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Ramadan: The Great OpportunitySummary 1) Humans need sanctuaries to escape from the trials of life. 2) Blessed seasons represent opportunities in life. 3) The wisdom behind Siyaam (fasting). 4) Practical benefits of Siyaam. 5) Taking advantage of time that
remains
All praise is due to Allaah, may peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, his household and companions.
Brothers in Islaam! Fear Allaah and beware of wasting your life away in useless matters. Make use of your time by doing positive things, for it is by doing so that you can achieve the pleasure of Allaah.
Fellow Muslims! In the midst of the hustle and bustle of this worldly life and the severe struggle that people are going through to acquire its treasures, man still realises that he is desperately in need of a sanctuary in which he can seek refuge and under whose shade he can unwind in order to be able to refresh himself and strengthen his determination to move forward in his journey to success.
Strength is an indispensable provision for a Muslim because it helps him to attain the truth and establish it, helps him to gain authority on the earth, assists him to be victorious and subsequently leads him to the love of Allaah and His pleasure. That was why the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allaah than the weak believer, But there is good in both.” Therefore, all reasonable people will agree that one must seek for and exploit all means that can lead to the pleasure of Allaah and His favours.
It is a manifestation of Allaah’s bountiful blessings on His slaves that He provides a lifetime of opportunities for them by which they can they attain this aim. Fasting and the blessed month of Ramadaan are at the forefront of these opportunities.
Ramadaan is a wide and expansive avenue for developing one’s strength in all areas; abstention from food, drink and marital-relations during the day, being patient on that, waking up in the night for prayers and remaining steadfast on these are some of the apparent means of strengthening one’s will. This is in fact an immense opportunity and could be a turning point which is an object of craving for the people who have vision; those who humble themselves before their Lord and seek the way of approach to Him. It is a transformation towards a better way of life; a change from the ignominy of sins to the glory of obedience; from weakness and laziness to strength and vigour; from bad customs and detestable habits to righteousness and upright conduct.
Brothers in faith! Fasting contains elements of strength, resoluteness and strong will that are indispensable tools for one who wants to attain high degrees and prosperity in this world and the Hereafter. Allaah says, “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you so that you may become righteous.” (Al-Baqarah: 183).
Fellow Muslims! The days of this blessed month are rapidly moving to an end. Therefore, let those who were negligent hasten to recover what has been missed of good deeds. Let them work in the remaining few days for their future, for the doomed is the one who is deprived of the Mercy of Allaah in this month.
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