Ramadan - The Holy Month of Islam
Thursday, March 31, 2022
Ramadan is one of the 12 months of Islamic calendar. It is full of blessings and barakah. This month has a special significance with Quran as Allah says in the Quran “Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down, as a guide to mankind with clear signs for guidance and judgment”
In the month of Ramadan before keeping fast all Muslims have to get up early morning for Sehri and by drinking and eating we keep niyat for fast. In Sehri my mother makes a special porridge of oats called “paize” in kokni.
Allah (SWT) has sent the Quran from Loh-e-Mahafooz to the first heaven (world sky) in the month of Ramadan in Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Power) and from the first heaven, it has been sent down to the earth to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in frequent intervals. Worship in Lailatul Qadr is better than worship of thousand months!!
Acts of obedience to Allah and good deeds during Ramadan have great reward. So the Muslim should be eager to do all that which is pleasing to Allah so that Allah will love him/her and reward him/her greatly.
Fasting in Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam. Fasting is called ‘Sawn’ in Arabic. Fasting is not to eat or drink anything from Fajr (dawn) to Magrib (sunset). If we are fasting then we must make the intention of fasting at night or before Fajr. Intention means to decide to do something.
Allah has made fasting compulsory in Ramadan for all adults except for those who are sick, old and those who travel long distance, because it is difficult for them. However, once the sick gets better he/she should complete the fasts he/she missed. The traveler should also complete the fast he/she missed after his/her travel ends. The old person however has no chance of getting better, so Allah commanded him/her to feed a poor person for each day of fast that he/she misses. This donation is called “Fidyah” so he/she must give “Fidya” for the 30 days of missed fasting to someone who is needy.
There are many ways to earn good deeds and worship Allah, such as praying extra prayers like ‘taraweeh’ at night, reading and learning Quran, pondering over Quran, giving charity, giving meals to the poor to break their fast, having good manners with everyone especially with parent, learning and teaching others about Islam, following Prophet Muhammed (SAW) in everything we do throughout the day, remembering Allah (for example, by reciting Subhan-Allahi wa bi-hamdih, Alhamdulillah etc), making du’aa and asking Allah to forgive us.
We all enjoy our iftaar in a big plate called “Thal” and on a red cloth called “Dastarkhan.” We open our fast by eating dates and drinking Zamzam water. We have variety of fruits for iftar and different kinds of starters like Samosa, spring roll, chicken puff, mutton/chicken kabab etc. We enjoy our drinks by having Rooh Afza with milk to keep our stomach cool and fresh juices like kiwi, orange, mango etc. We cook different kinds of variety every day. Among all my favorite is Mutton Khichda, Biryani and dahi vada/dahi bhalle
The companions of Prophet (SAW) used to compete with each other in good deeds. So we all should also compete and get the reward of Jannah like them.
I am eagerly waiting for Ramadan,
May Allah forgive all our sins and make us a better person.
Inshallah!
Ameen!
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