Ramazan, the holy month, is known for its many attributes and blessings. It is a time when Muslims around the world display exceptional endurance and empathy and seek forgiveness and mercy. This keeps them modest and disciplined.
Ramazan’s 30-day fasts forbid Muslims to engage in any sinful behavior, smoking, or harmful actions. It promotes tolerance and compassion, as well as helping those who are vulnerable or oppressed.
In Islam, patience is the ability to persevere or endure any hardship or difficulty for Allah alone.
Qibla Ayaz (Chairman, Pakistan Islamic Ideology, PIC) told APP that we must accept any trials, knowing Allah wills it. He is the One who will deliver us from any difficult situations and challenges.
He said Allah Almighty repeated the word ‘Sabr (patience)’ almost 75 times throughout the Holy Quran. This shows its importance to the human race. The Holy Qur’an says: “O you who are believers! Seek assistance in patience and As-Salat (the prayer). “Truly!” says the Holy Qur’an. Allah is with Assaabireen.
As devoted servants to Allah Almighty, we must show gratitude when we receive Allah’s bounty. “We should also deal with all calamities, difficult situations, and difficult people with self-control, humility, and forbearance,” he said.
During Ramazan, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also placed a great deal of emphasis on compassion for the poor and needy people as well as those with various abilities. He declared that patience and endurance in difficult times would reap rewards in this life and the next.
The PIC chairman said: “A believer will never be afflicted with pain, sickness, grief, or mental anxiety, but Allah will forgive his sins for patience and compassion.”
Qibla Ayaz stated that a believer who is tolerant of others’ mistakes and shows compassion and kindness to them will receive greater rewards than other believers who don’t do this. In another Hadith, the Holy Prophet (PBUH), referring to the rewards of fasting, said: “Whoever fasts with faith during Ramazan and seeks his reward from Allah will have their past sins forgiven.”
He said that the first Ashra in Ramazan is to ask for mercy from Allah, the second to be forgiven, and the third to be liberated from hellfire. He said that in Ramazan, there is a night of Laylaltul Qadar. According to the Holy Prophet (PBUH), their past sins will be forgiven if a Muslim prays with faith and sincerity on Laylatul Qadar.
Also Read: Ramazan Apps You Must Have
Abdul Ghafoor is a former Sheikh Zayed Islam Centre Peshawar director and a member of the Central Reut-e-Hilal Committee. He told APP Ramazan is the month people can earn the most virtues through generously contributing to the deserving and poor. Ramazan is a month that promotes national cohesion, interfaith harmony, and brotherhoods and fraternity among Muslims and minorities.
Shahid Khan, alias Lala, who was holding Iftar astrakhan in the historic Qissa Khawani Bazaar for fasting Muslims as well as poor and deserving minority communities, said that he has been doing this noble tradition for 10 years and that it gives him inner satisfaction and peace. He noted that the Iftar Dastarkhwan will continue until Chand Raat.
Jatinder Singh is the Chairman of the KP Chapter of the National Peace Council for Interfaith Harmony. He said that the Sikhs were planning big Iftar parties for their Muslim brothers during the last 10 days of the holy months and distributing edible packages to fasting people on their doorsteps.
He said: “Without winning the hearts and minds of people, we cannot come closer together and create a society in which all citizens have equal rights and are respectful of each other’s belief systems.”
He said that iftar parties for Muslims and Ramazan camps were not new practices for them. He said their forefathers had done the same to show love, warmth, and friendship to Peshawar’s Muslim brothers during Ramazan.
Haroon Sarbdayal is a member of the Pakistan Council of World Religions. He represents the Hindu community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He suggested the creation of a center of study for all religions in Peshawar where people could meet and interact with each other and learn about their beliefs. Iftar parties would also be organized to bring all faiths closer together.
Professor Dr Khalid Mufti, a prominent psychiatrist who was also Principal of Khyber Medical College Peshawar, said that studies have shown that Ramazan offers immense psychological and medical benefits to a “Roazadar” (fasting person), including tolerance and compassion that last throughout the rest of the calendar year.
He said Ramazan helped Muslims overcome anxiety, depression, and hypertension, as well as get rid of worldly wants. Dr Khalid says impatience and anger can negatively affect an individual’s physical and social well-being. In contrast, compassion and tolerating others will increase their self-esteem and lead to better results in life.
Categories: PRAYER (Salat), ALMS (Zakat), SAWN (Fasting) HAJJ (Pilgrimage) & DUA (Supplications), Hadith and Tafseer, The Holy Quran, Quran Jaz 1- 114
Topics: Ushr and Zakat, Hijab, Arabic Corner, Faith, Islamic History, Biography, Sirat ul Nabi PBUH, Islamic Studies, Halal & Haram
