The essence of Ramadan
The Holy Quran was revealed in the month of Ramadan and it is the time of the year to read the Holy Scriptures without fail and understand what it teaches.
The holy month of Ramadan is the time of the year when all the Muslims around the world take this opportunity to reconnect with God. The Holy Quran was revealed in the month of Ramadan and it is the time of the year to read the Holy Scriptures without fail and understand what it teaches. Speaking to Times of Oman, many Muslims and non-Muslims shared their views on what Ramadan signifies to them.
Saud Mohammed Salum Al Balushi, says, “For me, Ramadan is the month of prayer, read the Holy Quran and be close to Allah. The month of fasting helps me to understand the troubles and sufferings of the poor people across the world who struggles to have at least one proper meal in a day.”
“Ramadan is a realisation of how blessed we are in our lives,” says Neema Hamza, an Indian national living in Oman. “It is the month in which the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and we are bound to follow all of what is written in it.”
She adds, “According to me, the month of Ramadan is an opportunity for us to get more close to Allah and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). During the other months, we pray five times a day and are busier with work and our lives. We hardly get time to eat with our family. We are in the run to make a living and are stressed out. Sometimes we forget to give a helping hand to the needy. We do not make time to meet our relatives. Ramadan is a month, where we get less involved in our work and more involved in God. We try to pray the whole day, ask for forgiveness for any wrongdoings; we spend more time with our family and relatives, try to break the fast with our family, recite prayers and do namaz with our family.
“When we get more involved with God, we tend to forget our stress and become more relaxed. It is a month to forgive all those people who have hurt us. We often visit masjid and make new friends, and sometimes break the fast together in the mosque. It is also an opportunity to realise how blessed we are when we fast, we realise the suffering of others who cannot afford even a single meal and we try to do more charity activities this month. Fasting also helps us in controlling our fears and anger. It helps in putting a smile on our face, which is mostly absent in the busy run. Health wise also, fasting helps cleaning our body of toxins, helps to revive our organs, to make it run perfectly for the whole of next year. As a whole, it is a total realisation and practice of what is revealed in the Holy Quran, and how we need to live our life.”
Rashid Amer Al Salmani said, “The month of Ramadan is a blessing from Almighty God and it is an opportunity for all of us to get right back on track. It is a reminder for us to share the suffering of those who are less fortunate because we are blessed with almost everything that we need in our daily lives. I congratulate all Muslims during this Ramadan. I ask God to accept our fasting and good deeds. I also take this opportunity to pray for the good health and happiness to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.”
Not only among Muslims but also among many non-Muslims residing in Oman, the holy month had been an inspiration to learn and understand the true essence of Ramadan. Many non-Muslims fast along with their Muslim brethren.
Purushothaman Kunnumel, an Indian non-Muslim living in Oman has been fasting during Ramadan without fail for the past 18 years in a row. He says, “I was inspired by the determination by which my Muslim brethren fast. Ramadan fasting is a great way to discipline ourselves. It takes great courage to fight the temptation to drink or eat and stay away from all things that make us comfortable during the fasting period. I also go to the mosque in the evening, break the fast, and have Iftar along with everybody. The breaking of the fast taught me a valuable lesson that either rich or poor; we are all equal in front of God. There is no disparity and all have the same food. I was inspired even to learn the Holy Quran and I have attended Quran classes to learn more about Islam. Over the years, I have learnt so many things. Ramadan helped me to appreciate all good things in life. It is a great way of meditation and I realised how we run after the vanities of life when all we need is the grace of God.”