Adieu to Ramazan: Jumatul Wida

LAHORE - Every community of the world celebrates some days as very important in its social setup. It gives them special significance because of political or historical events taking place on those days. The special days that the Muslims observe or celebrate owe their significance due to the occurrence of some religious and spiritual events on those days. As the holy month of Ramazan is considered the most important month in the Islamic calendar the last Friday of this month is also given the same religious importance. The month of Ramazan is more sacred than other months of the Islamic calendar because in this very month commenced the revelation of the Quran-i-Majid which serves as the complete code of life for the Muslims for all times and climes. Jumat-ul-Wida means the last Friday of the holy month of Ramazan. The Holy Quran is the latest code of life to ensure the piety of soul. It provides up-to-date guidance in every aspect of human life and in every walk and direction for our activities. It was the miracle of the Holy Quran and piety of the life of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) which revolutionised the whole concept of life. The Holy Quran is the only panacea for all sufferings of humanity, and the month of Ramazan provides a complete course of ethical physical, spiritual and material training and purification of self for Muslims all over the world. Every Muslim is ordered to observe fast during this month, because this aims at purification of his individual self. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) is said to have exhorted his followers not to call any day bad. Nevertheless, Hazrat Abu Huraira says that he heard the Holy Prophet (PBUH) saying. I am the last Prophet in this world. I would be the first one to appear on the Day of Doom. Revelation was first made to my predecessors and the last and the final book of guidance was revealed to me on this sacred day i.e Juma. Juma enjoys superiority over all other days of the week as regards sanctity and significance. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) the last Prophet of Allah, has laid great emphasis on the importance of this day. Juma has been declared as the head of all other days of the week. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said that Hazrat Adam was created on this day and he descended to world as the first vicegerent of Allah on Juma. During his whole life the Holy Prophet (PBUH) himself attached great importance to his day. It was the day of Juma of the Holy month of Ramazan when the first Sura of the Holy Quran (Iqra) was revealed to the Holy Prophet (PBUH). It was on Juma that the last Prophet of Allah migrated from Makkah to Madina for promoting the cause of Islam. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) founded the first Mosque of Islam in the suburbs of Yasrib at Quba on Juma and when he offered first congregational prayer at the mosque of Quba it was Friday. The importance of Friday is highlighted by the fact that the Muslims have been ordered to offer their Juma prayers in the largest congregations to demonstrate their faith, unity and discipline. In the second year of Hijra the day when the Muslims gained victory over Makkah it was a Juma. The last Friday of the month of Ramazan reminds us of the Sura-e-Qadr or the most honoured night of the month of Ramazan which is as here under:-We have indeed revealed this Message in the Night of Power. And what will explain to thee what the Night of Power is. The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the spirit by Gods permission on every errand. Peace This until the rise of morn. Ramazan is the (month) in which was sent down the Quran as a guide to mankind also clear (signs) for guidance and judgement (between right and wrong). Ayat 85 of the second Para of the Quran. This is the month in which Allah showers His choicest blessings upon those who adhere to the teachings of the Holy Quran, who not only retrain from evil or injury to others but also do good to their fellow beings. The last Friday of the sacred month of Ramazan enjoins upon every Muslim to hold fast to those virtues of spiritual and moral reformation which they have acquired by fasting in conformity with the commandment of Allah, to shun all kinds social evils, to establish the traditions commensurate with the true spirit of the Holy Book of Allah and Sunnah of the last Prophet (PBUH). The month which trained and disciplined our souls and bodies to patience, honesty of action and thought, endurance, tolerance, straight forwardness, integrity, equality, love, goodwill, cooperation, sympathy and sacrifice, is about to depart. The Holy Quran, the first ray of divine light was revealed on one of the nights of this Holy month for spiritual and moral reformation of the individual as well as of the society. This Holy Book guides mankind to the ways of peace. Indeed, there has come to you from Allah light and a clear Book whereby Allah guides those who follow His pleasure, to the ways of peace, and this Book (Quran) is meant for guidance of mankind and lead them out of darkness, by His Will unto the light guides them to a path that is straight (Para 5 Ayats 17 and 18). The last Friday of Ramazan reminds us to ourselves purge us of all moral vices and social evils and persuade us to make peace with Allah and His Creatures. To make peace with Allah is to submit to His will and to make peace with His Creature implies making ourselves benevolent and beneficial to all other living beings. We are fortunate enough to avail of the blessings of Allah during the month of Ramazan about which the Prophet of Islam is reported to have said: Every good act of a man is enhanced from seven to ten times more. But Allah says fasting is even above this, it is only for me, and I myself will give reward hereof. Let us prostrate before our Creator and pray to Him to enable us to conduct our lives in consonance with the teachings of Islam so that the most desired Nizam-i-Mustafa and Nizam-i-Islam could be realised and translated into action.

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