大象传媒

Good morning. I was in Spinney Hill Park close to my home in Leicester last week feeding nuts to the squirrels and it really felt like Spring was in the air. Suddenly as if by magic we all seem to have a spring in our step 鈥� no pun intended. As I walked past the outdoor gym equipment occupied by morning exercise enthusiasts, I felt a sense of renewal and hope. We look forward to better things to come and of course some good warm weather.
I suppose this week Muslims should be saying Ramadan is in the air. After a 鈥渨inter鈥� of materialism and indulgence an opportunity to discipline ourselves and focus our lives will present itself. This month of fasting from dawn until sunset during which time adult and healthy Muslims do not eat or drink anything, like spring, gives renewed energy and tremendous hope that we will receive God鈥檚 mercy, forgiveness and grace.
Ramadan is a month of patience and the reward for patience is Paradise. It is a season of compassion and care, a time to be more generous. Muslims believe their sustenance is increased and blessed during Ramadan. The Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 鈥淏lessed is the wealth of a person from which they give to the poor, to orphans and to needy travelers鈥�. He said, 鈥淭he first ten days of Ramadan are days of receiving God鈥檚 mercy, the middle ten days are days of receiving God鈥檚 forgiveness and the final ten days are days of receiving emancipation from the Hellfire鈥�. It is a season to increase our worship and remembrance of God, to repent and seek forgiveness for our sins, to ask God for Paradise and seek protection from Hell.
Dear God, have mercy upon us, forgive us and save us from the Fire, amin.