Ramadan starts April 2.
I am honoured and privileged to send you this message of Ramadan, the most important and auspicious month of the Islamic calender. Ramadan is an incomparable blessing from Allah in so many ways.
During this month, fasting, prayer, charity and in fact all good deeds ordered by our creator are rewarded manifold when compared to other days and months of the year.
Ramadan is a time of assessment of our spiritual health and is like spring when everything comes to life: dry grass and trees start to thrive and flowers bloom after a cold winter.
Ramadan is a time when we are urged to practise our humanity towards Allah’s creatures, to recognise and practise the goodness that Allah has created within us as human beings, showing sympathy for the plight of those who many be suffering or in need and in fact placing ourselves in the position of others less fortunate, to experience their plight.
It is a time to reflect on the direction of our lives and our priorities and on the relationship with family, friends, neighbours and indeed humanity in general. Let us also not lose the opportunity to strengthen our relationship with our creator.
Whoever draws nearer to Allah by performing any of the voluntary good deeds in this month, shall receive the same reward as is for performing an obligatory deed at any other time. And whoever discharges an obligatory deed in this month, shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time.
It is the month of sabr (patience), and the reward for sabr is Heaven. It is the month of kindness and charity. It is a month in which a believer’s sustenance is increased.
Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without the latter’s reward being diminished at all.
So, my sisters, brothers, and friends, let us take this golden opportunity to reap the rewards that Allah SWT (Almighty God) has promised for those who patiently persevere in his obedience.
I wish you a blessed, joyous and inspirational Ramadan.
May Allah accept our fasting, prayer, good deeds and action during this holy month.
Amin
Imam Eljam Bardi
Shepparton
19°C