Welcome Ramadan 2010

Once again, in a warm embrace, the holy month of Ramadan has begun for world­wide com­mu­nity of Mus­lims, who will be observ­ing it with fast­ing, prayer and spend a large part of the days read­ing the holy book, Quran.

Ramadan, is the ninth and holi­est month of the Islamic cal­en­dar. It is a month of height­ened devo­tion for Mus­lims. It is a great oppor­tu­nity to get closer to the blessed guid­ance of the Quran which was given to mankind in this month. Fast­ing, which is the third pil­lar of Islam is observed in this month. It is observed as a means of purifi­ca­tion of the body and soul.

In this month, Shaitaan (Satan) are chained so peo­ple aren’t mis­guided by them and have a chance to reshape their life. The fast­ing is also a moti­va­tion for char­ity which is the fourth pil­lar of Islam.

The month of Ramadan is an oppor­tu­nity for believ­ers to develop qual­i­ties of endurance and self-restraint, to con­trol anger and a fiery or mali­cious tongue. And it is also an oppor­tu­nity to fine tune the body and shed it of obe­sity and sloth to ben­e­fit from any ther­a­peu­tic effects fast­ing may have.

Ramadan teaches patient and human­ity, it remind us about shame, moral of the uni­verse and our oblig­a­tion about oth­ers. It is a time to awaken com­pas­sion and sol­i­dar­ity with oth­ers and in par­tic­u­lar with the poor. It is the time for us to think the things that united us and it is also the time for celebration.

Mus­lims all over the world are urged to be more lib­eral in giv­ing dur­ing Ramadan and are required at the end of fast­ing to give Sadaqatul-Fitr, an amount to enable all to share in the spirit of warmth, affec­tion and brotherhood.

Dur­ing the month of Ramadan, Salat is per­formed with greater inten­sity. There are extra Sun­nah Salat on Ramadan nights called Salat at-Tarawih. In the last ten days of Ramadan, some retreat to the mosque to per­form Itikaf, a period of intense reflec­tion and devo­tion, seek­ing guid­ance and for­give­ness, and read­ing the Quran.

The fol­low­ing words of the Prophet (S) reveal how ardently he and his com­pan­ions antic­i­pated the arrival of Ramadan.

“O Peo­ple! The month of Allah (Ramadan) has come with its mer­cies, bless­ing and for­give­ness. Allah has decreed this month the best of all months. The days of this month are the best among the days and the nights are the best among the nights and the hours dur­ing Ramadan are the best among the hours. This is a month in which you have been invited by Him (to fast and pray). Allah has hon­ored you in it. In every breath you take is a reward of Allah, your sleep is wor­ship, your good deeds are accepted and your invo­ca­tions are answered”.

For Mus­lims, it is a great oppor­tu­nity to seek Allah’s bless­ing and enjoy His boun­ties dur­ing this month. But the reward for fast­ing is sub­ject to his sin­cere faith. The Prophet says: “Who­ever fasts (in the month of) Ramadan on the basis of faith and seek­ing (the plea­sure of Allah), his past errors are for­given.” (Ahmed)

Ramadan is not related to God’s wrath. Allah (God in Ara­bic) says:

“O you who believe! Fast­ing is pre­scribed to you as it was pre­scribed to those before you, that you may become the pious”. (Quran 2:183)

“Ramadan is the month in which was sent down the Quran as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guid­ance and judg­ment (between right and wrong. So every one of you who is present (at his home) dur­ing the month should spend it in fast­ing.” (Quran 2:185)

The Quran stays alive as a sole guid­ance to all mankind. It teaches every­thing that is use­ful for mankind and aban­dons all that van­dalises the souls of men.

In this holy month, I would like to wish all the Mus­lims over around the world — May the divine bless­ing of Allah fill­ing u life with peace and hap­pi­ness! Ramadan Mubarak!