Ramadaan Mubarak

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem.

To all muslims around the world, Ramadaan is a time of contemplation, of prayerfulness, of literally getting off the bus of this world's fire, fighting and feasting. Its a time when not even consumerism should enter into the heart of a muslim.

During Ramadaan, I imagine the angels are walking gently around, smiling at those who fast, and Allah is granting duahs and forgiveness. It is a month which is seen by those who do not understand the faith as a time of trial, a time of trying to "earn" salvation. They completely misunderstand the premise of our faith. Salvation is striven towards but can only be attained by the mercy and grace of ALLAH the almighty creator. It is HE who by HIS eternal mercy weighs the heart and the intentions and decides "good seed" or "bad seed". So what's with all the good deeds, you ask? Well, christians say that "Faith without actions is dead." Pretty much sums it up; except muslims live by it. And Ramadaan is a living testament to the fact.

There's no room for the hypocrite who pretends to be sorry for his or her acts; Allah is watching. If you truly believe that the almighty Creator of all the universe is watching and waiting to reward you with good things, then doing good deeds become a thing of joy, not a thing of fear of hellfire. However, arrogance also has no place, so the joy of giving and doing must be balanced with the fear of knowing that the ONE who is watching holds your eternal destiny in His hand.

Imagine; by HIS Grace and His Mercy, He can simply say BE, and it truly IS - forgiveness is simply where Allah says "BE". Why is that so hard for christians to understand? After all, the bible says "He says Be and it IS". ah well... Allah knows all hearts and HE is the supreme judge, I just sometimes get sad that people don't see how the bible comes to life through ISLAM, because the portions of truth in it find their full expression only within the greater Truth. To each his own.

So during Ramadaan, every good deed is "worth more" because these good deeds are done during a time that is very, very special and very, very spiritual. But then, the opposite is also true..

Whilst Islam is a faith perfected for us, regretably we are all subject to the human condition, so you cannot judge a faith by one or even many of its followers, but you should look to its teachings, for often the followers deviate. And so it is that in Ramadaan itself, fasting is carried out by some who carry with them the whole day the thought of the "feast" at the end. Dinners, get togethers in the evening somehow detract from the purpose of the fast. Similarly, short tempers are "excused" because of the fast, and backbiting too can increase. These are the human condition. But in all these, the INTENTION is how a man is judged. What I am saying is; sisters, brothers, readers; if in Ramadaan you fall prey to the backbiting bug, the short temper stinkbug, or the feasting frenzy, simply repent, there and then, turn away from ALL that, and race back to Allah; He is ready, willing, and overjoyed to accept repentance.

Ramadaan is a gift. It is not about what you can do for ALLAH; it is about what ALLAH is doing for you; granting you a time of cleansing for the body, the mind, and the soul. Remember, if you can do no good, at least do no evil, and at the very least, make duah. Lots of duah. We do and we do, thinking we please ALLAH, but what pleases ALLAH, I suspect, is seeing that we appreciate HIS gift of this "time out", this time of ultimate mercy and love from him, where he basically splurges on us with blessings, with forgiveness and with HIS presence.

If I have offended anyone with the truth or with my weakness, please forgive me. OH RAMADAAN, blessed month that this is!! OH ALLAH, my Lord, my Creator, the ONE that was, that IS and that EVERMORE shall be; SHUKR. Oh ALLAH, my LORD, my GOD, please forgive my sins. Oh ALLAH,  the BELOVED, grant me closeness to you, and grant peace and blessings upon MUHAMMAD (SAW) without measure, and to his progeny the good and the holy. insh'Allah AMEEN.


Please remember me and my family in your kind duahs.