Saed News: The blessed month of Ramadan is known as the most auspicious and best month in Islam. It is also referred to as the month of God's hospitality. In this article, we have mentioned several Hadiths from Imam Ali (AS) regarding the virtues of the blessed month of Ramadan.
According to the religious and spiritual news service of Saad News, Imam Ali (AS) says about the virtues of the blessed month of Ramadan:
“Allah, Allah, in fasting during the month of Ramadan, for it is a shield against the fire of Hell.” (Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 145)
Imam Ali (AS) also said:
“Fasting is to avoid the prohibited, just as a person refrains from food and drink.” (Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 93, p. 249)
He also mentions the best type of fasting:
“The fast of the heart is better than the fast of the tongue, and the fast of the tongue is better than the fast of the stomach.” (Gharar al-Hikam, Vol. 1, p. 417, Hadith 80)
Regarding the worthless fast:
“How many fasting people have nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst, and how many night worshipers have nothing from their prayers except sleeplessness and fatigue.” (Nahj al-Balagha, Wisdom 145)
The wisdom of fasting from Imam Ali (AS)'s perspective: Imam Ali (AS) describes fasting as a test of sincerity:
“Allah made fasting obligatory… as a test for the sincerity of His creation.” (Nahj al-Balagha, Wisdom 252)
Recommended prayers during the blessed month of Ramadan: Special prayers for each night of Ramadan have been narrated from Imam Ali (AS), and great rewards are mentioned for each night. These prayers are typically performed in two Rak'ahs, and while sitting is allowed, standing is preferred.
Imam Ali (AS) mentions:
“The Prophet (PBUH) always engaged in I'tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan until Allah took him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Recitation of the Qur'an in Ramadan: Imam Ali (AS) says in the first sermon of Ramadan:
“O fasting one! In both your day and night, seek closeness to Allah through the recitation of His Book. For the Qur'an is an intercessor, whose intercession will be accepted on the Day of Judgment, and by reciting its verses, you will ascend to higher degrees in Paradise.” (Book of Ramadan, Muhammad Ri Shahrani, Vol. 1, p. 176)
Reviving the nights of Ramadan: Imam Ali (AS) in his sermon on Ramadan says:
“O fasting one! Reflect on your actions, for in this month you are the guest of your Lord. Be mindful of your deeds, and avoid disobedience to Allah during the night and day. Let not the night pass with you sleeping nor the day with you heedless, for if the month passes like this, you will remain laden with sins.” (Book of Ramadan, p. 176)
The supplication of Imam Ali (AS) at the time of Iftar:
“O Allah! We fasted for You, and we break our fast with the sustenance You provided. Accept this fast from us, for You are the Hearer and the Knower. O Allah! Lord of the great light, Lord of the high place! You are the God of those in the heavens and on the earth, and there is no god besides You. You are the Dominant over all in the heavens and on the earth… I ask You to make my affairs easy, and keep me firm on the religion of Muhammad and his family, and make my deeds acceptable to You.” (Mafatih al-Jinan)
Seeking forgiveness in Ramadan: Imam Ali (AS) said:
“In Ramadan, you should seek forgiveness and make supplications. Supplication drives away calamities, and seeking forgiveness erases your sins.” (Ihya al-A'mal, Vol. 1, p. 64)
Iftar (Breaking the Fast) in Ramadan: Imam Ali (AS) said:
“It is recommended to break the fast with milk. It is also good to break the fast with water, sugar, or halvah, all of which the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to do.”
Feeding Others during Ramadan: Imam Ali (AS) used to feed people during the nights of Ramadan and the nights of Qadr, and he would advise them afterward. It is reported:
“Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS) would feed the people meat for Iftar during the month of Ramadan, but he would not eat with them. When they finished eating, he would deliver a sermon and advise them, saying: 'Know that the key to your affairs is religion, your safeguard is piety, your adornment is manners, and the fort of your honor is forbearance.’” (Safa al-Bihar, Vol. 1, p. 703)
I'tikaf during Ramadan: Imam Ali (AS) said:
“The Prophet (PBUH) used to engage in I'tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan until Allah took him.”
A Report on the Last Night of Qadr: Imam Ali (AS) had an extraordinary state during the last Ramadan of his life. Every night, he would be hosted in a different home, eat little, and…
“When Ramadan came (in the last year of his life), he would break his fast at the house of one of his relatives—one night at the house of Imam Hasan (AS), one night at the house of Imam Husayn (AS), and one night at the house of Abdullah ibn Ja'far (the husband of his daughter Zaynab). He would eat no more than three bites, and he would say, 'I wish to meet Allah while I am hungry.'” (Anwar al-Bahiyya, p. 31)
On the night when he was struck, he said:
“In the name of Allah, and by Allah, and on the religion of the Messenger of Allah, I have succeeded, by the Lord of the Ka'bah… This is what Allah and His Messenger had promised us.” (Al-Mustadrak, p. 126)
Footnotes:
Bejah al-Sabagh, Vol. 11, p. 66
Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 93, p. 249
Gharar al-Hikam, Vol. 1, p. 417
Nahj al-Balagha, Wisdom 145
Nahj al-Balagha, Wisdom 252
Book of Ramadan, Muhammad Ri Shahrani, Vol. 1, p. 176
Book of Ramadan, Muhammad Ri Shahrani, Vol. 1, p. 176
Mafatih al-Jinan
Ihya al-A'mal, Vol. 1, p. 64
Safa al-Bihar, Vol. 1, p. 703
Anwar al-Bahiyya, p. 31; Sawaiq Ibn Hajar, p. 80
Same, p. 80
Muntahi al-Amal, Vol. 1, p. 126
Nahj al-Balagha, Subhi Saleh, p. 379; The Life of Amir al-Mu'minin, Vol. 2, p. 321; The Perfect Human, Morteza Motahhari, p. 49.
