> > > IN THE > NAME OF ALLAH – THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST > MERCIFUL. > > > > > > > > > > > > Ramadan > Series – 1 > > > Receiving > Ramadan. > > > Allah [swt] has > blessed us that we are now at the doorstep at another season > of Ramadan. We have to be grateful to our lord for letting > us to live till this Ramadan- that perhaps our good deeds > this month may be a cause for us to enter Paradise. How many > of our brothers and sisters among our Ummah have passed away > since last Ramadan, and hence are unable to gain the > benefits of this blessed month this year? > > > Ramadan, the > 9th Month of the Lunar Calendar, is like a type > of spiritual school, to which we enter every year, but > unfortunately, very few of us graduate. But Allah [swt] out > of his mercy, has allowed us to come back year after year to > this school that perhaps may eventually graduate, learn > lessons which will lead us to eternal bliss. > InshaAllah. > > > “… Observing > al-sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was > prescribed for those before you, that you may become > al-muttaqoon (the pious).” [al-Baqarah > 2:183] > > > Sawm [fasting] during > the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. It > is a very high act of worship, and fasting during Ramadan > was obligated on every adult, sane, and able Muslim in the > Month of Sha’ban in the 2nd year after > Hijrah. > > > Ramadan should be > greeted with joy, warmth and reverence. How can we not feel > the joy when in this month: > > > > > > Allah > [swt] revealed the Glorious Qur'aan. > > > Allah > [swt] chose for us the obligation of > fasting, > > > Allah > [swt] chose for us, a night [Laylatul Qadr] which is better > than 1000 months of worship. > > > > > Allah > [swt] multiplies our good deeds, and forgives us our > sins. > > > Gates > of Paradise are opened, and gates of hell are closed, and > the Devils are chained. > > We must make the best > use of our lives, health, wealth & youth to fill our > scales with acts of obedience and worship – performing > what is commanded, and avoiding what is prohibited, > so > that we may be of those who are successful on a day when no > money or children will benefit us. > > > We have > to plan our days to achieve the most of this month. Even a > recreational activity such as going on a vacation takes much > planning. Are we then spending enough time and taking pains > to plan how we can get the most benefit from the opportunity > Ramadan is offering us? > > > We must receive > Ramadan with a sincere determination to fast and pray with > Eemaan, hoping for reward from Allah [swt]. > > > We must refrain > from Gheebah, Gossip, Music, Glancing at unlawful pictures > [whether in T.V, or commercial magazines, or internet], > filling our stomach with too much food, etc, in order to > gain mercy and forgiveness. > > > Many of us take > this month as a month to just be hungry, laze-around, go > shopping, stay awake in the night watching T.V, gossiping, > and eating in the night like we have never eaten before. > > > > Moreover, we feel we > can’t fast & work both. We just fast and do nothing > else, be lethargic, and give a very bad picture of Islam to > the world. Don't we realize that the Great Battle of > Badr in which the Muslims defeated the disbelievers took > place in Ramadan, and the conquest of Makkah occurred too in > the month of Ramadan, after which people entered into the > fold of Islam in crowds and Makkah became the land of > Islam. How far are we > from those righteous believers, engrossed in materialistic > gains! > > > To Be > Continued… > > > > > > >
