Behold, Ramadan is Coming!

By the time you will be reading this post most probably the Holy month of Ramadan has arrived. Everyone seems ready to welcome it this year as well (as it seems). Special ‘arrangements’ are being made in order to observe this month with religious zeal and spirit after all its time to have maximum benefit from this, who knows perhaps this is the last Ramadan of one’s life. So, therefore should not be left any blemish this time round.

Look around yourself. As today is the last day before Ramadan (depending on moon sighting, which itself is an issue in Pakistan) so if you are living in Islamabad, you probably should rush to any restaurant or an hotel, even a fast food spot would suffice and have a very lavish meal, just as if it’s your last meal on earth or just as you aren’t gonna survive to have another lunch after Ramadan. This is exactly what Islamabad roads/Markaz are depicting right now, you may not find a parking space right now. Now, even though we have a scorching sun over us, still you will find a lot of ‘LOVE’ on display in public parks and picnic spots as well. Spending time as if world gonna end tomorrow. In fact you may start to wonder who says Pakistan is a place full of hatred, anger and revenge; come see the amount of affection that is on display right now to change your perception about Pakistanis. Some people perhaps are living their FANTASY/DREAM right now (I don’t need to explain it as you people may have picked the underneath point by now) and are utilizing the guidelines of Devil before it gets locked for a whole month. But, who cares, you know the Holy month is coming, so we shall repent for our sins and ask for His forgiveness for all the mischief we did before it arrived.

Did you check the prices of goods and edibles of daily usage a month before Ramadan and now days? As I told you earlier nobody wants to waste even a single chance and opportunity to have Ramadan blessings so it’s time to make ‘money’ at general public cost and avail as much as possible. This year courtesy our democratic system, we had an extra topping of Budget package on that as well. So everyone’s happy and glad that all of it happened within a month time. We claim to be the ‘fort of Islam’ and we pretend to be the proudest and complete Muslims ever seen on this earth and during this ACTING some of us really perform well in practicing Rights of Allah, and doing so forgetting the Rights of People as a whole. Here prices go as high as 400% to 500% on those products which would be used extensively during this one month. Like most of the stupid trends, Pakistan is the trend setter of this. You may find this disease in other sub-continental countries too, after all fark tau parta hai na boss but still they won’t compete us for this honor… NEVER EVER!!! In contrast the non Muslim countries when they come to know of Ramadan, they give special discounts as up to 50% on daily edibles and fruits for Muslims knowing this is a religious obligation Muslims must do as per rules defined (such courtesy) even though if they don’t cut prices down like these no one can object because they are not bound by religion unlike us. Such a pity! Still who cares? Let’s make the MOST of Ramadan.

I often think how come we still keep on doing sins and evil deeds if devil has been chained and locked up for a whole month during Ramadan. Still, we did not see any decrease in such stuff. We have endured the most powerful earthquake during Ramadan. We have seen lots of bomb blasts during it. We have seen lots of killings being done in it. Who could forget the merciless killing of two brothers in Sialkot that happened while people were observing fast? What I understood was that; although the devil is locked in chains and restrained too, we are still free. The devil inside us is still free; we feed it with lavish edibles and expensive substances. We nourish it with hatred, anger, jealousy, betrayal, animosity. We have seen this evil kill hundreds of thousands, blown school and colleges; terrorize genders of opposite sex and what not. Also, have you ever noticed that as soon as the fast is over, we continue our old routine like Ramadan never happened or it has gone? Another aspect I have noticed that people don’t even bother to keep fast anymore that could be of several reasons; private/personal/genuine issues whatever. But, one must pay respect to the Ramadan and should refrain from eating and drinking infront of those who are fasting. Something that we have started to forget!

See, this is how we welcome this Holy month. We have just made it a source of eating even those expensive and different dishes which we seldom use throughout the year. Lots of Iftaar parties and dinner buffets' are being arranged and for a while we just completely forget the meaning of this month. We eat a lot and in such quantity that we keep on burping during Namaz at Mosque making all others uncomfortable. We make plans for dinners and this and that. We pretend to care about it but we never tend to care in actual. We should leave the monetary benefits away from religious obligations. We shouldn’t mix the religion and business. We should lock up the devil inside us the same time real devil is being chained. We should observe respect for those who are fasting. Allah will award the true observer Ramadan so why cut down your reward by choosing worldly benefits and gains over eternal benefits?

Let me say that we as a human being are corrupt. Let me say that we as a Muslim are rotten right now. Let me say that we as a Nation are spoiled. Let me say that we have lost our direction and we are all wandering here and there; having no idea what do to, when to do, how to do and for whom to do… We need to correct ourselves personally being a human, being a Muslim and being a citizen of Pakistan.

May God Help Us All, May we all Help us!