Ramadan: Training Our Souls

Ramadan: Strengthening the ties of Brotherhood

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil).” (Al-Baqara 2: 184) 

Muslims around the world began fasting in the month of Ramadan this week. It is a month of great Divine favour because Allah has Himself promised to those who will fast with sincerity, who will do their best to obtain the pleasure of Allah, who will seek Divine help through prayer and good conduct that they would receive His blessings. This is the long-awaited time [for all believers] to make spiritual progress. Before being a period of fasting; Ramadan is, first and foremost, an opportunity to take stock of oneself. Piety is a whole, a totality. Every human being is liable to commit sins and to transgress the Divine law. It can be due to our ignorance, or to Satan. 

Muslims must, therefore, be particularly careful of hypocrisy, lies, cheating and theft, usurpation [injustice, deception and stealing the rights of others, etc.]… Particularly during this holy month you might tend to go ahead with these bad deeds. But you have to say “No” to all these satanic temptations! On the contrary, this holy month is a training for you for the months to come. 

But being human beings [weak as we are], we need to be rightly-guided and to guide and bring others back on the right path. In a certain sense, we could consider the month of Ramadan as a period of training allowing the believer to learn to approach God by multiplying acts of piety (charities, prayers, invocations, etc.) and to put an end to vices which gnaw at him and torment him.

According to Abu Huraira (ra), Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said: “The gates of Paradise are opened every Monday and Thursday. All the servants who do not associate anything with God are then forgiven except the man who harbours some animosity towards his brother. It will be said, ‘Defer the absolution of these two until they are reconciled.’” (Muslim, Malik and Abu Dawud).

Whether in theory or in practice, all members of the community of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) are brothers. This brotherhood has its source in the affiliation of human beings with Adam and Eve and materialized by faith in Allah (swt) and His Messenger Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). 

“The believers are but one brotherhood, so make peace between your brothers. And be mindful of Allah so you may be shown mercy.” (Al-Hujurat 49: 11) 

This particular Quranic verse reminds us of the union, of the brotherhood that we must consolidate / have, and then all the differences that may exist between believers (fortune, power, etc.) are annihilated in favour of the indissoluble bond of brotherhood. The most deserving, we are told, will be the most pious, regardless of race, language or ethnicity. 

The brotherhood of Muslims is a living, active brotherhood. It is love, respect and altruism. Each protects the rights, interests and honour of the other. This is what we call humanity. A person helps his fellow brother/ sister without a second thought. One who belongs to Islam must be one who is not materialistic but who lives by having Taqwa (fear of God) and helping his fellow brother/ sister to walk in the right path. So, whether in happiness or unhappiness, brotherhood brings this sublime dimension of belonging to a body, which is the Ummah (the entire Muslim community). 

But, above all, this brotherhood is essentially related to the love of Allah. It is this divine love that ensures the continued existence of a strong and powerful Islamic brotherhood.

 

There is no doubt that Muslim history has bequeathed us sublime examples worthy of reflection, particularly through the life of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and his companions, examples that we still find today in the life of the humble [poor] believer as in that of the high [rich] dignitary. Whoever follows his Islam well, whether poor or rich will receive the grace of Allah and he will find himself blessed by this bond of brotherhood, without any bitterness, because he who is rich or poor, if both realize that Islam has removed all divisions between them, and that all believers are equal in the sight of Allah, and that they should stand shoulder to shoulder in prayer [Salat], then they are the true followers of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) and his companions [Sahaba]. 

So Ramadan is a gift from heaven. This month gives us time to reflect on our lifestyle and step out of our comfort zone. It is important to leave this luxury behind because our life does not revolve around it; we forget that very often. 

Ramadan is a great month, filled with goodness and blessings. During this month, the rewards for good deeds are multiplied; sins are forgiven; and, bad deeds are diminished. Reaching this month is a great blessing for which we must thank Allah. 

Ramadan is a month of solidarity, a great moment of sharing and the best time to consolidate our relations with our loved ones and our colleagues. Each of us should use this blessed month to do our best, both professionally and spiritually. However, it is necessary to maintain disciplinary behaviour [the same discipline which we cultivate during the blessed month] even after Ramadan.

 

Know that the month of Ramadan is the month of invocations. As we draw closer to God through fasting, we draw closer to Him by saying good words and asking Him for guidance in Islam. This is done, among other things, by the duahs [invocations to Allah]. It is a sign of humility that connects the creature with its Creator. For those who do not know them [i.e. duahs], you should learn it in Arabic preferably, otherwise you can do your duahs in your own language. Allah (swt) certainly understands all languages. So, for those who do not know Arabic, it is better to memorize the duahs and learn their translation so that you know what you are asking from Allah. Never read your daily prayers [Salat] or your invocations [duahs] to Allah like parrots (automatically, without thinking about what you are doing). Keep in mind that this is a supplication you are addressing to Allah. You are in communication with your Creator. 

For us humans, our knowledge is limited. When you don’t understand a language, you choose someone to do the translation. But, for duahs, you have to make the necessary effort to learn the [Arabic] language and its translation as well. But if you still cannot learn it in Arabic despite your best efforts, then it is not a sin to address your prayers [Salat] and invocations [Duahs] in your native language. So for duah, even in your own language, you can ask Almighty God, Who has all the powers. 

Ramadan is a month of reunification. The whole family comes together from day one until the last to pray, fast and eat together. Ramadan preparation (prayer in congregation, fasting, taking the Sehri / Suhur, and Iftar and eating together) is a great blessing in this month and there is understanding and blessings, peace, joy and patience and peace of mind where you have chained Satan and left the door of paradise wide open and that is what God wanted from His servants. 

Certainly in these times of national and international confinement - in the various countries of the world, with the Covid-19 pandemic and its variants, for most Muslims, they do not have the right to go to the mosque for their daily prayers. But still, in order not to lose the blessings of Salah (prayer) in congregation, Muslims [men] are advised to lead their families in prayer. Certainly, the Muslim is an Imam (guide) and a shepherd for his family.

 

So when Allah says that it is He Who will reward the fasting person [Rozadaar], and his reward will be none other than Allah Himself, it is because God loves peace, understanding, joy and patience between His servants. And when His servants obey Him and fast for Him, then surely our Lord is Good and Gentle to us. 

In a Hadith Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said: “This is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Paradise. This is the month of giving. It is a month in which the believer’s resources increase. [It is] A month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness, and the end of which is liberation from the fire of Hell.”

 

To end this sermon for today, for me Ramadan is the spring of faith! With the advent of the blessed month of Ramadan, the latter has a special place in the minds of Muslims, and our hearts tremble with joy at the echo of our souls. Ramadan marks a temporal [i.e. from our physical food in this world] and psychological break. Ramadan is for me a profound spiritual journey to the utmost depth of our inner selves. Insha-Allah. 

All of this leads us to understand that Ramadan is a month of very great blessing. So, O my Muslim brothers and sisters, and O my disciples, take advantage of this great Divine blessing, in prayers [Salat & Duahs], reading of the Holy Quran [Tilawat-i-Quran], meditations [Zikrullah] and acts of charity [Sadqua] – without forgetting the Zakat and Fitra, and do not forget also to dedicate yourselves in the works of Deen, for the propagation of Islam in the world. Insha-Allah. 

RAMADAN MUBARAK! May Allah give you the health and courage to observe the fast in this blessed month of Ramadan and reward you in sublime, magnificent ways, Insha-Allah, Ameen.

---Friday Sermon of 16 April 2021~ 03 Ramadan 1442 AH delivered by Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al-Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius.