Supplication in Ramadan

Praise be to Allah who has enabled His servants to observe fasting and recite the Qur’an, and perpetual, complete prayers and peace upon the best of the sons of ʿAdnān, our master Muḥammad, whom Allah the Most High favored with the Qur’an and preferred over all creation, and upon his family and his noble, honorable Companions.

We live, during these few blessed days, the joy of Ramadan which Allah the Most High has bestowed upon us. He has made its fasting an obligation through which our souls are purified, and its night prayers a voluntary act through which our ranks are elevated. This is the month which Allah the Most High has chosen from among all other months and endowed with distinguishing merits surpassing all times. Allah the Most High has made it a season for acts of obedience and devotion, such that an obligatory act performed within it carries the reward of seventy obligations, and a voluntary act carries the reward of an obligation. Whoever fasts it with faith and seeking reward will have his previous sins forgiven, and whoever stands in prayer during its nights with faith and seeking reward will have his sins forgiven and attain the fullest portion.

During the month of Ramadan, people turn to their Lord, so the sinner returns to obedience, and the obedient increase in good deeds and acts of devotion. The gates of heaven are opened for the answering of supplications. It is therefore no wonder that Allah the Most High mentions verses concerning supplication amidst the verses on fasting. Allah the Most High says {what means}: "And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me that they may be rightly guided." [Al-Baqarah/186].

Thus, through fasting, the Muslim resembles the angels of the Most Merciful. His soul becomes purified and cleansed of its deficiencies, his heart softens and submits to his Lord, and his tongue is inspired to supplicate to Allah the Most High. At that point, he becomes close to his Lord—that spiritual proximity whose delight is known only to one whose heart has prostrated to Allah the Most High before his body prostrates. The Muslim feels the reality of pure servitude to Allah the Most High and perceives the Lordship of Allah the Most High, the Possessor of grandeur, majesty, might, and omnipotence. He thereby comes to know the greatness of the Creator through his humility before Him, and through the weakness experienced by the fasting person, he is made aware of the strength of Allah the Most High. It is then that pure servitude, which is a cause for the acceptance of supplication and closeness to Allah the Most High, is realized within him. Indeed, He, glorified be He, has said: "I am with those whose hearts are broken," and He has said: "Grandeur is My cloak and majesty is My garment. Whoever contends with Me regarding either of them, I will cast him into the Fire." [Sunan Abī Dāwūd].

From this, we understand the secret behind the answering of supplications in Ramadan and the reasons for the delay in response at other times. When a Muslim supplicates to Allah the Most High with a heart that is submissive, broken, and humble before Allah, he finds Allah the Most High answering him. However, when he asks Allah the Most High while being arrogant, haughty, thinking himself deserving of a response, and swearing oaths against Allah the Most High, then Allah the Most High rejects him and leaves him to his own soul, his whims, his desires, and what misleads him. It has been reported in some narrations that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, related that: "A man said, 'By Allah, Allah will not forgive so-and-so.' Thereupon Allah the Most High said, 'Who is he who swears by Me that I will not forgive so-and-so? Verily, I have forgiven so-and-so and nullified your deed.'" [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim].

Thus, fasting becomes one of the most hopeful means for the acceptance of supplications. From this originates the encouragement of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, for the fasting person to supplicate before breaking his fast. He said: "The supplication of the fasting person at the time of breaking his fast is not rejected." [Musnad Abī Dāwūd al-Ṭayālisī]. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, concluded our fasting with the supplication he legislated for us at the time of breaking the fast: "O Allah, for You I have fasted, and with Your provision I break my fast." [Sunan Abī Dāwūd]. Therefore, the servant, while fasting, should remember his closeness to Allah the Most High and that his supplication during these moments is answered. He should resort to Allah the Most High in supplication for himself regarding what he desires of worldly and hereafter wishes, and he should not forget his believing brothers. He should supplicate for the servants of Allah the Most High and supplicate for his nation for honor, victory, and empowerment, so that perhaps Allah the Most High will answer him, thereby relieving the nation of His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, from calamity, trial, and the dominance of enemies. And the promise of Allah the Most High is fulfilled: "And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me that they may be rightly guided." [Al-Baqarah/186]. We ask Allah the Most High to realize our hopes, accept our supplications, overlook our sins, and grant us a good end. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the Responsive.