Holy Ramadan: When the earth becomes paradise

D.T. BANU At the outset, let me state the five basic tenets of Islam: Reading 5 Kalimas Reciting prayer 5 times daily Observing 30 days Ramadan fasting Giving or charity. Performing Haj pilgrimage. During the month of Ramadan, point numbers 2, 3 and 4 take the front seat!

The Holy Quran opens with Fatiha Sura revealed in Mecca followed by Sura Baqarah revealed in Medina wherein paragraph 262 states, “Those who spend their wealth for the cause of Allah and afterwards make no reproach or injury to follow that which they have spent therein, reward is with their Lord and no fear shall come upon them and neither shall they grieve.” To quote para 263 of the same Sura “A kind word with forgiveness is better than alms-giving followed by injury.”

The Holy Quran emphasis that if we give or charity to the poor and down-trodden, we should give whole-heartedly. He who bestows his goods upon the poor during the month of Ramadan shall have as much and ten times more. To quote another Sura in the Holy Quran: “Ara aytallazi yukazzibu bid-din Fazaalikallazi yadu-ul-yatiim Waha - vahazzu-alaa-taamil miskin Fa-waylul-lil-musalliin”

Which means, “Has thou observed him who believeth religion? That is he who repelleth the orphan and urgeth not the feeding of the needy. Ah! Woe unto worshippers who are heedless of their prayers”.

As Gandhiji put it once, “Prayer is the key of the morning and bolt of the evening”. We begin our day with early morning (Fajr) prayer and end our day with night (Isha) prayer. After 30 days of rigorous fasting followed by fervent daily prayers and liberal donations to the poor, finally when Eid comes, earth becomes paradise! (The writer is a freelance journalist based in India)