Ramadan Mubarak!
By the will of Almighty God, 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.
According to a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), with the beginning of Ramadan the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained so as not to harm and deviate Muslims from the Straight Path.
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 the Almighty which cannot be compared to any of the benefits of this world.
Abu Huraira (may God be pleased with him) reported Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying, “Almighty Allah 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. Therefore, with the coming of this month, one should ask forgiveness from the Almighty for sins committed earlier, try to do as many virtuous deeds as possible and abstain from all that is forbidden and undesirable, for in this month the reward for good deeds and the punishment for the commission of bad deeds multiply.
If people knew all the advantages of Ramadan, they would wish it lasted forever. In this month the chances of penitents to be forgiven and to load the scales of their efforts with good deeds multiply.
Furthermore, it is only in Ramadan that occurs the night called the Night of Decree, in which prayers are accepted and destinies are changed.
May God the Almighty grant us with opportunities, strength and health to worship Him with excellence and the increasing of virtuous deeds whilst observing fasting. We ask the Almighty 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.
In this blessed month, may the Creator of the Universe, Lord of the worlds, Forgiving and Merciful God accept all our prayers and dua, shower us with blessings and grant us prosperity and success in both worlds. Amin.
