Ramadan Forgiveness: 7 Key Opportunities for Sins Pardon

Ramadan Forgiveness: 7 Key Opportunities to Have Your Sins Pardoned

Ramadan is a month entirely characterized by forgiveness and pardon; it is filled with every kind of goodness and blessing. Undoubtedly, this blessed month—with its fasting and night prayers—not only carries immense rewards and the forgiveness of sins but also bestows immeasurable benefits for all righteous deeds.

This is why our pious predecessors would pray to their Lord for the arrival of Ramadan as much as six months in advance. When Ramadan arrived, they would exert great effort in worship, eagerly engaging in every act of obedience and goodness while hoping for Allah’s reward. And when Ramadan passed, they would pray for the acceptance of the righteous deeds performed during it. In essence, the righteous lived their entire year scented with the fragrance of Ramadan.

Today, many neither appreciate the true greatness of Ramadan nor engage with its abundant blessings—they do not even consider seeking forgiveness for their sins. Truly, one who attains Ramadan and lets it pass without receiving forgiveness is extremely unfortunate.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

شقِيَ عبدٌ أدركَ رمضانَ فانسلخَ منهُ ولَم يُغْفَرْ لهُ(صحيح الأدب المفرد:500)
Translation: Wretched is the one who attains Ramadan, yet it slips away from him without affording him the opportunity to be forgiven (through his righteous deeds).

There are several authentic hadiths—with slight differences in wording—that convey the same meaning, showing the gravity of the loss for those deprived of Ramadan’s blessings.

For instance, one hadith states:

رَغِمَ أنفُ امرئٍ أدرك رمضانَ فلم يُغْفَرْ له(فضل الصلاۃ للالباني:15، صحیح بشواھدہ)
Translation: May the nose be dusted for the one who attains Ramadan and yet does not receive forgiveness.

Another narration states:

بَعُدَ من أدرك رمضانَ فلم يُغَفرْ له(صحيح الترغيب:1677)
Translation: Woe to the one who attains Ramadan and does not receive forgiveness.

A third narration states:

منْ أدركَ شهرَ رمضانَ ، فلم يُغفرْ له ، فدخلَ النارَ ؛ فأَبعدهُ اللهُ(صحيح الترغيب:1679)
Translation: Whoever attains the month of Ramadan without receiving forgiveness enters the Hellfire; Allah will distance him from His mercy.

A fourth narration is mentioned:

مَن أدرك شهرَ رمضانَ فماتَ فلم يُغفرْ لهُ فأُدْخِلَ النَّارَ فأبعدَه اللهُ(صحيح الجامع:75)
Translation: Whoever attains Ramadan and dies without having received forgiveness is admitted to the Hellfire, and Allah will keep him far from His mercy.

Let us not merely recite these words without internalizing them—neglecting the fasts of Ramadan can distance one from Allah’s mercy. We must cherish the blessing of Ramadan by expressing gratitude to our Lord, observing its etiquettes, maintaining our prayers, and persistently avoiding major sins. In doing so, through fasting, prayer, charity, and all forms of righteous deeds, we seek forgiveness and ask Allah by His grace to admit us to Paradise.

Undoubtedly, mankind is sinful, but we must never despair of Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. Allah forgives sins in exchange for our righteous deeds, accepts our repentance, and elevates our ranks by bestowing upon us great rewards.
Remember, for forgiveness to be granted, our belief must be sound—we must not associate any partners with Allah; otherwise, neither our acts of worship nor our fasting and night prayers in Ramadan will be accepted.

Allah says:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ(النساء: 48)
Translation: Indeed, Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him, but He forgives any sin other than that for whomever He wills.

If a Muslim’s belief is correct, all his deeds are accepted by Allah, and He forgives him. The Divine Word states:

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ (هود: 11)
Translation: Except for those who are patient and persevere in doing righteous deeds; for them is forgiveness and a great reward.

In this article, we will briefly discuss the golden opportunities for receiving Allah’s forgiveness in Ramadan, while not delving into the myriad occasions available on ordinary days—except for those occasions that are tied to a particular event or circumstance in Ramadan.

