حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ إِذَا جَاءَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ ”.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1898).
The hadith is rather symbolic. It offers a strong vision of Prophet Muhammad’s wisdom. This is the month where we have every opportunity to upgrade ourselves both in terms of ibadah and productivity. How have we been treating others around us before, and how we deal with people that cause anger.
Knowing that Allah closes the doors of hell and opens the doors of heaven would make this journey throughout Ramadan even sweeter, knowing that the rewards of the hardship is as big as Jannah (heaven).
A learned lady named Prof. Datuk Dr Harlina Halizah Siraj once said that Ramadan is a test for those who have the option not to do as Allah has instructed.
What does she mean by this? Those people who couldn’t afford to buy food, they have no choice but to fast. But those who have all the money to buy any sort of food they want, but chose not to eat just because Allah instructed them not to, have indeed submitted to Allah’s order.
Of course this does not mean that the sawm (fasting) of the poor ones are considered of no value. It only means that everyone is being tested at a different level according to their ability to go through the test.
Be happy for those who managed to finish their Ramadan with all the merits that would qualify them to enter Jannah.
“Except for those who repent and correct themselves and make evident [what they concealed]. Those – I will accept their repentance, and I am the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.”
(Al-Baqarah, 160).
Reference: sunnah.com
