Young Hasan came back home after offering Maghrib Salah with his father, Mr. Dawood, and started eating food. All of a sudden, an announcement was made from the Masjid: “Congratulations to all devotees of Rasool as the crescent moon of Ramadan-ul-Mubarak has been sighted’.

Marhaba sad [صَد] marhaba phir aamad-e-Ramadan hay

Khil uthay murjhaye dil taazah huwa Iman hay

Hasan Raza left his food and ran towards his father who was watching Madani Channel in the other room.

Hasan Raza entered the room and said: ‘Dear father! Congratulations! The new crescent moon of Ramadan-ul-Mubarak has been sighted. We will enjoy the blessing of Ramadan-ul-Mubarak now.’

Mr. Dawood smiled listening to his beloved son and stroked his head with affection and said: ‘Congratulations to you too son! Congratulations to you too upon the arrival of the guest of Allah Almighty.’

Astonished, asked Hasan Raza: ‘Guest of Allah Almighty? Dear father, I did not get it.’

Mr. Dawood said: ‘Yes son! Ramadan-ul-Mubarak is a blessed guest for us by Allah Almighty.’

Listening to it, Hasan said: ‘Wow! But dad, how is it a blessed month?’

Mentioning its blessings, Mr. Dawood said: ‘Because people get inclined towards performing virtuous deeds abundantly in this blessed month. They observe Sawm. They recite the Holy Quran in abundance. They offer Taraweeh Salah at night and Masajid fill up completely with Salah-offering people. We perform all these acts of worship so that this guest of Allah Almighty gets pleased with us and when this blessed month departs from us, it is not displeased with us. Moreover, this is the very month in which Satan is imprisoned.’ (Musnad Ahmad, vol. 3, pp. 121, Hadees 7785)

Hasan Raza said: ‘Sure dad. This is excellent. I also make the intention to please this month.’

‘Well done son! But how will you please this guest?’ Mr. Dawood asked his son.

Hasan Raza replied: ‘I will offer five daily Salahs and also recite the Holy Quran.’

‘Son! You already do this.’ Mr. Dawood said while smiling.

‘Dad! Then you tell me how shall I please this guest?’ Hasan Raza asked.

‘Son, how old are you?’ Mr. Dawood asked him.

‘Dad! I am 10 years old.’ Hasan Raza quickly replied.

Mr. Dawood said: ‘Yes son. You are 10 years old. Observing Sawm in not Fard upon you but you should at least try to observe Sawm so that you may also reap the blessings of this month. Moreover, when observing Sawm becomes Fard upon you, then you are capable to do so.’

Hasan Raza said: ‘Yes dad. I will also observe Sawm, اِنْ شَـآءَ اللّٰە. But dad! What benefit will we gain for observing Sawm?’

Mr. Dawood replied: ‘You have asked a brilliant question. Son! The biggest benefit of observing Sawm is that Allah Almighty will get pleased with us. Moreover, His guest, i.e. Ramadan-ul-Mubarak, will intercede for us on the Day of Judgement in the court of Allah Almighty. (Shu’ab-ul-Iman lil-Bayhaqi, vol. 2, pp. 346, Hadees 1994) When we feel hungry and thirsty while observing Sawm, then it also makes us realise the thirst and hunger of those who bear hunger and thirst due to being poor. Therefore, by the virtue of observing Sawm, we also get the passion of helping such people. Similarly, observing Sawm also teaches us patience and forbearance.’

‘Wow! Observing Sawm has numerous benefits. I will اِنْ شَـآءَ اللّٰە definitely observe Siyam.’ Hasan Raza said while expressing his sweet intention.

Mr. Dawood thanked Allah Almighty for such passion of his son.

Question 1: When did the Siyam of Ramadan become Fard?

Answer: On 10^th Sha’ban-ul-Mu’azzam 2 AH. (Durr-e-Mukhtar, Rad-dul-Muhtar, vol. 3, pp. 383)

Question 2: Which month was the Holy Quran revealed in?

Answer: In the month of Ramadan. (Part 2, Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 185)

Question 3: Why is Ramadan called ‘Ramadan’?

Answer: Months were named according to the weathers that fell in them. As Ramadan fell in summer, hence it was given the name Ramadan. (Tafseer Na’eemi, vol. 2, pp. 205)

Question 4: Which act of worship has been referred to as the door of worship by the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم?

Answer: The act of observing Sawm. (Al-Jami’-us-Sagheer, pp. 146, Hadees 2415)

Question 5: What is one reason for Sawm being Fard [obligatory]?

Answer: The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم spent few days of Ramadan in the cave of Hira. During that time, he صَلَّى اللّٰەُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would not eat anything in the daytime. In memory of those days, Siyam were made Fard. (Faizan-e-Ramadan - Urdu, pp. 73)

Question 6: Which person will keep getting the reward of Sawm till the Day of Judgement?

Answer: The one who passes away in the state of observing Sawm will keep getting this reward. (Al-Firdaus, vol. 3, pp. 504, Hadees 5557)

Question 7: What is the importance of one Sawm of Ramadan?

Answer: If one observes Siyam all his life in place of one Sawm of Ramadan, still this reward will not be equivalent to the reward of one Sawm of Ramadan. (Fayd-ul-Qadeer, vol. 6, pp. 101, Taht-al-Hadees: 8492)