Alhamdulilaah, once a year Allah(Glory be to him) sends a guest into the lives of the Muslims, a refreshing wind of spiritual renewal. Allah in His infinite Knowledge and Wisdom has made certain times more blessed than others to perform acts of worship in. Allah knows our needs and our weaknesses and has placed pillars of light along the journey for us, 5 prayers each day, Jumuah on a Friday and Ramadhan once a year as well as Hajj once in a lifetime.

Each year we feel the need for renewal as life takes it’s toll on our levels of Imaan. When we realise the true blessings of Ramadhan, and accept it as if it were something to be treasured, then we can begin to unlock it’s hidden gems. I Love thinking of Ramadhan as if it were a visitor, an honoured guest, one who we cannot be sure we will meet again. A guest who has gifts from our Creator. Gifts that can only be attained by searching for them, by honouring that guest and giving that guest the respect and attention it deserves.

When we treasure each blessed moment, make our necessary preparations & cut ourselves off from the unnecessary distractions of life, we can begin to understand this guest of ours on a deeper level. Just as when we spend quality time with a loved one, getting to know their subtle characteristics and learning how to deal specifically with them, we should learn more and more about Ramadhan, our guest bringing us the Mercy of Allah along with it.

We have 29 or 30 days and nights (Insha Allah) to attain unimaginable rewards from our creator. None of us, especially not myself, can afford to lose any fragment of reward or any possibility of the forgiveness of Allah.

Of the blessings Ramadhan brings as we have been taught in the following Ahadith are, that Allah has made it easier for us to do good and to avoid evil. Allah has also made it easier for us to achieve Jannah(paradise) and avoid Hellfire:

Narrated Abu Huraira(r.a): The Prophet said:”… whoever fasts during Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

Allah’s Apostle said, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.” [Bukhari] …

We will be hearing many of the same Quranic Ayaat and Ahadith as the month arrives and throughout it’s days. We must never tire of them, as they are a constant reminder of the blessings and favour of Allah upon us.

O Muslim brothers and sisters, rejoice and prepare yourself for a time like no other, a time of the awakening of the hearts and of the tearing of the eyes. Let us dive into Ramadhan and gather up as much as we can for the journey ahead, like those about to embark on a long journey would gather their provisions.

I pray that Allah forgive all our big sins and the small ones, and that we experience true awakening, and become of those who are mindful of Allah.

“Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you many learn piety and righteousness” (Qur’an, al-Baqarah, 2:183)

The purpose of Ramadhan, as Allah explains in the ayah above, is to attain piety and rightenousness. The word used being Taqwa. And what exactly is Taqwa?

The word Taqwa comes form the word Wiqaya, meaning a shield. Taqwa means putting up a shield between ourselves and the displeasure of our Lord. We do this by staying away from all those things which Allah has forbidden us and by hurrying towards all those things which Allah has ordered us to do. When we become aware of the fact that Allah sees us when we are hidden away in the most private of places, and that Allah is aware of what goes on in the recesses of our hearts, then we will become more fearful to do, say or even think the wrong things.

If we strive this way, Allah will make life easy for us. Though we may experience adversity, we will be content with whatever comes our way, knowing that we are of those who say, There is none worthy of worship, except Allah (The One & Only) and that Muhammad(peace be upon him) is his Servant and Messenger.

Asalaamu alaikum, warahmatulaahi, wabarakaatuh.