IHIVF's Special Ramadan Series: Part 1

By S. Chowdhury

Asalamu Alaykum WaraHmatullahi wa baraakatuhu

May Gods peace, blessings and mercy be upon you All.

Ramadan Mubarak.

The prophet (pbuh) stated:
“Lagadwatun fi sabilillahi, aw ruhatun, khairum minad dunya wa ma fiha.”
"To spend one morning or evening in the cause of God is better than the world and whatever is in it."

Reporter: Hadhrat Anas bin Malik
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol 4, #50

Now that the blessed and sacred month of Ramadan is upon us, many of us will ponder over what delicious food we could eat with our families in order to reward ourselves for our long, hard day of fasting. Many people will even discuss its details; perhaps talk about what restaurant has the best food to eat or what type of dishes they can break their fast with. However, for those whom Allah (All mighty) has blessed, they will be aware of a different reality, one that will cause them to think and act differently. Their provisions never blind them from the cause of God and striving for others by putting others people’s needs before their own.

In Africa and in many parts of the human world a very different story is told. There are many people including Muslim women and orphan children who are suffering from illnesses like HIV. In 2007 alone according to UNAIDS an estimated 25,000 Muslim adults and children in South Africa have died from AIDS, 35,000 are newly infected every year and around 380,000 are already living with HIV.

During the month of Ramadan, in this condition these individuals would be content in having anything to eat or drink during Ramadan while they are fasting, as this is something that they have come to accept for the other 11 months in the year.

The idea of a long, hard day’s work for us being in the office, or in the city for them would be like a child in a candy store complaining there aren’t enough sweets.
The Prophetic statement mentioned above beautifully prioritises our actions and mindset by highlighting that striving for the cause of God is better than any luxury we can imagine, especially during the month of Ramadan where the rewards for helping others is tremendous and multiplied innumerably.

Striving for other than ourselves is not only something that will bring us closer to God, but it will also allow those who are living with HIV to enjoy Ramadan with their families and utilize things that are deemed as basic necessities for us like food, water, and healthcare. Let us give what we can to those suffering, muslim and non-muslim, and let us remember that our hearts are also fasting and thus require the provisions of love, compassion and mercy for mankind.