RAMADHAN HAS ARRIVED…

ALHAMDU LILLAH, the great, sacred and blessed month of Ramadhan is once again among us while we are still alive. We do not know whether we will still be alive next year to enjoy this Mubaarak (blessed) month again. Therefore, let us make the most of this opportunity—this boon!

THIS month is so great and so blessed that we cannot afford to let it pass without making effort, even extra effort, to enjoy it to the fullest.

WHO can say with certainty that next year he will not be underground, in his Qabr (grave)—a Qabr which, every day, says Rasulullah (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wasallam), makes the following call:

"I am a place of darkness. I am a place of solitude. I am a place of sand (dust). I am a place of worms."

THIS life is very short. We must not let ourselves be attracted by this ephemeral world. Let us not waste our eternal life in the Hereafter (Aakhirah) because of the temporary pleasures of this world. Tomorrow, we will have to present ourselves before our Creator, Allah Rabbul Aalameen, and we will have to give an account of how we led our lives in this deceptive Dunya. Let us, therefore, make an effort to change our way of life. From now on, let us try to live as Islam requires us to—namely, in accordance with the injunctions of Allah Ta'ala and the practices of our dear and beloved Prophet Muhammed (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wasallam). This is the guarantee of salvation and success in the Aakhirah, where we will all go sooner or later.

Is there a better opportunity to reform ourselves than the one that has once again been granted to us by Allah Ta'ala—the month of Ramadhan, which comes to us with all its magnificence and splendour? Let us take advantage of it before it is too late!

Therefore, HOW can we get the most out of this great month? How can we make it the turning point of our lives?

THE month of Ramadhan is, first and foremost, the month of fasting. Indeed, it is obligatory for every mature Muslim (man or woman), who is not travelling or ill, to fast during this month. It should be clarified here that fasting does not only mean abstaining from food and marital relations from dawn until sunset. It also means abstaining from everything that is forbidden and from all that is Haram—e.g. lying, backbiting, etc.

THE fundamental purpose of the deprivations (of food and marital relations) that one must impose on oneself during the fast is to subdue physical desires—the appetites of the body, the excesses that are detrimental to spiritual development and growth—in order to be able to resist and combat the dictates of the nafs.

ALSO, fasting helps the one observing it realise that if, during Ramadhan, he can resist the desires for food, drink and intimacy—things that are normally permissible—solely to please Allah, then how important and necessary it is to also resist those things that are always forbidden, such as alcohol, drugs, gambling (lottery/pool), adultery, television, video, photography, stealing, rape, lying, backbiting, slander, bribery, cheating, dishonesty, greed, selfishness, hypocrisy, jealousy, meanness, wickedness, arrogance, ostentation and the many other vices plaguing the Ummah.

WHILE observing the fast properly during this Mubaarak month, we must take advantage of the atmosphere of fervour and piety that prevails to perform, or even increase, good deeds.

ALLAH TA'ALA has endowed man with both a body and a soul (Ruh). The body requires food for nourishment, while the Ruh requires good deeds and Ibaadaat for nourishment. If the body is malnourished, it becomes afflicted with various illnesses. Likewise, if the Ruh is malnourished, it becomes easily plagued by vices and sins. Hence the importance of making the most of the blessed atmosphere of Ramadhan to cultivate the habit of performing good deeds and Ibaadaat, in order to properly nourish the Ruh.

WHAT are the good deeds, in addition to fasting, that must be practised above all during Ramadhan? First and foremost, one must perform the five daily Salahs regularly and devotedly at their prescribed times (with Jama'ah, and as much as possible with Takbir Ulaa [the first Takbir]—for men). Then, one should perform many Nawaafil, recite abundant Tilaawat-e-Qur’an, give charity, make frequent Duas and Istighfar, perform the 20 Rak'ats of Taraweeh Salah regularly, recite the Kalimah Tayyibah often, constantly ask for Jannah, and consistently seek protection from Jahannam.

A final piece of advice: one must, at all costs, avoid turning Ramadhan into a month of gossip. It is often during this Mubaarak month that various forms of fitnah emerge, with the help of shaitaan, our mortal enemy. For example, one may hear claims that there are only 8 Rak'ats of Taraweeh instead of 20. In short, we must avoid gossip and fitnah like the plague.

IF we spend Ramadhan in the manner described above, we will promote the development of Taqwa (piety and fear of Allah) within ourselves. Insha Allah, the blessings and benefits will last throughout the year, until the next Ramadhan. And if death overtakes us before then, we will be able to rely on the mercy of Allah Ta'ala for our salvation.

HOWEVER, if we spend this month in heedlessness and laziness, then Ramadhan will come and go each year without us benefiting from its intended blessings. As a result, very little positive change will occur in our lives, and it is unlikely that we will develop Taqwa. What, then, if death surprises us?

[English version of "Le Ramadhaan est arrive…" – Al Haadi – Vol. 2 No. 3]