OK, the puzzle has been solved. It's (no surprise) a Muslim thing:
Merits of RamadanIt was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah may Allaah be pleased with him that the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of Heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
Another version reads: “When the first night of the month of Ramadan comes, the devils and rebellious Jinn are chained up and the gates of Hell are closed, and not one gate of it is opened. The gates of Paradise are opened and not one gate of it is closed. A caller cries out, ‘O seeker of good, proceed; O seeker of evil, desist.’ Allaah saves some people from Hell - and that happens every night.” [At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah][Al-Albaani: Saheeh]
“O seeker of good, proceed!” is a call to the people who want to do good deeds to proceed, because this is their opportunity for doing good deeds as they will be rewarded generously for every little effort.
“O seeker of evil, desist!” is a call to the people who want to get involved in evil deeds to stop and repent, because this is the time for repenting to Allaah The Almighty.
In a third version, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) gave glad tidings to his Companions, saying: “There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month. Allaah has made it obligatory for you to fast in it. In this month, the gates of Heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are locked, and the rebellious devils are chained up. In it there is a night that is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is deprived indeed.” [An-Nasaa’i and Ahmad]
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah and Abu Sa‘eed may Allaah be pleased with them said that the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Allaah has people whom He saves (from Hell) every day and night (in Ramadan) and every one of them has a supplication that will, indeed, be fulfilled.” [Ahmad and At-Tabaraani: authentic chain of narrators]
It was narrated on the authority of Jaabir may Allaah be pleased with him that the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Allaah has people whom He saves (from Hell) at each time of Iftaar (breaking tha fast), and that is every night (of Ramadan).” [Ibn Maajah] [Al-Albaani: Hasan Saheeh[
Benefits and rulings:
First: The virtues of the month of Ramadan, where great things take place, such as opening the gates of Paradise, closing the gates of Hell and chaining the devils. All this takes place in the first night of Ramadan and continues to the end of the month.
Second: The first Hadeeth indicates that Paradise and Hell are already created and that their gates are actually opened and closed.
Third: Seasons with a special virtue and the righteous deeds that are observed therein bring about the Pleasure of Allaah and this results in opening the gates of Paradise and closing the gates of Hell.
Fourth: It is permissible under Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) to give glad tidings about the advent of Ramadan and congratulate people on living to witness it. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) used to remind his Companions of such merits to make them rejoice and drive them to do righteous deeds. Thus, glad tidings should be given with regard to every good thing.
Fifth: Rebellious devils are chained in Ramadan and thus their effect on people is weakened due to the good deeds that people do.
Sixth: Allaah The Almighty confers His favor and kindness upon His slaves by preserving their fasting and warding the harm of rebellious devils off them, so as not to spoil their acts of worship in the blessed month of Ramadan.
Seventh: Proving the existence of devils and that they have bodies that can be chained and that rebellious devils from among them are chained during the month of Ramadan.
Eighth: These great advantages, which are unique to Ramadan, are enjoyed by the believers who glorify this month and fulfill the rights of Allaah The Almighty during it. However, the disbelievers who do not fast during this month and do not believe in its sanctity, the gates of Paradise will not be opened for them, the gates of Hell will not be closed for their sake, their devils will not be chained and they will not deserve to be saved from Hell. Consequently, anyone of them who dies during the month of Ramadan or during any other month will deserve the punishment of Allaah and will certainly taste it.
Ninth: It is feared that Muslims who imitate the disbelievers in violating the sanctity of Ramadan, breaking the fast during the daytime, committing acts that invalidate their fasting or decrease its reward (such as backbiting, carrying tales or spreading slander and attending gatherings where such acts take place), will be excluded from this great favor from Allaah; the gates of Paradise will be closed for them, the gates of Hell will be opened for them and their devils will be released.
Tenth: The opening of the gates of Paradise and the closing of the gates of Hell do not contradict the verse (which means): {Gardens of perpetual residence, whose doors will be opened to them.} [Quran 38:50]
The opening of the gates of Paradise during the month of Ramadan does not mean that they will be always opened. Also, the noble verse tells about the opening of such gates on the Day of Judgment. Likewise, the closing of the gates of Hell during the month of Ramadan does not contradict the verse that says with regard to Hell (what means): {Until, when they reach it, its gates are opened.} [Quran 39:71] This is because the gates of Hell may be closed before the time the doomed people reach it.
Eleventh: The virtue of the Night of Al-Qadr and how it is better than one thousand months. The Muslim who misses that night is deprived of a great blessing.
Twelfth: Allaah The Almighty saves people from Hell every night in the month of Ramadan. Those who are worthier of redemption are those who fast perfectly, pray Qiyaam (supererogatory night prayers) well, perform a lot of righteous deeds, out of loving Allaah and hoping for His reward and fearing His punishment.
Thirteenth: Those people who will be saved from Hell will be granted the privilege of having their supplications fulfilled. Thus, Allaah combines two great rewards for them: redemption from Hell and answering their supplication.
Fourteenth: The fasting Muslim should not commit anything that invalidates his fasting or decreases his reward. Also, he should keep his hearing, sight and tongue away from everything that has been forbidden by Allaah, to be saved from Hell.
Fifteenth: The fasting Muslim should frequently supplicate Allaah The Almighty, because the supplication made by a fasting person is fulfilled, by the will of Allaah The Almighty.
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