What Quran Says about Ramadan
In this verse, there are descriptions about the holy month, including one about the revelation of the Quran.
God says in Verse 185 of Surah Al-Baqarah: “The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed; a guide for the people, the most authoritative of all guidance and a criteria to discern right from wrong. Anyone of you who knows that the month of Ramadan has begun, he must start to fast. Those who are sick or on a journey have to fast the same number of days at another time. God does not impose any hardship upon you. He wants you to have comfort so that you may complete the fast, glorify God for His having given you guidance, and that, perhaps, you would give Him thanks.”
According to this verse, Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down and when it comes, anyone who has reached the age of Takleef (9 for girls and 15 for boys – at which they are required to observe religious obligations) must fast.
There are different opinions as to how the Quran has been sent down in this month. Some say the Holy Book was sent down all at once in Bait al-Mamour or was sent down at the earth’s sky on the Night of Qadr and then revealed to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) gradually. Another view holds that the beginning of the revelation of the Quran was the Night of Qadr in Ramadan.
Although the word Ramadan itself is mentioned in the Quran only once, there are numerous verses in which the fasting of Ramadan is talked about without mention Ramadan.
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For example, there are Verses 183 and 184 of Surah Al-Baqarah:
“Believers, fasting has been made mandatory for you as it was made mandatory for the people before you, so that you may have fear of God.” (Verse 183)
“Fasting is only for a certain number of days. One who is sick or on a journey has to fast the same number of days at another time. Those who can afford a redemption should feed a poor person. Good deeds performed on one's own initiative will be rewarded. However, fasting is better and will be rewarded. Would that you knew this!” (Verse 184)
God exempts three groups from fasting: the sick, those who are on a trip, and the elderly. The first and second group must observe compensatory (Qada) fasting when they get well or their trip is over. But the last group (the elderly) are only required to pay Kaffarah (a charitable compensation), which is the price of 750 grams of wheat or other such items.
