THE MONTH OF RAMADAN is soon arriving again! The month of fasting and prayer. The month that provides an opportunity for forgiveness from Allah and emancipation from our sins.

It is the month for performing good deeds and giving in charity. It is the month when the gates of the heavens are opened and the gates of hell shut, where rewards for our deeds are magnified many times over and prayers answered. Allah bestows so many blessings upon his servants in the month of Ramadan. This is the month of fasting that is one of the five pillars of Islam.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) fasted during this month and directed his followers to do the same. He told us that whoever fasts this month with faith, seeking Allah’s reward, will have all of his past sins forgiven. He likewise informed us that whoever stands in prayer throughout this month will have all of his past sins forgiven.

We should welcome this month and embrace it with happiness and joy. We should have the truest resolve to observe the fasts and the prayers and to compete in doing righteous deeds.

During this month, we should ardently repent for all of our sins and encourage each other to engage in virtuous deeds and call to what is right and forbid what is wrong. In this way, we will succeed in attaining the blessings and the great rewards of Ramadan. The fast provides us with many benefits and is full of wisdom. It purifies and strengthens our hearts. It rids us of our base tendencies like exuberance, arrogance, and miserliness. It reinforces our good traits like fortitude, clemency, and generosity. It supports us in our inner struggle to please Allah and attain nearness to Him. Fasting teaches us about ourselves and our needs. It shows us how weak we are and how truly dependent we are upon our Lord. It shows us how much Allah has blessed us.

We are reminded of our brethren and those who are less fortunate and are inspired to treat them well. We are compelled to thank Allah and to use the blessings He has provided us in obedience to Him.

The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed, a guidance and clear proofs for the people of the world. So whoever witnesses the month should fast it. And whoever is sick or upon a journey should fast the same number of days (later on).

Allah wishes ease for you and he does not wish hardship upon you. He wants that you should complete the period and that you should exalt Allah for that to which he has guided to you so that perhaps you may be thankful.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 183- 185]

Fasting is a most virtuous act with a reward commensurate with its greatness. This is especially true in Ramadan, since Allah has made fasting therein an obligation upon the believers and a means of their attaining salvation. We must seize the opportunity presented to us in this blessed month and appreciate the greatness of this time by engaging in all the worship that we can.

We must hasten to perform good deeds. Allah has made this month a time for worship and for competing with one another in righteousness. We must increase our prayer and our spending in charity. We must busy ourselves with reading the Quran. We must hasten to help the poor, the needy, and the orphans.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was the most generous of all people and he was even more generous in Ramadan. We must follow the good example of our Prophet (peace be upon him) by redoubling our efforts in this The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When any one of you is observing the fast for the day, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor raise his voice. If someone insults him or quarrels with him, he should say: ‘I am fasting’.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

Ramadan is a time that should be utilised in its utmost sense for you never know if you will be here to greet it next year. Remember and help those in need throughout the Muslim Ummah.