by Imam Al-Madinah al-Munawarrah ‘Abdul Muhsin Ibn Muhammad al-Qasim
from the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, Al-Jum‘ah, Ramadan 5 , 1421 A.H. (December 1, 2000)

It is a manifestation of Allah’s mercy on His slaves that He ordained fasting for them in order to purify them from excessive tastes and to cleanse their hearts from lustful things. These days, Muslims all over the world are receiving the month of Ramadan; leader of all months; the month of forgiveness, merits and gifts; the month that gladdens the hearts of righteous people. No wonder that a pious man said in his death bed giving a reason for his weeping:
“I am only weeping for the fact that people will continue to be fasting and performing prayers after my death while I will no longer be in a position to do likewise.”

Ramadan is the month that contains the leader of all nights; a night that is better than a thousand months. Whoever spends the night in prayers with faith and hoping for Allah’s reward will have all his past sins forgiven. The Prophet sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said:
“When the month of Ramadan enters, gates of Paradise are opened, gates of Hell are closed and devils are chained.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)