RAMADAAN KAREEM

RAMADAN KAREEM

Last night  at sunset, being the the 8th July, the crescent observer society congregated at Green Point promenade in Cape Town in search of the crescent moon to determine whether or not the month of Ramadan has commenced. 

Since  the moon wasn't sighted with the naked eye at sunset, the crescent observer society broadcast the news to that effect across several radio stations including Voice of the Cape and Radio786. 

Yesterday, the 8th July coincided with the 29th day of Sha'baan 1434 AH, so  today  being the 30th day of Sha'baan will come to an end just before sunset. This implies that by default, tomorrow  will be the 1st of Ramadan which coincides with 10th July 2013. Fasting  will commence before daybreak in the morning.  

I just heard the Athaan for Maghrib so I'll on my way to the masjied for Salaat ul-Mahgrieb within the next minute. Since the night of the lunar calender precedes the day effectively the  Salaat ul-Mahgrieb I'm about to attend, is the 1st waqt of Ramadan. Within one and a quater hours, immediately after Salaat ul-Ishaa'i  the 1st Taraweeh will begin.

Taraweeh is a 20 raka'aat sunnah salaat that is firmly associated with the month of Ramadan so much so that is cannot be performed at any time during the remaining eleven months of the year. Ramadan is the month ordained for fasting but it is also the month of the Qur'an. In fact the Qur'an testifies to the fact that it was revealed during the month of Ramadan.  

Ramadan is also a month of seeking forgiveness  and an opportunity for every Muslim who are fortunate enough to witness the arrival of Ramadan 1434 AH to spend it in 'Ibadaat. So many Muslims who fasted Ramadan or witness Ramadan  last year is no longer with us. Therefore Ramadan should serve as an eye-opener for for all of us.

The time 9:15  and I just returned form Salaat ul-Taraweeh during which one and a quarter Juz of the Qur'an was recited by a team of Huffaz. Its just too amazing for words that so many Huffaz have committed the entire Qur'an to memory and can regurgitate every verse on demand with correctness and perfect pronunciation with melodious voices. 

But the best part of listening to the Qur'anic recitals are mentally following the story line as revelation unfolds. Each and every verse totally astounding conjuring numerous thoughts, even whilst in firm concentration. Tonight, the most outstanding verse of Qur'an for me, was the first 5 verses of the second ruku of Surah Baqara. This verse has universal appeal and none other than Allah (SWA) can make such  statements.  

I'm going to attempt to expound on it but before I do so, I need to say that this is just one of the many verses that now stick in my mind which I'd like to share, but because of space and time constraints, a complete and thorough expose it is beyond the scope of this blog. (For now!) Here is the said verse with my attempt at translation and transliteration following thereafter..

Al Qur'an al Kareem - Surah Baqara verses 21 -25.

TRANSLATION

21. O mankind, worship your Lord who has created you and created those who have lived before you, so that you will be god fearing.

22. He is the ONE who has made the earth as place of rest for you and the sky a protective dome, and has sent down rain water from the sky which bring He forth fruits for your provision. So do not knowingly set up rivals to Allah.

23. But if you are in doubt about the revelation We have sent down to Our messenger (Prophet Muhammad), then produce a chapter comparable to it. Call upon your helpers, other than Allah, to assist you, if you are unbiased truthful.

24. Assuredly you will certainly fail to achieve this, in reality you will never be able to do so; therefore guard yourselves against the Fire of Hell whose fuel is man and stones,  a befitting recompense for the rejecters of faith.

25. But bear glad tidings to those believers firm in faith who do righteous deeds that they shall attain Paradise (Heaven) underneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are given  provision they will say, "This is what we were given before," for they shall be given in resemblance. In Paradise they shall have pure spouses, and they shall live in Paradise for ever. (Surah Baqara verses 21 -25.)

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TRANSLITERATION

21. Ya ayyuha-n naas-u 'ubudoo rabbakum-u lathee khalaqakum waallatheena min qablikum la 'allakum tattaqoon

22. Allathee ja'ala lakumu-l arda firashan wa samaa'a binaa'a wa anzala mina-s samaa'i maa'a fa akhrajabihi mina-ath thamarati rizqan lakum fala taj'aaloo lillahi anda-dan wa antum ta'lamoon

23. Wa inkuntum fee raybi-m mimma nazzalna 'ala 'abdina fa-too bisoorati-m min mithlihi wada'oo shuhada-akum min dooni Allahi in kuntum sadiqeen

24. Fa-il lam taf'aloo wa-lan taf'aloo fat-taqoo-n naara allatee waqooduha-n naasu wa-l hijarat u'iddat lil kafireen

25. Wa bashshiri-l latheena amanoo wa'amiloo-s salihati anna lahum jannatin tajree min tahtiha al-anhar,  kullama ruziqoo minha min thamaratin rizqan qaloo hatha-l lathee ruziqana min qablu wa otoobihi mutashabihaa wa lahum feeha azwaju-m mutah-hara wahum feeha khalidoon (Surah Baqara verses 21 -25.)

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