Let us now enumerate the acts and occasions that lead to forgiveness during Ramadan:

1. Attaining Ramadan and Avoiding Major Sins

People often do not give special importance to the arrival of Ramadan; it is assumed that Ramadan comes merely with the passing of time, yet attaining this month is a tremendous blessing. One who is not destined to witness Ramadan will never experience it. Therefore, upon its arrival, one should be immensely grateful to the Lord, honor its greatness by observing its etiquettes and obligations, maintain regular prayers, and persistently avoid major sins. For such a person, the promise is forgiveness for the sins of the entire year in this sacred month.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

الصَّلواتُ الخمسُ والجمُعةُ إلى الجمعةِ ورمضانُ إلى رمضانَ مُكفِّراتٌ ما بينَهنَّ إذا اجتنَبَ الْكبائرَ(صحيح مسلم:233)
Translation: The five daily prayers, the period from one Friday to the next, and the interval from one Ramadan to the next expiate the sins committed in between, provided that one abstains from major sins.

2. Fasting with Faith and Expectation of Reward

Fasting in Ramadan with sincere faith and in anticipation of Allah’s reward is a means for the forgiveness of all previous sins. The Prophet ﷺ said:

مَن صامَ رمضانَ إيمانًا واحتسابًا ، غُفِرَ لَهُ ما تقدَّمَ من ذنبِهِ (صحيح البخاري:2014)
Translation: Whoever fasts in Ramadan with faith and expecting reward has all his previous sins forgiven.

In another narration, fasting, prayer, and charity are described as a means to avert trials and serve as atonement for sins. The Prophet ﷺ said:

فِتنَةُ الرجلِ في أهلِه ومالِه وجارِه، تُكَفِّرُها الصلاةُ والصيامُ والصَدَقَةُ (صحيح البخاري:1895)
Translation: The trials a man faces in his family, his wealth, and his neighborhood are expiated by prayer, fasting, and charity.

3. Night Prayers (Qiyam) in Ramadan

Standing in prayer during Ramadan is superior to doing so at other times, and its reward is equivalent to that of fasting when done with faith and expectation. The Prophet ﷺ said:

من قام رمضانَ إيمانًا واحتسابًا ، غُفِرَ له ما تقدَّم من ذنبِه (صحيح مسلم:759)
Translation: Whoever stands in prayer during Ramadan with faith and in expectation of reward has all his previous sins forgiven.

4. The Nights of Ramadan and Laylat al-Qadr

The virtue of standing in prayer during the nights of Ramadan increases in the last ten days, as they include Laylat al-Qadr. The Prophet ﷺ would engage in vigils and earnest worship during these nights. Speaking of the virtue of the Night of Decree, he said:

مَن قام ليلةَ القدرِ إيمانًا واحتسابًا، غُفِرَ له ما تقدَّمَ من ذنبِه (صحيح البخاري:1901)
Translation: Whoever stands in prayer on the Night of Decree with faith and sincere intention has all his previous sins forgiven.

5. Iftar – The Time of Liberation

At the moment of iftar, Allah liberates His servants. Therefore, one should especially supplicate at iftar for the acceptance of the fast, forgiveness of sins, elevation in rank, deliverance from Hellfire, and entry into Paradise. As mentioned:

“للہ عند کل فطرٍ عتقاء” (رواہ احمد وقال الالباني ؒ : حسن صحیح)
Translation: Allah frees the fasting ones from the Hellfire at the time of iftar.

A narration from Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah—which Allama Al-Albani declared as Hasan—states that every night, Allah grants deliverance from Hellfire:

إنَّ للَّهِ عندَ كلِّ فِطرٍ عتقاءَ وذلِك في كلِّ ليلةٍ (صحيح ابن ماجه:1340)
Translation: Allah grants deliverance at every iftar; this liberation is bestowed each night.

