Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar. During Ramadan, Muslims are obligated to fast from sunrise to sundown, abstaining from food and water. This holy month is an excellent time for Muslims to renew their commitment to their faith by giving charity, reading the Quran, praying, abstaining from bad habits and forming good ones. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Every good deed performed during Ramadan is multiplied many times, and all of the devils are chained the entire month.
The Prophet Muhammed Sallallahu 'alyhi wassallam said that during Ramadan, "the gates of Hell are closed, the gates of Paradise are opened, and the devils are in chains.”
Community members share their opinions with the Muslim Link and tell us about their quest to fulfill their goals of improving themselves and their faith this Ramadan.
Questions & Answers:
Question: What is one thing you have tried to change about yourself this Ramadan? What were your improvement goals this ramadan?
Ramadaan is a month of blessing, which is why I take advantage of it with all my activities. I continue training in martial arts just as hard, study just as diligently, and stay on my feet in general throughout the day. With all the blessings that are going into these tasks, I'd be at a loss if I didn't. - Ammar Habib
My goals were to become consistent in any type of good action I usually undertake, so I can carry these habits throughout the rest of my year. There’s no way I can actually tell if I succeeded, but I’d like to try and work on things like praying exactly on time, reading more Quran, and treating my family, friends and all others with care and respect. - Rashad Mulla
I'm definitely trying to sort out my priorities during this Ramadan. Usually, when I get busy with school, or give myself that excuse, I don't take out the time to understand the Qur'an and just read to reach the end of the juz. So my goal is to understand what I'm reading. - Anam Khatib
I realized that I'm always worrying about other people's problems and never actually focusing on myself and my religion. So my improvement goals this ramadan were pretty simple. I have spent more time in the Masjid, reading more Quran, praying, and connecting with Allah (swt). I try to push away certain things, and make myself focus a lot more. Ramadan, this blessed month, only comes once a year, and we never know when our last one will be. So we should make this one count. - Azizah Abdul Samad
I tried to focus on becoming more sincere in my actions, like trying really hard to intentionally do Islamic practices (Prayer, fasting, not lying, dawwah) solely for Allah and nothing else. Also I tried really hard to take everything good that happened to me, and give the credit to Allah, so I wouldn't be arrogant. - Anhar Karim
Question: What do you enjoy the most about fasting and Ramadan in general?
Getting the opportunity to eat foods from diverse ethnic backgrounds for iftaar. - Iffath Farzana
The emphasis on being at the masjid at all times. It really lends to a greater family dynamic in the masajid, and happier people in general. - Haris Qudsi
Going to the masjid every night for tarawe’eh and praying alongside the same people every day. It’s an empowering feeling of brotherhood. - Saad Malik
What I enjoy the most about fasting is that it helps you appreciate more for what you do have and less of what you don’t. There are people that don’t have any food to eat year-round, and barely have food to break their fast with. I only have to give up eating for a month. I can’t imagine what some people have to give up every day just to live. - Jamal Ali
First and foremost would be gaining the pleasure of Allah Subhanahu wa ta'aala. Fasting is an act of worship that only Allah knows because he’s the only one that sees you throughout the day whereas other people don’t know if you ate or drank throughout the day. Also it’s kind of good to be away from food, if you notice, majority of our daily life we’re surrounded by food and really indulge a lot of time in the company of food and drink. Fasting gives us a better chance to become closer to Allah by reading Qur’an, by being at the masjid more often, and also by praying on time. Many times due to food, we may miss a prayer just to please our stomachs. The ultimate enjoyment of fasting is the true appreciation for food at iftar. - Naveed Ahmed
My favorite part is definitely the coming together as a family part. Usually in the regular days we don’t eat together because of different schedules but it’s nice to be able to sit together at the dinner table and just talk. - Luthfe Siddique
I get to truly feel patience, get closer to God and my spirituality. It’s a good time for forgiveness and understanding.- Minal Sufian
Coming in the masjid every night to hear Qari Zahid recite the Qur’an and make moving du’as during witr. - Madiha Husain
Eating. - Ruhma Sufian
Question: What inspires you to do better, to change what you do? How do you motivate yourself?
My friends; I’m surrounded by my good believing friends. - Zohra Noor
What inspires me to change my habits is my constant strive to attaining perfection. What I believe is that, as Muslims, we should always try fixing our faults, from major ones to minor ones as well. Reading the Qur’an or hearing a hadith from our beloved Prophet Sallallahu 'alyhi wassallam encourages me to try harder. I further motivate myself by reading more Qur’an and reciting du’as that have to do with forgiveness. Another way to motivate myself is to spend some time doing dhikr. After all, Allah Subhanahu wa ta'aala is the one who changes the hearts of men. - Anaam Khan
My inspirations are my teachers - Qur’an teachers, parents, family, friends, just anyone that I learn anything from that helps me improve myself in my deen. My teachers are the ones who I am to be like, though I can probably never get to their level. During Ramadan, I try even harder to learn from them and one day, with the help of Allah, Subhanahu wa ta'aala, I pray to be able to reach their level of knowledge. - Fatima Husain
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