Alhamdulillah! Alhamdulillah! Alhamdulillah! For sparing our lives to witness the begining of this year’s Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The month which fasting is made compulsory for all adult muslims – except in some special circumstances. After Faith, Prayers and Charity, Sawm (Fasting) is the fourth pillar of Islam and Hajj being the fifth.
Sawm literarily means”to abstain. Ramadan is a month in which muslims abstain from food and drinks consumptions before the break of dawn till sunset. In this greatest month muslims are expected to dedicate themselves with the worship of Allah with different forms of worships; such as the following:
(1) Recitation of the Holy Qur’an. Ramadan is the month of the holy Qur’an. The Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the month of Ramadan for us to seek knowledge, reflect and ponder upon it. The month of Ramadan is that which Qur’an was revealed, the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion”-(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:185).
Muslims are expected to multiply their recitations of the Holy Qur’an in this greatest month. Rewards for good deeds are multiply in the month of Ramadan. Even outside Ramadan it is reported that “Whoever recites a letter from Allah’s Book, then he receives the reward from it, and the reward of ten the like of it. I do not say that Alif Lam Mim is a letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter- (Sunan At-Tirmizi).
(2) Feeding the needy muslims who cannot afford food is another act that attracts rewards in this greatest month. Remember rewards for all good deeds are multiply in the month of Ramadan. The Prophet (SAW) said, “Whoever feeds a person breaking his fast will earn the same reward as him, without anything being lessened from the reward of the fasting person”- (Tirmidhi). The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “(O people!) Save yourselves from the (Hell) Fire even if it is with half a date (given in charity), and if you cannot find that, then (save yourselves by saying) a good word”-[Al-Bukhari & Muslim].
(3) Repentance is another lawful act in the month of Ramadan. As humans we are sinners, we have committed a lot of sins by omission or commission from the last Ramadan 1443 to 1444AH. As muslims we believe that without Allah’s mercy we will never be admitted into the paradise. Muslims are expected to multiply their seeking for forgiveness of Allah from their past sins . Allah, the Most High, forgives his servants often times. Allah, the Most High, has said in the Qur’an that I am At-tawwaab and I (Allah, the Most High) said I am Ar-Rahim. One could recite: O! My Allah, forgive and have Mercy and You are the Best of Merciful- (Al-Mu’minun 23: 118).
(4) Muslims are expected to pray as many times as they can during this greatest month of Ramadan. Muslims are expected to multiply their Dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Allah also says: So, Remember Me, and I will remember you. (Al-Baqarah 2: 152).
(5) Muslims are expected to give Sadaqa and other goods often times etc., for their rewards are multiply in this greatest month of Ramadan. Muslims are expected to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.
Accordingly, during fasting, there should be restraint not only from eating or drinking during the day, but also from all things that are evil in terms of what you say, do or even think. God said in the first verse of the Qur’an in which He commanded fasting: “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may develop God-consciousness.” (Quran 2:183). God’s consciousness means refraining from everything that Almighty God has forbidden.
May the Almighty Allah Accept our Sawm!
Nurudeen Dauda,
Kaduna, Kaduna state
