The month of Ramadan

In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful.

Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger Muhammad (ﷺ) who said: "The five daily prayers, from one Jumu’ah to the next and from one Ramadan to the next, are expiation for the sins committed in between, so long as you avoid major sins." Hadith transmitted by Muslim (no. 233).

The month of fasting is soon to start. We have a few days remaining to begin observing fasting, whose essence is to be aware of the presence of Allah in every moment of one's life.

Allah ﷻ says:
"O you who have faith! Prescribed for you is fasting as it was prescribed for those who were before you, so that you may be Godwary." (Quran 2.183).

يٰٓـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡن اٰمَنُوۡا كُتِبَ عَلَيۡکُمُ الصِّيَامُ کَمَا كُتِبَ الَى الَى الَّذِ الَى اللۙ

Ibn’Umar (Allah be pleased with him) reported, Allah’s messenger (ﷺ) as saying: “The month of Ramadhan may consist of 29 days. So, do not fast till you have sighted it (the new moon) and do not break the fast, till you have sighted it (the new moon Shawwal), and if the sky is cloudy for you, then calculate”. Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim.

Ibn’Umar (Allah be pleased with him) also reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Islam is built upon five: to worship Allah and to disbelieve in what is worshiped besides him, to establish prayer, to give charity, to perform Hajj pilgrimage to the house, and to fast the month of Ramadan.” Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 8, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 16.

•Being aware of Allah’s presence in our lives helps us do more good deeds that please Him and enables us to abstain from unlawful acts or crossing His limits. The attainment of this state of being is a great success that is linked to Ramadan.

• Usually, when we get entangled in legal issues, we look for competent or reputable lawyers with a good track record of winning court cases. In the spiritual domain, we all have cases to answer before Allah (ﷻ), and we therefore need competent lawyers. Fasting and the Qur'an, which are known to be the greatest features of Ramadan, are the two lawyers we all need.

The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Fasting and the Qur’an will intercede for a person on the Day of Resurrection." Fasting will say, "O Lord, I kept him from his food and desires during the day; let me intercede for him." And the Qur’an will say: "I kept him from sleeping during the night; let me intercede for him." "And they will be allowed to intercede." Hadith by Imam Ahmad (no. 6589).

O Allah! Grant us life and faith to observe fasting as You require, forgive us and the dead, and heal our sick brothers and sisters.

Allahumma ameen!

Dr Massimo Cozzolino