Central Khutbah: “Ramadan – The School of the Qur’an and the Month of Complete Transformation”

The Qur’an is the final and perfect divine revelation. It confirms the previous Scriptures and serves as their criterion. Allah the Most High says:
“And We have revealed to you the Book in truth, confirming the Scriptures that came before it and preserving them.” (Al-Ma’idah, 48).
It was revealed to Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, as the final message addressed to humanity and a permanent source of guidance.

The nobility of the month of Ramadan comes from its intimate connection with the Qur’an. Allah says:
“The month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.” (Al-Baqarah, 185).
According to the explanation of Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, the Qur’an was sent down all at once to the lowest heaven during the Night of Decree, then revealed gradually to the Prophet over twenty-three years. Thus, Ramadan was elevated above the other months and became a time of special mercy.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to announce the arrival of Ramadan as glad tidings:
“The blessed month of Ramadan has come to you. Allah has prescribed fasting in it for you. The gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.” (An-Nasa’i, 2106; Ahmad, 7148).
In another hadith it is reported that at the beginning of Ramadan a call is made:
“O seeker of good, come forward! O seeker of evil, stop!” (At-Tirmidhi, 682; Ibn Majah, 1642).
These texts show that Ramadan is a divine opportunity for moral and spiritual renewal.

The essence of fasting is not limited to physical abstinence. The Prophet said:
“Whoever does not abandon false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need for him to leave his food and drink.” (Al-Bukhari, 1903).
Ramadan is therefore a month of comprehensive transformation: transformation of the tongue, the gaze, behavior, and intentions. It is a return to inner discipline and awareness of Allah’s presence.

The Qur’an occupies the central place in this transformation. Every year during Ramadan, the angel Gabriel would review the Qur’an with the Prophet (Al-Bukhari, 3220; Muslim, 2308). The early generations of Muslims deeply understood this practice. ‘Abd Allah ibn Mas‘ud said:
“This Qur’an is the banquet of Allah, so take from it as much as you can.”
Hasan al-Basri said:
“Those who came before you regarded the Qur’an as a letter from their Lord: they would reflect upon it at night and apply it during the day.”

Imam Az-Zuhri said:
“When Ramadan arrives, it is the month of reciting the Qur’an and being generous to the poor.”
Imam Malik would leave his circles of teaching to devote himself entirely to the Qur’an.
Qatadah would complete a full recitation every seven days, then every three days during Ramadan, and every night during its last ten days.
These examples show that Ramadan is above all the month of returning to the Qur’an.

The proper relationship with the Qur’an rests upon three dimensions: recitation, understanding, and application. Allah says:
“This is a blessed Book which We have revealed to you so that they may reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding may take heed.” (Sad, 29).
Ramadan is the ideal time to strengthen these three aspects: increasing recitation, deepening reflection, and concretely improving one’s behavior.

Ramadan should therefore be welcomed with sincere repentance and a firm resolve to change. The Prophet promised:
“Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking the reward will have his past sins forgiven.” (Al-Bukhari, 2014; Muslim, 760).
The success of Ramadan is not measured only by completing the fast, but by the imprint that the Qur’an leaves in the heart and life of the believer.

Blessed is the one who emerges from Ramadan with a stronger connection to the Qur’an, a purified heart, and a strengthened character. Such a person has understood that Ramadan is a thirty-day school whose fruits must appear throughout the entire year.

(Central khutbah by the religious leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on February 13, 2026, at the “Association Islamique et Culturelle Al Rahma” in Differdange)