Marhaba Ramadan

Once again we, the Muslim community, heartily welcome the blessed month of Ramadan. This blessed month, in which fasting is a divinely prescribed obligation, allows us to fulfil the fifth pillar of Islam. It is exciting for all believers to observe the act of fasting and by so doing seek out Allah’s mercy in their lives.

For Muslim communities, it is a collective as well as an individual way of submitting to Allah’s command. A community is collectively brought into a pattern of spiritual discipline and change the routines of their daily lives. This month provides us with the opportunity to guide the community towards a collective remembrance of Allah and bonds us in unity.

Ramadan is first and foremost an act of spiritual dedication (Ibadah) to Allah and is an obligation on all Muslims who are capable of fasting in the month. However, like all of the spiritual obligations in Islam, Allah fills this month with blessings of all kinds for all observers of the fast, in terms of health, economic and social benefits and internal peace.

Fasting was not a new phenomenon when Allah’s guidance was given to humanity. The remnants of this blessed act of fasting can be seen in most world communities which have been ‘reshaped’ by humans to ‘best suit’ their desired situations.

The Quran says: ‘Believers! Fasting is enjoined upon you, as it was enjoined upon those before you, that you become God-fearing’.  S2 V183

According to Islamic teachings, God did not leave any group of people without His guidance or without prophets. The essentials of God’s obligations upon human beings remain unchanged and fasting has always been one of them. The outcome of fasting has been described in the verse, translated as: ‘That you become God-fearing’.  The Quranic words are ‘la`allakum tattaqoon’. Tattaqoon is from the root word of ‘Taqwa’, which is described as the essence of all goodness in life. Taqwa has many shades of meaning and so the verse is translated in many different ways.

One of these meanings is mentioned in the above translation, however other meanings are: ‘So that you seek righteousness’, or: ‘So that you learn self-restraint’. Taqwa is all about spiritual self-discipline that brings peace, calmness and a sense of purpose into our lives. It creates a lifelong connection through our human souls with the eternally ingrained guidance of Allah.

Taqwa makes life easier for people and introduces peace into their lives when they are fulfilling their commitments and human responsibilities. Taqwa provides the right context for human engagement and saves them from woes arising out of relationships.

Taqwa is the source of most positive energy in a human-being’s life. It counters all aspects of negativity that can undermine the quality of a peaceful and tranquil engagement within our lives.

There are two reasons for engaging to gain Taqwa.  The first is that the believer strengthen his belief in the good teachings of his Lord, Allah the Almighty. The second, is the recognition that it is God (Allah) Himself who is the Creator and He is promoting the welfare of His servants when they answer His call.

Taqwa is the most desired and sought out outcome of fasting. Fasting is indeed a well recognised training ground for gaining Taqwa and developing a well-balanced lifestyle that is most pleasing to Allah. Taqwa helps to build the most positive characters in human beings and for that reason the month of Ramadan is regarded as the most perfect month of the year.

To underline the importance of this purpose, the Quran states: ‘During the month of Ramadan the Quran was sent down as a guidance to the people, with Clear Signs of the true guidance and as the Criterion (between right and wrong). S2 V185

The Quran is the Book of Allah’s guidance for mankind. It was first sent down in its complete form from the seventh heaven to the lowest heaven in the month of Ramadan. It was then revealed to the Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, in one of the last ten nights of Ramadan. This night is therefore called in the Quran ‘the Night of Power’. This ‘Night’ is so significant that it is described as ‘better than (the nights of) of a thousand months in which angels and Gabriel descend with all kinds of decrees’. S97 V3-4

Ramadan is the month in which gates of Paradise are opened and gates of Hell are closed and Satan is chained. A caller calls out: ‘O seeker of goodness! Come forward, and O seeker of evil! Stop, until the end of the month of Ramadan.

Fasting is described as a shield. The Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, said: ‘When it is a day of fasting for someone, he must not speak evil, or shout or behave like ignorant person. If he were to be sworn at or being fought with, he should say: ‘I am fasting, twice’.

Fasting is such a great act and so pleasing to Allah, the Almighty, that he proclaimed: ‘All acts of the children of Adam belong to him except the fasting. It is for Me and I would reward for it’. 

All aspects of Ramadan contain goodness, mercy and the chance to make positive changes. Speaking on the spiritual aspect of the fast, the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, said: ‘Whoever fasts Ramadan out of belief and seeking the pleasure and rewards of Allah, their past sins (wrongdoings) would be forgiven’.

It is a blessed opportunity for all believers to make the best out of this most auspicious season of Ramadan and fast if we are capable of doing so. It is a time for all of us to ensure our obligatory salaah are done at the correct times, to increase our voluntary salaah and read and recite the Quran. It is also the time to increase our acts of charity in the name of Allah and offer every goodness that we can to others. We should not allow these opportunities to pass us by; there is no guarantee that we will be around for Ramadan next year!

May Allah bless us all, make this month of Ramadan an opportunity for us to increase in every goodness, gain the pleasure of Allah and show that all our good deeds are acceptable to Him.