My Dear Members of PAAMA!
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah.
May the Lord of mankind open unto you the gates of His mercy and may He so ordain that you are always accompanied by the supplication of His angels. Ameen.
As the month of Shaban draws to a close and we head into the Holy Month of Ramadhan, Muslims all over the world experience a joyous surge of anticipation that inspires the hearts of the young and the old alike. For indeed Ramadhan – during which complete abstinence from food, drink and conjugal relations from dawn to sunset is compulsory upon every adult Muslim subject to certain permissible exemptions – is a season of closer communion with Allah Almighty and provides numerous opportunities to seek His pleasure. As such, the birth of the new moon which signifies the start of the Ramadhan is greeted with excitement. Felicitations are exchanged all around as mosques begin to be filled with eager worshippers. An extra prayer service, known as Taraweeh, is held every evening during which the congregation is privileged to listen to the recitation of the Holy Qur’an from beginning to end over the course of the month. Numerous people read the Holy Qur’an through from beginning to end by themselves. Others hear it interpreted and expounded during discourses held and a reflection over the Divine signs contained therein take up a large portion of one’s time.
Abandoning the comforts of beds, most of the night is passed in supplication and glorification of Allah by way of Tahajjud prayers. The day may be spent in worldly pursuits as usual but, more than during other months, the hearts remain tied in the remembrance and praise of Allah. Greater attention is directed towards philanthropic causes such as caring for the poor, the needy, the orphan, the sick, the distressed, the neighbour and the wayfarer. Towards the close of each day, the heart experiences a glow of gratitude to Allah that His grace has enabled one to approach the end of the fast having spent the night and the day striving to comport oneself in conformity with His will.
It is reported in Hadith that he is unfortunate indeed who lived through Ramadhan and failed to have his sins forgiven. This shows that, among countless blessings of Ramadhan, one is the opportunity to atone for all past mistakes. It is for this reason that I wish to prime all members of PAAMA for the month of sacrifices, striving and supplications ahead and pray that this blessed month serves as a springboard for our spiritual awakening, spiritual enlightenment and spiritual advancement.
Rest assured that all members of PAAMA will be in my special prayers during the blessed month. May Allah grant us all the opportunity to avail ourselves of the blessings that this sacred month has to offer and may He continue to advance us in righteousness and rectitude after Ramadhan. Ameen.
I extend to you all my heartfelt good wishes and Ramadhan Mubarak!
Wassalam.
Yours humbly,
Tommy Kallon.
President Pan-African Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK
