Welcoming the Holy Month of Ramadhan
Message from the Chairman of the Africa Federation,
Alhaj Anwarali R. Dharamsi
In the Name of Allah; the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
O Allah: (please do) help us observe fasting in this month; and guide us to practice the acts of worship (perfectly); and grant us vigor to offer prayers; and do not preclude us from reciting (the Holy Qur’an); and make easy for us to give alms (Sadkah).
O Allah: (please) do not inflict us with fatigue, tiredness, ailment, or injury. O Allah: (please do) grant us the food with which we break our fasting from Your sustenance that is legally gotten.
(Dua for the 1st Night of Ramadhan)
My dear community members,
Salaamun Alaikum,
The holy month of Ramadhan – the most awaited month by the believers is just round the corner. Let us welcome this special guest with glorification, praise and thanks of Allah (s.w.t.) for availing us an opportunity this year too, to seek purification of our souls by fulfilling the obligations due in this month.
The holy month is an opportunity given by the gracious Creator for His servants to come close to Him, seek forgiveness (Istighfár) for their sins and transgressions, and similarly fulfillment of their needs. In the sight of Allah (s.w.t.) this month is the best month, its days are the best days, its nights are the best nights and its hours are the best hours.
The month of Ramadhan gives us a chance to start life afresh; we should attempt to make resolutions during this month, to act upon during the year. This is the month when emotions remain under the control of reason. Forgiveness, generosity and love of Allah (s.w.t.) through the love of His creatures are infused in our soul. Naturally, it is the best time to decide how we are going to conduct ourselves in the coming year.
Fasting also plays an important role in making us more conscious of the plight and hunger of the poor, of those who have been displaced from the comfort and convenience of their homes by the sectarian violence in various parts of the world with uncertainties for the future, and of the poor amidst us. Unfortunately the number of such persons is on an increase every year. Let us all try and help these needy persons so that they too can perform their fasting and other devotional deeds with lesser pain.
I appeal to you all to give more in Charity (Zakaat, Sadkah and Donations) in this month as this significantly has greater and multiple rewards from Allah (swt) than in ordinary days. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.) has said – Ramadhan is an honorable and blessed month, and the rewards for generosity are multiplied in it.
I wish to strongly emphasize to each and every member of our community in Africa – “Your first call of duty is to give Charity, Sadakah, Zakaat and Welfare Relief Assistance in your own town/country. We request you to remit the funds to the AFED Secretariat for centralized distribution of funds through the Jamaats under AFED”.
I also wish to advise the Jamaat leaders and members of our community to develop and further strengthen closer inter-faith relationships with other faiths and communities in our cities and towns during this Holy Month and build bridges through a get-together, social (Iftaar) functions and communal meetings with leaders and members from different faiths and cultures. This is extremely important, and serious attention should be given.
May this Ramadhan bring to us peace, harmony and prosperity, brighten our minds that we may reflect deeply for seeking God-Consciousness and make this world a better place for everyone to live together in peace and social harmony – Ameen.
Let us remember all our ulemas, past leaders, volunteers and all Marhumeens with Sura-e-Fateha.
With Salaams and Duas,
Anwarali R. Dharamsi
CHAIRMAN