At no time in the life of man can the true nature of human existence be more manifest than in Ramadan. It is in that sacred month that Muslims reflect mostly on the purpose of their existence on earth.
We thank Almighty Allah for allowing us to see the beginning, the middle and the end of this year’s Ramadan fast.
Having passed through and subjected oneself to the rigorous process of self-denial for one month, every serious and fearing Muslims must continue to extend the benefit and blessing of Ramadan to the post-Ramadan period.
We must all understand that there is Islam outside the month of Ramadan. Ramadan fast is not the beginning and neither is it the end of Islam. Islam does not end with the end of Ramadan fast. Ramadan fast is only one of the solid pillars reinforce the foundation of Islamic religion.
Although, Ramadan fast has its o uniqueness, rewards and benefits. However, Ramadan alone cannot guarantee (A1-Jannah – Paradise). There are several act of Ibadah (act of goodness) that a Muslim must engage in, both in Ramadan outside the month of Ramadan, that can guarantee a Muslim Paradise.
It is not only in the month of Ramadan that Muslims should do good things. A Muslim should behave nicely to his fellow human being at all times. A Muslim should show acts of kindness to the less privilege ones at all times. A Muslim should worship and obey his Lord and creator at all times. A Muslim whether Male and Female must practically engage in all of goodness in every seconds of his or her life in the twelve months of the year.
The end of Ramadan fast is not an opportunity for any Muslims to go back again to start dwelling in sins, thinking when another Ramadan comes he or she will be able to make amend for the sins he or she has committed.
If you go back to committing sins after Ramadan fast, you are like that person who has wasted all his time and energy. All you efforts in Ramadan will all end in total fiasco.
Let us continue to imbibe and dwell on all the good deeds we practiced during the month of Ramadan, so that we can become better human beings and a shining example and good ambassador of Islam at all times.
Almighty Allah has promised in Chapter 16 verse 97 that: “Whoever does righteous deeds, whether male and female he or she is a true believer; Then He will surely grant them a good life in this word. And He shall certainly pay them a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (which is Paradise in the hereafter)”
Muslim fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters in Islam, let us continue to imbibe and dwell on all the good deeds we practiced during the month of Ramadan, out the month of Ramadan (i.e. when the month of Ramadan has end) so that we all become better human beings and a shining example and good ambassador of Islam at all times.
Some people fasted actively last year but were no more to witness this year Ramadan fast. Some put their feet at the step of Ramadan this year but never entered it. Some fell by the way side along the line. Some fasted with absolute faith inAllah and confidence in making use of the lessons of Ramadan. Some joined the spiritual train with no idea of their destination in the month. Some sat on the fence with one leg here and the other there. However, none was hidden from Allah the all-seeing and all knowing. We thank Almighty Allah for allowing us to see the beginning, the middle and the end of this year’s  Ramadan fast.
Now, all is over. But we shall keep remembering those days with indelible nostalgia. We shall recall our anxiety while looking towards sighting the moon that would usher us into the glorious month.  We shall not forget the compensating evenings of Tarawih and the marvelous nights of Tahajjud and Sahur. We shall look back to the immaculate days of Tafsir the exclusiveness of ‘Itikaf Yes our minds will not be off the great expectations embedded in the majesty LAYLATUL QADR as well as the great pleasure in the payment of Zakatul Für. All these will surely enable us to take a retrospective look the splendid annual presence with nostalgia. Bye for now the month of Ramadan until we meet again. In-sha Allah.
For those who had the opportunity of fasting and witnessed the end of Ramadan in sound health, let us not go back to bad habits. Let us continue to dwell on those good things we learnt during the holy month. That is the only way Almighty Allah will accept our fast from us.
One interesting thing about this Ramadan fast was that a lot of non-Muslims assisted the Muslims during the holy period with cash and other food items to break the fast. This act of kindness from the non-Muslims is a manifestation of the love and brotherhood. Let me use this opportunity to appreciate all of them. May the Almighty God continue to bless abundantly.
When we look at the tendencies around the world today; increasing crime rates, wars between nations, terrorist acts of extreme violence, insecurity, the biting poverty and malnourishment of human beings in many communities, the suffering of ordinary people in every country in the contemporary world, the global economic crisis facing many nations today that leads many societies to crime and violence, misery, bitterness, and a lack of happiness, all are attributable to oppression and lack of justice.
The world today is full of all forms of oppression and injustice, be it in the international arena where big and powerful nations coerce small and weak nations into political and economic subjugation and enslavement or on a national level where corrupt and dictatorial governments constantly violate human rights in all areas of human life political, economic, or otherwise. People blackmail or attack each other’s character for political benefit, power, wealth, or influence. Indeed, oppression and injustice are two of the poisonous habits inherent in our contemporary society.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad has promised those who dispense justice in all their dealings with their families and those under their authority and are fair in all their decisions that they will be rewarded with paradise and will be on thrones of light near Allah on the day of judgement. This is because justice at all levels and in all its various forms is closeness to piety and righteousness.
