Mentioned above are some of the numerous prayers revealed by God Almighty himself, supplicated by the Holy Prophetsa and observed by the Promised Messiahas. The month of Ramadan invites believers to engage in prayers and durood alongside other activities. It is thus our responsibility to seek out these treasures and put them to use.
The three sets of 10 days of Ramadan are interconnected and their excellences are conditional to one’s practices and deeds. It is not just abstaining from eating food between dawn and dusk that makes a person deserving of the beneficence of Ramadan.
Indeed, Allah creates a special environment for Ramadan where He puts Satan in fetters and Himself comes nearer to mankind. It is then the task of His servants to make concerted efforts to seek His blessings.
The Promised Messiahas stated on an occasion:
“The doors to God Almighty’s grace and bounties are never closed. If man turns to Him wholeheartedly and with sincerity, then God Almighty is Forgiving, Merciful and accepts the repentance of such a person.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 3, pp. 296–297)