In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful:
Hazrat Ameer’s Ramadan Message (1440 Hijrah, April 2019)
O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard against evil. (2:183)
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Assalam-o-Alaikum Wa Rakhmatullahi Wa Barakaato Hoo.
Let us all thank Allah for blessing us once again with Ramadan and thus another opportunity to seek closeness to Him through fasting and prayer. I pray that Almighty Allah bless those fortunate enough to observe fasting.
I request all of you to pray fervently during this month for the problems being faced globally and nationally by members of the Jama‘at as well as all individuals around the world. Islam is a universal religion and requires empathy for all Allah’s creatures for He is Rabbil ‘Aalameen, Lord and Nourisher of the worlds and not just Rabbil Muslimeen. There are people today affected by wars and famine; people displaced from their countries and forced to seek shelter in foreign lands; people who are sick, face fear, hunger, loss of property, poverty and want; people who are oppressed and face hatred because of their faith and convictions; people who are downtrodden because of their colour, caste or creed. Let us all reflect on what the Qur’an advises.
Firstly, as cited in the verse above, it prescribes fasting with a specific purpose which is to provide the observer of this form of devotional act a means to attain taqwa. Taqwa is a God fearing spiritual state where a person lives in the light of the code provided by the Holy Qur’an. Such a person is considered as God fearing and dutiful to Allah. Secondly, Allah Ta‘ala makes it clear that the noblest in His sight is the one who is most dutiful from amongst us:
O mankind, surely we have created you from a male and female, and made you tribes and families that you may know each other. Surely the noblest of you with Allah is the most dutiful of you. Surely Allah is Knowing, Aware. (49:13)
Sisters and brothers, let us all fast with a resolve to bring a change in our lives; a change which will make us respect all peoples, all religions and all humankind - the creation of the Rabbil ‘Aalameen.
As you pray, please also remember me in your prayers.
I pray for you all and wish you a very happy and fruitful Ramadan.