Preparations for Ramadan...

After the months of Rajab and Sha'ban, the month known as the last of the sacred "three months", Ramadan, knocks on our door. A season of barakah and peace, a unique opportunity to be forgiven, to be purified of sins, and to benefit from goodness and good acts, a season in which we feel the ihsan of Allah greatly and our worship is rewarded so much more has arrived. Not only humans, but houses, mosques, streets, and cities experience the spirit of Ramadan. A month full of virtuous acts of worship dignifying humans; supplications, new hopes, good intentions and many more acts of beauty await us. 

The beloved Prophet would experience the joy and excitement of meeting Ramadan as it came closer. He would give glad tidings about the arrival of this blessed month. "O, Allah! He would supplicate: “O Allah! Bless us in the month of Rajab and Sha'ban, and make us reach the month of Ramadan.” (Tabarani, Mu'djam al-awsat, IV, 189) He would start preparing for Ramadan by the end of Sha'ban, and after telling his companions that the blessed months has cast its shadow over them, he showed them how to benefit from every moment of Ramadan, its days, its nights, its suhur and its iftar. Muslims have paid heed to the advises of the Prophet, they strive to spend time in this blessed month by adorning their days with the fast and reviving their nights with the tarawih prayer. By performing the tarawih prayer which comes after the Night Prayer and before the Witr Prayer, they keep the sunnah of our beloved Prophet alive and are directly addressed by his following words:

“Allah has obliged fasting in the month of Ramadan to you. Praying tarawih at night during Ramadan is my sunnah. Whoever fasts and prays (tarawih) at night during the month of Ramadan believing and expecting (its reward from Allah alone), he will be purified of sins like the day he was born from his mother.” (Nasa'i, Sawm, 40)

The beginning of Ramadan is determined by observing the new moon. When the Prophet of Allah would see the new moon, he would say the takbir and praise Allah, then ask Him for the goodness of this month and for His protection from the evil of it. (Ibn Abi Shaybah, Musannaf, Sawm, 106) He would give a speech to his companions about the virtue of Ramadan and ask them to act accordingly:

“The month of Ramadan has arrived. This month is a blessed month in which Allah obliged us to fast. In this month, the gates of the heavens (paradise) open, the gates of Hell close and Allah opposing rebellious devils are all shackled. There is a night in this month worth more than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of this month is deprived of a thousand months of virtue.” (Nasa'i, Sawm, 5) 

“The month of Ramadan came to you with its blessings, Allah will make you prosperous, shower you in His mercy, erase your mistakes, and accept your prayers. The Almighty Allah (swt) takes into account rather your competition in benevolence, and praises you to His angels. Then, do your best to be prominent in your efforts in good deeds and benevolence. The miserable is whoever is deprived of Allah's (swt) mercy in Ramadan.”