Congratulations of the Mufti of Dagestan on the Beginning of Congratulations of the Mufti of Dagestan on the Beginning of Ramadan

Ramadan

On behalf of the Dagestan Muftiyat staff and myself, I congratulate all Muslims on the beginning of the month of Ramadan! I sincerely hope that every day of fasting brings you and your families mercy and blessings from the Almighty God.

Dear brothers and sisters! By the will of God Almighty the holy month of fasting, the month of the purification of hearts, the month of exceptional thoughts and virtuous deeds has arrived. Every year we look forward impatiently to the beginning of Ramadan. Hoping for the best and turning to Almighty God, we express our sincere gratitude for the opportunity to again welcome the blessed month and ask help and assistance from the Creator to enliven this month with utmost benefit for Hereafter.

Ramadan is a special month, an opportunity to change and to awaken in oneself a good beginning. Fasting is a school of morality which teaches patience and understanding and cultivates strength and will power in a person. Fasting is not just abstinence from food and drink: for every split second of fasting we have an opportunity to receive the reward of Allah which cannot be compared to any of the benefits of this world.

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying, “Almighty God said: «Every act of a son of Adam is for himself except fasting which is done for My sake and I will reward it».” (Narrated by al Bukhari).

This is the month of forgiveness, mercy and contentment of Almighty God, the month of liberation of His servants from hellfire. Furthermore, only in Ramadan occurs the night called the Night of Decree, in which prayers are accepted and destinies are changed.

May Almighty Allah grant us with opportunities, strength and health to worship Him with excellence and the increasing of virtuous deeds whilst observing fasting. I ask Almighty Allah to save us from sinful acts. May this month become the reason for Muslims to unify and that with its commencement may all troubles and negatives come to an end and we begin a new life.

We, Muslims, know that everything happens by Allah’s will. By the grace of the Almighty we surely will be able to pass all the difficulties we face today. It is fasting that helps us to appreciate the value of life and spiritual and moral virtues in this temporal world. Let me congratulate all fellow believers on the holy feast of Eid al Fitr as well. It is a great day for every Muslim, for it marks the end of fasting. Celebrating Eid al Fitr is a true sign of love to our Creator.

In this blessed month, may the Creator of the Universe, Lord of the worlds, Forgiving and Merciful Allah accept all our prayers and dua, shower us with blessings and grant us prosperity and success in both worlds. Amin.

SHEIKH AHMAD-AFANDI ABDULAEV

MUFTI OF THE REPUBLIC OF DAGESTAN