Bareera Ghaffar, Birmingham
This year Ramadan comes at a time when hearts are heavy, when the soul needs nourishment, and when the world at every corner is crying for help. The holiest month in the Islamic calendar is not solely about abstaining from food and water from dawn to sunset, but rather about deep reflection of oneself and the world we live in. It is an ideal time to ponder on the role one plays in the world and how we can stand up for people who are less fortunate than ourselves or are enduring the most grievous of circumstances at the hands of their oppressors. Notions surrounding justice, equity, compassion, and empathy are themes that are at the foundations of Islam, with the one central theme being peace. The Holy Quran states in chapter 6 verse 116 “And the word of thy Lord has been fulfilled in truth and justice. None can change His words; and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing”.
When we look at the state of the world currently, especially when we look over the plains of Gaza, are these the words that come to mind? Is it justice that echoes or is it the cries of helpless people? Is it peace that is known or the fact that the value of human life is being disregarded?
The thirty days of Ramadan are split into three ashra’s (parts): ten days of mercy, ten days of forgiveness and ten days of seeking refuge with Allah. Each of these I find extremely significant when it comes to social justice, equity and anchoring the voices of our brothers and sisters in their times of difficulty.
The days of mercy teach us to make God the Being with Whom we seek mercy and find solace. It encourages us to seek forgiveness for our wrongdoings and understand that if we want God to forgive us, we must also learn to show compassion for others. This helps to relieve us of the burden from holding on to the weight of pain and grudges, helping to cultivate inner peace which, with time, shows itself externally.
The days of forgiveness teach us about accountability and being intentional in our actions. The Quran and AHadith have many accounts relating to these qualities, and so we are encouraged to reach for and instil this need to be just and accountable in our lives.
The days of seeking refuge teach us about intensified worship, devotion, and protection from hellfire. It is the realisation that we all are in need of our Lord. We are reminded that we all have a responsibility towards one another and to call out injustice when we see it.
These ashras require us to form a deep acknowledgment of ourselves and where we stand, which necessitates the understanding that though our circumstances can change in an instance and life is fleeting, our one true constant is Allah. He is the One, The Everlasting and Master of the Day of Judgement.
The worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, may Allah be his Helper, has been urging us all to pray for one another, to use our voices in standing up for the oppressed and to practice service to God and service to mankind.
We are blessed to see the new moon of Ramadan upon us once again; it means we have been given an opportunity by the Almighty to move closer to Him, as He has granted us this month so that our Prayers, fasts and sacrifices for our brethren across the world are heard and so they too can have the freedom to worship and the freedom to exist without fear. Ramadan brings the vigour of a new life – it is as though all is possible, and no act is too big for our Lord. These blessed nights must be used for sincere and heartfelt worship for the pain and suffering to end. Enough is enough. The ending of Ramadan should see that our brothers and sisters who are suffering feel as though we have heard their cries. May our prayers be a shelter for them, may our humble acts of charity be a means of help for them, and may they know and feel our voices telling the governments that we do not stand for injustice.
An attack on human life anywhere, and in such an unjust manner, is an attack on all humanity.
May this Ramadan be one that starts revolutions within ourselves and the world. Ameen.
Official Blog of Ahmadiyya Muslim Women's Association UK 
Mashallah Bareera sahiba , May Allah bless our oppressed sisters and brothers with His eternal blessings and peace and may the future generations remains protected from the brutal effects of the war.
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