April

Is April for fools? Well, April Fools’ Day is the first day of the month, and perhaps you had a trick played on you, or you played one on someone else. It can be silly and fun, though it can also be cruel and hurtful. But this year, April brings us Ramadan, praise God. And Ramadan is no joke.

[2:185] Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. GOD wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify GOD for guiding you, and to express your appreciation.

Fasting during Ramadan is such a gift from God. [2:183] O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation.

Ramadan is a time to commemorate, celebrate, worship, rejoice; a time to grow our souls and work on shrinking our egos, with the goal of attaining everlasting salvation. It’s a time to be as righteous as we possibly can be.

And try to make those righteous thoughts and deeds a habit that can continue throughout the year.

God makes it easy for us. [2:184] Specific days (are designated for fasting); if one is ill or traveling, an equal number of other days may be substituted. Those who can fast, but with great difficulty, may substitute feeding one poor person for each day of breaking the fast. If one volunteers (more righteous works), it is better. But fasting is the best for you, if you only knew.

Fasting is the best for us, but if we are unable, God gives us a way to make-up by feeding the poor. And we can volunteer to do more. And there are so many more righteous works to do.

[23:60] As they give their charities, their hearts are fully reverent. For they recognize that they will be summoned before their Lord, [23:61] They are eager to do righteous works; they compete in doing them.

[11:114] You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) at both ends of the day, and during the night. The righteous works wipe out the evil works. This is a reminder for those who would take heed.

[16:96] What you possess runs out, but what GOD possesses lasts forever. We will surely reward those who steadfastly persevere; we will recompense them for their righteous works.

[29:7] Those who believe and lead a righteous life, we will certainly remit their sins, and will certainly reward them generously for their righteous works.

[3:114] They believe in GOD and the Last Day, they advocate righteousness and forbid evil, and they hasten to do righteous works. These are the righteous.

We at Masjid Tucson wish everyone a most blessed Ramadan 1441 (April/May 2020).