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RAMADAAN: Endless Opportunity…Limited Time We all know time is a limited commodity. Every second that passes can never be retrieved, it is the drop lost into the sea of eternity. We have limited time to make the best of the endless opportunities that the month offers us. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam said, “Take advantage of five matters before five: your youth before you become old, your health, before you fall sick, your wealth before you become poor, your free time before you become preoccupied, and your life before your death.” (Ahmed) We may be in very different circumstances next Ramadaan. We may not have the health, the time or the life to take advantage of another Ramadaan. Now is the time, we have to act with a sense of urgency. Ask for Allah’s Forgiveness: Never let a day of Ramadaan pass that you have not asked for Allah’s forgiveness. Seeking forgiveness not only erases your sins, it also removes anxiety, opens the doors of sustenance, attracts the mercy of Allah and draws us closer to Allah. Read the Quran: If you want to speak to Allah engage in Salaah, if you want Allah to speak to you read the Quran. “Verily the one who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, he will have twice that reward.” (Bukhari) Spend time making Dua: If it is not in the nature of a mother to turn her child away empty handed no matter how disobedient a child may be, how is it possible that the One who is the Most Merciful and who has placed mercy in the hearts of all mothers turns away His slave, empty handed? How is it possible for the One Who becomes angry when His slaves do not supplicate to Him, not to be happy when they do. Dua is our intimate conversation with Allah; it is uplifting, liberating and empowering. Safeguard your sight: "The glance is a poisoned arrow of Shaytaan. Whoever lowers his gaze for (the pleasure of) Allah, Allah will bestow upon him a refreshing sweetness which he will find in his heart on the day that he meets Him.” (Tabraani) Be generous: The Prophet’s Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam charity in Ramadaan is described as abundant as ‘the free blowing wind.” There is no better exercise for the heart than lifting people up! Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam said, “Guard yourselves against the fire (of hell) even if it be with half a date (given in charity); and if you cannot afford even that, then at least say a good word.” (Bukhari) Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians