14TH EDITION OF VOICE OF THE MIMBARR: RAMADAN BONANZA, A REFLECTION- BY DR. RAZAQ BOLAWAYE

31-03-2023 CE/09-09 - 1444 AH 

In the name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful.

A reverent way of being subservient to Allah is Sawm (fasting) and it is prescribed on every Muslim in the month of Ramadan. Competing for rewardable deeds in it is held with utmost sanctity. Analytically, lukewarm attitude to good deeds during Ramadan is compared with assuming a ship move on dry land. It is poetically said:"Would you expect a success while you are miles away from its cause; definitely a ship can hardly move on dry land."

It is on this basis that Allah _(SWT)_ categorical maintains in the Glorious Qur'an 5:2 that:"... Collaborate on righteousness and piety and not help one another on sin and oppression."

In another instance, Qur'an 2:177 elucidates mainly on the premise of righteousness as distinct  from ritual prayer alone. It provides:" It is not righteousness that you turn your face towards East or West; But it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and give Zakat , to fulfill the contracts which you made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering)and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are people of truth,the God-fearing." 

To this extent, men are mythological created into four main categories.

This categorization bothers on the extent of Ibaadah (worship) and  eternal bliss. The first category is created for worship and Aljannah (Paradise): such as a believer in Allah from the beginning to the end of his life. The second category is created for only worship and not for Paradise; such a person begins as believer but ends as a disbeliever. The third category is created neither for worship nor for Paradise;  such a person starts and ends up as a disbeliever. Lastly, a category created only for Paradise and not for worship. In this case, a menstruating  and or birth blood flowing woman who accept Islam but dies before the end of the flow. Allahu Akbar! Another instance of this category is a man (Wail by name) who accepted Islam on the day of Battle of Uhud. He attended and fought gallantly during the battle  until he lost his life. What a martyr! 

We pray Allah to make easy way for us to maximize and reap bountifully on the proceed of Ramadan.

Till we meet in the next edition, Ma'as salaamah and Ramadan Kareem.

DR. RAZAQ BOLAWAYE UTHMAN, Imam Ansar-Ud-Deen Society Ipaja Branch.

- Nigeria