On this occasion of Eid I greet the entire Muslim Ummah and want to see the countrymen and the non-Muslims the world over as well partaking in these moments of festivity.
Ramadhan al-Mubarak is the month of strenuous worship like fasting. Fasting is the best means of exercising control over one’s desires. Allah enjoins that in this holy month we keep from food and water as well as fulfilment of sensual desires during day time, from dawn to dusk. It is hoped that this month-long practice will prove helpful in exercising control over desires in the future as well, and we will not adopt any unlawful and wrong means for the fulfilment of our natural and genuine desires.
The holy Qur’ān was revealed in Ramadhan. Hence much efforts to recite the Qur’ān in this month. The entire Qur’ān is recited and listened to during Taraweeh. This is a very virtuous act. May Allah give its reward! But one objective of reciting and listening to the entire Qur’ān ought to make man know what guidance this Book has provided for the various issues of life, what way of piety and righteousness it has shown, what plan it has presented for the reformation of individuals and reconstruction of society. There is dire necessity to see whether we recite the Qur’ān with this objective in mind, and are taking practical measures in this regard, or at least have developed the zeal and enthusiasm for these measures.
Ramadhan is the month of Dua and invocation. This is the month of Mercy and Forgiveness, of Deliverance from the Hell and of Striving for the Paradise. So, do make Duas. Make Duas for nobility and piety, for close association with Allah, for forgiveness of carelessness in the past, for zeal to do good deeds in future, for striving and sacrifice in the way of Allah. May Allah the Exalted give zeal for this! Also, make Duas for your wife and children and other members in your family that they follow the Deen and they spend their lives in consonance with His Will. Make Duas for the welfare, progress and development of the country. Make Duas that our country may get rid of the Godlessness and immorality she has been in, and the weaker sections may get rid of the oppression and violation of their rights, and that they may go onto the Straight Path.
Islam and Muslims have been the butt of criticism the world over; they are taken as and impressed upon that they are the source of the rot and mischiefs in the world. Make Duas and strive your level best that the real picture of Islam may come to the fore and the misgivings about the Muslim Ummah may be removed.
Today democracy is considered the means of change in the social system; but obstacles are being put in the way of advancement of Islam even by way of democracy in Muslim States; and if some change takes place, it is brought to an end with the help of conspiracies. Make Duas that these conspiracies are put to an end, the majority over there gets success in its objective and let Islam alone rule over not only their individual life but their economic, political and cultural life as well.
Make Duas that Allah the Exalted bless this Ummah with unity in its rank and file. Due to its narrow-mindedness and imprudence and for the sake of their interests, it is divided in groups and has been bent upon destroying one another. Wherever efforts are made to make Islam rule over there, opposition starts right from within the Ummah and all illegal and undue methods are adopted to suppress it. From this aspect, Muslim countries are passing through a very delicate situation. Make Duas that this situation might change as soon as possible and they might strive together to make Islam rule over there.
In the end, I pray to Allah that He grant His Acceptance to whatever prayers we could offer in Ramadhan, and bless us with the zeal to practise Islam and face the situation with patience and steadfastness.