Ramadan: An MOT for the Good of Britain

By Emdad Rahman
IOL Correspondent - UK

Full article - www.islamonline.net

The month of unadulterated focus, patience, understanding, generosity and reflection.

With open arms we welcome back an eagerly anticipated and much required guest. The joyous occasion of Ramadan is once again with us. Like all previous Ramadans, I hope to celebrate, enjoy and experience a very eventful month. I carry on as usual during this month, but focus on increasing my worship and remembrance of Allah.

Ramadan is like an MOT and service for Muslims. It is a period to regain focus and set new targets.

I strongly believe that Muslims at work and study should not use Ramadan as an excuse for slackness. After all, here in the UK we have a grand evening to look forward to. What I am stressing here is that in a lot of areas of the world our fellow Muslim brethren are not so fortunate. Due to their economic and welfare status, fasting is an every-day-reality for many. It is a magical month, a deeply spiritual period that promotes ?just like the Hajj? a sense of togetherness not felt during any part of the year.

Ramadan With Beloved Ones

Broadcaster and writer Nabila Pathan is looking forward to Ramadan with great anticipation; “Without a doubt, Ramadan for me is a real family and community event. For the past two years I have been sharing my Ramadan experience with the Muslim community in the South East of London, by hosting a live drive time show on Ramadan Radio. It was probably the largest number of people I have ever shared my Ramadan experience with!"

Nabila Pathan, who blogs at Wordplay, believes that Ramadan is a time of reflection and contemplation; “when you get to share your stories it comes to life. Therefore, I make it a point to always break my fast amongst family and friends."

“Not only does the shared experience keep the momentum of why we are fasting alive but it is a time that brings you closer to beloved ones, in a world that is increasingly busy and fast paced."

Ramadan's Charity

Imam Ilyas is a law student and leads Jumu`ah Prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque in London’s Canary Wharf. An experienced Imam, the 29-year-old spoke to IOL, “I am leading the Tarawih Prayer for my growing congregation in our part of London."

Ilyas, who is teaching tafseer and hadith at a local institute, is spending a large part of his Ramadan engaged in TV fundraising for charities that support the helpless.

“Ramadan is an opportunity for us to encompass ourselves with the blessings of Allah. It is a time for giving and helping the needy. For British Muslims, this is an opportunity for us to share the best of our faith with the wider community. I would advise all Muslims to increase their worship during this bountiful period.”

A Training Ground

Imam IlyasLike many UK Muslims, Rahima Begum views Ramadan as a “training ground” for the year to come – “It is the month where all if’s and but’s are set aside and self control is exercised."

Begum is the Co-Director ofRestless Beings– a charity dedicated to alleviating suffering amongst children and families, including child prostitution and malnutrition.

She describes Ramadan as the month of unadulterated focus, a month of “patience, understanding, generosity and reflection.”

This will be the second Ramadan Rahima will observe devoid of the presence of her beloved father who passed away a year ago; “I will spend a lot of crucial time during Ramadan praying in abundance for him and his life in the hereafter and fulfilling the charities duties he carried out when he was around."

With no time off work, Ramadan to Rahima also means exerting self control - controlling her temper when being shoved like sardines in a tin on the central line; “this is an opportunity to communicate the essence of why I am fasting to inquisitive non Muslim colleagues and encouraging them to appreciate the importance of spirituality and Islam in ones life."

Greetings From Downing Street

Addressing Britain’s Muslims Prime Minister Gordon Brown has given his sincerest best wishes for the holy month of Ramadan.

Speaking from Downing Street, the PM said we should “celebrate the diversity that contributes to Britain’s strength” and “consider the contribution of Islam not just to Britain, but to the world”.

The PM also praised the huge contribution that Muslim’s have made to “our prosperity, our society and our culture”.

Muslims & Britain's Success

Ramadan teaches patience and humility, and reminds us of our shared moral universe; our obligation to others.

The message of empathy for the less fortunate is reflected in Ramadan by the daily fast. And Ramadan’s message of compassion and social justice spreads beyond Muslim communities; it speaks of shared values that unite us all.

The hadith of the Prophet Muhammad emphasise the duty of care we owe one another. So during this special month, let us also celebrate the diversity that contributes to Britain’s strength.

Muslims make a huge contribution to Britain’s success ? to our prosperity, our society and our culture. And of course, Ramadan is an opportune time to consider the contribution of Islam not just to Britain, but to the world: Islamic art, science, and philosophy have enriched our lives over many centuries.