Ramadan is a sacred month for Muslims all over the world with countless blessings in it. Yet - in the Shia creed - there is a significant blessing in this holy month that all religious people should give importance to, and that is the revelation of various divine books in this month. Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s) stated, “The entire Quran was revealed in the month of Ramadan [and placed] in Al-Bayt Al-Ma’moor, then it was sent down to the prophet in a span of twenty-three years.” The Imam (a.s) continued, “The Prophet (p.b.u.h. & his family) said, ‘The Scrolls of Abraham were revealed in the first night of the month of Ramadan. The Torah was revealed on the sixth of the month of Ramadan. The Gospel was revealed on the thirteenth of the month of Ramadan. The Zabour was revealed on the eighteenth of Ramadan. The Quran was revealed on the twenty-third of the month of Ramadan.(2)
Therefore, this month should be viewed as a holy and sacred time span in which Allah (s.w.t) connected with his creations to reveal divine guidance. In this month the laws and commands that help mankind build righteous and just societies were sent to divine messengers. The importance of these messages and scrolls should not be undermined, as the tyranny of mankind is going through that reminds us of the need for such light and a human who can glow this light properly to aid mankind to exit the darkness of oppression into the light of the life full of justice.
Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the standard ˹to distinguish between right and wrong˺. So, whoever is present on this month, let them fast (3). Upon reflecting, it could be understood that there is a relation between fasting in the month in which the divine books were revealed. This concept is also stated by Imam Al-Ridha (a.s), as Al-Fadil ibn Shadan reports the saying of the Imam (a.s) in his own words as an answer to ‘why do we fast in Ramadan preciously?’, “Because Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the standard…”. (4)
It is important to note that Muslims must believe in the books that were sent to the prophets before the Quran in accordance with various verses in the Quran such as, “and who believe in what has been revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ and what was revealed before you” (5) and “Say, ˹O believers,˺ “We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us; and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and his descendants; and what was given to Moses, Jesus, and other prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them. And to Allah, we all submit.”. (6)
Of course, we believe in these books as they were sent with the pure message of monotheism, not as how they are portrayed today which are distorted and are false replicas of the true books.
Therefore, this month should be viewed as a holy and sacred time span in which Allah (s.w.t) connected with his creations to reveal divine guidance. In this month the laws and commands that help mankind build righteous and just societies were sent to divine messengers. The importance of these messages and scrolls should not be undermined, as the tyranny of mankind is going through that reminds us of the need for such light and a human who can glow this light properly to aid mankind to exit the darkness of oppression into the light of the life full of justice.
Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the standard ˹to distinguish between right and wrong˺. So, whoever is present on this month, let them fast (3). Upon reflecting, it could be understood that there is a relation between fasting in the month in which the divine books were revealed. This concept is also stated by Imam Al-Ridha (a.s), as Al-Fadil ibn Shadan reports the saying of the Imam (a.s) in his own words as an answer to ‘why do we fast in Ramadan preciously?’, “Because Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the standard…”. (4)
It is important to note that Muslims must believe in the books that were sent to the prophets before the Quran in accordance with various verses in the Quran such as, “and who believe in what has been revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ and what was revealed before you” (5) and “Say, ˹O believers,˺ “We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us; and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and his descendants; and what was given to Moses, Jesus, and other prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them. And to Allah, we all submit.”. (6)
Of course, we believe in these books as they were sent with the pure message of monotheism, not as how they are portrayed today which are distorted and are false replicas of the true books.
(1) Bihar Al-Anwar, v.96, p.356.
(2) Al-Kafi, v.2, p.629.
(3) Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 185.
(4) Bihar Al-Anwar, v.93, p.370.
(5) Al-Baqarah, verse 4.
(6) Al-Baqarah, verse 136.