Ramadhan: the Greatest Opportunity

by Wael Abdelgawad

Monday, November 27, 2000

The Higher Judiciary Council in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced that Ramadan 1, 1421 will start at sunset time on Sunday, November 26, 2000. The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), in consultation with the Fiqh Council of North America, has also confirmed the same starting date for this month. Therefore, the first day of fasting of Ramadan will insha'Allah be Monday, November 27, 2000.

Zawaj.com would like to wish all of you a Ramadhan Mubarak. The greatest month is upon us, a month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness, and whose end is a protection from the fire.

Abu Hurairah (raa) relates the Messenger of Allah (saws) said when one Ramadhan came: "A blessed month has arrived. Observing it in fasting is mandated on you. During this month, the gates of Paradise will be opened and the gates of Hellfire will be closed. The evil ones (Shayaatin) will be handcuffed. In it there is one night during which worship is better than worship in a thousand months. Whoever is denied its blessings has been denied the biggest blessing." (Related by Ahmed, Nasaae and Bayhaqi)

All praise is due to Allah for guiding us to Islam, and for allowing us to witness another Ramadhan. Let us use this month as an opportunity to perfect our prayers, beg forgiveness for our sins, and purify our souls from our mistakes and flaws. Let us also thank Allah for all of His favors upon us, which are too many to count. This is a month when prayers are answered, so all of you out there reading this, always remember to call upon Allah on behalf of our Muslim brothers and sisters who are struggling all over the world:

• Call upon Allah on behalf of your brothers and sisters in Palestine, who are struggling in the cause of Allah for their freedom, their dignity and for Al-Quds.
• Ask Allah to grant victory to the mujahideen in Chechnya, and to relieve the suffering of the Chechen people.
• Ask Allah to relieve the suffering of the Iraqi people; they are starving and dying in great numbers; what was done to them is a monstrous crime and it must end.
• Remember in your du'aa the Muslims of China, the Philippines, Turkey, and every place where the Muslims are struggling in Allah's cause for their deen, their freedom, and their lives.

Finally, when you are fasting and you feel the pangs in your stomach, and later when you break your fast, remember:

• If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep ... you are richer than 75% of this world.
• If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace ... you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
• If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
• If you can attend an Islamic meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death ... you are more blessed than many of the people in the world.

May Allah accept this Ramadhan from us, and may He make this Ramadhan a time of purification, growth and strength for all of us.

Copyright Zawaj.com. Author is Wael Abdelgawad, [email protected]. Reprints are acceptable with notification, acknowledgement and a link back to Zawaj.com.

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