Gratitude is due to Allah that we are alive to witness this year’s Ramadan fast. It is Allah’s wish that some of those who witnessed last Ramadan are not here to observe the 1442AH Ramadan fast. By sunset today, we would be five days old in to the holy month. Ramadan fast is a remarkable act of worship in Islam. Imam Malik (RA) reports on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said, “By the One in whose hand my soul is, the whiff from the breath of a person who is fasting is better with Allah than the musk. He leaves his desires, food and drink; all for my sake. Fasting is for Me and I (give the) reward (for) it. Every good act is rewarded with ten times its kind up to seven hundred times except fasting which is for Me, and I reward it’. This hadith underscores the need for Muslims to remain virtuous and shun acts that could undermine the value of their Ramadan fast.
Being a holy season, Ramadan is not the time for believers to engage in unholy acts. The six authentic compilers of hadith all relate on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (RA) who reports that the Prophet (SAW) said, “Fasting is a protection for you. So, when you fast, do not behave obscenely or foolishly. And if anyone argues with you or insults you, say, ‘I am fasting, I am fasting”.
During Ramadan, Muslims enjoy the benefit of their prayers being answered when breaking the fast at sunset. Allah (SWT) in Qur’an 2:186 affirms, “When my servants ask thee concerning me, I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every supplicant when he calls on me: let them also with a will, listen to my call and believe in me: that they may walk in the right way”. The early morning meal (Sahur) taken at dawn keeps a devoutee awake and thus provides opportunity to engage in diverse acts of worship including standing in prayers at night (tahajjud) as well as observing the obligatory prayer of Subhi in congregation.
If sincerely observed, Ramadan is meant to improve our relationship with Allah (SWT). It is generally supposed to boost our spiritual status. Constant recitation of the holy Qur’an, tarawih prayers (observed after isha’i prayer), listening to tafsir (commentaries of the holy Qur’an) in the mosques or from radio and television stations as well as charity are few devoutional activities that should bring us closer to Allah (SWT) and thus take us to a higher spiritual level. Ramadan is an opportunity that comes once in twelve months. Let us imagine this current Ramadan fast as if it were the last one in our lifetime. We must therefore never waste or misuse this great opportunity. Every hour, minute and moment of the month should be used to put forth good deeds for as long as the body and soul could permit.
The first ten days of Ramadan is full of Allah’s forgiveness. On every night of this holy month, Allah (SWT) commands: “Where are those asking for my forgiveness? I’ve forgiven them; where are those who have repented (from their sins)? I’ve pardoned them; and for those who have demands, I’ve granted their requests”. Ramadan is a period for believers to purify themselves and seek divine intervention in matters that trouble their peace and wellbeing.
As we pray and hope in Allah’s forgiveness, let us repent from our sins sincerely; pledging that our repentance, this time, is a permanent one. It should not be a repentance that would lead us back to the path of disobedience. Let us defeat the devil by denouncing all sinful acts. Let us take advantage of Allah’s boundless mercy and forgiveness in this Ramadan to delete from our thoughts and actions every word that denotes unrighteousness including envy, backbiting, stealing, cheating, betrayal, selfishness, greed, lying, forgery, bribery and all forms of corrupt practices.
Muslims are encouraged to make the spiritual fight against the devil in this Ramadan to be the last one in which man’s worst enemy will forever remain conquered such that he is left with no strength to mislead him again in the rest of his life. Let us use this Ramadan to build a strong foundation of taqwa (fear of Allah) in our hearts; leaving no space for the sneaking whisperer to build his devious workshop. We can achieve this if we make the holy Qur’an our constant companion; if we make the glorification (tasbih) and remembrance (dhikr) of Allah (SWT) the constant activity of our tongue; and if we make the acknowledgement and appreciation of Allah’s mercy and favour the pre-occupation of our minds.
Imam Muslim relates on the authority of Abu Dharr (RA) that in every tasbih (that is, saying Subhana-llahi), there is reward; in every takbir (that is, saying Allahu Akbar), there is reward; in every tahmid (that is, saying Alhamdu lillah), there is reward; and in every tahlil (that is, saying La ilaha ila llah), there is reward. It is a period to cleanse the inner and outer parts of our lives by asking Allah (SWT) for His mercy and for the forgiveness of our sins.
The question at this early part of Ramadan is, “How substantially enough have we prepared our mind to take advantage of the spiritual opportunities offered by this unique month? Let us strive with all that Allah (SWT) has bestowed on us including good health, physical strength, and understanding of Islam to rejuvenate our souls in order to earn Allah (SWT)’s love during this sacred season of devoution; hoping that when we become His beloved servants, He (SWT) will put us among those to earn His mercy, forgiveness, and pleasure during this Ramadan. As we hope in Allah’s infinite mercy, we pray that He brings a permanent end to all the country’s security challenges including banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, armed robbery, attacks on security formations, farmers/herders’ conflicts and communal clashes, amin. Ramadan Kareem!
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