What Acts of Worship Should Be Prioritized in Ramadan?
Answered By Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad
Question
In Ramadan, some people forgo reciting the Quran and praying Tarawih to engage in other acts of worship such as supplication, remembrance, or maintaining ties of kinship. What, in your opinion, is better?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his Family, and all his Companions.
The Variety of Good Deeds in Ramadan
Good deeds are varied in the blessed month of Ramadan, and every individual strives to make this noble month distinct from others.
It is a season for accumulating good deeds and drawing closer to Allah through various acts, such as increasing prayers, feeding the hungry, standing in the night prayer, giving charity, maintaining family ties, and other righteous deeds.
Prioritizing Acts Specific to Ramadan
Undoubtedly, it is best to prioritize acts of worship specific to this blessed month, such as praying Tarawih, which the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) encouraged.
Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Whoever stands in prayer during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, will have their past sins forgiven.” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Likewise, Abu Dharr (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“When a person prays with the imam until he finishes, it is recorded as if he prayed the whole night.” [Nasa’i; Abu Dawud; Ahmad]
The Importance of Quran Recitation in Ramadan
Reciting the Quran is also highly emphasized and closely tied to fasting. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Fasting and the Quran will intercede for a servant. Fasting will say: ‘O Lord, I prevented him from food and desires during the day, so let me intercede for him!’ And the Quran will say: ‘I kept him from sleeping at night, so let me intercede for him!’ And they will be allowed to intercede.” [Hakim; Ahmad]
Since Ramadan is the month of the Quran, Muslims should strive to increase their recitation of it. The pious predecessors placed great importance on the Book of Allah during this month.
Jibril (peace be upon him) used to review the Quran with the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) during Ramadan. Ibn Rajab said:
“The prohibition against completing the Quran in less than three days applies to doing so regularly. However, during special times—like the month of Ramadan, especially its nights when Laylat al-Qadr is sought—or in blessed places, like Makka for those not living there—it is recommended to increase Quran recitation to take advantage of the virtue of time and place.” [Ibn Rajab, Lata’if al-Ma‘arif]
Engaging in All Acts of Goodness
Thus, I see, and Allah knows best, that there is no contradiction between the mentioned acts. It is fitting for a Muslim to take full advantage of this month by engaging in every form of goodness and blessing.
May Allah grant us success in performing what He loves and is pleased with.
And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds.
[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad
Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad, born in Damascus, Syria, in 1965, pursued his Islamic studies in the mosques and institutes of Damascus. A graduate of the Islamic University of Medina in 1985, he holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Bahauddin Zakariya University in Pakistan.
He has extensive experience developing curricula and enhancing the teaching of various academic courses, including conducting intensive courses. Shaykh Awad has taught Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Quranic sciences, the history of legislation, inheritance laws, and more at several institutes and universities such as Al-Furqan Institute for Islamic Sciences and Majma‘ al-Fath al-Islami in Damascus.
He is a lecturer at the Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih Waqf University in Istanbul, teaching various Arabic and Islamic subjects, and teaches at numerous Islamic institutes in Istanbul. Shaykh Awad is a member of the Association of Syrian Scholars, a founding member of the Zayd bin Thabit Foundation, a member of the Syrian Scholars Association, and a member of the Academic Council at the Iman Center for Teaching the Sunna and Quran.
Among his teachers from whom he received Ijazat are his father, Shaykh Muhammad Muhiyiddin Awad, Shaykh Muhiyiddin al-Kurdi, Shaykh Muhammad Karim Rajih, Shaykh Usama al-Rifai, Shaykh Ayman Suwaid, Shaykh Ahmad al-Qalash, Shaykh Muhammad Awwama, and Shaykh Mamduh Junayd.
