The Seerah of Ramadan
Monday has the blessing of not only being the day which The best of creation PBUH was born, but also of being the day on which fasting in the month of Ramadan became compulsory for the muslims. On Monday the 2nd of Sha’ban, in the 2nd year of migration (hijrah from Makkah to Madinah), Allah (almighty) made fasting in the month of Ramadan compulsory upon the believers.
Two things were gifted to the believers after they migrated from Makkah to Madinah, an event which is known as the hijrah, the first was fasting in the month of Ramadan and the second was the changing of the Qiblah (direction of prayer) from Masjid al Aqsa to the Ka’bah. This therefore means that The Messenger of Allah PBUH observed a total of 9 Ramadan’s in His PBUH worldly life.
The Prophet PBUH relationship with Ramadan before fasting
It was during this blessed month that the Qur’an was revealed to The Messenger of Allah PBUH. In surah al Baqarah Allah (almighty) said ‘The month of Ramadan, in which the Qur’an was revealed.’ And within Surah al-Qadr Allah said ‘verily we revealed it on the night of Qadr.’ (In surah al-Qadr the ‘it’ is in reference to al Qur’an al Majeed.)
The Qur’an was revealed in the month of Ramadan prior to fasting becoming compulsory for the believers. As was mentioned earlier Ramadan became compulsory whilst the believers were in Madinah tul Munawwarah, whilst the Qur’an was revealed in Makkah tul Mukarrama.
It was also during this blessed month of Ramadan, The Prophet PBUH would go to the cave Hira and connect with Allah (almighty). The scholars state the reason for this was that vices such as Shirk, alcohol and gambling were rife in Makkah at the time so The Messenger of Allah PBUH would seclude himself and go away from Makkah to cave Hira to worship Allah (almighty) alone.
Ibn Ishaq RA reports from Sayyiduna Ubayd ibn Umayr RA: ‘each year The Prophet PBUH would go to mount Hira for a month in search of solitude and it was in that same month in which he PBUH announced his PBUH Prophethood. That was the month of Ramadan.’ This, reiterating the fact that prior to fasting being made compulsory The Messenger of Allah PBUH would spend the month in solitude worshipping Allah (almighty).
This Sunnah of The Messenger of Allah PBUH also shows us how we should behave during this sacred month. We should attempt to divorce ourselves from the world and the vices of the world and attempt to connect with Allah (almighty) and to re-learn and re-find our true purpose in life, which is servitude to Allah (almighty). Living in the west muslims are tested with many tribulations, however we must stay firm to our beliefs, and we must use Ramadan as a month to strengthen our Iman, so we are able to overcome these tribulations.
Furthermore, the ulema state: “The Prophet PBUH’s relationship with Ramadan was not like that of other people. His PBUH relationship predated fasting. He PBUH had a [special] relationship with Ramadan both before and after revelation.”
The Battle of Badr
On the 17th of Ramadan 2AH, the believers took part in the miraculous battle at Badr. This is where 313 believers with 8 swords and limited armoury defeated the kuffar of Makkah who had heavy armoury and more than 1000 men. Allah (almighty) aided the muslims to victory as Angels came to support the muslims during this battle. It is also within this battle that the enemy of Islam Abu Jahal died as two young companions killed him on the battlefield.
May Allah allow us to benefit from the month of Ramadan and to practice it in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah of The Messenger of Allah PBUH.
