Important in Ramadan

I stumbled over an article that I thought had some important points to consider. Quoting the article… “Ramadan is much more than just fasting and prayer. Even if it is just fasting and prayers, both of them have far reaching effects than just feeling of hunger and thirst and praying for reward. Ramadan is to bring a change in the personality and conduct of a person for the better.”

In other words, people need to strive through the month, not just to show Allah that they can fast, but also with the intention to improve character. The article points to one specific aspect – “kindness”. Many people may think of this as an obvious step, but, (as the article states)… “the biggest problem with people of today is that we are filled with jealousy and we are too stringent when it comes to recognizing the good in others and are always focused on finding their ills.” This is sadly true with humans in general, regardless of faith. However, as muslims, we have been given an advantage… light. And that light came during the month of Ramadan.

It tells us…

سورة البقرة ٢٦٣
قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَا أَذًى ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَلِيمٌ

سورة الأحزاب ٧٠-٧١
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا
يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا

سورة الفرقان ٦٣
وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا

Surah Al-Baqara 2:263
Kind words and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is free of all wants, and He is Most-Forbearing.

Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:70-71
O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and (always) say a word directed to the Right:
That He may make your conduct whole and sound and forgive you your sins: He that obeys Allah and His Messenger, has already attained the highest achievement.

Surah Al-Furqaan 25:63
And the servants of (Allah) Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, “Peace!”

So the act of kindness is an obvious point to consider generally, but perhaps more so during Ramadan, a month full of fasting, praying, and reading of the Quran. It is a perfect time to also consider the person we want to be… that we should try to put in our minds to act towards others in the way we want to be treated ourselves. Who knows, you may plant a small seed that inspires people to do the same. It is something that this world sourly needs after all.

In the words of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, (that are beneficial to repeat)… “I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment, because they’ll never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we’ve lived.”

I hope that you found this an inspiring input and that it has brought something to consider.

The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.