the Quran,’ and His words, ‘Indeed, We sent it down on a blessed night,’ and His words, ‘Indeed, We sent it down on the Night of Decree,’ even though it was also revealed in Shawwāl, Dhū al-Qada, Dhū al-Hijja, Muharram, Safar, and the month of Rabī?” Ibn Abbās replied, “It was sent down all at once in Ramadan, on the Night of Decree—the blessed night. It was then sent down gradually, at successive intervals, over the months and days.” 1.

The wisdom behind this descent is to magnify the Noble Quran; to exalt the status of the one upon whom it was sent down—the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace; and to honor the month in which it was sent down—the month of Ramadan—and the night on which it was sent down—the Night of Decree, which is better than a thousand months. Allah Most High says, “Indeed, We sent it down on the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by their Lord’s permission, with every decree. It is peace until the break of dawn.”

What has preceded most emphatically demonstrates the immense standing of the month of fasting—the blessed month of Ramadan—and its special association with the Noble Quran. For during this month, the nation received this tremendous favor from Allah: the descent of His mighty revelation and His noble speech, which contains guidance—“guidance for mankind and clear proofs of guidance and the criterion” 2—guidance to what benefits them in their religion and worldly lives. It sets forth the truth with the utmost clarity and distinguishes between guidance and misguidance, truth and falsehood, and darkness and light.

A month of such merit, in which Allah has shown such favor to His servants, truly deserves to be honored by them and to serve as a season of worship and as provision for the Day of Return.