A- They are used to fasting and have trained themselves to stand it.  It is one of the reasons why the sunnah recommends voluntary fasting, like fasting Mondays and Thursdays, the thirteenth, the fourteenth and the fifteenth of every Hijri month, the day of Arafat (for those who are not performing Hajj), the day of 'Aashura (with fasting one day before and one day after), fasting during the month of Sha’baan, among other fasts that the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, recommended to his Ummah so that they become used to fasting and seek more piety.  The effect of this training is realized when we notice that  people who observe some of the voluntary fasts, find no difficulty in fasting the month of Ramadhaan, which become for them a natural process that  they carry out without suffering. Those who are lazy in performing voluntary fasts, however, finds in Ramadhaan a heavy and intolerable burden.

The righteous Salaf (our righteous predecessors, may Allaah have mercy upon them) have shown us perfect examples of intention while observing voluntary fasting, not to mention the month of Ramadhaan.  Marvelous stories about their fast have indeed been reported.  Among them is the story of people of Salaf who sold a slave girl to someone: when Ramadhaan came, the new master of the slave girl began to prepare different foods and drinks, to receive Ramadhaan as most people do nowadays.  When the slave girl noticed what the master and his people were doing, she said: “What are you doing that for?”  They said: “It is a reception of Ramadhaan”. She then in astonishment said: “Is it that you only fast in Ramadhaan? By Allaah! I have left a people who took the whole year as if it were Ramadhaan; I do not need to stay among you anymore, take me back to them” and she was returned to her previous master. 

B- They know well that to forgo pleasure in this life they will be able to attain it in the hereafter because when the fasting person abstains from food, drink, sexual intercourse, and every act that nullifies the fast during the day in Ramadhaan, he is in fact obeying Allaah which is a cause for the attainment of perpetual enjoyment in Paradise.  It is therefore as a result of their firm certainty that the pious people feel happy with the coming of the glorious month of Ramadhaan.

On the other hand, people  who indulge in unlawful pleasure in this life bring about the loss of the pleasure on the day of Resurrection.  The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “whoever drinks wine in this life will not taste it in the hereafter, unless he repents”. He will be deprived of it, even if he enters Paradise, as a punishment for enjoying an unlawful pleasure.  In the same context, the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whoever wears silk garments will not wear them in the hereafter”.

C- People who are truly happy observing Ramadhaan understand that it is a month of  great opportunity to excel in obedience and competition to perform their obligations.  They also know that in this month Allaah gives innumerable rewards.  They are truly happy with Ramadhaan's coming in the same way that a person feels joy when meeting a beloved friend or relative, or even more so.  Such is the first category of people and their reception of Ramadhaan.

The Second Category Those who find Ramadhaan as a burden.  For them it is like an uninvited guest. They count its hours, days, and nights, impatiently waiting for its departure, feeling happy about each day that passes so much that when 'Eed arrives, or is about to come, they are content with the near end of Ramadhaan.  Such people only tolerate this month and look for its end for the following reasons.

1. They are used to excessive pleasure in food and drink, besides indulging in unlawful enjoyments. Therefore, it is natural that they view Ramadhaan as a month restricting them from taking pleasure, and will never welcome it.

2.They are people whose neglect of acts of obedience has become such a habit that you would  notice the one among them careless of obligations such as prayer. Even when Ramadhaan starts, they limit their obedience only to certain acts.  They visit mosques, perform prayers with the congregation, and fast and pray every day of Ramadhaan. These acts of devotion that they failed to perform previously causes them to find this month a heavy burden rather than a time of joy and fulfillment.  They are filled with doubts of what Allaah has promised the believers and they fail to perceive the benefits of this month and the great rewards Allaah bestows on those who sincerely observe its fasting.  It is no surprise then that they do not experience spiritual blessings and happiness that the believers enjoy at the arrival of  the honored guest.