Welcoming the blessed month of Ramadhan

By today, all Muslims around the world would be observing the annual fasting with the appearance of Ramadhan. For a month, they will refrain from eating or drinking and other acts which would nullify the fast. This is also the month where Muslims are reminded to distance themselves from bad behaviours such as lying and back biting and encouraged to do good deeds such as donating to the poor. The ultimate aims for all these act of submission to Allah are blessings, forgiveness and safety from the hellfire.

A part from fasting, Ramadhan has many other significant to Muslims. This was the month when the first verse of the Quran was revealed. This was also the month when the Battle of Badr was fought, when 300 odd believers persevered over their 1000 odd opponents. This battle is considered the turning point for Islam.

Ok, let's look as the reality around us. Even before Ramadhan appears, you may have heard people discussing about food and stuff that they wish to eat in breaking their fast. Restaurants and other eating outlets had been advertising about buffets, and Ramadhan bazaars will mushroom around cities, towns and villages. Unfortunately, Ramadhan has been turned into a month of eating and feasting.

Midway through Ramadhan, the Hari Raya Aidil Fitri songs will be played and the shopping centres would be the centre of attraction, instead of mosques and suraus. While Allah has promised bounties of blessings and forgiveness through Lailatul Qadar, which will come in one of the last 10 nights of Ramadhan, many Muslims are looking the other way, shopping and eating.

Aidil Fitri is the day when Muslims celebrate their return to the original state the day they were born. This is the ultimate aim of Ramadhan, for the Muslims to attain blessings, forgiveness and safety from hellfire. This will be based on their efforts in fasting and doing other deeds. How could this be achieved if they are distracted by food, shopping and music?

Since today is the first day of Ramadhan, it would be great for all Muslims to plan how they would achieve the objectives of Ramadhan. How can the quality of the ways Ramadhan are observed this year would be different and better compared to previous years.

Let's make this year a better year.