Ramadan is Leaving Us so Soon
Everything that has a beginning also has an end as well
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Said :
“When Ramadan enters, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed and the devils are chained.”
This year has been different from the previous years when it comes to the holy month of Ramadan.
In case you haven’t heard about Ramadan, let me give you a quick update about it.
Ramadan is the fourth pillar of the Islamic religion that requires it’s followers to fast during day time from sunrise to sunset.
Muslims abstain from eating and drinking during this time. But it has a much deeper purpose than just abstaining from food and drink.
Ramadan is the training ground where one develops all the traits needed to excel in the remaining months of the year ahead.
Lessons in Ramadan
“Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is fasting he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise his voice in anger. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say: “I am fasting!” Prophet Muhammad(PBUH)
Ramadan is the month where one learns self-discipline like in no other time.
Despite having food and drink available in your reach while feeling hungry or thirsty, yet you stay away from it and wait for the iftar time to come which is the breaking time of the fast.
This cycle continues for 30 days consecutively.
How much more disciplined could you be than that?
Ramadan encourages us to be more patient with one another during this month and after.
It also makes us realize what the poor people go through during normal days when they have nothing to eat thus making us more kind and compassionate towards them.
It also makes us more generous towards giving out charity to the needy.
Ramadan trains us to stay away from committing all kinds of sins and any wrongdoing to anyone around us.
“The aim of Ramadan is to stop bad HABITS, not to pause them”.
The difference this time
Throughout the previous years, Ramadan used to be the best time of the year for family, relatives, and friends to gather in order to share the wonderful environment it brings.
Unfortunately, this year the majority of Muslims around the world are in lockdown due to the current crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic just like the rest of the world.
Even in some Muslim countries where there are no strict lockdown orders still, there are medical guidelines to follow such as social distancing that takes the thought of any gatherings like public iftar where hundreds of people from different backgrounds come together to break their fast and performing night prayers at mosques out of the equation.
Final thoughts
It is so disappointing for many of us who missed these and many other beautiful experiences that come with this blessed month of Ramadan.
What is more disappointing is that it’s already leaving us so soon without many of us noticing it due to this pandemic issue.
I sincerely hope to reach the Ramadan of next year in normal circumstances like the old days so that we could enjoy this wonderful month in the best way possible.
Thank you for your precious time.
Special thanks to my fellow writers here in ILLUMINATION such as Yannis Dokos Erin King Joe Luca Lynette Clements Holly Jahangiri Dew Langrial who encouraged me to write. Without you guys, I would not have written and published this post.