Ramadan Mubarak 1444AH and
Ramadan Greetings 2023
Dr. Mozammel Haque
Ramadan Mubarak and Ramadan
Greetings to all of you, especially to all the readers of Islamic Monitor
website. May this holy month bring barakah,
and Allah's boundless mercy upon the believers and harmony and tolerance for
the world.
Muslims almost everywhere welcome
the coming of the month of Ramadan on the same day, on Thursday, the 23rd of March 2023 this year. Saudi Arabia, the
heartland of Islam, the country of the Two Holy Mosques, the birthplace of
Prophet Peace be upon him, is performing Ramadan on Sunday. The Supreme
Judicial Council of Saudi Arabia called on all Muslims in the Kingdom to look for
the Ramadan crescent on Tuesday evening. But the lunar moon was not sighted at
sunset Tuesday evening. So the holy month of Ramadan begins on 23rd of March 2023. The
UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Malaysia, Australia and Singapore also announced that
Ramadan will begin on Thursday.
British Muslims welcome Ramadan: the month of discipline,
compassion and solidarity on Thursday, 23rd of March 2023. British Muslims join over a
billion Muslims all over the world in a month of fasting, charity and
solidarity.
London is lighting up for Ramadan
This year Ramadan London celebrates the Ramadan. This year London is lighting
up for Ramadan for the first time. London Mayor Sadiq Khan is lighting up for
Ramadan for the first time ever.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on Twitter - "Tonight we welcome the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.
"I want to thank London's Muslims, not only for your enormous contribution to our city, but for showcasing London's caring and compassionate values.
"From my family to yours: Ramadan Mubarak," Sadiq Khan
Global Message and Universal
Religion
Islam is a universal global
religion. There is 1.6 billion Muslims the world over. Leaders of the Asian, African, European and American
continents welcome the advent of the month o Ramadan and sent messages to the
Muslims. The 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) welcomed the
beginning of Ramadan. On this auspicious
occasion, the Secretary General of the OIC issued a welcoming message.
Secretary General of the
International World Body United Nations also issued a press statement.
UN Secretary General’s Ramadan Message
On 22 March 2023 Secretary General of the United Nations issued a press
statement on the beginning of Ramadan. He said, “I send my warmest
wishes as Muslims around the world begin observing the holy month of
Ramadan.
“This is a moment of reflection and learning.
“A time to come together in a spirit of
understanding and compassion, bound by our common humanity.
“That is also the mission of the United Nations –
to foster dialogue, unity and peace.
“In these challenging times, my thoughts are with
those facing conflict, displacement and suffering,” UN Secretary General said.
He also mentioned, “join everyone observing Ramadan
to call for peace, mutual respect and solidarity.”
UN Secretary General concluded, “Let us take
inspiration from this Holy Month and build a more just and equitable world for
all.
Ramadan Kareem.”
OIC Secretary General’s
Message
The OIC Secretary General H.E. Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary General of the
Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has congratulated the Islamic
Nation on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan. In a press statement on 23
March 2023, the OIC Secretary General extended Ramadan Greetings to the Muslim
world and wished Muslims worldwide happiness, prosperity, well-being and peace.
H.E. Hissein
Brahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC), shared his greetings and well wishes with Muslims worldwide on the
advent of the blessed month of Ramadan 1444 AH.
It is reported
in the press: On this joyous occasion, Brahim Taha congratulated the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, the host country, extending his best wishes to the Custodian of
the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and HRH Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman. He also shared his warmest greetings with their Majesties,
Highnesses, and Excellences leaders of the OIC Member States.
“In this holy
month, the Secretary-General recalled the challenges faced by Muslim refugees
in Syria, Bangladesh, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other Islamic
countries that have witnessed recent calamities, praying to Allah Almighty that
the blessed month be a blessing that relieves them of the ordeals they have
gone through.
“The
Secretary-General also implored Allah Almighty to free the blessed Al-Aqsa
Mosque and support all the people of Palestine in their daily confrontations
with the Israeli occupation and that Ramadan be a space of hope and goodness
for all Muslims and a way out from their tragedies and crises.
“The
Secretary-General stressed the lofty meanings of the holy month, including the
feelings of interdependence, synergy, and solidarity integrated with the OIC
principles and objectives, asking Allah Almighty that the holy month be a space
of worship and an affirmation of the tolerance of Islam, and convergence and
charity among all Muslims,” the press report concluded.
RAMADAN MESSAGES FROM GOVERNMENTS
The governments of many countries
issued Ramadan Message to Muslims in their countries and around the world.
From Asian Continent
King Salman’s Ramadan
Message
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman
wishes Muslims
all over the world a blessed
month
The Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques of Saudi Arabia King Salman emphasized Tuesday (21 March 2023) from
Riyadh that Saudi Arabia is determined to root out terrorism, adding that
Riyadh would adopt all measures to protect citizens and residents from the
menace, it is reported in Jeddah-based English daily the Arab News..
