All praise belongs to Allah Almighty who has blessed us with the Holy month of Ramadan and has enabled us to come to the end of this year's Ramadan. He has prescribed the fasting that we may attain Taqwa (protection from sin), exalt Him for guiding us and that we may also be grateful to Him. We also invoke His boundless blessings and mercy upon the best of creation, the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad Mustafa (saw) whose heart was the kingdom of Taqwa.
One of the qualities of true believers mentioned in the Holy Qur’an is service to humanity and feeding and helping the poor and the needy. So much importance has been put on it that the feeding of the poor is prescribed by Islam as penalty for some crimes. Those who have not the strength to fast during the month of fasting are commanded to feed the poor as expiation. Feeding of the poor and the needy is therefore an integral teaching of Islam.
Describing the righteous people in the Holy Qur'an, Allah Almighty says, "And in their wealth was a share for one who asked for help and one who could not." (Surah Dhaariyaat: Verse 20). Allah Almighty has described those who drive away the orphans and do not urge the feeding of the poor as rejecters of the true spirit of Islam. In a Hadith the Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (saw) is reported to have said that on the Day of Judgement Allah Almighty will tell a man that He had asked him to feed Him but the man had denied. The man will argue that Allah Almighty is the Provider, how could he have fed Him. Allah Almighty will respond him that he had denied His hungry servant food to eat and he will be punished accordingly. This Tradition shows clearly that indifference to feeding the poor and the needy attracts the punishment of Allah Almighty. Let us protect ourselves from that punishment by fulfilling our obligations to the poor and the needy.
As already mentioned, Taqwa (protection from sin; love and fear of Allah Almighty) is the main objective of fasting. Man can attain no merit in life without the grace of Allah Almighty. Man must therefore make every effort to earn that grace. One of the means of earning that grace is Du'a (prayer). We should always pray the following prayer of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (saw) "O Allah! Bestow on my soul its Taqwa and purify it; Thou art the Best in purifying it; Thou art its Helper and Protector."
Remember that efforts without prayers are useless just as prayers without efforts are useless. The humble efforts and prayers that are done in the Holy month of Ramadan must be continued and intensified after the month of Ramadan. So the purification of heart and mind must continue throughout the rest of eleven (11) months.
I am hereby extending to you the warmest salaam, love, prayers and EID MUBARAK of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V (ATBA), the Supreme and Spiritual Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at, Mirza Masroor Ahmad. On behalf of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamma'at The Gambia, I humbly wish you all EID MUBARAK.
May Allah Almighty accept all the humble devotions and sacrifices that we have made during the holy month of Ramadan and reward us all accordingly. May He continue protecting and blessing our beloved motherland, the Gambia and her people and shower peace, security, prosperity and stability on us. Ameen.
