EDIN URJAN KUKAVICA Ramadan is here!

By Edin Urjan Kukavica

Ramadan is here.

In the next few columns, I will retell, as much as I can, several stories about people, events, and phenomena whose main characters are people, but also animals. I will not mention the names of bad people, whether they are main or supporting characters in the stories, so that those who recognize themselves by their characteristics in these little stories do not say: "These are stories about some forgotten people from long ago," because they are not. Bad people and bad characteristics are bad people and bad characteristics regardless of time, place, and circumstances. And I will mention the good ones by name and deed, because good people and good characteristics are good people and good characteristics for all time. Allah, the Exalted, in the Holy Quran, in Surah Hud, speaks to His Prophet and Beloved, Muhammad (peace be upon him and his): "All the stories of the prophets that We relate to you are to strengthen your heart, for in them comes to you the Truth, a lesson, and a reminder for the believers." We will begin as it is fitting, with Bismillah, because: "If a bird, when it wants to fly, forgets to praise God, it flaps its wings in vain, it cannot reach its destination, but will fall and never rise again."

Ramadan is here. Spend it in the company of good, chosen servants of Allah, and if you do not know who they are, let the narration transmitted from the Messenger of Allah Muhammad (peace be upon him and his) serve as your guide, who, when someone once asked him: "Who can I consider my best friend?" replied: "He who helps you (joins you) when you remember God, and he who reminds you of God when you forget Him," said the Prophet. "And who is the worst friend?" they asked further. "He who does not help you (does not join you) when you remember God and does not remind you of God when you forget Him," replied the Prophet. "And who is the best of all people?" "The best of all is he who, when you look at him, reminds you of God," replied the Messenger of Allah Muhammad.

Hazrat Junaid (may his secret be holy) says: "The narrations of the sheikhs about knowledge and steadfast insight are an army among the armies of Allah, the Exalted. When they conquer a heart, they defeat and expel their opponents - passion and delusion - from it." And the Pir of Herat, or in beautiful Bosnian, the Old Man from Herat - Abdullah Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him), bequeathed to his companions: "Remember the narrations you hear from any of the sheikhs. If you cannot do that, at least remember his name, so that you may benefit from it." Because, it is narrated that Allah, the Exalted, tomorrow, on the Day of Judgment, will ask His ashamed, sinful servant: "Did you know such and such a scholar and arif in such and such a neighborhood?" "Yes," he will reply. And then the decree will come: "Because of your acquaintance with him, you are forgiven!"
Certainly, one of the most famous figures in all the stories that Muslims around the world have been retelling for centuries is Nasreddin Hodja, a scholar and arif from the 13th century, whom history will remember and mention as an irresistible jester and merrymaker, unmatched even today. The stories are short. If you listen to me, you will not only laugh at the little stories you hear, but you will also think about each one, even if only a little, and draw a lesson from the few words with which they are written and told, because as much as people laughed at Nasreddin, he, the righteous one, surely laughed more sweetly and more often.

Nasreddin Hodja worked in the field all day. He was tired, sweaty, his clothes were dusty, and his shoes were muddy. Since he was fasting the Ramadan fast, he was also very hungry. However, sunset was approaching, and Nasreddin knew that he would soon be able to satisfy his hunger. The richest man in the settlement invited everyone to iftar at his home that evening. After finishing work, Nasreddin estimated that if he went home to change, he would be late for iftar. He considered it better to go in his dusty clothes than to be late. So he set off for the rich man's house, dreaming of the delicious food that awaited him there. When he arrived, the rich man opened the door for him. He looked with disdain at his dusty clothes and dirty shoes, and then, without a word of welcome, he gestured for him to enter and quickly moved away from him. Nasreddin approached a crowd of people dressed in their finest clothes. The table was laden with a variety of delicious food, from savory to sweet dishes.

Although he hurried to get to iftar as soon as possible, all the seats were already taken, and no one made an effort to make a place for him to sit. In fact, no one even offered him food. He had to reach for food over people to get anything on his plate. No one even spoke to him. It was as if he wasn't even present. Because of the attitude of those present, Nasreddin did not feel the taste of the food he was eating, so after a few bites, he decided to leave. He hurried home and changed into his best clothes, which included a beautiful coat. Nasreddin then returned to iftar. This time, the host greeted him with a big smile. "Come in, come in," he said warmly. After he entered the room, people began to wave and call him, wanting him to sit right next to them to eat.

Nasreddin sat down quietly. He took a date, carefully put it in the pocket of his coat, and said: "Eat, coat, eat." Then he took a piece of bread, put it in his pocket, and said: "Eat, coat, eat." Thus, Nasreddin continued to feed his coat all sorts of delicious food.

Soon, everyone in the room was staring at Nasreddin in amazement, wondering what he was doing. The host approached and asked: "Nasreddin, what are you doing? Why are you acting like this?"
"Well, when I first came to this iftar in my old work clothes, I wasn't welcome. No one spoke to me. But when I put on this coat, suddenly everyone welcomed me warmly. So I realized that it wasn't me who was welcome, but my coat. It is only right, then, that I let it eat."

Ramadan is here.

I ask Allah, the Exalted, to enable us and help us to fast it in a way that He (Exalted is He!) will be pleased with, to fill it with sincere and devoted worship, and to carry over what we gain from His blessings during it into the rest of the year.