Whenever the orbitturns and another month of Ramadan approaches, happiness and joy filled the Muslim community. The reason being that it comes with two great gifts which are holiness and witnessing the night better than a thousand nights in which the Qur’an was revealed.

Preparing the family for the new spirit of Ramadan is more of the wife’s duty. Muslim women therefore need to be adequately prepared for the spiritual exercise. As a woman at home, you have to buy all the necessary things for the month before the first of Ramadan. This will enable you to spend less time during the holy month rushing around. It will also help you to be focused on your religious activities and spiritual development.

The Qur’an says: Wazhakir faina zhikra, tanfau-l-Mumineen: “And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers.” We have to remind ourselves that there is no better time than now to prepare for the month. In fact, our preparations should have reached crescendo, bearing in mind that it is less than two weeks from now. The companions of the Prophet began preparation for the glorious month six months in advance.

One of the topics that are usually treated by Islamic preachers when Ramadan approaches is how to prepare for the blessed month. This preparation comes in different forms and one of it is through health preservation. Sound health is one of the most crucial needs of all human beings at any stage in life. The performance of religious obligations which is the purpose of man’s creation on earth depends on sound health.

“And when my slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them) I am indeed near. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me. So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.” (2: 186)

Someone long time ago, put the question to me on the use of wig by some muslim sisters even though they still abide by the use of hijab. Islam much has it permits the use of ornaments and other kinds of beautifiers for women does not sanction the use of wig. The religion wants us to remain as natural as posssible. Wearing the hair of another human, man or a woman, or joining human hair to one’s hair has been clearly forbidden by the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w)

It is not difficult to find out that the most important virtue which Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) not only talked about but also displayed is found missing in the lives of many Muslims. Even among our leaders who are supposed to show this exemplary leadership, patience and perseverance are absent.

“And say to the believing women to lower their gazes and guard their chastity, and let them not display of their charm – except what is apparent.” (Q24:31) Commenting on the phrase, “what is apparent”, Ibn `Abbas, the famous Companion and the Qur’an analyst, said, “It means face and hands.”

Hardly a day passes on without any issue relating to Islam making the headlines in a very sorry manner. If it is not the Boko Haram ‘Islamic’ sect, it is the Ansaru ‘Islamic’ sect or better still a Michael that was converted to Islam. Even if they never had any link with Islam as a religion, or whether such heinous activities run contrary to the teachings of Islam, it wouldn’t matter to them. It is Islam here and there. It is one wrong notion or the other about the religion mainly orchestrated to decimate the religion. But no matter the persecution, Islam will outlive its persecutors.

It was one Hamas activist, Muhammad Abu Wardeh, who was reported to be recruiting terrorists for suicide bombings in Israel more than a decade ago that said: “God would compensate the martyr for sacrificing his life for his land. If you become a martyr, God will give you 70 virgins, 70 wives and everlasting happiness.” All the informed Muslims knew certainly that Wardeh was only shortchanging his recruits.