Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We are now in the second week of Ramadan. We are fortunate that we fast for 12-13 hours here in Perth whereas in the city of Rome where catholic Christians and Muslims constitute only one percent of the total population, the city of Pope and seven hills, people fast for seventeen hours. It is reported that in the city of Kiruna, north of Sweden as the day stretched to longer time people have to fast for longer time. But in the winter as the day being reduced to shorter time they fast for only few hours. At that time the sun emerges only for two hours there. So they have to perform five times of prayers in that 2-3 hours in winter. In Iran a total of twenty eight hundred thousand people take Iftar during the whole month of Ramadan at the mazar of Imam Reza. They mainly drink soup, paneer and meat. At present the number of mosques stand at two thousand in Zarmany where Iftar ceremony is being arranged in honor of the laborers in big establishments during Ramadan.
In Australia those who are very righteous never avail their holidays anytime but only Ramadan so that they can perform their ritual activities in a devoted manner. Some people head to Mecca and spend the whole Ramadan praying Tarabi in harem mosque. Those who work in the city and nearby areas ,they take a short leave of one hour just to perform their Jum’a prayer in the Perth mosque, some finish their job at 12.00 pm on Friday just to join the Jum’a prayer. Some among those do not want to receive wages and salaries as they did not discharge any work during those times.
Last Friday of Ramadan has some special significance. It is stated that on that day Hazrat Solaiman[a:] son of Hazrat Daud[a:]established the city of Jerusalem and built Masjid Al Aghsa which is the third holiest city after Baitullah and Masjid-e-Nababi. On last Friday of the Ramadan all the Muslims of the World expressed contempt against the Zionists and took new pledge for freeing the Palestine state from Israel occupation. So the last Friday of Ramadan is called "Al Quds day’.
However all ebadats are linked with five times prayer. It is said that if one does not pray then that person’s ebadats are not accepted. However if we can successfully complete our fasting then an immense reward is awaited. Allah reveals:
[Sura nisa ayat 122]
But those who believe and do deeds of righteosness,–We shall soon admit them to Garden,with rivers flowing beneath,-to dwell Therein for ever.Allah’s promise is the truth,and whose word can be Truer than Allah’s?
Nazmul Ahsan
