Dear editor,

I WOULD like to take this opportunity to say a few words about Ramadhan. Ramadhan is a holy month in the Islamic calendar. Muslims around the world fast during this month. During the fast, they are not allowed to eat or drink anything from dawn to dusk. But the true spirit of Ramadhan lies in abstaining from falsehood and evil. As the Holy Prophet of Islam (Peace be upon him) has said, “If a person does not eschew falsehood and false conduct, Allah has no need that he should abstain from food and drink.” (Bukhari)

Another purpose of fasting is to gain self-control. During fasts, we are supposed to have complete control over our emotions. As the Holy Prophet of Islam (Peace be upon him) has said, “Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is fasting, he should neither indulge in obscene language, nor should he raise his voice in anger. If someone attacks him or insults him, let him say: “I am fasting!” (Muslim)

Although there are many spiritual and physical benefits of fasting, one societal benefit of fasting is that it encourages us to care for the needy and poor people in our community. When we abstain from food and drink, we share the pain of hunger. This way, everyone in the Muslim community can understand the feeling of a poor man who doesn’t have sufficient food to eat or to feed his family. Thus, we are encouraged to spend on the poor and needy in Ramadhan just as Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) used to spend generously in the Holy Month of Ramadhan.

By the grace of God, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is working together with Humanity First Guyana to share cooked meals to the street dwellers and needy people. We also distribute food hampers to needy and poor families in the community. These activities take place in the city and four other towns of Guyana. This way, we can uplift those who are weak and help them to get better. May God help us to spend Ramadhan in the true spirit. Amen.

Maqsood A. Mansoor
Missionary in Charge
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at