One of those present with the Messenger—may His Might be exalted—said: "O Messenger of Allah, what is Ramadan?" He—may His Might be exalted—replied: "Preserve its sanctity, and Allah will preserve your sanctity. Do not say 'Ramadan', for by Allah, you do not know what 'Ramadan' is. Were it not for Ramadan, you would not have attained mercy, nor would you have known Allah, nor would any of you have walked upon the face of the earth. Ramadan is a mercy from Allah to His servants and a kindness to His creation in His lands. Were it not for Ramadan, Allah would not have forgiven anyone’s sin, nor pardoned any sinner." And thus the report is concluded.

May Allah bless our Master Muhammad the Prophet and his pure Family, and [grant] them great veneration.

To proceed:

O upright brother and guided seeker, may Allah grant you success in His obedience, bestow upon you the excellence of His guidance, and make you among those whom He commanded in His Book and clarified for them in His discourse, saying: {That they may obtain understanding in religion and warn their people when they return to them that they might be cautious} ¹ .