6. Engaging in Night Vigil and Remembrance

A believer should not only fast during the days of Ramadan but also engage in numerous righteous acts and spend every night in vigils—praying, supplicating, seeking forgiveness, and remembering Allah. Every night, Allah calls out to those seeking goodness and promises deliverance from Hellfire. Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

إذا كانَ أوَّلُ ليلةٍ من شَهْرِ رمضانَ : صُفِّدَتِ الشَّياطينُ ومرَدةُ الجنِّ ، وغُلِّقَت أبوابُ النَّارِ فلم يُفتَحْ منها بابٌ ، وفُتِّحَت أبوابُ الجنَّةِ فلم يُغلَقْ منها بابٌ ، ويُنادي مُنادٍ يا باغيَ الخيرِ أقبِلْ ، ويا باغيَ الشَّرِّ أقصِرْ وللَّهِ عُتقاءُ منَ النَّارِ ، وذلكَ كلُّ لَيلةٍ (صحيح الترمذي:682)
Translation: On the first night of Ramadan, the devils and rebellious jinn are chained, the doors of Hellfire are locked so that none may open, while the doors of Paradise are opened and remain unclosed. A caller then proclaims: “O seeker of good, come forward! And O seeker of evil, desist!” And indeed, many are granted liberation from the Hellfire—and this happens every night.

7. Charity as a Means of Forgiveness

Charity is a key means for the expiation of sins. The Prophet ﷺ said:

والصَّدَقةُ تُطفي الخطيئةَ كما يُطفئُ الماءُ النَّارَ (صحيح الترمذي:2616)
Translation: Charity extinguishes sins just as water extinguishes fire.

It is for this reason that the Prophet ﷺ would increase his acts of goodness and generosity during Ramadan, even more swiftly than the wind—though the narration that specifies the best charity of Ramadan as “Sadaqah” is considered weak.

Weak or Fabricated Narrations on Forgiveness

First Narration:
There is a very famous hadith regarding forgiveness in Ramadan that appears in almost all the pamphlets, calendars, and booklets published during this month. It goes:

أولُ شهرِ رمضانَ رحمةٌ، وأَوْسَطُهُ مغفرةٌ، وآخِرُهُ عِتْقٌ من النارِ۔ (السلسلة الضعيفة:1569)
Translation: The beginning of the month of Ramadan is mercy, its middle is forgiveness, and its end is liberation from the Fire.
This hadith has been declared weak by Imam Nasa’i, Hafiz Ibn Hajar, and Allama Sayuti, and has been rejected by Abu Hatim, Allama Aini Hanafi, and Allama Al-Albani.

Second Narration:
Another narration states that one who engages in the remembrance of Allah during Ramadan is granted forgiveness and that those who supplicate to Allah are never left disappointed. It reads:

ذاكِرُ اللهِ في رمضانَ مغفورٌ له، وسائِلُ اللهِ فيه لا يَخِيبُ۔
Translation: One who remembers Allah in Ramadan is forgiven, and His means in it never fail.

Third Narration:
Similarly, the following narration is also considered weak:

يَغْفِرُ لأمتِهِ في آخِرِ ليلةٍ في رمضانَ، قيل : يا رسولَ اللهِ ! أَهِيَ ليلةُ القدرِ ؟ ! قال : لا، ولكنَّ العاملَ إنما يُوَفَّى أجرُهُ إذا قَضَى عملَه۔
Translation: It is narrated that on the last night of Ramadan, Allah forgives His Ummah. When asked, “O Messenger of Allah, is it the Night of Decree?” he replied, “No, rather the worker is only given his reward when he completes his work.”
In this narration, it is also mentioned that angels supplicate for the fasting ones until iftar; in some versions, there is even mention of supplication by fish—though this part is considered weak.

📌In Summary:
In Ramadan, every act of goodness leads to the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, one should engage in all forms of virtue—such as supplication, prayer, remembrance, repentance, seeking forgiveness, recitation, Dawah, charity, zakat, and more. It is not that only the above-mentioned acts are capable of earning forgiveness in Ramadan; rather, these are the acts and means by which forgiveness is specifically granted during this blessed month and thus deserve special emphasis.

May Allah accept all our acts of worship, forgive all our sins during Ramadan, and admit us into Jannat al-Firdous. Ameen.

Author: IslamicHelper