|| Respect for Ramadhān ||
There was once a fire worshipper who saw his son eating in the presence of Muslims during the month of Ramadhān. As soon as he saw his son eating before the Muslims, he hit him and reprimanded him saying, “Why do you not show regard for the sanctity and respect of the Muslims during the month of Ramadhān?”
It so happened that the fire worshipper passed away that very week. Soon after he passed away, the ‘ālim of that locality had a dream in which he saw the fire worshipper in Jannah! In the dream, he asked him, “Were you not a fire worshipper?” The man replied, “I was a fire worshipper. However, shortly before I passed away, Allāh Ta‘ala honoured me, by inspiring me to accept Islām, due to the respect that I had shown for the month of Ramadhān.”
(Nuzhatul Majālis pg. 201)
LESSONS
1. The salient symbols of Islam, such as the month of Ramadhān, the masājid, the Qur’ān Majīd, the azān, etc., stand for and represent Islām. Hence, to respect these symbols is to respect Islām itself, and to show disregard to them is to show disregard to Islām itself. A few examples of showing respect for these symbols are: fasting, performing the complete Tarāwīh Salāh, abstaining from sin during the month of Ramadhān, dressing and behaving appropriately within the musjid, regularly reciting the Qur’ān Majīd and holding it with reverence and wudhū, and remaining silent during the azān so that one may listen to it attentively and verbally reply, as well as by physically responding thereafter by proceeding to salāh.
2. On account of a fire worshipper respecting the month of Ramadhān, Allāh Ta‘ala blessed him with Islām and Jannah. If the Muslims afford this blessed month the respect and honour that it deserves, how much more will Allāh Ta‘ala bless them, in this world and the next! Conversely, if the Muslims disregard this month, by failing to repent, fulfil the commands of Allāh Ta‘ala and while away the precious moments, what a loss they will incur!
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