Editorial

We are once more in Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the month of fasting during the day time. Beginning from tomorrow or Thursday, Muslims in the  country will join the entire Islamic Ummah to abstain from drinks, food, smoke and any other luxury during the daytime. The month is a holy one and Muslims are expected to devote themselves to Allah by praying and  visiting mosques, reading the entire holy book (Quran) and preaching unity, love and harmony in society.

As we therefore enter this holy month, we advise everyone, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to conduct  themselves within the dictates of humanity and do good at all times so that the blessings of God can continue to shower on our nation and the world at large. We should be reminded that Prophet Muhammad said, "Ramadan burns the sins and faults, just as the fire burns the wood”, and he also said that the month is the month of Allah (God), bringing His mercy and forgiveness.
 
It is also essential to try to understand the effects of fasting on the human spirit. When Muslims fast they feel that a barrier has been erected between them and the world. They will come to know hunger; we read so often that a quarter of the world’s population is in a state of constant hunger, yet how many of us realise the nature of this sensation? If our lunch is two hours late most of us feel extremely uncomfortable. But to grasp the true meaning of hunger, it is necessary to go without food for a longer time. By the end of a day's fast, the Muslim usually feels hungry, but not unbearably so. Thus we are awakened in the most real and direct way to the plight of millions of our fellow human beings, and will be more willing and ready to extend to them our assistance.

Ramadan is declared by God as a month of  blessings, the Holy Qur'an, the greatest favour upon humankind, was gifted in this month. The Prophet called it a month of sympathy, an equalizer of rich and poor and the Divine Will multiplied rewards  during it. Fasting is worship, a time of reflection to refresh our long-forgotten pledge with God, the pledge of being perfect witnesses of the Prophet's lifestyle. It is the time to look at ourselves critically, see where have we departed from the ways of Prophets Muhammad, Jesus, Moses, Abraham and other prophets (peace be upon them all), eradicate selfishness, ego, and violence and excel in love for all human beings.

Efforts during this month never go wasted as we have that extra-special divine Grace during this season of  blessings, of blossoms of love and most certainly, true faith. We should therefore all endeavour to cultivate the seeds of honesty, civility and tolerance in our hearts so that we can receive the mercy and blessings of God.