By Ishola Haroon Balogun

This month is introduced as a month of sympathy, love and affection. The Prophet (SAW) has said. Whoever reduces the burden and work of those who are under him. Allah will forgive him and save him from Hell fire.

One of the basic teachings of Islam is that you make things easy for people, never make it difficult, never increase their hardship, rather you strive to alleviate it. Let us now show love, solidarity, unity, integrity, sympathy, affection to our fellow beings and all can enjoy the benefits of fasting whether they are fasting or not.

There was a time a righteous man was craving for food while he was fasting. As the food was being presented to him – when it was time to break his fast – he heard someone saying, ‘Who will loan to the rich, the reliable and the Self-Sufficient One?’ The righteous man answered, ‘His servant who is deprived of all good. He then rose up, took the plate of food and gave it to the beggar and passed his night in hunger.’

Allah says, “And they give (others) preference over themselves, even though they were in need of that. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be successful.” (Al-Hashr: 9).

It does not only involve a class of people.  All classes of people should take part in giving and being generous in this month.  If you have only two dates, spare one, if you have one, give half and if you have half, share it with fellow Muslims. This is the spirit of the month.

No amount of words can describe how important Ramadan is or the blessings and benefits Muslims take from it. No words can describe how good it feels to complete a day’s fast or the joy and the feeling of festivity when each day’s fasting is over with gifts exchanging hands.

We cannot pretend not to know that there are many Muslims in our environment whose fast will not end. In fact, thousands are starving merely because they have no food to either commence fasting or break their fast. We cannot pretend not to know the extent of poverty in this country.

So, not only giving our time to Allah, but giving our material things to others is also a way of celebrating Ramadan. It really costs us very little to give out of our plenty to those who have nothing. By doing so in Ramadan, we learn to thank Allah for all his blessings on us. We can go round, identify the needy and help them.  We can arrange sahur and iftar for fellow Muslims through Mosques, communities and individuals.

Prayer of the day
Allahuma aini fihi ala siyyami, wa kiyyami, wa janbi nih fihi min hafawa tihi, wathaamiihi, wa arzuqni fihi zikiraka bidawami, bi taofeeqikah, Yaa hadiyal mudhileen

“O Allah, on this day, help me with my fasts and prayers, and keep me away from mistakes and sins of the day, grant me that I remember You continuously through the day, by Your assistance, ‘O the Guide of those who go astray.”  Ramadan Kareem!