Ramadan fasting 2022 commenced today, and Muslims all over the world are excited to welcome the month. Millions of people will be fasting - abstaining from food, drink, marital intimacy, and some other pleasure of life from dawn to dusk, in line with the command of Allah in Suratul Baqarah Q2:183 where Allah says: "O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺." While every fasting Muslim understands the command to fast, we tend to loss the sight of its purpose. Here, we will take a look at our reason(s) for fasting and see how we can align it with the purpose Allah wants us to do so.

Everyone born into this world have at some point in their lives encounter matters that is a cause of stress or worry. Some concern might seem more intense than others, only the bearer of a burden can truly identify the intensity of the burden on their hearts.

Allah (swt) says:

"And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient," Q2:155

From the above ayah, it is safe to say that everyone, with no exception, will be tested with any if not all of trials listed in the aya above. However, there is a group of people who will receive good news as a result of their reaction to what they had experience; these are the patient ones.

"Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return." Q2:156

Be patient at the time of trials is not something that happens out of a vacuum. It is conscious steps that becomes habit by Allah’s will.

Of the steps that leads one to patience at times of difficulties and stress is the ability to THINK WELL OF ALLAH.

Thinking well of Allah means having a good thought and good expectations of Him. When disaster strikes, believe that Allah did not cause it to cause you distress, Rather to prevent something with a more devastating effect and to bring you closer to Him.

To think well of Allah, we need to:

• know who Allah is - what His names and attributes are. “Know Me before you worship Me, because if you don’t know Me, how can you worship Me?” (Hadith Qudsi)

The best way to do this is through the regular recitation and contemplation of the Quran and through the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (saw).

• Constantly remember Allah."And glorify the name of your Lord morning and evening." Q76: 25

The effect seeking to know who Allah is, will bring peace and calmness to the heart i.e. relief from stress and anxiety.

Allah says:

"those who believe and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort."

Q13:28

The real experience of the Qur'an is in Salat. Its a way of connecting with our Lord, Allah. One of the best place to with is in Salatu Fajr, therefore read a lot of Qur'an at Fajr time. Make Fajr an institution in your life and you will almost immediately begin to see the benefit (spiritually and wordly). 

To Accomplish this:

On the authority of Abu Harayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Allah the Almighty said:

I am as My servant thinks I am (1). I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assemble better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.

(1) Another possible rendering of the Arabic is: "I am as My servant expects Me to be". The meaning is that forgiveness and acceptance of repentance by the Almighty is subject to His servant truly believing that He is forgiving and merciful. However, not to accompany such belief with right action would be to mock the Almighty.

It was related by al-Buhkari (also by Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn-Majah).

Making istigfar is a means to open up to the world on unimaginable possibilities. It open up the door to increase wealth, inrease in all goodness, increase in honour and digity.

Learn of this very simple action that can help unlock the door to all goodness, bring solution your problems, relief you of your troubles, worries and anxiety.