First, I would like to advise myself and all the brothers and sisters to observe the piety and virtue and to be watchful of ourselves in our words, deeds, thoughts and intentions.
Fasting thus has two main functions; physical and spiritual. It is known from the early human civilisations that diet is the key to healthy existence. Regulating the intake is one of the keys to achieve a high degree of body-control. In fact, it has become a form of protest against injustice.
Hunger strikes have become an effective means of political protest. The prison authorities often find it difficult to combat these phenomena as the prisoners do not break any of the laws, but simply stop eating. It is thus a manifestation of personal will that enables him to challenge even his own physical problems. In addition, as the verse says, this fasting is a means of achieving a high degree of “taqwa” or piety that is necessary to build the necessary human culture on the basis of mutual respect and good behaviour. Maintaining the balance between self and the body is an uphill struggle, but when achieved, it transforms the life of the person.
Muslims are required to fast by a divine order. This is an extension of the Abrahamic raditions that required adherents of other faiths to exercise this method of worship.
The supplications of the Holy month of Ramadhan are other means of associating with God. There are many such supplications (dua’as) that are specific to be recited in the days and nights of Ramadhan. Ascension to the heavens thus becomes a closer reality to man.
As the days and nights of the month progress, there is the urge within everyone to become more active in worship and supplications.
There are plenty of these prayers; let us all stand in front of God, pray to Him and seek more piety, selfcontrol and better worship.
Khadija Al Kubra (a.s.)
"Islam did not rise except through Ali's sword and Khadija's wealth," a saying. One particular quality in Janabe Khadija was quite interesting, probably more so than any of her other qualities mentioned above: she, unlike her people, never believed in nor worshipped idols.
The marriage was a very happy one, and it produced a lady who was one of the four perfect women in all the history of mankind: Fatima daughter of Muhammad (S.A.W.W.). Before her, Qasim and Abdullah were born, but they both died at infancy. By the time Janabe Khadija got married, she was quite a wealthy lady, so wealthy that she felt no need to keep trading and increasing her wealth; instead, she decided to retire and enjoy a comfortable life with her husband who, on his part, preferred an ascetic life to that of money making. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.W.) had no desire to accumulate wealth; that was not the purpose for which he, peace and blessings of Allah upon him and his progeny, was created. He was created to be savoir of mankind from the darkness of ignorance, idol worship, polytheism, misery, poverty, injustice, oppression, and immorality.
The Prophet of Islam (S.A.W.W.) used to talk about Janabe Khadija quite often after her demise, so much so that his youngest wife, `Ayesha daughter of Abu Bakr, felt extremely jealous and said to him, "... But she was only an old woman with red eyes, and Allah has compensated you with a better and younger wife (meaning herself)." This caused him (S.A.W.W.) to be very indignant, and he said, "No, indeed; He has not compensated me with someone better than her. She believed in me when all others disbelieved; she held me truthful when others called me a liar; she sheltered me when others abandoned me; she comforted me when others shunned me; and Allah granted me children by her while depriving me of children by other women."
Janabe Khadija died of illness (or as some mention, poisoning) on 10th day of the month of Ramadhan, ten years after the start of the Prophetic mission (in the year 619 A.D.), 25 years after her marriage with Muhammad (S.A.W.W.), and she was buried at a graveyard known as Jannatul Maula at the outskirts of Mecca. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.W.) dug her grave and buried her... Funeral prayers (salat al janaza) had not yet been mandated in Islam. It is reported that by the time she died, her entire wealth had already been spent to promote Islam; she left not a single gold dinar nor a single silver dirham, nor anything more or less.
