Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Aziz ibn Bāz, the Former Mufti of Saudi Arabia (rahimahullah) was asked: “What is your advice to the Muslims in welcoming the virtuous month of Ramadan?”

He replied:

My advice to all Muslims is to fear Allāh, the Most High, and to welcome their glorious month with sincere repentance from all sins. They should seek understanding in their religion and learn the rulings of their fasting and the regulations of their standing in prayer. The Prophet ﷺ said:

من يرد الله به خيرًا يفقهه في الدين

“Whomsoever Allāh wishes good for, He grants him understanding of the religion.” (al-Bukhari no. 71 & Muslim no. 1037)

And he ﷺ said,

إذا دخل رمضان فتحت أبواب الجنة، وغلقت أبواب النار، وسلسلت الشياطين

“When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.” (al-Bukhari no. 3277 & Muslim no. 1079)

And he ﷺ said:

إذا كان أول ليلة من رمضان فتحت أبواب الجنة، وغلقت أبواب جهنم، وصفدت الشياطين، وينادي منادٍ: يا باغي الخير أقبل، ويا باغي الشر أقصر، ولله عتقاء من النار وذلك في كل ليلة

“When the first night of Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, the devils are chained, and a caller calls: ‘O seeker of good, come forward, and O seeker of evil, desist. And Allāh has those whom He frees from the Fire, and that happens every night.” (al-Tirmidhi no. 682 & Ibn Majah no. 1642)

He ﷺ used to say to his companions:

أتاكم شهر رمضان شهر بركة، يغشاكم الله فيه؛ فينزل الرحمة، ويحط الخطايا، ويستجيب الدعاء، فأروا الله من أنفسكم خيرًا؛ فإن الشقي من حرم فيه رحمة الله

“Ramadan, a month of blessing, has come to you. Allāh covers you in it; mercy descends, sins are erased, and supplications are answered. So, show Allāh the best of yourselves, for the wretched is the one who is deprived of Allāh’s mercy in it.” (al-Targhib wal-Tarhib no. 1490)

“Show Allāh the best of yourselves” means to hasten to good deeds, take the initiative in obedience, and avoid bad deeds.

He ﷺ said:

من صام رمضان إيمانًا واحتسابًا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه، ومن قام رمضان إيمانًا واحتسابًا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه، ومن قام ليلة القدر إيمانًا واحتسابًا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه

“Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven, and whoever stands in prayer during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven, and whoever stands on the night of Qadr with faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” (al-Bukhari no. 1901 & Muslim no. 760)

And he ﷺ said,

يقول الله جل وعلا: كل عمل ابن آدم له، الحسنة بعشر أمثالها إلى سبعمائة ضعف، إلا الصيام فإنه لي وأنا أجزي به، ترك شهوته وطعامه وشرابه من أجلي، للصائم فرحتان فرحة عند فطره وفرحة عند لقاء ربه، ولخلوف فم الصائم أطيب عند الله من ريح المسك

“Allāh, the Most High, says: ‘Every act of the son of Adam is for him, one good deed is equal to ten good deed up to 700, except fasting; it is for Me, and I shall reward for it. He leaves his desires and his food and drink for My sake. The fasting person has two joys: a joy when he breaks his fast and a joy when he meets his Lord, and the smell from the mouth of a fasting person is better with Allāh than the scent of musk.” (al-Bukhari no. 7492 & Muslim no. 1151)

And he ﷺ said,

إذا كان يوم صوم أحدكم، فلا يرفث ولا يصخب، فإن سابه أحد أو قاتله فليقل إني امرؤ صائم

“If it is a day of fasting for one of you, let him not engage in obscene speech or raise his voice; and if someone insults him or fights with him, he should say, ‘I am fasting.'” (al-Bukhari no. 1904)

And he ﷺ said,

من لم يدع قول الزور والعمل به والجهل؛ فليس لله حاجة في أن يدع طعامه وشرابه

“Whoever does not abandon false speech and acting upon it, and ignorance, Allāh is not in need of his leaving his food and drink.” (al-Bukhari no. 1903)

Therefore, the recommendation for all Muslims is to fear Allāh, protect their fast, and keep it free from all sins. They are advised to strive in good deeds and race to obedience, such as giving charity, reciting the Qur’ān abundantly, glorifying Allāh, praising Him, declaring His greatness, and seeking His forgiveness; for this is the month of the Qur’ān:

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ

“The month of Ramadan in which the Qur’ān was revealed.”

Surah al-Baqarah 2:185

It is recommended for believers to strive in reading the Qur’ān, where it is desirable for men and women to read abundantly day and night, and every letter earns a good deed, and the good deed is multiplied by ten times as stated by the Prophet ﷺ. They should avoid all sins and misconduct, advising each other with truth and patience, and enjoining good and forbidding evil.

It is a magnificent month where deeds are multiplied, and sins are magnified, so it is incumbent upon the believer to strive in performing what Allāh has mandated upon him and to avoid what Allāh has prohibited. Worship in Ramadan should be greater and more significant, as it is also recommended to strive in acts of goodness, such as charity, visiting the sick, following funerals, maintaining ties of kinship, reading abundantly, remembering Allāh, glorifying Him, seeking His forgiveness, and supplicating, among other forms of goodness, hoping for Allāh’s reward and fearing His punishment.

We ask Allāh to grant all Muslims success in what pleases Him and to aid us and all Muslims to fast and stand in prayer with faith and seeking reward. We ask Allāh to grant us and all Muslims everywhere understanding in religion, steadfastness upon it, and safety from the causes of His anger and punishment. And may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.

Source: Majmu al-Fatawa of Ibn Baz (15/50), you can access it on the Shaykh’s website here.