Merits of the Month of Ramaḍān

Muḥammad b. ʿAlī Mājilawayh narrated to us, saying that his paternal uncle, Muḥammad b. Abī’l-Qāsim, narrated to him, from Muḥammad b. Abī ʿAbd Allāh al-Barqī, saying that Muḥammad b. ʿAlī al-Qurashī narrated to him, saying that Muḥammad b. Sinān narrated to him, from Ziyād b. al-Mundhir, from Abī Jaʿfar, Muḥammad b. ʿAlī al-Bāqir عليه السلام, who said: “When Allāh spoke to Mūsā b. ʿImrān عليه السلام, Mūsā said: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who testifies that I am Your messenger and Your prophet, and that You spoke to me?” He said: “O’ Mūsā! My angels come to him bearing glad tidings of My Garden.” Mūsā continued: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who stands before You and performs prayer?” He answered: “O’ Mūsā! My angels take pride in him whether he be bowing or prostrating or standing or sitting, and whoever My angels take pride in, I shall not punish him.” Mūsā said: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who feeds a pauper, seeking Your Face (i.e., Divine satisfaction)?” He replied: “O’ Mūsā! On the Day of Judgement, I shall command a caller to call out over the heads of the creatures, “So-and-so, son of so-and-so, is among those whom Allāh has granted freedom from the Fire.” Mūsā carried on: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who maintains relationships with his kin?” He replied: “O’ Mūsā! I shall lengthen his life, make the pangs of death easy for him, and the keepers of Paradise shall call to him: “Come to us and enter through whichever gate you will.” Mūsā then said: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who restrains himself from harming people and bestows goodness upon them?” He replied: “O’ Mūsā! The Fire will call out to him on the Day of Judgement: “I have no way to you.” Mūsā then asked: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who remembers You with his tongue and heart?” He responded: “O’ Mūsā! On the Day of Judgement, I shall shade him with the shade of My Throne and grant him My protection.” Mūsā said: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who recites Your Wisdom, secretly and openly?” He replied: “O’ Mūsā! He shall cross the Bridge like a flash of lightning.” Mūsā continued: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who is patient with the harm and insults of people?” He responded: “I will aid him against the terrors of the Day of Resurrection.” Mūsā asked: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he whose eyes shed tears in fear of You?” He replied: “O’ Mūsā! I grant his face safety from the heat of the Fire and grant him security on the Day of the Great Terror.” Mūsā continued: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who remains patient during afflictions and fulfills Your command?” He replied: “O’ Mūsā! For every breath he takes, I shall raise him up by a degree in Paradise, and each degree is better than the world and all that is in it.” Mūsā then asked: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who patiently fulfills Your obligations?” He replied: “O’ Mūsā! For every obligation he fulfills, he is raised a rank from among the exalted ranks.” Mūsā then asked: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who walks in the dead of night, striving to obey You?” He replied: “O’ Mūsā! I shall mandate for him an everlasting light on the Day of Resurrection and grant him rewards equal to everything he passed by—the darkness of the night, the brightness of the day, and the light of the stars.” Mūsā then asked: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who does not refrain from disobeying You?” He responded: “O’ Mūsā! I shall give him his record of deeds in his left hand, from behind his back.” Mūsā continued: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who commits fornication?” He responded: “O’ Mūsā! On the Day of Resurrection, a smoke shall issue from him, more putrid than the stench of carrion, rising above the people.” Mūsā then asked: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who loves those who obey You out of love for You?” He replied: “O’ Mūsā! I shall make him prohibited to My Fire.” Mūsā carried on: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he whose tongue does not cease remembering You, nor ceases to invoke You for assistance in this world?” He replied: “O’ Mūsā! I shall aid him against the hardships of the afterlife.” Mūsā then said: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who intentionally kills a believer?” He responded: “I shall not look upon him on the Day of Judgement, nor will I overlook his misstep.” Mūsā carried on: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who guides a disbeliever to Islam?” Allāh replied: “O’ Mūsā! On the Day of Judgement, I shall grant him permission to intercede for whomever he wills.” Mūsā continued: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who calls a Muslim to obedience and forbids them from disobeying You?” He replied: “O’ Mūsā! On the Day of Resurrection, I shall gather him among the righteous.” Mūsā then asked: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who prays at its appointed time, without letting the world distract him from it?” Allāh replied: “O’ Mūsā! I shall grant him his requests and grant him My Paradise.” Mūsā continued: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who cares for an orphan?” He replied: “I shall shade him on the Day of Judgement in the shade of My Throne.” Mūsā then asked: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who perfects his ablution out of fear of You?” Allāh replied: “O’ Mūsā! I shall resurrect him on the Day of Resurrection with a light radiating between his eyes.” Mūsā carried on: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who fasts the month of Ramaḍān for the sake of people?” Allāh replied: “O’ Mūsā! His reward is the same as he who did not fast.” Lastly, Mūsā asked: “O’ God of mine, what is the recompense for he who fasts during the daylight hours, solely seeking Your satisfaction?” Allāh responded: “O’ Mūsā! For him is My Garden, and for him is safety from all the terrors of the Day of Resurrection and freedom from the Fire.”