Ramadan-ul-Mubarak, the holiest month, is approaching with bounty of blessings for Muslims seeking forgiveness and reward while observing dawn-to-dusk fasting during the entire month. It is the month of forgiveness and countless blessings and a precious gift from God to believers. Above all the Ramadan is the month in which the holy Quran was revealed to our beloved prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). The Quran says: “Ramadan is the month when the Qur’an was sent down from heaven, guidance unto mankind”
Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: Surely, the month of Ramazan is a great month. Allah multiplies in it the good deeds, erases in it the sins and elevates in it the ranks. Ramadan is certainly a great gift from Allah (SWT). It provides a unique opportunity to Muslims to forgive and seek forgiveness; besides showering worldly pleasures, it uplifts our spiritual status. Abdullah Ibn al-Abbas Ibn Abd al-Muttalib reports that he heard Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) say: Every night, in the month of Ramazan, Allah, The Blessed and The Exalted, calls out three times: Is there one, who seeks from Me, so that I grant him his wish? Is there one, who turns to me in repentance so that I turn to him (in Mercy)? Is there one, who seeks forgiveness from Me so that I forgive him?
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, said: “Allah said that all of the actions of the son of Adam are for him except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will recompense it.” Fasting is a shield and when it is the day when one of you fasts, then let him not speak indecently or argue, and if anyone abuses or seeks to fight him then let him say ‘I am fasting’. By Him in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. For the fasting person there are two times of joy, when he breaks his fast he is happy and when he meets his Lord he is happy due to his fasting.” (Bukhari)
And lets us not forget that Ramdan is the month of sharing and caring. Amongst those of the highest fortunes must share their wealth and resources with the less fortunate and underprivileged class to gain Allah’s favour. As the Qur’an says: “You cannot attain to righteousness unless you spend out of what you love” and Prophet Muhammad (PUH) has said: “It’s better to give than to receive.” So there are so many lessons we ought to learn from this holy month. Ramdan is not all about enjoying big feasts, spending hefty amounts on making lavish/fine meals for Sehri and Iftari. The important lessons to be learn from fasting are, seeking Taqwaa, nearness to God, acquiring patience, self-discipline, cultivating sprit of charity and good manners and to learn how to tolerant, kind, caring and compassionate towards the fellow human beings.
