Every year, the Muslim community welcomes Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. This month, considered holy by the Muslim community, teaches followers the practice of patience, spirituality, awareness, solidarity, justice, dignity, and unity.
It is a month solely dedicated to humanity, a month that encourages Muslims to carry out the teachings of Islam all through the year.
But sometimes, it seems that Ramadan is more about the coming Eid. It is more about the anticipation of fun, amusement, and long holidays.
This eagerness for celebration in unity is also a blessing. It is also a part of the wisdom of Ramadan, but as mentioned earlier, it is only a part – an element. The major experiences should be in terms of spirituality that help us recover from the losses that we experience throughout the year.
Another major aspect of Ramadan is it helps us feel the pain of the deprived and the unfortunate. Fasting from dawn to dusk gives us a small idea of how the poor feel. Ramadan helps Muslims all over the world sense in unity the pangs of the underprivileged.
Therefore, Ramadan is not just about starving oneself an entire day only to be overwhelmed with more than enough food while breaking fast. The poor and the destitute are not fortunate enough to be able to experience such good luck. Consequently, Muslims all over the world are encouraged to work together in unison to eradicate poverty by giving zakat – a portion of their accumulated wealth to the poor and the destitute.
Purification of the soul by regular praying and accentuating the habit is another quintessential aspect of the holy month.
The habit of praying is often ignored by many due the extremely busy nature of life. Ramadan helps rejuvenate oneself and regain the lost sense of purification. Namaz, a major pillar of Islam, helps Muslims all over the world to connect directly with God, and refresh their inner souls through a deep form of meditation. It cleanses the soul and helps people to stay away from evil.
In many countries, Ramadan is marked as the time when the prices of essentials are increased by a few businessmen based on the rise in demand. Contradicting regular economics, this month asks us to think with our souls, it encourages us to spread goodness.
It persuades us to feel the desires of the needy, and to give them what they wished for, to lowering the prices to make things more affordable.
Ramadan, as such, is a month in the Islamic calendar that helps move forward the Ummah in terms of Imaan, good deeds, sincere advice, and piety. It reminds us all to be cautious against all the sins Allah has forbidden, wherever one may be. Indeed, it is a holy month, when the reward for good actions is multiplied.