Merits of the Month of Ramaḍān

My father رحمه الله narrated to us, saying that Saʿd b. ʿAbd Allāh narrated to him among others, saying that Aḥmad b. Muḥammad b. ʿĪsā narrated to him among others, from al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī b. Faḍḍāl, from Sayf b. ʿUmayra, from ʿUbayd Allāh b. ʿAbd Allāh, from the one who heard from Abā Jaʿfar al-Bāqir عليه السلام, who said: “The Messenger of Allāh صلى الله عليه وعلى آله said to Bilāl as the month of Ramaḍān approached and three nights yet remained of Shaʿbān: “Call out to the people,” so Bilāl gathered the people. The Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله ascended the pulpit, praised Allāh and extolled Him, then said: “O’ people! This month has approached you, and it is the master of the months. In it is a night better than a thousand months, in which the gates of Perdition are closed and the gates of Paradise are opened. Whoever reaches it and is not forgiven—may Allāh distance him! Whoever knows his parents (and does his duty by them) but is not forgiven—may Allāh distance him! And whoever hears mention of me and does not send blessings upon me yet is not forgiven—may Allāh distance him!”