With the passing of every moment Ramadhan is getting closer. The blessed month is indeed one of the greatest blessings of Allah. With the advent of Ramadhan one can witness a pious change all around in the whole society.
Indeed Ramadhan is a month that nourishes virtues as the rain nourishes vegetation. It is the month of the Qur’ān, the Book that leads humankind from the depth of darkness to light. Thus it rejuvenates the human life itself. It is the month of fasting that helps realise the bounties of Allah and helps people to overcome their weaknesses. It is the month of awards and rewards, fasting, prayers, remembrance of Allah, alms and charity – all have their own manifold rewards as compared to what one gets in normal days.
It is the month of mercy, love and feeling other persons’ pain, as fast demands abstinence from food, water and sexual desires. The Muslims through this form a genuine relationship with the rest of human beings. It becomes a moral and religious responsibility of everyone to fulfil the needs of persons who experience hunger and thirst. If one imbibes this spirit of Ramadhan, moral progress can be seen both at individual and societal levels by doing the following:
Now let us welcome the holy month – Ramadhan:
- Start mental preparation and resolve that you will reap maximum benefits from Ramadhan.
- Observe Nafl (supererogatory) fasts and stand up in prayers during night (Qiyamul Lail) as Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) used to practise in the month of Shabaan. It’s recommended that one should refrain from observing fasts in the month of Shabaan so as to be mentally ready to observe Ramadhan as it ought to be.
- Read as much Qur’ān, Ahadith and Islamic literature as possible to understand the spirit of Ramadhan.
- Be an observer of the bounties of Allah, in particular of resources which Allah has given you. Spend it in the way of Allah and watch that your heart rests satisfied with the love of Allah.
During Ramadhan we need to be cautious enough to get the blessings and reap the fruits of Taqwa. As the Qur’ān prescribes after the completion of the month of fasting we need to glorify Allah for the guidance that He has guided us with (Al-Baqara: 185). It is obligatory that Allah’s guidance should be spread.
Spreading of the guidance means it has to be enhanced to the maximum extent. At individual level, it means one has to extend the guidance that he gets during the month of Ramadhan to the rest eleven months of the year at least. If one intends to maximise the guidance at societal or collective level, it implies that there should be constructive efforts to make the entire humanity aware of the fact that Islam is the only way of life and an assured way of salvation.
Is it possible for us to reach the desired level of understanding the Qur’ān through our Taraweeh prayers and recitation of the Qur’ān? In this respect we should pay attention to the following:
- How the Qur’ān deals with its subject – man – and what is its viewpoint about the society?
- How the Qur’ān formulates the tenets of faith along with expressing the ideas and views that are essential for human beings?
- How this Holy Book explains the principles of moral and ethical values for the purpose of social and familial development?
- What is the essential message for humanity it conveys?
- What is the outlook of the Qur’ān regarding the world, universe, life and death?
- What concept of success and failure it gives?
- How it elucidates the details pertaining to virtues and vices?
- What is the Qur’ānic idea of propagation of virtues and eradication of evils?
- How the Qur’ān can be a book of guidance for the entire humanity?
The importance of “dissemination of the guidance” can be easily understood. We as Muslims do not fast only as a religious duty but thereby prepare ourselves to be beneficial for the entire humanity. It demands a change and a very serious change in our traditional attitudes. A satellite vehicle needs powerful fuel to escape from the gravitational pull of the earth. It is simply impossible to think of such a speed with an ordinary fuel. A bigger objective demands an approach of similar stature. So we need to get ourselves fully recharged with various acts of worship during the month of Ramadhan. Through the extensive training in Ramadhan, we should come out with a useful message for the entire humanity. For this the Holy Qur’ān:
- Introduces the Creator through His creation.
- Describes the blessings of God;
- Cultivates both fear and love of the Creator;
- Describes those who are loved by God;
- Points out those whom God does not like;
- Explains the forms of worship God prescribes;
- Provides means to obey the Creator in the true spirit;
- Refreshes faith and keeps the hopes alive;
- Inspires to be good;
- Develops personality in a comprehensive way;
- Offers guidance for business and all other economic activities;
- Tells us how to behave with parents, children, neighbours and other human beings;
- Guides towards a happy family life;
- Helps society achieve perfect peace and progress;
- Inculcates a burning desire for promotion of virtues and the eradication of evils from the society;
- Presents solution to burning issues;
- Develops in every individual a sense of responsibility;
- Invites to think over the self and the entire universe;
- Discusses the life of the Prophets with emphasis on the behavioural attitudes of their followers;
- Explains the rise and fall of nations;
- Prepares for the next life;
- Explains the ways of admission in paradise; and
- Prevents from hell.
Undeniably, this is what we term as a herculean task entrusted to the Muslim Ummah. That’s the reason why Muslims are the only people in the world who undergo a very intense training course for one complete month every year. They must try to make most of this month of piety and mercy and be benefited with the intensive training so that they may become the saviour of humanity. Actually Ramadhan prepares the Muslims to become the true benefactors of humanity.
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