Reisul-ulema Kavazović in Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque: Ramadan is a great school for the believer

(Patria) - Reisul-ulema of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina Husein-ef. Kavazović today delivered a khutbah in Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque in Sarajevo, emphasizing that Ramadan is a great school for the believer.

„We live in the days of Allah's mercy, forgiveness and salvation from the suffering of the Hereafter, as Ramadan is divided into three decades in the famous hadith of the Prophet. In our lives, there are faces, times, events and places that attract us to themselves with their special blessing and in an unusual way. We feel that power of attraction with our entire being, so we surrender to them, without resistance or opposition, convinced that it should be so. Ramadan, precisely through the richness of its blessings, strongly attracts us to itself,” said the reisul-ulema.

He reminded that in this blessed time, as recorded in Muslim tradition, the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel and the Qur'an were revealed.

„We read about this in the second surah of the Qur'an: In the month of Ramadan began the revelation of the Qur'an, which is a guide for people and a clear proof of the Right Path and the distinction between good and evil (truth from falsehood, justice from injustice...). The ways of harmonizing our lives with the instructions from the Qur'an were shown to us by the Prophet, peace be upon him. He derived his behavior and moral conduct from the Book, as conveyed to us by the mother of the faithful, Hazreti Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her. That is why he is our role model,” said the reisul-ulema.

He emphasized that „our relationship with this Book shows our current state, because it is our mirror.”

„From today's perspective, we can more clearly understand the words of the Prophet, peace be upon him, when he said: The Qur'an, the Qur'an, O Muslims! Beware that this treasure does not slip from your hands. Know that Allah will not punish you as long as the Qur'an is with you (as long as you adhere to its teachings). Therefore, right now, in this time, which is ours and for which we ourselves are responsible, let us embrace the Qur'an, its regulations and instructions, strengthen ourselves with it, and bring into our daily conduct the strength and dignity that radiate from it,” emphasized the reisul-ulema addressing the believers.

He added that „our individual strength and clear and strong determination to always be bearers of good, justice and fairness, morality, good interpersonal relations, strength and pride before the strong, and compassion and mercy before the weak, will also ennoble our environment, make it a beautiful and pleasant home for the life of people and all creatures, and wipe away the discord that destroys us.”

Also, the reisul-ulema said that fasting was prescribed in the month of revelation, so that we might increase our God-consciousness.

„To fear God, and not people, is the pinnacle of faith and earthly freedom. It is only Satan who frightens you with his followers, so do not fear them, but fear Me, if you are believers, says Allah. Let us not waste a moment in crowning our fast with this supreme goal, this splendid virtue: to stop fearing people, their evil temperaments, from excessive worrying about petty and deceptive earthly goods, and let God-consciousness guide us in our strength and dignity,” he emphasized.

Ramadan is the month of cleansing the body and soul - we abstain from food, drink and physical pleasures during the day, and we purify our wealth and fast with zakat and sadaqat al-fitr.

„The Prophet called it the month of endurance. Everything in Ramadan is connected to the cleansing of the soul. The believer is immensely grateful to his Creator. Every our act, every act of worship is ennobled by that sincere intention of obedience and gratitude to the Almighty. Fasting is a means by which he subdues his nafs; therefore, one of its pillars is the intention (niyyah), without which the fast is not valid. A Muslim who approaches faith sincerely, striving in God's path, aims to make himself and the environment in which he lives better,” emphasized the reisul-ulema.

Although fasting is an individual act, he added, Ramadan is the month of the ummah, the community of Muslims.

"The solidarity shown during it is of crucial importance for the survival of that community. This solidarity is particularly manifested in the acts of worship of zakat and sadaqat al-fitr. Zakat is an obligation for Muslims, a fard, one of the pillars of our faith. Whoever does not perform it, while being able to do so, is a great sinner, and whoever denies it is an unbeliever. Through fasting, a Muslim strengthens his faith, and through zakat, he strengthens his community. That is why the Prophet called fasting a shield, and zakat the bridge of Islam,” emphasized, among other things, the reisul-ulema Kavazović.

He conveyed that perseverance in acts of worship and performing our duties leads to success and happiness.

„Ramadan is a great school for the believer, in which he acquires skills that help him in life. Fasting teaches us patience and perseverance. Let our perseverance (istiqamah) be daily. No achievements, neither in this world nor in the Hereafter, are possible without investing effort and patiently enduring life's obstacles and challenges. Let it be seen on us that we are fasting. Show mercy towards the weak, the poor and the powerless.

The Prophet said that Allah will have mercy on those who are merciful,” concluded the reisul-ulema Husein-ef. Kavazović in his khutbah.

The khutbah of the reisul-ulema Husein-ef. Kavazović was also read in other mosques.