By Bilal Ahmad Khanday
Ramazan, the month of blessings and mercy bid us farewell, but we must not forget its message. This blessed month serves as a training period, preparing us for the rest of the year. It instills in us virtues and keeps us away from vices, which are detrimental to being true Muslims. It teaches us how to live our lives according to the standards set by the Holy Quran and the unparalleled injunctions of the Last Prophet of Islam.
This month not only brings us closer to our Lord but also strengthens our bonds with fellow human beings. It makes us feel their pain, share in their joys and happiness, and teaches us the principles of sharing and caring. It nurtures within us the qualities of sympathy and empathy and prepares us for the universal message of equality, justice, fraternity, patience, sobriety, and other noble virtues.
Although the Holy Quran clearly speaks of the obligation of fasting, it is the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who teaches us the intricacies of fasting—its conditions, dos, and don’ts—through his traditions. He himself demonstrated its universal significance by observing fasts strictly and regularly. He is, after all, the true role model, as affirmed by the Quran:
Laqad kana lakum fi Rasoolillahi uswatun hasanah
(Indeed, in the Prophet is the best role model for you.)
This role model was not confined to just this month but remained exemplary throughout the year. Do we find even a single instance in his blessed life where he deviated from the enjoined path—the path of righteousness, which the Quran calls Sirat al-Mustaqeem (The Straight Path)? If we truly believe that he is our role model, how can we then forget his message, which is universal in both character and application? How is it possible that we knowingly stray from the path that leads to ultimate bliss and emancipation? This raises a critical question: Do we truly consider him our role model, or is our faith not as firm as it should be? If our faith were strong, we would not repeatedly veer away from the path of salvation and eternal bliss.
Now, coming to the farewell message of this holy month, I must admit that I would not have written a single line had I not come across a Facebook post from a virtual friend. It struck my mind at the right time and place, compelling me to pen down my thoughts on the essence of this month and its message.
Every day, we come across numerous articles in newspapers, weeklies, and social media platforms about Ramazan. The message is clear, but I wish to convey it through a short story, or rather an incident:
A Muslim once traveled in a hired car with a Japanese driver. During their conversation, the Muslim started listing the virtues that Ramazan instills in believers, hoping to impress the driver with the message of the month. After he finished, the Japanese man, out of curiosity, asked, “So you Muslims uphold these good qualities only during this month, but we Japanese have these qualities ingrained in our very being. They are inseparable from us.” He continued, “Are you allowed to cheat during other months? Can you lie, deceive, slander, hate, or assassinate someone’s character outside of Ramazan?”
The Muslim was left speechless. However, this conversation stayed with him, prompting him to change his perspective, conduct, and behavior.
This story speaks volumes about the true message of Ramazan: to reform ourselves, eliminate evil traits, cultivate virtue, exemplify godliness, and uproot satanic tendencies once and for all. It teaches us to bring forth righteousness even in the most challenging environments—just as Moses was nurtured in Pharaoh’s home and yet emerged as a beacon of truth, and as Hussain’s virtues triumphed over Yazeed’s tyranny.
After Ramazan, it should not be the case that the month itself would search for those who thronged mosques and shrines daily, abandoning their businesses, offices, and even hospitals. It should not be that the month would issue a “missing persons” notice for those who exhibited piety at home, in markets, and in public. It should not be that the month would wonder where the charitable souls, who once eagerly donated and supported the needy, have disappeared. Nor should it be that the God-consciousness displayed during Ramazan vanishes like a passing breeze once the month is over.
The universal message of Ramazan is clear: the grafting of virtue over vice, good over evil, and godliness over satanic inclinations.
To illustrate this point further, let us recall the historical story of Pharaoh and Moses. Moses was raised in Pharaoh’s palace, yet he stood against his tyranny. This analogy applies to us as well—we must cultivate righteousness within ourselves, even when surrounded by negativity. In an esoteric sense, Moses symbolizes virtue and piety, which lead us to our Lord, while Pharaoh represents arrogance and sin, which prevent us from embracing truth.
Thus, the simple and clear message of Ramazan is that falsehood—whether we call it Pharaoh, Yazeed, or Satan—must bow before the truth, represented by Moses, Hussain, and ultimately, our Lord. As the Holy Quran declares:
“Say: Truth has come, and falsehood has vanished. Indeed, falsehood is bound to perish.” (17:81)
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