The
paper continued, “Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Tuesday sent his best wishes
for Ramadan to citizens of the Kingdom and Muslims everywhere, expressing his
hope that the holy month will bring hope and peace to Muslims and the entire
world.
“He
instructed authorities involved in providing services for visitors to the Two
Holy Mosques to continue to work with the highest levels of efficiency and
excellence to ensure that pilgrims can perform their rituals with ease and
tranquility, the Saudi press Agency reported.
The
king was speaking as he chaired the weekly Cabinet session at Irqah Palace in
Riyadh, after the Supreme Court announced that Ramadan would begin on Thursday.
Al-Arabiya reported: “Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin
Abdulaziz has wished Muslims around the world a blessed Ramadan ahead of the Islamic holy
month, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday. King Salman said he
hopes Ramadan “will bring peace for Muslims and the entire
world,” the SPA statement added.
From European Continent
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's ’s
Message for Ramadan
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sent his Ramadan Message through Twitter saying, "Ramadan Mubarak to everyone in the UK and around the world observing the holy month of Ramadan."
From American Continent
U.S. President Joe Biden
Ramadan
Message to Muslims
U.S. President Joe Biden issued a
message on 22 March 2023 to American Muslims and Muslims around the world
congratulating them on the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan as a time
to remember the poor and the needy and to share responsibilities.
Statement from President
Joe Biden
on the Occasion of Ramadan
Followings are the Ramadan
Message issued on 22 March 2023 by the American President Joe Biden: “Today, Jill and I extend our best wishes to Muslim
communities across the country and around the world as they begin the Islamic
holy month of Ramadan—a time of fasting, renewal, charity, worship, and growth.
“During this sacred time of
reflection, the United States also reaffirms our support to Muslim communities
suffering hardships and devastation. We will continue to stand with the people
of Turkiye and Syria—who have lost many loved ones during the recent
devastating earthquakes—and with the people of Pakistan, who are rebuilding
their lives following last summer’s floods. Today especially, we remember the
universal human right to practice, pray, and preach our faiths peacefully and
openly. And together with our partners, the United States stands in solidarity
with Muslims who continue to face oppression—including Uyghurs in the People’s
Republic of China, Rohingya in Burma, and other Muslim communities facing
persecution around the world.
“During this holy month, we
also honor Muslim communities across our nation that have been part of the
American story since our founding. From science and technology, to arts and
academia, to law and medicine, to business and government, and beyond—Muslim
Americans continue to strengthen our nation’s diverse tapestry generation after
generation. So today, let us join together across cultures and faiths and renew
our commitment to creating a more equal, more just, more tolerant, and more
compassionate nation.”
US President Joe Biden
concluded, “To my fellow Americans observing Ramadan, and to Muslims around the
world: Ramadan Kareem—we wish you a blessed and peaceful Ramadan.”
Ramadan Mubarak to you All
I welcome Ramadan, the month of
Mercy and Repentance, the month of the Qur’an, of Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power)
and of repentance and forgiveness. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of
the Pillars of the Islamic faith. It was declared an obligatory duty (Fard)
in the second year of the Hijrah upon each and every mukallaf (one
capable of carrying out religious duties, i.e. a sane adult).
Allah the Almighty made Ramadan
fasting compulsory for Muslims. Allah said, “O those who believe, the fasts
have been enjoined upon you as were enjoined upon those before so that you be
God-fearing.’ [Surah Baqarah, 183].
Literally, Sawm means ‘to abstain’. In the terminology of Islamic law, Sawm
means ‘to abstain from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse: with the
conditions that one abstains continuously from dawn to sunset, and that there
is an intention to fast.’ Therefore, should one eat or drink anything even a
minute before sunset, the fast will not be valid. Similarly, if one abstained
from all these things throughout the day but made no intention to fast, there
will be no fast here too.
Allah the Almighty said in the
Qur’an “…And eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appears to you
distinct from its black thread…” (Al-Qur’an, 2:187) Literally defined,
fasting means to abstain “completely” from foods, drinks, intimate intercourse
and smoking, before the break of the dawn till sunset, during the entire month
of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic year.
Fasting in Islam is based on the
lunar calendar and is tied to the sightings of hilal, the crescent, or
new moon. Allah the Almighty stated: “They ask you concerning the new moons.
Say: They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time… (Al-Qur’an,
2:189). And the Traditions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Eat until
you see the crescent and break not until you see the crescent. If it is cloudy
calculate the period of the month.” (Muslim and others).
Fasting in Ramadan is compulsory
upon every Muslim, male or female, who has these qualifications, e.g. mentally
and physically fit, adult full of age which is normally fourteen and fairly
certain that fasting is unlikely to cause any harm, physical or mental, other
than the normal reactions to hunger, thirst etc.
