Ramazan: A Season of Patience and Compassion for All

Fakhar e Alam

Peshawar: Ramazan, the ninth holy month of the Islamic calendar, serves as a profound period for Muslims to cultivate self-discipline, sacrifice, and empathy, emphasizing assistance to the underprivileged.

It fosters acts of generosity and obligatory charity, aiming at the socio-economic upliftment of impoverished individuals.

Renowned for its manifold blessings, Ramadan witnesses Muslims worldwide displaying exceptional endurance, patience, and empathy while seeking forgiveness and mercy, thereby fostering humility and discipline in their lives.

During the 30-day fasts observed from dawn to dusk, Muslims abstain not only from food and drink but also from sinful actions, negative behaviors, and smoking, reinforcing a commitment to moral rectitude.

Ramadan serves as a platform for imparting invaluable virtues and promoting tolerance, with a focus on aiding the needy, vulnerable, and oppressed sectors of society.

In Islam, patience entails enduring or persevering in the face of adversity solely for the sake of Allah.

It entails tolerating trials, recognizing that all circumstances are part of “Allah’s” divine plan, with the belief that he will guide one through challenging situations.

Muhammad Tayyab Qureshi, Chief Khatib of KP, underscores the significance of patience in Islam, noting its frequent mention in the Holy Quran, with the word “sabr” (patience) appearing nearly 75 times.

The Quran advises believers to seek solace in patience and prayer, affirming that “Allah” is with those who persevere.

As devout servants of “Allah Almighty,” we have an obligation to express gratitude for the bounties bestowed upon us by “Allah”.

Similarly, we must face all calamities and difficult situations with forbearance, self-control, and humility.

“The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also emphasized mercy, kindness, and sympathy towards the needy, the poor, and individuals with different abilities during Ramazan.

He declared that the rewards of enduring patience during challenging times are manifold, both in this world and the hereafter.

The KP Chief Khateeb stated, “Whenever a believer experiences discomfort, illness, grief, or mental anguish, “Allah Almighty” will expiate his sins due to immense patience and compassion exhibited during Ramazan.”

He further highlighted that believers who socialize with others and tolerate their mistakes with sympathy and gentleness will receive greater rewards than those who do not.

Referring to another hadith on the rewards of fasting, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “Whoever fasts during Ramazan with faith and seeks reward from Allah will have their past sins forgiven.”

The three Ashras of Ramazan symbolize seeking mercy from Allah, seeking forgiveness, and seeking liberation from hellfire.

Moreover, during Ramadan, Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) holds immense significance. According to the Holy Prophet (PBUH), every Muslim who prays on Laylatul Qadr with faith and sincerity will have all their past sins forgiven.

Eminent psychiatrist Dr Khalid Mufti, former Principal of Khyber Medical College Peshawar, highlighted that research studies have shown immense medical and psychological benefits of Ramadan for a fasting person (“Roazadar”), including increased tolerance, compassion, and empathy that can last throughout the year.

He said Ramadan helps Muslims overcome their anxiety, depression, and hypertension, besides getting rid of worldly desires.

Dr Khalid said impatience, anger, and rash behaviors can adversely affect an individual’s social life and physical well-being, while compassion and tolerance increase the self-esteem of people and lead to better outcomes in one’s life.

Abdul Ghafoor, former director of the Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre in Peshawar and member of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, said that Ramadan was the month when people could earn maximum virtues by contributing generously to the poor and deserving.

“Ramadan promotes interfaith harmony and national cohesion besides cementing bonds of brotherhood, fraternity, and friendship among Muslims and minorities by bringing them closer through Iftar parties,” he added.

Shahid Khan, alias Lala, who was holding Iftar Dastarkhwan at the historic Qissa Khawani bazaar, especially for fasting Muslims and poor and deserving minorities, said that he had been holding this noble practice for the last 11 years, which gives him inner peace and satisfaction. The Iftar Dastarkhwan, where minorities were also served, would continue till Chand Raat, he said.

Jatinder Singh, Chairman of the KP chapter of the National Peace Council for Interfaith Harmony, said that all prophets and founders of all religions had promoted peace, forgiveness, patience, love, and tolerance through their universal teachings, actions, and deeds.

Without winning hearts and minds, we can’t come closer to each other and develop a society whose inhabitants enjoy equal rights and respect for each other’s beliefs, he said.

He said big Iftar parties were planned by the Sikh community members for their Muslim brothers on the last 10 days of the holy month, besides the distribution of edible packages among fasting people at their doorsteps.

Arranging iftar parties and Ramadan camps for Muslims is not a new practice for them. Our forefathers did the same thing to express warmth, love, and friendship to our Muslim brothers in Peshawar during Ramadan, he added.

He said the establishment of a common study center at Peshawar for followers of all religions where they could interact and understand each other’s beliefs and organize iftar parties would bring people of all faiths closer.

The experts said that people should give charity to those in need, besides reputable charity organizations with clean accounts and service records.