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ELiGioN<br />
Muslim adults around the world except the sick, infirm and<br />
those travelling are currently fasting every day, from dawn till<br />
sunset, during this blessed month of Ramadan. Ramadan is<br />
about meeting the challenge of <strong>not</strong> only curbing our appetite from the<br />
basic needs of food, water, and worldly pleasures, but also to restrain<br />
our negative emotional conditions, especially anger, greed, intolerance,<br />
arrogance, corruption and dishonesty.<br />
Ramadan is a rigorous training program in self-purification, self-restraint<br />
and discipline to revive the true qualities and spirit of humanity. It is a<br />
month where one’s tongue is trained to avoid lying, backbiting, scandal<br />
mongering, obscenity, rudeness, indecency and viciousness. Abstaining<br />
from hearing everything that is reprehensible, everything unlawful and<br />
forbidden. Controlling the eyes so they do <strong>not</strong> see ‘the want’ of prohibited<br />
desires. Refraining the heart so it does <strong>not</strong> feel and harbour anything corrupt.<br />
Preventing the feet going in the direction of evil and illicit places. Stopping<br />
the hands from committing any acts of indecency and offensiveness.<br />
One of the main benefits of Ramadan is to increase our compassion for<br />
those in need of the basic necessities of life and fundamental comforts that<br />
all living creatures desire. Ramadan is a way of calling the ‘haves’ to help<br />
the ‘have-<strong>not</strong>s.’ It is only through the hunger of fasting that the ‘haves’ feel<br />
the real hunger and tragic situation of the poor. Without fasting, many of us<br />
who are in a very fortunate position can<strong>not</strong> experience how painful hunger<br />
and poverty is and to what extent the poor need our care, compassion and<br />
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support. Our feeling for others during Ramadan becomes the foundation<br />
of true caring for the ensuing 11 months of our Islamic lunar calendar.<br />
The recitation of the Qur’an in Mosques and homes around the world during<br />
this blessed month will inspire, train and fortify us against all unfairness<br />
and the great injustices bearing down on the less fortunate, the weak, the<br />
injured, the powerless, the oppressed and all those who have been driven<br />
from the comfort of their homes.<br />
Finally, Ramadan is marked by a sincere desire to devote ourselves to<br />
All Mighty God for His endless Blessings, and for giving us the health and<br />
strength to observe the fasting of Ramadan. Muslims strive to move closer<br />
spiritually to All Mighty God through prayer, recitation of verses from the<br />
Holy Quran, and by remembering Him so as to receive more of His Mercy<br />
and Bounty.<br />
Every night here in Dunedin’s AlHuda Mosque, an iftaar (breaking of<br />
the fast) meal is served to the Muslim community. The strong sense of<br />
togetherness and universal feeling of spiritual fulfilment makes these<br />
iftaar gatherings very unique, and anyone from the community interested<br />
in learning about Islam is more than welcome to join us. If you have any<br />
questions or would like to know where the Mosque is, please feel free to<br />
contact us on 022 islam 2 u or email admin@otagomusa.com.<br />
Mostafa Amer (President, Otago Muslim Students Association)