Do not say Ramadan has gone and you go back to start doing evil things.
For those who had the opportunity offasting and witnessed the end of Ramadan in sound health, let us not go back to our bad habits. Let us continue to dwell on those good things we learnt during the holy month. That is the only way Almighty Allah accept our fast from us.
Allah hates whoever disobeys Him at whatever month.
He loves to be obeyed at every period and situations.
Receive this month of Shawwal with whatever will please Allah the King of the World
Let us be conscious of Allah! 0’ Servants of Allah
Verily, the promise of Allah is true words in the Qur ‘an are facts that are indisputable.
let not this present life deceive you
let not the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah
Surely, Satan is an enemy to you take and treat him as an enemy
(Satan) only invites his followers that they may become the dwellers of the blazing fire
Be conscious of Allah! 0’ servants of Allah
Put forward good deeds for yourself before the day of Judgement
(By sincerity and truthfulness in all your dealings)
Allah loves those who do good.
Be conscious of Allah! 0’ servants of Allah according to your ability
Verily, the most honourable among you, in sight of Allah, is he who is the most righteous.
(You cannot call or regard yourself as an honourable person if you are not righteous, sincere, and truthful)
0’ servants of Allah – Fear Allah as He should be feared. (By doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden you) Obey Him, be obedient to Him, and remember Him always, and die not except in a state of Islam as Muslims with complete submission to Allah. (3:102)
0’ servants of Allah – Fear Allah as He should be feared. Perform your responsibilities to Allah and be conscious of Him. And seek the means of approach to Him, and strive hard in His cause (as much as you can), so that you may be successful. (5:35)
0’ servants of Allah – Fear Allah as He should be feared. Perform your responsibilities to Allah and be conscious of Him, and speak always the truth.
He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell-fire and will be admitted to Paradise) (33:70-
71)
0’ servants of Allah – Fear Allah as He should be feared. Perform your responsibilities to Allah and believe in His Messenger. He will give you a double portion of His Mercy, and He will give you a light by which you shall walk (straight). And He will forgive you. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. (57:28)
0’ servants of Allah – Fear Allah as He should be feared. Perform your responsibilities to Allah. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow. And fear Allah, because Allah is All-Aware of what you do. And be not like those who forgot Allah (i.e. became disobedient of Allah), and He caused them to forget their ownselves, (He let them to forget to do righteous deeds). Those are the Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah). No equal are the dwellers of the fire and the dwellers of the Paradise.
The ten persons Allah has promised forgiveness of their sins & paradise on the day of judgement
O Believers’ Verily Allah the Most High says:
1-Verily, the Muslims Men and Women who submit themselves to Allah in Islam.
2-The Men and Women who believe in Islamic Monotheism.
3-The Men and Women who are Obedient to Allah and His Commandments. (And stand before Allah in Qanitin — Obedient)
4-The Men and Women who are Truthful in their speech and deeds. (You have to be truthful, for truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise)
(Truthfulness is a sign of faith, just as lying is a sign of hypocrisy)
5-The Men and Women who are patient (in performing all the duties which Allah has ordered and in abstaining from all that Allah has forbidden.)
Patient, Steadfastness, Perseverance in poverty, afflictions, fear or harm; distress or disease and patient in time of war.
6-The Men and Women who are humble, showing humility to their Lord — Allah
Means: Calmness, tranquility, deliberation, dignity and humility. What motivates a person to be like this is the fear of Allah and the awareness that He is constantly watching.
7-The Men and Women who give Zakat or charity (alm) Sadaqah extinguishes bad deeds just as water extinguishes fire
As-Sadaqah (charity) means doing good to people who are in need or who are weak and have no means of earning a living and none to financially support them. They give them from the excess of their wealth in obedience to Allah.
8-The Men and Women who observe fast. (the obligatory fasting during the month of Ramadan and three days of each month is included in this Ayah).
Fasting is also one of the greatest means of overcoming one ‘s desires.
9-The Men and Women who guard their chastity
(i.e. they protect their private parts from forbidden and sinful things. Except from their wives for they are not to be blamed.
But whosoever seek beyond that, then it is those who are trespassers.)
10-And the Men and Women who remember Allah much with heart and tongue.
Means: If a man wakes his wife at night and they pray two Rakahs, they will be recorded that night as being among the Men and the Women who remember Allah much.
11-Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. paradise)
It is the dwellers of Paradise that will be successful. (59:18-20)
In the sound book of Muslim he related that the Holy Prophet has said:
Whoever fasted in the month of Ramadan and follows it with another six days in the month of Shawwal is like he or she has fasted the whole year.

Every Friday With Mallam Abdulfattah Enabulele
Chief Imam of Benin
[email protected]