By Ishola Haroon Balogun

Fasting for a couple of days might be all it takes to understand the suffering of those who go without food and their own way of life.  Understanding the plight of the poor is one part of what Ramadan seeks to achieve.  We are therefore reminded severally both in the Qur’an and hadiths that giving food to fasting Muslim is a great deed in the month.

In fact, feeding of 60 people is regarded as equivalent to a day’s fasting. (Remember the penalty for breaking fast?). That is to tell us how much Allah values putting food on the table of the poor. How much better it would be if we could let others see the sweet and beautiful message of Islam by way of giving.  We should not allow this special month to go without a good account of what we have added in somebody’s life.

We need to be asking ourselves all the time, especially how we are going to benefit maximally from the holy month. What are we going to do to make the most of Ramadan? Surely, it is a profitable venture in which there is no risk. But fat rewards.

It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer’s sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all.”

We can bring light and hope into the lives of many people who have none. Islam is the natural religion. Many in the world know nothing about Islam, except for the images of violence they see on TV. By way of giving,  we can change that misconception. By our giving for Allah’s sake, we can teach the world how beautiful Islam really is. Maybe our giving could also help us to be better Muslims.

Prayer of the day

“O Allah, on this day, purify me from uncleanliness and dirt, make me patient over events that are decreed, grant me the ability to be pious, and keep company with the good, by Your help.” Amin.