Hazrat Ameer Prof. Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed's Ramazan Message:
1st Ramazan 1425 A.H. / 2004

 

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you,
so that you may guard against evil. (The Holy Quran 2:183)

The blessed month of Ramadan will be here to give us an opportunity to uplift, strengthen our souls and further ourselves on the progress towards Taqwah. Taqwah is used in the sense of guarding from what is harmful or injurious and which has to be feared because of its evil consequences. It is also used in the sense of fulfillment of duty to Allah. The purpose as stated in the verse cited above is ‘so that you may guard against evil’. Thus Allah gives us an opportunity to strengthen our souls against the weaknesses that have crept into our lives. Through fasting we cure such weaknesses and prevent ourselves from further damage that threatens our souls.

I am sure all the members of the Jamaat are looking forward to the religious experience associated with fasting. I pray to Allah to give us the health and the strength to embark on this mujahidah (the holy struggle) in the strengthening of our souls. Lets take this opportunity to remind us that fasting is not merely the abstinence from the food and drink but the adherence to the spirit of fasting, which are its moral and spiritual values associated with it. This is stressed both in the Quran and the Tradition. Fasting is a form of prayer and the Quran clearly in verse 107:4,5 states, ‘Woe to the praying ones, who are unmindful of (the object of) their prayers’. In Bukhari 30:8 the Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him is reported to have said, ‘Whoever does not give up lying and acting falsely, Allah does not stand in need of his giving up food and drink’. The Holy Prophet is also reported to have said ‘Fasting is a shield, so let the man who fasts not indulge in any foul speech or do any evil deed, and if anyone fights or quarrels with him or abuses him, he should say, I am fasting, by Him Who holds my soul in His hand’.

Brothers and sisters, we should take this month as an opportunity to reflect into our hearts so we can see where our weaknesses lie; we should then make an earnest effort to remove these through asking Allah’s forgiveness and protection. We should also pray that we should attain Allah’s nearness and once the month of Ramadan is gone maintain our nearness to Allah with constant effort and resolve.

Aameen.

Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed

Ameer
Lahore Ahmadiyya Jama‘at