The month of Ramadan has approached us once again and is providing us the opportunity to avail all that we were not able to avail in previous Ramadans. Obligations that have a cycle always hold a chance of improvement. Ramadan is not a phase that comes to bring spiritual change in us for a month and then we turn back to our normal selves. It comes to enhance the basic Aqeedah that is implanted in the heart of a mo’min (believer). Allah (swt) in the Holy Quran clearly tells the believers why fasting has been made obligatory for them, and that is to gain “Taqwa’’.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
“Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may gain Taqwa.”
[Surah Al-Baqarah: 183]
Literally, ‘Taqwa’ means to protect and is that one protects him/herself from the Wrath of Allah by protecting him/herself from indulging in things that Allah forbids. And Allah (swt) not only forbids us from individually being sinful but focuses on collective reform.
As Ramadan brings big changes in the daily routine of a household and women are the planners, housekeepers and event organisers of families, their lives are deeply affected. From the preparation of sahoor till the time of iftar and along with all this planning for upcoming Eid is also considered a big task. Although all these things are necessary to be provided, but if all this brings women to a level where their standard of success is measured by the taste of food cooked by them or dresses designed and home décor, then certainly we have lost the purpose of life and that we all know is attaining ‘Taqwa’. Women as mothers are role models and builders of the next generation and can play a very strong role in the reform of todays, and building of the future Islamic society. Ramadan brings to light the issues that were already there like a sleeping tumour. We face price hikes of daily food items that depicts the insensitivity of the Government towards the issue. There are electricity and water crises. Internationally Muslims are suffering in different ways all around the world, from China to the Blessed Land (Palestine).
Muslim women have strong Islamic emotions and try to do extra ibaadaat: taraweeh prayers are arranged, recitation of Quran is especially stressed upon, charity and zakat are paid in abundance, still we see that society fails to meet the standards of ‘Taqwa’ on the whole desired by the Almighty. Daura Qurans and daily dars are arranged and attended by silent crowds without a voice being raised or a question being asked about how to handle the issues faced by Muslim Ummah. Experts teaching Quran fail to address the killings, hunger and oppression faced by the Muslims and the solution given in the Quran:
يـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اصۡبِرُوۡا وَصَابِرُوۡا وَرَابِطُوۡا وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُوۡنَ
“O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful.”
[Surah Al-i-Imran: 300]
Along with ibbadat, sahoor and Iftar we must keep a keen eye on the lives of Muslims around the world and within the country. Discussing it with people and children how hunger and fear have taken over the Muslim world and how Khilafah can bring relief. Addressing the issue of collection and distribution of Zakat being left on individuals’ shoulders. Remembering the Battle of Badr when Muslims set the standards of ‘Taqwa’ while fasting for their first Ramadan and this battle laid the foundation of the Islamic State and made out of the Muslims a force to be reckoned.
Dear sisters, once we become believers our journey towards success starts and that journey is not going to be easy, and perseverance and patience is not about being content with the oppression but to raise your voice and that inshaAllah will help you raise your rank in ‘Taqwa’. As ‘Taqwa’ is not judged by your time spent in prayer or your money spent in charity but it is measured by the obedience of Allah shown as a whole. ‘Taqwa’ for a Muslim is like life in a living body. To be alive your body organs need to function fully. One cannot just ignore and let the heart die as the brain is functional. It will ultimately cause the death of whole body. And as a healthy body is a happy body, a Muttaqi is certainly a believer that has survived this world by holding on to the rope of Allah (swt).
يَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ الْمُتَّقِينَ إِلَى الرَّحْمَنِ وَفْدًا
“The day We shall gather the righteous to (Allah) Most Gracious, like a band presented before a king for honours,”
[Surah Maryam:85]
So! Let’s make this Ramadan a month of change within and outside, individual and collective, so our eyes see the day when we collectively are presented before the King of Honours. Let us make this Ramadan a time to address every aspect of Islam and notify to the women around us in all possible ways that establishment of an Islamic state is the only way to protect ourselves and rise in ‘Taqwa’. We pray that Allah (swt) grant us with the shield (Khilafah), under which togetherness of Muslims becomes a strong reality and we are able to enjoy the true spirit of Ramadan.
Ikhlaq Jehan