Subat Ahmad Munib, Student Jamia Ahmadiyya UK
The month of Ramadan is the most blessed in the Islamic calendar. Ramadan is blessed for many reasons, one being the revelation of the Holy Quran in this very month.
Allah the Almighty makes special mention of this blessed month in the Quran, declaring:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
“The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur’an was sent down as a guidance for mankind with clear proofs of guidance and discrimination. Therefore, whosoever of you is present [at home] in this month, let him fast therein. But whoso is sick or is on a journey, [shall fast] the same number of other days. Allah desires [to give] you facility and He desires not hardship for you, and that you may complete the number, and that you may exalt Allah for His having guided you and that you may be grateful.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.186)
Speaking about the blessings of fasting and reading the Quran, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
“Fasting and the Quran will intercede for a person on the Day of Judgment. Fasting will say: ‘O my Lord, I prevented him from food and desires during the day, so allow me to intercede for him.’ And the Quran will say: ‘I prevented him from sleeping at night, so allow me to intercede for him.’ Thus, they will intercede.” (Mishkat al-Masabih, Hadith No. 1963)
Thus the connection between Ramadan and the Quran is deeply rooted in Islamic tradition. This is why, as Muslims, we dedicate ourselves more intensely to reciting the Quran, reflecting on its meanings, and striving to implement its teachings in our lives.
Discussing the importance of Ramadan and its relation with the Holy Quran, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud, may Allah be pleased with him, gives a fascinating commentary on the above Quranic verse in which he also discusses the clause: اُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ that Ramadan is the month “in which the Quran was sent down”.
Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra gives three different meanings for this clause, which further helps us understand the importance of Ramadan. In his Tafsir-e-Kabir [2023], Vol 3. pp.192-193 he says:
“Now I will explain that شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ [The month of Ramadan in which the Quran was revealed] can have three meanings:
“First, the preposition ‘fi’ here is explanatory, and the verse means: Ramadan is the month regarding which the Holy Quran was revealed.”
Huzoorra continues:
“That is, the fasting of Ramadan holds such importance that special commandments were revealed about it in the Holy Quran. And everyone can understand how important and necessary a commandment must be when Quranic revelation is sent down concerning it.
“This meaning of ‘fi’ is also established from the lexicon. For instance, in Arabic they say: تَكَلَّمْتُ مَعَكَ فِي هَذَا ٱلْأَمْرِ – ‘I spoke with you regarding this matter.’
“Similarly, examples of this are found in the Holy Quran. In Surah Yusuf, regarding the wife of Aziz, it states that she said: ‘فَذَٰلِكُنَّ ٱلَّذِي لُمْتُنَّنِي فِيهِ (Yusuf: Ch.12: V.33) – ‘This is the person regarding whom you blamed me.’ […]”
Giving the second meaning, Huzoorra says:
“Second, it means that Ramadan is the month in which the revelation of the Holy Quran began. Ahadith clearly establish the revelation of the Holy Quran began in the month of Ramadan. Although there are differences in determining the exact date, scholars of hadith generally give preference to the 24th. Both Allamah Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani and Allamah Zarqani have preferred the narration that the Holy Quran began to descend on the 24th of Ramadan.”
The final meaning Huzoorra presents is:
“Third, it means that the entire Quran was revealed in Ramadan. In ahadith, it is narrated from Hazrat Aishara that the Holy Prophetsa said to Hazrat Fatimara during his final illness […]: ‘Gabriel used to recite the entire Holy Quran with me once every year during Ramadan. But this year he has recited it twice, from which I understand that my time of death is near.’ (Sharh al-Allamah al-Zarqani ala al-Mawahib al-Laduniyyah, Chapter One regarding Allah the Exalted completing His favour upon him through his death).”
Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra also mentions that although the Quran was revealed throughout the year as well, during each Ramadan of the Prophet’s life, whatever had been revealed up to that point was rehearsed with Gabrielas. In this way, the Quran was effectively revealed again each Ramadan.
From these meanings, we can see the importance of Ramadan and its close link with the Holy Quran. Therefore just as the Prophetsa would go over the Quran with Gabrielas each month of Ramadan, following this practice, we too should strive to recite, reflect upon, and complete a reading of the Quran during Ramadan.