| Dear
Readers,
 Thanks a lot for the ideas and
diaries on Ramadan you sent to us this year. We
have the pleasure to reply to your messages. So let's
build a new bridge between us, sharing ideas and
suggestions, and exchanging experiences.
You can post your comments
on how Ramadan is in your country this year in our
roundtable: Ramadan
in Your Country.
A lot of people wrote to
tell us their feelings about Ramadan and their
experiences, and ways to welcome this special
guest. Here are some of the messages we got.
Mohammed from Ethiopia told
us how Ramadan is in his country:
Ramadan is the only time
that you feel that Ethiopia is a country dominated
by Muslims. As ethnic country its color is varies
as such. If you go to the Eastern part of the
country particularly Harar City you hardly
unpainted buildings. One of the reason behind
these is that Ramadan is time to strengthen the
kinship and almost all the relatives would
exchange visits and come over the tiffs if any
thorough out the year…
Our reply: You got the
point, Mohammed. Everyone has a favorite
Ramadan-related memory when it comes to the
family. The whole community seems to be
transformed during Ramadan as people see each
other consistently for 29 or 30 days. The
collective bond is strengthened. It is the month
of mercy and forgiveness. Let's make the most of
this Ramadan! Listen to Dr. Munir El-Kassem's
speech, Ramadan
and Refining Souls.
Salima Smith from NYC wrote
to us:
Salaam Alaikum brothers
& sisters. I am so grateful to be celebrating
Ramadan with you all and I send salaams from NYC.
I also am grateful to know that unlike other
religions, Muslims unite for a whole month to be
able to give adoration/praise to Allah (swt) and
put Him the Almighty at the forefront of our
thoughts. I'm proud to be a Muslim and proud to be
part of the most charitable, kind and peaceful
people of the earth..
Our reply: How amazing
your feeling is, Salima. Ramadan is a celebration
of God's guidance to humanity. Keep this spirit
up. We wish you a blessed Ramadan this year, in
sha' Allah. Here's for you Idris Tawfiq's article
on The
Joy In Ramadan.
From Nigeria, Kamal sent to
us saying:
 Ramadan is a month full of
blessings, part of it is that it helps people
unite together in love and perfect harmony, even
regardless of whether you are Muslims or not. For
instance in my country, during Ramadan there is a
very wonderful habit that non-Muslims share
Ramadan with Muslim families, Iftar, Suhur, even
to the point of fasting itself. There is a very
wonderful togetherness taking place during Ramadan
at all levels, masha Allah.I wish all of you happy
Ramadan!
Our reply: How
wonderful Ramadan is in your country, Kamal!
Ramadan is meant for our moral and spiritual
training and for the purification of our bodies,
minds, and souls. Ramadan is a special time to get
closer to Allah and to seek His blessings and
bounties. Your words about the relation between
Muslims and non- Muslims in Ramadan depicts the
core of Islam. Prophet Muhammad (peace and
blessings be upon him) embodied the spirit of
acceptance and respect for the Muslims and
non-Muslims alike. He used to visit the sick among
the Jews as well as the Muslims. Really, hand in
hand we can do build A
Constructive, Unified Society.
Ellie C wrote expressing
how Ramadan is in her eyes:
All Muslims, whatever their
nationality or country of origin or temperament or
social status or physical state, come together and
breathe the same 'air' in the climate of Ramadan.
In it, their souls are shaped in a way particular
to that climate, and they share a sort of
deeply-felt happiness which can be experienced
only by spirit beings. Ramadan has a fascinating
effect on Muslims that leaves its positive
imprints on even the souls of the poorest and most
oppressed people.
Our reply: Thanks,
Ellie, for your words. Truly, Ramadan renews our
enthusiasm for worship and devotion to Allah.
Ramadan gives the chance to start all over again
and to forget the mistakes of the past. It is a
time to spring clean one's spiritual house and
invite Allah into every room in that house. This
is exactly what Altaf Husain meant in his article Increasing
Our Knowledge in Ramadan.
We have a message from
Palestine. Mariam wrote to us asking us to pray
for her country and the suffering people:
I know that almost all
Muslims pray for us in Palestine and other
countries confronting problems, but this year
specially, we need more Dua'a, we are really in
bad circumstances and we are sure that we will
always find support and help from our brothers and
sisters.
Our reply: Be sure,
Mariam, that every cloud has a silver lining. The
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught
that the Muslim Ummah acts like a body: If one
part of the body suffers pain, the other part also
suffers. When there is such a spirit of mutual
trust and help, there will be unity and strength,
safety and security. And here we are with you,
hoping that the sun will shine again after this
fierce storm. Try to seize the blessings of
Ramadan and draw closer to Allah, asking Him for
support and aid. Listen to Dr. Munir El-Kassem's
words on how to Deal
with Difficulties in Life.
We are waiting for your
next comments.
IOL
Team |
