The Companions radhi’allaahu ‘anhum used to eagerly await the approach of Ramadhan and were saddened by its departure.  If we only knew what they knew!  Read for yourself about this sanctified occasion:

A Sacred Month

The month of Ramadhan: in it was sent down the Qur`aan, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion [of right and wrong]. And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, [let him fast the same] number of other days.  Allah desires for you ease, He does not desire for you hardship; and [He commands] that you should complete the period [of fasting], and that you should make takbeer of Allah for having guided you, and that perhaps you may be thankful.
- The Qur`aan, Suratul-Baqarah [2:185]

When it is the first night of Ramadhan the devils are chained.  The gates of the Fire are locked- not a single gate is opnened, and the gates of Paradise are opened- not a single gate is locked, and a caller calls out: “O seeker of good come forward, and O seeker of evil withhold”, and there are many whom Allah frees from the Fire - and that is every night.
- The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, reported in at-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah, and Ibn Khuzaimah [Hasan]

In every day and every night, during the month of Ramadan, there are people to whom Allah grants freedom from the Fire, and there is for every Muslim a supplication which he can make that will be granted.
- The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, reported in al-Bazzaar, Ahmad, and Ibn Maajah [Sahih]

The Virtues of Fasting

Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain piety.
- The Qur`aan, Suratul- Baqarah [2: 183]

Abu Umaamah radhi’allaahu ‘anhu said: “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, tell me of an action by which I may enter Paradise’. He said: ‘Take to Fasting, there is nothing like it.’ “
- The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, reported in An-Nasaa’ee, Ibn Hibbaan, and Al-Haakim [Sahih]

Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, each good deed receiving ten times its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah the Most High said, ‘Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it; my slave leaves off his desires and his food for Me.’ For the fasting person there are two times of joy: a time when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he meets his Lord, and the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allah than the smell of musk.
- The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, reported in Al-Bukhari

Indeed there is a gate of Paradise called Ar-Rayyaan. On the day of Resurrection those who fast will enter through it; no one enters it except for them, and when they have entered, it is closed so that no one enters it, so when the last of them enters it, it is closed. And whoever enters it drinks, and whoever drinks never becomes thirsty.
- The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, reported in Ibn Khuzaimah [Sahih]

On the Day of Judgement, Fasting will say: “O My Lord I prevented him from food and desires so accept my intercession for him.
-The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, reported in Ahmad, Al-Haakim and Abu Nu’aim [Hasan]

He who fasts Ramadhan, due to Iman and hoping for reward (from Allah) then his past sins are forgiven.
- The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, reported in Al-Bukhari and Muslim

A Protection From the Hellfire
No servant fasts on a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes the Hell Fire seventy years further away from his face.
- The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, reported in Bukhari and Muslim

Fasting is a shield with which a servant protects himself from the Fire.
- The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, reported in Ahmad [Sahih]

Abu Hurayrah radhi’allaahu ‘anhu reported that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam climbed upon the minbar and said: “Aameen, aameen, aameen”.  So it was asked, “O Messenger of Allah, you climbed upon the minbar and said : “Aameen, aameen, aameen”?  So he said, “Jibraa’eel, `alaihissalaam, came to me and said, ‘Whoever reaches the month of Ramadhan and does not have [his sins] forgiven and so enters the Fire, then may Allah distance him, say “Aameen” ‘.  So I said “Aameen” “. 
- Reported in Ibn Khuzaimah, Ahmad and al-Baihaqi [Sahih]

A Great Place in Paradise

He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him, except that nothing will be reduced from the fasting person’s reward.
- The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, reported in Ahmad, At-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah, and Ibn Hibbaan [Sahih]

`Amr ibn Murrah al-Juhaanee radhi’allaahu ‘anhu said: “A man came to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what if I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah, and I observe the five daily prayers, and I pay the zakaah, and I fast and stand in prayer in Ramadhan, then amongst whom shall I be?’ He said: ‘Amongst the true followers of the prophets and the martyrs.’ “
- The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, reported in Ibn Hibbaan [Sahih]