.jpg?20250512')
If truth be told, the holy month of Ramadan directs the entire Muslim world in a wave of religious fervour.
They draw inspiration from the time of the Prophet and his followers who used to welcome Ramadan well in advance; say two months before it started.
This is obvious from the following words of the Prophet:
“Allahumma Balligna Ramadan” “ O Allah! Let us reach the month of Ramadan” (Make longer our life up to Ramadan so that we may benefit from its merits and blessings).
The Prophet also commented about the advent of Ramadan:
“O People ! The month of Ramadan has come with its mercies, blessings and forgiveness. Allah has decreed this month as the best of all. The days of this month are the best among the days and the nights are the best among the nights and the hours are the best among the hours. This is a month when you have been invited to Allah (to fast and pray). Allah has honoured you. Every breath you take is Allah’s reward, your sleep is worship, your good deeds are accepted and your invocations are answered.”
Ramadan is a virtuous season for Muslims. It is a long process of training, covering people’s sense of organs in addition to their thirst and hunger. If they are not fully aware, the invalidating factors of fasting can at any time infiltrate through their sense of organs like tongues, ears, eyes and hearts and other parts of body like feet and hands. The tongue often finds pleasure in speaking ill of others, which of course, would repudiate and renounce the desired reward of fasting. Here it is opportune to quote the words of the Prophet (S) :
“ If any one does not abandon falsehood in words and deeds, Allah has no need for his abandoning his food and drink.” (Bukhari) .
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. It’s therefore compulsory for all Muslims to observe it by abstaining from all lawful and unlawful things from dawn to dusk for a period of one full lunar month. This could be achieved through patience and self control. This is why the Prophet called Ramadan the month of patience.
The words of the Prophet would be felt as true by Muslims as they traverse through the days and nights of Ramadan with true devotion.
The seed of piety is what Allah wants to sow in the hearts of believers. Allah says: “O believers! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may become the pious” (2:183)
The main objective of fasting is piousness which would enhance the realisation of God. If they succeed, Allah promised that he would abode them in paradise. (79:40-41). Allah says again: ‘And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is At Taqwa (Piety). So, fear Me, O men of understanding! (2:197) .
Piety is the first criterion for acceptance of our righteous deeds which he emphasises in the Quran “ Verily, Allah accepts only from those who are Al Mutaqun (the Pious)”. 5:27
Allah wants His servants to dwell in Paradise. He provided several opportunities for them to drag their lives from vices to virtues or from impiety to piety .
The month of Ramadan is one of such golden openings through which believers are able to strengthen their will power.
Most problems that human beings experience in their lives are due to the lack of will power and as such man is prone to do all kinds of evils. Evils make man forget God. But, fasting here sets it on the correct path.
Prophet said, “Fasting is a shield.”
Yes, it defends against all lower desires of believers. It would drive him away from hell to a pleasant life in paradise. At the same time, if the shield is deactivated by the person who fasts, his hunger and thirst would become worthless near Allah.
Fasting is a unique worship because of its unseen nature. Prayer, charity and Haj are visible. No one except the Lord of the Worlds can ascertain a person is fasting or not since all lawful things like water, food and the like are available behind closed doors. It is due to this nature that Allah said: “Fasting is for me and I reward for it”.
Muslims during this month should devote their time to reading and grasping the meaning of the Quran.
It contains all necessary guidelines for human beings to attain eternal salvation.
RAMADAN MUBARAK!
&uuid=(email))