Honorable Muslims!
For so long, hearts have been broken, mosques have been quiet, adhan has been somber, and the crescent has been saddened. Hearts ablaze with longing have been looking forward to welcoming it. Believers have been waiting for its atmosphere of grace and abundance of divine benefits, just as parched earth has been waiting for rain... And now it is finally here, like the breezes of spring, filling hearts with gladness. Ramadan has arrived, bringing with it the good news of peace in hearts and consciences.
Our homes have been filled with delight for the coming of this blessed guest. Our mosques and masjids have been embellished for this long-awaited meeting. Adhans have echoed vocally under the dome of the sky. And a sweet melody sung our tongues gently, "Welcome, o the month of Ramadan, welcome."
Dear Believers!
In the verse I have recited, our Lord Almighty (swt) states as follows, "The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it..."[1]
In the hadith I have read, our beloved Prophet (saw) says, "There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month, which Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has enjoined you to fast. In it the gates of heavens are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and every devil is chained up.[2]
Dear Muslims!
Ramadan al-Sharif is a treasured month in which our Lord (swt) opens the gates of mercy and merit to the maximum. During this month, we will observe fasting and prepare iftar tables. We will wake up for sahur with joy. The elder members will rejoice like children. Mosques will be filled to overflowing, and their domes will echo with Qur'an recitations. With our family, we will run to mosques for tarawih prayer. We will perform prayers in awe. Our souls will be purified from evils. We will open our hands in praying before the Almighty. We will seek forgiveness in tears in this month of mercy. Our gains will have barakah as we give out more. We will make happy those in need. We will make the miserable smile. Everywhere will be filled with peace. Darks will be lightened up, and all the devils will be chained up.
Ramadan is the month of Qur'an. The Qur'an is the adornment of Ramadan, which is our Lord's (swt) greatest grace for us. We will read and recite the Qur'an more and more during this month. We will contemplate more and more about its principles that will give vitality to our otherwise lifeless lives. We will review our lives. We will reflect on our lives. We will question ourselves for that dreadful Day of Reckoning.
And Ramadan is the month of sharing. We will expect our Lord's pleasure with our zakat, fitrah, sadaqah, and all kinds of spending in the way of Allah (swt). We will give from what our Lord (swt) has blessed us with to His servants in order for our nourishment to expand and grace to envelope us completely. In order for the faces to smile, and the peace to prevail the society...
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Let us fully embrace Ramadan for the manifestation of grace at the beginning. Let us increase the amount of worships we perform and sadaqahs we give in order to be granted with the abundance of divine blessings in the middle. Let us repent more in order for our sins to be pardoned at the end. We beseech our Lord Almighty (swt) not to let us have another gloomy Ramadan like this.
O Allah! Thanks and praise be to you. You have allowed us to welcome Ramadan again. Happy are those who have been able to welcome it. May Your mercy be on those who have not been able to do so. May our sick people be healed, may people with problems find solutions. May Ramadan al-Sharif be blessed for all of us.
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[1] Baqarah, 2/185.
[2] Nasa'i, Sawm, 5.
General Directorate of Religious Services