The said qualifications exclude
the following categories: children under the age of puberty and discretion; men
and women who are too old and feeble to undertake the obligation of fast and
bear its hardships; sick people whose health is likely to be severely affected
by the observance of fast; travellers may break the fast temporarily during
their travel; pregnant women and women
breast-feeding their children may also break their fast and women in the period
of menstruation (of a maximum of ten days or of confinement (of a maximum of
forty days. They must postpone the fast till recovery and then make up for it.
The holy month of Ramadan is the
month of mercy, forgiveness, and seeking release from the Hell-fire. It is the
month of repentance and acceptance of prayers. It is the month when the devils
are chained, the gates of Hell are looked and the gates of Paradise
are opened. That’s why; Muslims welcome
Ramadan each year with energy and happiness, and are saddened only when the
month departs. Fasting is for the living, not for mourning.
Ramadan is a month of worship.
Muslims should welcome the month with repentance and seeking Allah’s pardon. We
should keep away from committing sins; worship Allah sincerely and spending the
night and day in prayer, supplication and recitation of the Holy Qur’an.
Fasting is a shield which helps
prevent many sins and with which Muslim protects himself from Hell-fire.
Fasting is more than abstaining from food and drink. It also means to abstain
from any falsehood in speech and action, from any ignorant and indecent speech,
and from arguing and quarrelling. Therefore, fasting helps to develop good
behaviour.
Fasting inculcates a sense of
brotherhood and solidarity, as a Muslim feels and experiences what his needy
and hungry brothers feel. This gives Muslim a new sense of togetherness and
association.
Allah the Almighty said in the
Qur’an: The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for
mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the criterion (between right and
wrong). (Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 185) As Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an,
every Muslim should prepare himself to welcome the blessed month of Ramadan by
strengthening his relationship with the Qur’an. A Muslim is encouraged to
complete one recitation of the Holy Qur’an during Ramadan.
We should engage more and more in
the recitation of the Qur’an, in dhikr
(remembrance of Allah), perform extra Salah (ritual prayers) at night and renew
identity with one another in our obedience to Allah.
Dr. Abdullah Omar Nasseef
I thought I should add Ramadan
Message of Dr Abdullah Omar Nasseef in this report though it was given in 2014,
more than eight years ago.
Dr. Abdullah Omar Nasseef,
President of the Karachi-based World Muslim Congress (WMC) and Secretary
General of the Cairo-based International Islamic Council for Dawah and Relief
(IICDR) was passing through the United Kingdom. I met him at the Double Three
Hilton Hotel, near Heathrow Airport on Wednesday, 25th of June, 2014
where he was staying overnight before flying back to Saudi Arabia. I was very
much privileged to see him and find an opportune moment to request him his
message to the Muslim community as well as to the Muslim Ummah about the
importance and significance of the month of Ramadan, the month of fasting
ordained by Allah the Almighty.
Dr. Nasseef, the former Secretary
General of the Makkah-based Muslim World League, said, “We take the opportunity
of this month of Ramadan like every year. This is the month which Allah the
Almighty prescribed for us: fast; Taqwa is the safeguard of the society from
going us astray from this way or other. That’s why it is important for us to
remind our brothers and sisters around the world and globe that this occasion
is not like other social gathering, social occasion. Socially you can achieve
many things but spirituality it should change ourselves and our society and we
should urge people to go back to Allah the Almighty and the Prophet (peace be
upon him) in order to introduce the change.”
“Now we are witnessing this year
a fitn all around the world; problems
are happening everywhere; and no society is safe from this misery and problem.
They have to realise that unless we go back to original Islam nothing will
change. All kind of terrorists and radical people are telling to the societies
that this is the way Islam should be the dominant but they are doing the wrong
thing; they are causing Islam the problem and to Muslims all the confusion,”
said Dr. Nasseef.
Dr. Nasseef, the former President
of the Jeddah-based King Abdulaziz University, mentioned, “I always say in my
message that we lack proper knowledge; and fail to deliver proper education and
proper understanding of Islam to our young people. People think many things
when they fast in the holy month of Ramadan; when they pray salah, Taraweeh and
all the Ibadah; it is enough.”
But Dr. Nasseef said, “it is not
enough. We have to ponder on what is our problem and seek the solution from the
Qur’an and Hadiths and this can be done by the people who are already aware and
have the knowledge. They should also be verified that their opinions can make
people going astray; trains their minds and their thinking and preaching.”
“So I appeal to Allah Subhanahu
wa Taala to guide our Muslim brothers and sisters to choose the right path
and to get education to introduce the changes which will affect the society
deeply and change our Ummah and that will help us to overcome our crisis and
miseries which we are witnessing today,” said Dr. Nasseef.
Dr. Nasseef hopes, “Insha Allah
this Ramadan will be blessing month for the Muslims to be closer and closer to
the teachings of Prophet (peace be upon him).”
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