How should we welcome the month of Ramadan?

Praise be to Allaah.

The month of Ramadaan is the best month of the year, because Allaah has chosen it to make fasting this month obligatory and the fourth pillar of Islam and He has prescribed for the Muslims to spend its nights in prayer, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Islam is built on five (pillars): testimony that there is no god but Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, establishing prayer, paying zakaah, fasting Ramadaan and performing pilgrimage to the House (Ka’bah).”Agreed upon.

And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever spend the nights of Ramadaan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” Agreed upon. I do not know of any specific way of welcoming Ramadaan, but the Muslim should welcome it with joy and happiness and thanking Allaah for enabling him to reach Ramadaan, for He has caused him to be among the living who compete in doing righteous deeds.

Reaching Ramadaan is a great blessing from Allaah. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to give his companions the glad tidings of the arrival of Ramadaan and explain its virtues, and the great reward that Allaah has prepared for those who fast and who spend the night in prayer. It is prescribed for the Muslim to welcome this blessed month with sincere repentance and preparations to fast and pray qiyaam, with a sound intention and sincere resolve. End quote.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him)

Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah (15/9).