Ramadhan

Alhamdulillah! Ramadhan 2015 has just started. I’m pretty sure that every Muslim in the whole world is extremely happy for reaching this special month in Islam. Everyone has prepared a lot to give his/her warmest welcome for the arrival of the holy month of Ramadhan.

What is Ramadhan and why do Muslims celebrate it? Is fasting an obligation or an option? What are the things that a Muslim should do during this month? These are some of the frequently asked questions about Ramadhan. And below are the answers that will enlighten and help you understand more about this Islamic month of fasting.

The month of Ramadhan is very special and the holiest month for the Muslims. It is the month where Muslims observe fasting from morning (sunrise) to evening twilight. In Islam, fasting (or “Sawm” in Arabic) is mandatory because it is one of the five pillars of Islam. Millions of Muslims around the world observe fasting, for it is an obligation not an option. This obligation makes the poor and the rich equal. The rich people will have a taste of pain and hunger that the poor and the weak are battling. This will help the rich people become more lenient to the weak and more merciful to the hungry ones. Fasting does not only mean abstaining oneself from eating and drinking. One should also abstain himself from doing unpleasant acts and shackling some of his inclinations. Ramadhan is a month of starving the body and feeding the soul. It is a month of forgiveness and doing good deeds. Fasting is not about a diet of burning calories. It’s about burning ego, pride and sins. Ramadhan is the season of igniting your longing and yearning to Allah (swt).

RAMADHAN is a school of faith and a place to recharge our spiritual cells. Ramadhan is:

• Self-discipline
• Self-control
• Self-restraint
• Self-education
• Self-evaluation. 

In order to fulfill all the requirements of Ramadhan, a Muslim should exert so much effort to please Allah (swt). A Muslim should devote more time in performing his Salah (prayer), reading the Holy Qur’an and intensifying remembrance of Allah (swt). He should detach himself from mundane things, defeat his evil desires, in order for him to do righteous things. He should not let Shaytaan over rule him. The month of Ramadhan also includes voluntary giving of help to those in need and, of course, doing righteous acts. I am not saying that these things are only done during the Islamic month of fasting. This holy month is just the most sincere and longest worshipping of Ya Rabb. These should be done always, for these are also our duties in this temporary world.

Wishing everyone a very happy Ramadhan. May all our Salahs (prayers), fasting, sacrifices and righteous deeds be all accepted in this sacred month of Ramadhan. May we all continue doing good deeds even if it is not the month of Ramadhan. May Allah (swt) bless us all to continue to perform righteous deeds and to fast properly.