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Ramadan Message from MAS GLA Chairman
Time to Recharge
Have you ever encountered a phone that does not need to be recharged? Or a car that moves without fuel? Or a plane that travels without a source of energy? Similarly, we need to recharge our Eman to enable us to function in the way that Allah (SWT) has ordered us. Our next encounter is a very special one. This indeed is the month of Quran, month of generosity, month of nightly prayers, month of supplication and above all it is the month of Taqwa. We are about to encounter a process by which we worship Allah by NOT Doing rather than doing acts of worship. In addition, unlike other acts of worship where we abstain from NOT doing acts that are harmful to us, in this blessed month, we worship our creator by NOT Doing acts that are permissible (food, drink and spousal relationships, etc) during certain parts of the day. It is such conditioning that Allah, the Almighty, has designed for us to attain the very purpose of the month of Ramadan, Taqwa. Indeed, miserable is the one who is deprived of Allah?s forgiveness in this great month.
Baihaqi reported on the authority of Salman Al-Farsi that Prophet (SAWS) delivered a sermon on the last day of the month of Shaban. In it he (SAW) said,
O People! The month of Allah Ramadan has come with its mercies, blessings and forgiveness. Allah has decreed this month the best of all months. The days of this month are the best among the days and the nights are the best among the nights and the hours during Ramadan are the best among the hours. This is a month in which you have been invited by Him. Allah has honored you in it. In every breath you take is a reward of Allah, your sleep is worship, your good deeds are accepted and your invocations are answered.
Therefore, we must:
- Invoke Allah with hearts free from sin and evil, and pray that Allah may help us to keep fast, and to recite the Holy Quran.
- While fasting remember the hunger and thirst on the Day of Judgment.
- Give alms to the poor and needy.
- Pay respect to our elders, have sympathy for our youngsters and be kind towards our relatives and kinsmen.
- Guard our tongue against unworthy words, and our eyes from scenes that are not worth seeing (forbidden) and our ears from sounds that should not be heard.
- Pray to Allah to provide relief for those who have been oppressed and transgressed upon in our country and worldwide
- Repent to Allah for our sins and supplicate with raised hands at the times of prayer as these are the best times, during which Allah Almighty looks at His servants with mercy.
On behalf of everyone in MAS, I'd like to wish you all a blessed and beneficial Ramadan. May Allah (SWT) shower his blessings on you and your family, and help us to benefit greatly during this beloved month.
Khaled Bahjr, PhD.
Board of Trustees, Chair
MAS Greater Los Angeles