In the Name of Allah, Merciful to all, Compassionate to each!
All praise belongs to Allah, and may His peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
The British Board of Scholars and Imams (BBSI) would like to extend its congratulation to the British Muslim community in the UK and the Muslim Ummah around the world for the commencement of the special month of Ramadan 1442. Whichever day the communities begin the blessed month of Ramadan, it asks Allah almighty to help us to please Him and get closer Him.
Fasting in Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ said that Islam is built upon five pillars: to testify that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His final messenger; to establish Salah; to pay the Zakat; to carry out Hajj; and to fast the month of Ramadan.
Allah asserts in the Qur’an:
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” [2:183]
Fasting the month of Ramadan is a monumental opportunity for seeking the forgiveness of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said, “He who fasts during Ramadan with conviction (iman) and anticipating his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the nights in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Laylat al-Qadr [the Night of Decree] in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.” [Bukhari and Muslim.]
Therefore, the BBSI is appealing to British Muslims in particular and the Muslim Ummah at large to use this month as a means for their success in this life and the hereafter. The following are some recommendations to achieve the maximum this month.
- To establish the reality of the oneness of Allah in all aspects of their life, to establish their five daily prayers and to give the Zakat of their wealth.
“And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give Zakat. And that is the correct religion.” [98:5]
- To turn to Allah in repentance. This entails specifically to abandon the major sins and to have a sincere intention not to go back to them.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Avoid the seven destructive things.” It was asked: “What are they, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “Associating anyone or anything with Allah in worship; practising sorcery, killing of someone without a just cause whom Allah has forbidden, devouring the property of an orphan, eating of usury, fleeing from the battlefield and slandering chaste women who never even think of anything touching chastity and are good believers.” [Burkhari and Muslim]
Allah also says, “And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.” [17:32]
- To maintain the highest aims and objects of the Sharia after worshiping Allah Almighty. These are summarised in this verse:
“Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.” [16:90]
- To establish the overall oneness of the Muslim ummah and to use their differences as a positive tool for the flourishment of the Ummah.
“The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.” [49:10]
- To turn more to the Book of Allah as the month of Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an.
“The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.” [2:185]
- To maintain ties of kinship. This includes looking after relatives, forgiving them and starting a new chapter with them.
- To turn to the helpless and oppressed people to help them and stand up for them. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. He should not oppress him nor should he hand him over (to his devil or to his self which is inclined to evil). Whoever fulfils the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfil his needs; whoever removes the troubles of his brother, Allah will remove one of his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and whoever covers up the fault of a Muslim, Allah will cover up his fault on the Day of Resurrection.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
- To take all the needed means to empower the Muslim Ummah. That includes different levels of engagement—political, social and otherwise. It also includes using the available advanced technologies and management systems to improve the wellbeing of our Ummah.
May Allah the Mighty and Majestic accept from all of us, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad ﷺ.
