The First Night of Ramadhan -- Look to Your Heart

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

As we wait eagerly in anticipation of the blessed month of Ramadhan in which the Quran was revealed, we undoubtedly are making physical and spiritual preparations. Among the preparations that the scholars encourage is to prepare our hearts for Allah's gaze.

Baihaqi relates, “When it is the first night of the month of Ramadhan, Allah Mighty and Majestic, gazes to them and the one to whom Allah looks, He does not punish him, ever.” The place to which Allah looks is the heart. So what will Allah see in our heart if He were to look to us on the first night of Ramadan?

One of the bad qualities that would prevent us from this Blessed Gaze (and from many other opportunities for forgiveness) is malice. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) taught us of the Night of Power and the Half Night of Sha’ban that those who harbor rancor, mistreat or disrespecting parents, sever bonds of kinship, or drink intoxicants are prevented from Allah’s Merciful Gaze.

Do we want Allah to look to His servants on the first night of Ramadan and overlook us because we are bearing ill will against each other? Is whatever anyone has done to hurt us so important that we can not overlook it in exchange for an opportunity for eternal salvation from Allah's punishment? What about all of those whom we have wronged? Do we not need Allah's pardon as well as theirs?

أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٢٢...

...Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (22) [Quran, An-Noor 24,21]

We can purify our hearts in preparation for this gaze from our Merciful, Forgiving Lord and also expose ourselves to an opportunity for His pardon when we need it most, by pardoning His servants. Allah says in the Quran,

وَجَزَ‌ٰٓؤُا۟ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا ۖ فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُۥ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿٤٠

And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation - his reward is [due] from Allah. Indeed, He does not like wrongdoers. (40) [Quran, Ash-Shura 42:40]

Tabarani relates that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), said,

"A caller will call [on the Day of Rising], ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter Paradise’ Then he will call a second time, ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter Paradise’ It will be said, ‘Who is the one whose reward is upon Allah, Mighty and Majestic?’ He will say, ‘Those who pardon people.’ Then he will call a third time, ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise.’ Then so and so many thousand will stand and enter Paradise without reckoning." Imagine being among that fortunate group and having all of our many sins forgiven and receiving our reward directly from Allah.

In preparation for this blessed first night of Ramadhan, and that Day in which each of us will meet Allah, let us pardon one another and all of Allah's servants.

رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَ‌ٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِى قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful. [Quran, Al-Hashr 59:10]

Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam