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It is related by Abu Hurairah (RAA) that
the Apostle of God (sallallaho alaihi wa sallam) said “When the month of Ramadan
comes, the Gates of Heaven are thrown open and the Gates of Hell are shut, and
the devils are put behind bars” In another report, the “Gates of Mercy” are
mentioned in place of the “Gates of Heaven”. [Bukhari and Muslim]
Commentary – Commenting of this Tradition, Shah Wali-ullah remarks that as the
devout bondsmen apply themselves to worship and good-doings during the month of
Ramadan and spend their days in God- remembrance and recitation of the Qur’an
while Fasting, and a major part of their nights in Taraweeh and Tahajjud,
supplication and repentance, under the influence of their high spirituality and
devotional exertions the hearts of the common Muslims, too become more inclined
towards prayer and piety and they, on the whole succeed in abstaining from good
many sins. Owing to the generation of the atmosphere worship and virtue in the
Islamic circles, people who are not wholly disregardful of transcendental truths
develop a fondness for things that are pleasing to God and an aversion for acts
that are repugnant to Him. moreover, in this blessed month the recompense on
even smaller acts of moral goodness is made much greater by God than on other
days. In consequence of all this, the gates of Paradise are opened and of Hell
are closed for such people and the devils are not left free to tempt and mislead
them.
It would be clear that all the three things – the throwing open of the gates of
Heaven, the shutting up of the gates of Hell and the binding of the devils in
chains – are in respect only of the bondsmen who feel disposed towards
good-doing in the month of Ramadan, and out of the keenness to partake of its
blessings engage themselves enthusiastically in worship and other religious
duties. As for the Apostates, the negligent and the heedless who care little for
Divine injunctions and produce no change in their daily lives at the advent of
Ramadan, these tidings do not apply to them,. When they have opted out, of their
own accord, for the path of error and omission and taken willingly to follow
Satan and doing his bidding there is nothing for them except disappointment with
God as well.
It is related by Abu Hurairah that the Apostle of Allah (sallallaho alaihi wa
sallam) said : “When the first night of the month of Ramadan (comes), the
devil’s and defiant Jinn are bound in chains and all the Gates of Hell are
closed and non of them remains open and all the Gates of Heaven are thrown open
and none of them remains closed and the heavenly herald announces, “O seeker of
goodness and virtue! come forward; and O lover of wickedness and evil-doing!
Halt, and do not come forward” and a large number of (sinning) bondsmen are
released from Hell at the command of God (i.e., decision of forgiveness and
deliverance is taken for them), and all this takes place on every night of
Ramadan.” [Tirmizi and Ibn-i-Maja]
Abdullah Bin Abbas narrates that the Apostle of God (sallallaho alaihi wa sallam)
was superior to all men in generosity and the doing of good to the people in
general, but in the month of Ramadan his benevolence knew no bounds. In Ramadan,
Gabriel came to him every night and the Prophet (sallahu alaihi wa sallam)
recited the Qur’an to him. During Ramadan the Prophet (sallaho alaihi wa sallam)
appeared to be faster than the wind in generosity and benevolence. [Bukhari and
Muslim] |
