It was Ramadhan 1
- Shaykh Haafiz Yunus Patel Sahib


…Will it bring glad tidings to the world, of a spiritually charged Ummah, which has emerged with purified souls, ready to face mighty challenges? One of the greatest challenges being that of inviting the lost souls, in a world filled with corruption, evil, immorality, obscenity, tyranny and rebellion against the Creator, towards servitude and submission to Allah Ta'ala and obedience to Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Will it bring an Ummah now ready to demonstrate in their living, the key lesson of Ramadaan, which was the development of Taqwa in every department of one's life and total submission to the Will and Command of Allah Ta'ala and His Beloved (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)?

The month of Ramadaan had offered us a fertile 'training ground' to become true vicegerents of Allah Ta'ala on earth.

The 'achievement' of Ramadaan is having learnt to obey Allah Ta'ala and His Beloved Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) in all walks of life - as an employer or employee, father or child, ruler or subject, teacher or student, husband or wife, master or servant, commander or soldier, trader or customer, dealer or client - with a determined pledge to maintain the code of Shariah throughout one's life.

Alhamdulillah, so much of time, attention and effort was given to the Qur'aan Sharif in the month of Ramadaan. Yet the Qur'aan Sharif is not exclusive to Ramadaan. Its revelation and its objective is not only its recitation. Its teachings are to encompass our lives - in every day, of every month, of every year, of every Muslim's life.

We all believe that the Qur'aan Sharif, the Message of Allah Ta'ala, is a guide for all of mankind; not just the Muslim. We also believe that it is authentic, unaltered, unparalleled, unpolluted.

However, the Believers in Allah Ta'ala, themselves, first and foremost, need to make the Qur'aan Sharif their guide in all matters of life: a Guide in the beliefs they should hold; a Guide in forms of worship; a Guide in business deals; a Guide in morals, etiquette and conduct; a Guide in politics and in establishing government on earth, which will ensure peace, harmony, preservation and fulfilment of human rights; and, a Guide towards eliminating corruption, oppression, tyranny, and every evil from society.

When we do this, then the guidance of the Qur'aan Sharif will become manifest for all. Then all will become recipients of its guidance. Otherwise, the Believers will have a share in bearing the burden of having delayed, if not completely obstructed others from salvation in the Hereafter.

Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has said:

"O you devotees of the Qur'aan! Do not use the Qur'aan as a pillow, but read it properly (some part of the) day and night, as it ought to be read Propagate the Qur'aan (by writing, speech, practice). Read it in a good voice and ponder over its contents so that you may succeed."

Hazrat 'Umar (radhiallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said :

"Allah exalts many people by means of this Book (the Qur'aan Sharif), and He also degrades and disgraces many others by means of the same."

Those who practically apply the Qur'aanic teachings in their homes, businesses, politics, government, social and cultural life will be elevated. Those who do not practise or are selective by practising on parts of the Qur'aan Sharif, should heed the Divine warning of punishment, given to the Bani Israeel, in the following words.

"...THEN IS IT ONLY A PART OF THE BOOK THAT YOU BELIEVE IN, AND DO YOU REJECT THE REST? BUT WHAT IS THE REWARD FOR THOSE AMONG YOU. WHO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, BUT, DISGRACE IN THIS LIFE? AND ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT THEY SHALL BE CONSIGNED TO THE MOST GRIEVOUS PENALTY. FOR ALLAH IS NOT UNMINDFUL OF WHAT YOU DO." (Surah Baqarah 2 : 85)

From east to west, north to south, the world is in a chaotic state. The only solution to the evils which the societies of the world are submerged in, is without doubt, the Final Divine Revelation: The Qur'aan Sharif.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (radhiallahu anhu) has reported: "Hazrat Jibraeel (alayhis salaam) once informed Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) that many fitnahs will certainly appear. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) asked: 'What will be the way out, O Jibraeel?' He replied: 'The Book of Allah.'

However, as Believers we have done a great injustice in our duty to the Qur'aan Sharif. The teachings of the Qur'aan Sharif have to come out of the book, out of the media, out of the Institutions of learning, out of the conferences and seminars, and into the lives of Believers.

When mankind will read the Qur'aan Sharif as well as the Ahadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and also see these teachings in the lives of the Believers, they will enter the religion of Islam in large numbers, as in the past, without much effort.

May Allah Ta'ala remove the difficulties, trials and hardships that the Ummah is facing in Palestine, Kashmir, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq and other parts of the world. May He cause the winds of Hidayat and guidance to blow throughout the continents. May He bless the Ummah with the grace to maintain the spirit of Taqwa gained in Ramadaan, throughout life. May He protect us from returning to the sins we had given up in Ramadaan.

May Allah Ta'ala create the conditions for the release of thousands of prisoners, unjustly detained, throughout the world, by tyrant rulers, especially those suffering under inhuman conditions in Guantanamo Bay.

I wish all my Muslim brothers and sisters a Mubarak Eid.