Ramadan Message from NASFAT President.

I dare say for all of us, this is our first time of being an active participant in a pandemic beyond what we read in history books. COVID-19 has caused major disruption across the world to the way we live and work, including our religious activities. It has affected our daily routine and will also affect the activities of Muslims during Ramadan 1441 AH even as the government provides for more testing and advocates for high level of personal hygiene cum physical and social distancing to stem the spread of the virus, and we all must continue to obey the directives of the authorities. I thank all our leaders, donors and contributors to the NASFAT COVID-19 Relief that has so far impacted 11,332 households and over 73,658 persons in 117 towns and locations. Jazakallahu Khayran. Now we must find means to provide both COVID-19 Relief and Ramadan meals for our members and vulnerable Muslims in the community.

The month of Ramadan provides us an opportunity not only to fast but to observe major acts of worship and fulfill some of the duties of a Muslim to His creator, Allah SWT.

When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of paradise are opened, the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained. (Al-Bukhari 1898, Muslim 1079).

Fasting is NOT just abstaining from eating and drinking, it is also refraining from vain speech and foul language. If one is verbally abused, he should say 'I am fasting' (Muslim 1151)

Given the lockdown and movement restrictions occasioned by the pandemic, the Ramadan 1441AH program of NASFAT society will primarily focus on charitable acts of giving to support the needy and online dawah activities. Consequently, there would not be tahajudd, iftar, I'tikaf, Jumu'ah service, asalatu, taraweeh, laylatul Qadr or any other program in congregration. We must avoid providing opportunity for the virus to spread further and remain guided by the injunction of Allah (SWT) in the Glorious Qur’an Surat Al-Baqarah [2:195] ".....and make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for Allah loveth those who do good." 

Although our participation in the month of Ramadan may look different this year, the blessings of the month remains the same and our faith in Allah remains steadfast. We earnestly look forward to a spiritually rewarding month of Ramadan, a period for reflection, worship, learning, reading the Qur’an, kindness, charity, prayers amongst other acts.

We wish all our members and Muslims in general a blessed month of Ramadan. We ask for donation and support for our Ramadan program, the Feed A Mouth initiative, so we can provide Iftar and Sahur to the needy. We pray for all our donors, sponsors and volunteers. We also pray for all the healthcare workers, logistics and other professionals in the frontline of the battle against COVID-19. May Allah bless and protect all.

Prayer:

ﺍَﻟﻠَّﻬُﻢَّ ﺳَﻠِّﻤْﻨِﻲْ ﻟِﺮَﻣَﻀَﺎﻥَ ﻭَﺳَﻠِّﻢْ ﺭَﻣَﻀَﺎﻥَ ﻟِﻲْ ﻭَﺳَﻠِّﻤْﻪُ ﻟِﻲْ ﻣُﺘَﻘَﺒَّﻼً

Allahumma sallimnee li Ramadaana, wa sallim Ramadaana li wa sallimhu li mutaqabbalan.

“O Allah! Safeguard me for the Month of Ramadan (by making me see the Month of Ramadan healthy and fit), and safeguard the Month of Ramadan for me (by making the conditions in it such that I can take maximum benefit from it) and accept it from me.” 

Ma Salam.