Understanding The Holy Month, Once Again

WE have once again come to the holy month of Ramadan by God’s Will; the sacred month when the Quran was revealed bringing good news and mercy, and as a reminder to the believers. The spirituality, radiance and zeal, which are distinctive of Ramadan, makes this month the sultan of the year with a unique sacredness and meaning for Muslims and which has encompassed the entire Islamic world.

During the month of Ramadan, longed for just like in every period throughout history with its special virtues, we will observe the worship of fasting with our Muslim brothers and be thankful for all the blessings our Lord has granted for us, and perform prayers in crowded communities by praising His name. We will preserve the limits of God, as we are informed in the verses of the Quran and the sunnah of our Prophet (saas), enhance our feelings of helpfulness, solidarity and brotherhood, and close our ranks with love. The iftars that we break together and our prayers will be the means for overflowing our hearts with love of God.

While we wish for goodness and mercy for all Muslims in the month of Ramadan, we unquestionably remember our brothers who are being persecuted in every corner of the world. In this Ramadan, we remember that there is an urgent need for unity and solidarity for the salvation of Muslims who are under persecution and oppression in Myanmar, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Patani, Kashmir, East Turkestan, Moro and Crimea, as well as many other parts of the world, as we remember the innocent people of the Middle East that have been shattered by mischief and all kinds of affliction and are facing the most ruthless siege. We must never forget the images of innocent people devastated with automatic rifles and bombs, and the dead bodies of children lined up next to one another.

It is not possible for us to remain insensitive while millions of our brothers are downtrodden. Every time we break our fast, we will be mindful of them and hold them in our prayers. We will say, be it in small or big gatherings, that the only salvation of the Islamic world is in Islamic Union, and that Muslims should be united at once, and that delaying this unification is unlawful. Also, we believe that every one of us will act with the utmost conscience and make significant strides on this path. Indeed, the solidarity of Muslims, their being in unity and embracing one another should be the top priority in the Islamic world. Millions of innocents are expecting a helping hand from their Muslim brothers. For us to empathize their dire straits by putting ourselves in their place and striving for their salvation with our greatest efforts, is one of our major obligations. We need to be aware that we will have to account for every drop of blood that is shed, every guiltless person who is martyred or disabled because of an injury, or every aggrieved individual in starvation.

There is no doubt that it is already time for the Islamic world to unite. When all the lands of Islam act in alliance and togetherness, they will make enormous progress by God’s will and the mischief we see throughout the world will come to an end. It is essential for Muslims to come together in unison for the bloodshed to stop, for the anarchy and terror to end, and for tranquility, welfare and security to prevail all over the world.

We hope that in this sacred month, Muslims will put aside their dissension and come together, and attain days of serenity, radiance and peace by the Will of our Lord. All Muslims should leave aside the fighting, conflict and resentment this Ramadan, act in alliance and seek ways to save their brothers under oppression so that the seemingly unceasing strife is brought to an end in the Islamic world. By realizing that our religion enjoins peace and brotherhood, we wish that all divisions and bitterness be eliminated so that the lovelessness, disagreement and disputes arising from differences are removed and that Muslim brothers and sisters can reconcile. And, again, we pray that this blessed month is the means for laying the foundation of a delightful, peaceful and luminous period in the Islamic world, just like the Age of Bliss.

By Harun Yahya

The writer has authored more than 300 books translated in 73 languages on politics, religion and science. He may be followed at @Harun_Yahya