By Kaunain Seher
The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Quran; a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, a number of other days. Allah desires for you ease; He desires not hardship for you; and that you should complete the period, and that you should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that perhaps you may be thankful. (Quran- 2:185)
In just a few weeks, we will be able to witness Ramadan, the holy month of Muslims. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by the Muslims worldwide to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad (Pbuh).
Ramadan is not just a normal month; it is one of the most special months out of the 12 months. Muslims observe fasting (sawm) in this month. This annual observance is regarded as one of the five pillars of Islam. This month lasts 29- 30 days based on the visual sightings of the crescent moon.
Muslims fast from the dawn to dusk and are refrained from eating or drinking. We start the day by suhoor and end it by iftaar. Fasting makes a person feel the hunger of a poor person and appreciate the condition of the poor and despised.
Muslims in this month are seen giving more of charity and are seen refraining from bad deeds such as (lying, backbiting, insulting, cursing etc). Ramadan not only increases patience in a person, but also increases Taqwa and patience towards Allah.
Ramadan for me is like a spiritual journey. It increases my faith in Allah and increases my Quranic knowledge. I tend to understand the Quran and look into the purpose of it in our life. Our life is not merely a life of living, but we need to also look into being patient, kind and giving, towards other people.
Ramadan brings in me certain energy and closeness to my Lord and his blessings. It teaches me the value of time.
All of the 11 months in our life, come back as memory of merely waste of a time. We usually spend half of our time engrossing ourselves in vague tasks that we lose our interest in doing good or praying the five daily prayers or even giving charity. Ramadan is like a reminder for me for all my blessings and makes me feel the pain of the poor and it increases my love towards Allah.
Ramadan is also a medium to attain as many rewards a Muslim can attain through involving oneself in fasting, giving charity and performing more than the five daily prayers which include taraweeh (the special prayer performed during Ramadan). It also increases a person’s discipline, patience and being mentally stable by not losing control over oneself.
In the end Ramadan gets me relishing the joy of Eid which is celebrated as the end of Ramadan. Hence Ramadan for me is way of life, I would like to establish throughout my entire lifetime.
(Kaunain Seher is a student from Bangalore)
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