I would like to start by saying ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ to all my Muslim brothers and sisters around the world. I pray to my Lord that, this holy month which encompasses the Night of Qadr, the night when the Quran, the guide to all of humanity was sent down, and which is ‘...better than a thousand months’ (Surat al-Qadr, 3),’ will bring peace, happiness and welfare to the entire Islamic world.
The holy month of Ramadan carries so many beauties and blessings, and it would be almost impossible to list them all here. In this sacred month, Muslims throughout the vast Islamic geography become united, put behind the resentments from the past and embrace the feelings of brotherhood, alliance, love, compassion and affection. The poor and the needy are taken care of through the iftar gatherings and the aid of charity organizations and benefactors, creating a blessed environment for all the parties involved.
The month of Ramadan has very positive effects on people’s souls. The crime rates drastically drop during this month in the Muslim world. Many avoid telling lies, committing sins and shun any activities that Allah wouldn’t approve of. They feel more empowered and inspired to think and act better. Fasting makes them ponder matters that they never gave a thought to before, and this creates a fear of God Allah and a longing for the Hereafter in their hearts. They get closer to religion and many of them continue to live a more devout and sincere life even after Ramadan ends. Therefore, Ramadan is a month of endless blessings and goodness.
However, the Islamic world has started this Ramadan amidst wars, conflicts and poverty. We started last Ramadan by praying that all the pains, suffering and wars that the innocent people of the Islamic world had to endure would end soon. This year, Muslims are facing even bigger difficulties. In the Middle East particularly, brothers have turned against brothers and Muslims are fighting Muslims. Innocent people are being killed for no reason, forced out of their homes and countries, our historical heritage is being destroyed and things escalate further with every passing day.
However our Lord said in the 4th verse of Surat as-Saff , “Allah loves those who strive in His Way in ranks like well-built walls”, and made it very clear that it is an obligation for Muslims to be united. Muslims are the guardians of each other, and as they are the friends of Allah, the helpers of Allah, they have the sublime moral values to bring peace and justice to the world. It is for this reason that Muslims need to love, embrace and help each other. It is important that Muslims foil the plot of Satan immediately to bring an atmosphere of unity and love to the Muslim world regardless of any ethnic, racial, sectarian or other differences. Our Lord said in the 103rd article of Surah Al ‘Imran , “Hold fast to the rope of Allah all together, and do not separate …” and ordered Muslims to be united, help, love and cooperate with each other and intellectually disperse the evil results of hostility.
Allah created destiny and He showed us the way of salvation. The only thing we need to do is follow His words, and bring love and compassion to the Islamic world. Allah commanded Muslims to set aside all their differences and love and help each other. We pray that this Ramadan will be a month when Muslims stop pointing guns at each other, and foil the plot of Satan by extinguishing the fires of hostility and strife and becoming more loving, compassionate, understanding and more reasonable towards each other.
Adnan Oktar's piece on Tehran Times & Arab Voice & Hiba Magazine:
