Ramadan: The Month of Mercy to Muslims

Mercy is a favour from Allah which He places in the hearts of whomsoever He wills. Verily, Allah will have mercy on His servants who are merciful. Allah is the Most Compassionate the Most Merciful. He loves the merciful and calls to mercy. He orders His servants to enjoin patience and mercy. A person may lack mercy for any number of reasons, among them, an abundance of sins and disobedience. They stain their hearts so much so that they ultimately blind them until their hearts become harder than stones. Allah says of the Children of Israel: 'And yet, after all this, your hearts hardened and became like rocks, or even harder' (2:74).

Allah also says about them when they opposed and rebelled against the divine law: 'Then, for having broken their solemn pledge, We rejected them and caused their hearts to harden' (5:13).

Among the things that cause a loss of mercy is arrogance with wealth and pride with riches. Allah says: 'Nay, verily, man becomes grossly overweening whenever he believes himself to be self-sufficient' (96:6-7).

Excellence of fasting in Ramadan

Ramadan is the Holy Month of Quraan

* Forgiveness of sins

THE Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wa sallam) urged that one fasts in Ramadan,

explaining its excellence and high station, such that if the fasting

person had sins as many as the foam upon the sea, then they would be

forgiven for him through this pure and blessed act of worship. From Abu

Hurairah, radiyallaahu anhu, from the Prophet who said: He who fasts

Ramadan, due to eemaan and hoping for reward (from Allah) then his

previous sins are forgiven.

From Abu Hurairah, radiyallaahu anhu, that the Prophet climbed upon the

mimbar (pulpit) and said: Aameen [O Allah grant it], aameen, aameen. So it

was said, O Messenger of Allah, you climbed upon the mimbar and said,

aameen, aameen, aameen? So he said: Indeed Jibraaeel, alayhis salaam, came

to me and said, Whoever reaches the month of Ramadan and does not have

[his sins] forgiven and so enters the Fire, then may Allah distance him,

say aameen So I said: aameen ...

* That supplication (duaa) is answered and freedom from the Fire is

granted

The Meaning of Ramadan

Fasting during Ramadan was ordained during the second year of Hijrah. Why not earlier? In Makkah the economic conditions of the Muslims were bad. They were being persecuted. Often days would go by before they had anything to eat. It is easy to skip meals if you don?t have any. Obviously fasting would have been easier under the circumstances. So why not then?

The answer may be that Ramadan is not only about skipping meals. While fasting is an integral and paramount part of it, Ramadan offers a comprehensive program for our spiritual overhaul. The entire program required the peace and security that was offered by Madinah.

Yes, Ramadan is the most important month of the year. It is the month that the believers await with eagerness. At the beginning of Rajab --- two full months before Ramadan --- the Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used to supplicate thus: "O Allah! Bless us during Rajab and Sha?ban, and let us reach Ramadan (in good health)."

Reaping the opportunities in Ramadan

BISMILLAHIARRAHIMANIRRAHEEM

In the name of Allah, the source of Mercy, the Mercy-giving

Reaping the opportunities in Ramadan

The Prophet's (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) companions used to say, "Let not the day that you fast and the day that you do not fast be equal." It is important that one's behaviour, attitude and outlook should not be the same on the day that one is fasting and when one is not fasting. There should be a change, as one is trying to worship Allah more, so one's fasting should have an effect.

Lesson 1: Gaining taqwa (fear of Allah)

Welcome To the Month Of Ramadan

Welcome to the Month of Ramadan 

Once again we welcome it, once again it welcomes us. This month will be, for each of us, what we shall make of it. A month of return, introspection, meditation, brotherhood and love. The month of the Qur.an. Or a month of mechanical fast, almost unaware, that hurries to turn upside down nights and days ending up living the nights to .forget. the fast of the day...

This month is a feast... not of noise, but silence; not of banquets but restraint; not of forgetfulness but remembrance. This month is a feast for the faith.

We wish everyone a beautiful month of Ramadan. May it be a month of teaching where gift wins over avarice, generosity over selfishness, love over hatred. Be it a month where everyone tries to master one.s anger: the Prophet advised once to respond to adversity during these days of meditation : .I am fasting.... and to pass over. Be it a month where everyone of us cares more than usual for the needy people in her/his nearest environment.

Happy Ramadan to all of you! May your fast be accepted and blessed. May the Most-High and His Light go along with you, protect you and love you.