Ramadan & What it means to be a Muslim

The problem with writing is that you can become so immersed in your own work that you forget what is happening around you. By the time you get round to dealing with things then other stuff tend to pile up for you too. I don’t want to sound like a broken record but a lot has been happening on my end. That and keeping busy with various other projects is keeping me on my toes!

No matter how busy I am, I look forward to one particular month every year in the Islamic calendar. Yes, you guessed it right it’s Ramadan. It is the month full of countless blessings and virtues. Fasting is one of the Pillars of Islam. The act of fasting is itself an act of mercy. It is a time when Muslims try to purify their souls by reconnecting with Allah and abstaining from all kinds of wrong doings. The word ‘Sawm’ literally means ‘to refrain’ not just from food and drink but from bad thoughts and evil actions. Ramadan is also the month in which the Holy Quran was revealed. A month when Muslims will increase their reading of the Quran and put it into practise in their daily lives.

During Ramadan Muslims will engage in extra prayers and worship in the hope of becoming better people. Ramadan is known as the month if empathy. A time when Muslims will reflect on people less fortunate than themselves and try to help better their situations. The virtues of fasting are great indeed, and one of the virtues is that God chose fasting for Himself. Prophet Muhammad said:

"Allah said) "Every good deed of Adam's son is for him except fasting;it is for Me. I shall reward (the fasting person) for it.' Verily, the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk." (Al-Bukhari) 

The beauty of the first ten days of Ramadan is that it is full of mercy and blessings. As Muslims are actively seeking to please Allah in this month their reward will increase up to seventy folds. It is important to point out for a Muslim to gain Allah's pleasure in this month is only possible through sincere repentance and pleasing Him and Him alone. If a person's intention is to please another person or organisation then they will have wasted their time and made no gains for themselves in this world or the hereafter

It is at this point I need to express that sometimes in the media we see individuals carrying out horrific acts of violence in the name of Islam. For some strange reason they like to choose the blessed month of Ramadan to carry out their evil. These perpetrators do not represent ordinary Muslims, what they do has nothing to do with Islam. According to Islamic teachings they should be held accountable for their wrong doings in this world and will certainly in the hereafter. Most Islamic scholars and Muslims dissociate themselves from such evil people and organisations. However as it is the Holy Month of Ramadan most Muslims are trying to avoid speaking ill of anyone and keeping up with their worship in this blessed month. Most Muslims will be praying for all those who have lost someone in the latest tragic event that took place abroad. For Muslims this month is better than a thousand months. It is best time to ask for Allah’s help in all circumstances.

On a different note, I have also been involved in a homeless project with a Christian/Muslim organisation. A humbling experience and something that I will continue to do over the coming months.It takes place once a month and suitable for anyone to get involved. Without sounding patronising I feel working on this project is building bridges and bringing communities together. We all live in hope for a better world Insh-Allah. :)