LETTERS: We have entered the holy month of Ramadan amid an extended Movement Control Order (MCO) and unlike previous years, we shall not have the Ramadan bazaars this year.
Many will miss congregation for tarawih. Some will also miss qiamullail (prayer at last quarter of the night) at the masjid, especially during the last 10 nights of the month.
Those who have never missed tarawih for the past one, two or three decades will remember the recitation of their beloved imam.
Our experience to observe fasting this Ramadan 1441 will definitely be very different.
Nonetheless, the obligation to fast during this holy month — the obligation to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual relations from dawn to dusk — will remain the same as before.
This month will bring the
same unique fortuities for every 10 nights from Allah the Almighty as before.
We shall still have the chance to beg for rahmah (mercy) during the first 10 nights, barakah (blessings) during the second 10 nights, and magfirah (forgiveness) during the last 10 nights from Allah the Almighty.
We shall still have equal opportunities to connect ourselves with Allah the Almighty and pray for His mercy, blessings and forgiveness.
It wouldn't matter whether we shall have our favourite food and drinks during buka puasa.
What would matter is our success to connect ourselves with Him.
To achieve that, all we need is to increase our taqwa (consciousness of Allah). The more we shall increase our taqwa, the more we shall be nearer to Him.
There are many ways to achieve that goal. The time that we used to spend on the road can be used to recite the Quran and make zikir (His remembrance). Being less tired, we may have more opportunities to perform qiamullail being at home and connect ourselves with Allah the Almighty.
Essentially, this Ramadan brings us even more opportunities.
This is the time when we can show our love and compassion for our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters, and to the rest of those in our surroundings. Many may not have enough food in their home. Others may not have anything at all.
While we will dearly miss our Ramadan bazaars and our favourite food, let us also feel the pain of hunger that many around the world are going through. In fact, the pain of hunger affects all races, nations and religions.
And let us stop eating while we are still hungry — that means keeping a part of our stomach empty. In fact, that partial hunger will offer us some health benefits.
Let us recite the Quran, qiamullail and beg for His mercy, blessings and forgiveness.
Our prayers and our compassion for our brothers and sisters will bring us nearer to Allah the Almighty.
Will He then not listen to our call for His mercy to lift the challenges that we are facing due to this pandemic?
PROF DR MOHAMMAD TARIQUR RAHMAN
FACULTY OF DENTISTRY, UNIVERSITY MALAYA
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times