Fasting is not a characteristic unique to this Ummah alone

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Question: Is the month of Ramadan a characteristic of this Ummah? Or was it also with the previous nations?

Answer: Allah the Exalted says:

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous -

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

[Surat al-Baqarah: 183] This noble verse indicates that fasting is an ancient act of worship that was made obligatory upon those before us just as it was made obligatory upon us. But were they restricted to fasting in Ramadan, or in other months? I do not know of any text from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding this.
As for the virtues and characteristics of Ramadan, they are many. Among them is what Ahmad narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:

My Ummah was given five characteristics in Ramadan that were not given to any nation before them: The breath of the fasting person is more pleasing to Allah than the scent of musk; the angels seek forgiveness for them until they break their fast; the worst of the jinn are chained up so that they do not reach what they used to reach in other times; Allah adorns His Paradise every day and says: My righteous servants are about to be relieved of their burdens and hardships and come to you; and He forgives them on the last night.

أعطيت أمتي في رمضان خمس خصال لم تعطها أمة قبلها: خلوف فم الصائم أطيب عند الله من ريح المسك، وتستغفر لهم الملائكة حتى يفطروا، وتصفد فيه مردة الجن فلا يخلصون فيه إلى ما كانوا يخلصون إليه في غيره، ويزين الله كل يوم جنته فيقول: يوشك عبادي الصالحون أن يلقوا عنهم المئونة والأذى ويصيروا إليك، ويغفر لهم في آخر ليلة

It was asked: Is it the Night of Decree? He said:

No, but a workman is paid his full wages only when he has finished his work.

لا، ولكن العامل إنما يوفى أجره إذا قضى عمله

Mishkat al-Masabih 1968

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The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned these characteristics as being among the specific traits of this Ummah. Among them is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):

He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Lailat al-qadr [Night of Decree] in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven.

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

Mishkat al-Masabih 1958

It is agreed upon as authentic.
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

Seek the Night of Al-Qadr during the last ten (nights) of Ramadan.

التمسوا ليلة القدر في العشر الأواخر من رمضان

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 792Sahih (Darussalam)

It is agreed upon.

And when the last ten nights of Ramadan entered, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would tighten his waistcloth and wake up his family.

وكان ﷺ إذا دخل العشر الأخيرة من رمضان شد مئزره وأيقظ أهله

It is agreed upon.

Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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