Fasting is a complete purification and a means to developing the consciousness of Allaah's presence. The consciousness of Allaah (Taqwa) is a protection against the schemes of Shaytaan (Satan), and the suffering of this world. Allaah has informed us that (what means), "Whoever keeps his duty to Allaah (has taqwa), He ordains a way out for him and gives him sustenance from where he imagines not. And whoever trusts in Allaah, He is sufficient for him. Surely Allaah attains His purpose. Allaah has appointed a measure for everything." [Quran 65:2-3]

Many Muslims today have a misconception about fasting and the activities of a fasting person. They go into a state of semi-hibernation, spending most of their daylight hours in bed. If they fear Allaah, they wake up for prayer, but then return to sleep immediately. This unnatural sleep makes them become lazy, dull-witted and often cranky.

Ramadhaan is actually a time of increased activity wherein the believer, now lightened of the burdens of constant eating and drinking, should be more willing to strive and struggle for Allaah.

Ramadhaan in the Life of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam:

The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, passed through approximately nine Ramadhaans after the Hijrah. They were filled with decisive events and left us a shining example of sacrifice and submission to Allaah.

1. In the first year after the Hijrah, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam sent Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib, may Allaah be pleased with him, with thirty Muslim riders to Saif al Bahr to investigate three hundred riders from Quraysh who had camped suspiciously in that area. The Muslims were about to engage the disbelievers, but they were separated by Majdy ibn Umar al-Juhany.

2. The Hypocrites of Madeenah, hoping to oppose the unity of the Muslims, built their own masjid (called Masjid ad-Dirar). The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, ordered this masjid to be destroyed in Ramadhaan.

3. On the seventeenth of Ramadhaan, 3 A.H., Almighty Allaah separated truth from falsehood at the Great Battle of Badr. The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, and 313 of his companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, set out to intercept a caravan of their own goods that had been left in Makkah. It was led by Abu Sufyan himself, and estimated at 50,000 dinars. They were met, instead, by a well-equipped army of the nobility of Quraysh, intend on putting out the light of Islam. Despite being outnumbered three to one and appearing weak and unseasoned, the Muslims defended their faith with a burning desire to protect the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and meet their Lord through martyrdom. Allaah gave them a decisive victory on this day of Ramadhaan, that would never be forgotten.

4. In 6 A.H., Zayd Ibn Haaritha, may Allaah be pleased with him, was sent to Wadi al-Qura at the head of a detachment to confront Faatimah bint Rabi'aah, the queen of that area. Faatimah had previously attacked a caravan led by Zaid and had succeeded in plundering its wealth. She was known to be the most protected woman in Arabia, as she hung fifty swords of her close relatives in her home. Faatimah was equally renowned for showing open hostility to Islam. She was killed in a battle against these Muslims in the month of Ramadhaan.

5. By Ramadhaan of 8 A.H., the treaty of Hudaibiyya had been broken and the Muslim armies had engaged the Byzantines in the North. Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, felt the need to strike a fatal blow to disbelief in the Arabian Peninsula and conquer the city of Makkah. Allaah has declared His Sanctuary a place of peace, security and religious sanctity. Now the time had come to purify the Ka`bah of nakedness and abomination. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, set out with an army having more armed men than al-Madeenah had ever seen before. People were swelling the army's ranks as it moved toward Makkah.

The determination of the believers, guided by the Will of Allaah, became so awesome that the city of Makkah was conquered without a battle, on 20 Ramadhaan. This was one of the most important dates in Islamic history for after it, Islam was firmly entrenched in the Arabian Peninsula. During the same month and year, after smashing the idols of Makkah, detachments were sent to the other major centers of polytheism and al-Lat, Manat and Suwa, some of the greatest idols of Arabia, were destroyed.

Such was the month of Ramadhaan in the time of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. It was a time of purification, enjoining the good, forbidding the evil, and striving hard with one's life and wealth. After the death of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, Muslims carried on this tradition and Allaah used the true believers to affect the course of history. Ramadhaan continued to be a time of great trials and crucial events.