The New Moon ushers in Ramadan, the Islamic month of puritanical living! With the right attitude, Ramadan is beneficial both in outward form and inner experiencing! Like http://www.arabnews.com/ explains “The holy month of Ramadan comes to the Islamic world every year to remind the Muslim faithful on the need to return to Allah by following His teachings in all walks of their lives in order to achieve peace in this world and the Hereafter.”
The outward form includes fasting, increased reading of the Koran and praying, charitable activities, abstinence, reduction in purely material pursuits, etc. Without doubt, these are beneficial activities!
Fasting is well-known to have health merits if properly guided, charity and compassion are praiseworthy and like the cliché goes, ‘moderation is true temperance’! Imagine what the world would feel like if all who profess Islam would truly shun all forms of vices for one month!
Inwardly, Ramadan is a period for sober reflection, soul searching and re-commitment to the Will of the Almighty! This is what the quote above calls the “return to Allah by following His teachings in all walks of their lives”!
Every religion, indeed, every human being who strives for noble values has, or, should have a periodic ‘Ramadan’! It may not last for one month, one week or, even a day but, one should set aside and cherish those times when the soul enlivens its connection with the Light Source; when the spirit takes its rightful place over the intellect and the deep voice of the intuitive perception silences the chatter of mundane thoughts!
After such periods, one feels energized, ready to reach for the stars with joyful activities and very determined not to go back to dark old ways! It is always a great opportunity for spiritual reawakening! That is the essence and lasting benefit of Ramadan!
Unfortunately, mankind fails over and over again to make good use of such opportunities like the Ramadan! Even Muslims, to a large extent, allow the blessings of the month to pass them by unused!
But, let us not lose sight of the deep significance of the period. Let us not fail to appreciate the devout hearts that truly live the essence of Ramadan! These tiny sparks dotting the Islamic world are largely unsung and unpretentious Muslims who in sincere devotion open their souls to embrace the positive vibrations of the moment and thus, strengthen the threads of Light in Creation.
Like the ‘few’ unassuming adherents found in most religions and movements, they are the real faithful and custodians of the values and teachings of the Light Messenger, Prophet Mohammad!
Ramadan is here again! We wish our Muslim friends the inner strength and material means to experience the period successfully. May all who bow their souls in worship to The Most High with humility, truth and trust reap bountiful blessings!
Above all, may the faithfuls use the blessings to sustain positive change in the their thoughts, words and deeds after the Ramadan fast!
Welcome O’ Ramadan!
Image source: _/\_Peggy @ ECUMENICUS
Text: A repost on Purplerays
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