Ramadan Kareem

Ramadan: Beautiful Time to Collect Mercies & Blessings:

Ramadan is a month during which Muslims observe fasting, which is one of the five pillars (essentials) of being a Muslim. It is the 4th pillar of Islam and because it is a command from ALLAH (Subhanna Wa ta'ala). Fasting is a way for Muslims to get closer to ALLAH (Subhanna Wa ta'ala), get more rewards for doing good deeds, read Qur'an more, try to change our lives, ask ALLAH (Subhanna Wa ta'ala) to forgive us of our sins of the past year, and most importantly to remember the poor people who don't get anything to eat for days or weeks at a time. Ramadan is a time to achieve spiritual goodness and fast for the sake of ALLAH (Subhanna WA ta'ala). Fasting is meant to teach a person patience, sacrifice, and humility. Ramadan is a very blessed month, dying while fasting would surely mean paradise.

Al Quran:

“Certainly We have exposed it (Qur'an) in the night of Power. And what will explain to you what the night of Power is? The night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein descends the Angels and the Spirit (Jibreel) by Allah's permission, on every errand: (they say) "Peace" (continuously) tills the rise of Morning!" (Q 97:1-5)

Ramadan is important because it gives Muslims more spiritual benefits by abstaining from worldly pleasures and material gains, helps them get closer to ALLAH (Subhanna Wa ta'ala), allows them to be thankful for what they have and is a chance to remember the poor people by denying themselves basic pleasures like eating, and drinking. It is also when the gates of Hell are closed and the devils or Shayatin in Arabic is locked up.

Hadith:
“The Mohammad (S.A.W.W) said, "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained." (Imam Bukhari)”.

This month of Ramadan shows us the true meaning of humanity and the benefits of getting closer to Allah and we devote our time to praying and worshipping Him. Also, it sheds light on the suffering of the poor and subjugated who do not have food to eat or water to nourish themselves with.

We are sacrificing so little in comparison to what Allah gives us in life and in terms of what others do not have. Charity and generosity is especially urged during Ramadan. We learn to give, and not to take. The deprivation of fasting makes us sympathise with the suffering of others, and desirous of alleviating it; and it makes us remember the blessings of life which we normally take for granted.

(Contributed By: Asma Batool)