بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم
The Month of the Qur’an: Why We Fast in Ramadan
Introduction: The Month That Allah Himself Honored
When we think of Ramadan, the first thing that comes to mind is fasting. But why is fasting linked to this month?
Allah Himself gives us the answer in the Qur’an—and it is an answer that is often overlooked.
📖 Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185
{ **شَهۡرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ هُدٗى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَٱلۡفُرۡقَانِۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهۡرَ فَلۡيَصُمۡهُۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٖ فَعِدَّةٞ مِّنۡ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلۡيُسۡرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلۡعُسۡرَ وَلِتُكۡمِلُواْ ٱلۡعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمۡ وَلَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ }
"It was in the month of Ramadan that the Quran was revealed as guidance for mankind, clear messages giving guidance and distinguishing between right and wrong. So any one of you who is present that month should fast, and anyone who is ill or on a journey should make up for the lost days by fasting on other days later. God wants ease for you, not hardship. He wants you to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him for having guided you, so that you may be thankful."
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1. The Only Time Allah Names a Month in the Entire Qur’an
The Qur’an never names any other month.
But here, Allah explicitly mentions Ramadan by name—honoring it above all other months.
This means Ramadan is not just a random time for fasting—it is a month that Allah has directly highlighted in His final revelation.
Why?
Because the Qur’an itself was revealed in this month.
This one verse does something unique:
Honors the month of Ramadan by name.
Honors the Qur’an and its role as guidance.
Links the month and the Qur’an directly to fasting.
This is not found anywhere else in the Qur’an.
The message is clear: Fasting exists because the Qur’an was revealed.
If the Qur’an was not revealed in this month, there would be no fasting in Ramadan.
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2. The Qur’an is the Reason for Fasting—Not Just Hunger
💡 Many people think fasting is about discipline, empathy, or health benefits.
While these are important, they are not the reason that Allah gives.
Allah says:
> "It was in the month of Ramadan that the Qur'an was revealed as guidance for mankind."
This means:
🔹 Fasting is an act of gratitude for the Qur’an.
🔹 Ramadan is not about hunger—it is about revelation.
🔹 We fast because this is the month in which Allah sent His final message to humanity.
If we fast in gratitude for the Qur’an, then it makes sense that the Qur’an should be the focus of our Ramadan.
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3. Three Unmatched Connections in This Verse
Allah makes three powerful connections in this verse that are not found anywhere else:
1️⃣ Honoring the Month by Name
No other month is named in the entire Qur’an.
This is a divine recognition of Ramadan.
2️⃣ Revealing the Qur’an as Guidance
The Qur’an is not just a book—it is the source of clarity between right and wrong.
The reason Ramadan is honored is because the Qur’an was revealed in it.
3️⃣ Commanding Fasting in Response to Revelation
"So any one of you who is present that month should fast."
Fasting is directly tied to the Qur’an’s revelation.
This is a direct order—if you are present in the month of revelation, you must fast.
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4. What Does This Mean for Muslims?
If fasting is because of the Qur’an, then this month should be centered around the Qur’an.
Many people spend Ramadan focusing on:
✅ Taraweeh prayers
✅ Charity
✅ Avoiding sins
While all of these are valuable, the primary focus should be the Qur’an itself.
Allah did not reveal this Book for us to simply recite it and forget about its meanings.
Ramadan is the month to:
🔹 Engage deeply with the Qur’an—not just listen to it, but understand it.
🔹 Reflect on its guidance—what is Allah telling you personally?
🔹 Make it the foundation of your faith—because it was revealed for you.
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5. How the Qur’an Was Revealed—A New Perspective for New Muslims
For new Muslims, an important question may arise:
If the Qur’an was revealed in Ramadan, how was it revealed?
📖 The Qur’an was revealed in two stages:
1️⃣ From the Preserved Tablet to the Lowest Heaven
The entire Qur’an was sent down from Allah’s Preserved Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz) to the lowest heaven.
This happened all at once on Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power).
2️⃣ Gradual Revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
After it was sent down, Angel Jibril (Gabriel) revealed it to the Prophet piece by piece over 23 years.
The first verses revealed were from Surah Al-‘Alaq 96:1-5.
📖 Surah Al-‘Alaq 96:1-5
{ ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ }
📖 "Read in the name of your Lord who created—Created man from a clinging substance. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous—Who taught by the pen—Taught man that which he knew not."
This first revelation happened during Ramadan, making this month the most significant in Islamic history.
This is why Allah commands us to fast—because of the revelation of the final guidance for humanity.
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6. Conclusion: A New Way to Approach Ramadan
For too long, Muslims have focused on fasting itself, without reflecting on why we fast.
The answer is clear:
💡 We fast because the Qur’an was revealed in this month.
💡 Ramadan is honored because it is the month of revelation.
💡 Our goal in Ramadan should be to engage deeply with the Qur’an.
How Can You Honor the Qur’an This Ramadan?
✅ Read it with understanding.
✅ Reflect on what Allah is telling you.
✅ Make it the guide of your life.
If you are fasting without focusing on the Qur’an, then you are missing the point.
This Ramadan, make the Qur’an your priority—because that is what Allah commands.
The Month of Ramadan: Honoring the Revelation of the Qur'an
Introduction: Ramadan—A Month Distinguished by Divine Revelation
Ramadan is a month that holds a unique place in the Islamic calendar, not merely for its association with fasting, but more profoundly as the period during which the Qur'an was revealed. This divine connection is explicitly highlighted in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:185), where Allah emphasizes the significance of this month:
> شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
*"The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey—then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful."*
This verse uniquely mentions the month of Ramadan by name, underscoring its special status due to the revelation of the Qur'an. It establishes a direct link between the act of fasting and the commemoration of this divine guidance.
The Qur'an: Illuminating the Path Between Right and Wrong
The Qur'an serves as a beacon, guiding humanity by clearly distinguishing between right and wrong. This function is intrinsic to its purpose, as highlighted in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:185). Further emphasizing this role, Allah states:
> هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ ۚ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ
"It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although they who associate others with Allah dislike it."
[Surah At-Tawbah: 33]
This verse reinforces the Qur'an's role in providing clear guidance, enabling believers to navigate the complexities of moral and ethical decisions.
Practical Examples of Qur'anic Guidance
The Qur'an offers explicit guidance on various aspects of life, providing clear distinctions between permissible (halal) and impermissible (haram) actions. For instance:
Prohibition of Interest (Riba):
> يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
"O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers."
[Surah Al-Baqarah: 278]
Encouragement of Justice:
> يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا ۚ اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
"O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do."
[Surah Al-Ma'idah: 8]
These examples illustrate the Qur'an's comprehensive guidance, covering financial dealings, social justice, personal conduct, and more.
Conclusion: Embracing the Qur'an During Ramadan
Understanding that Ramadan is intrinsically linked to the revelation of the Qur'an transforms our approach to this sacred month. It becomes imperative for believers to:
Engage Deeply with the Qur'an: Beyond mere recitation, strive to comprehend its meanings and apply its teachings.
Reflect on Its Guidance: Contemplate how its directives distinguish right from wrong in various facets of life.
Implement Its Teachings: Let the Qur'an's guidance manifest in daily actions, interactions, and decisions.
By centering our Ramadan around the Qur'an, we honor the very essence of this blessed month and align
ourselves with the divine wisdom intended for our benefit.
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Final Thought: A Challenge for You
🔹 If Allah gave us an entire month to honor the Qur’an… how will you make this Ramadan different?