With a million other people living in this world at the same time as us, we sometimes ironically feel immensely alone and detached from other humans. As Muslims, we have been taught that we need only Allah (S.W.T), and His mercy, and nothing else. Nevertheless, He gave us a family to love, and friends to cherish. Why? These relationships contain a pearl of profound wisdom. Each one teaches us something about our inner self, the place we hold in the world, and the purpose we are here for.
Ramadan is the most blessed of all months in the Islamic Calendar. This month is the time when every Muslim around the globe steps back from their daily duties and puts their focus on fasting, prayers, and charity. One of the main principles of Islam is to be kind and to help fellow human beings. There are few ideas compiled below which can help us in being a better Muslim by lending a helping hand.
Reach out to people around you: If we take some time to think about it, we will realize that there are a lot of people around us who we can reach out to. An elderly couple living alone, a young family who recently shifted nearby, a vendor who has been in your neighborhood for a long time. Take out some time to give them a call, stop by their houses or invite them to dinner. The smallest gestures are the ones that mean a lot in these trying times.
Help the Ones in Need: If we look around, we will always see someone suffering, whether from illness, hunger, poverty, or depression. It is said in The Holy Quran that:
“By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give freely from that which you love. And whatever you give, Allah knows it well” (Qur’an 3:92).
Therefore, we should give as much as we can to the poor, and the needy people. We can donate some food, money, clothes, and even healthcare items.
Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said:
“Protect yourself from hell-fire even by giving a piece of date as charity.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Volunteer Your Time: Time is the key to success. Try to volunteer some time for different causes such as helping a foundation, arranging an iftar dinner, assisting a local charity in raising funds for humanity, or presenting yourself as a guest teacher to local schools and help them to improve their educational systems.
Pray for Everyone: Allah (S.W.T) has said in The Holy Quran:
“When My servants ask thee about Me, I am indeed close to them. I respond to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me. Let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me, that they may walk in the right way” (Qur’an 2:186).
It is rightly said that to pray is to directly converse with Allah. Praying for others, in addition to ourselves, is a very generous act, because Allah never ignores a heartfelt prayer for us by another person. Pray for your loved ones, pray for those who are poor, ill, hungry, and pray for those who need guidance to find the right path. May Allah (S.W.T) ensure all of us upon the path of patience, kindness, and unwavering faith.
Being kind to others, helping them out in times of need, maintaining good relations with your loved ones, giving charity, all are acts which should be done all year round. However, we are encouraged to perform these acts specifically in Ramadan because Allah multiplies the reward of even the smallest deeds in this blessed month. As our Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) has said:
“The most beloved of people to Allah is the one who brings the most benefit to people, and the most beloved of deeds to Allah is making a Muslim happy or relieving him of hardship, or paying off his debt, or warding off hunger from him.”
Our Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was the most generous person, even more, generous than the strong uncontrollable wind (in readiness and haste to do charitable deeds) (Bukhari). It is sunnah to give more generously in the month of Ramadan. Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said:
“The upper hand is better than the lower hand. The upper hand being the one that gives and the lower hand being the one that receives.” (Sahih Muslim 1033)
May Allah make us among those who brighten up another person’s path with happiness, even when our own is clouded with darkness Ameen.
Written By: Miss Ramsha Batool
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