By Mumtaz Saley

With 7 days left of this beautiful month, I have had the most unexpected miracles happen. I’m glad I have opened myself to the changes I have experienced recently and more importantly, that I have accepted change. I’m now dressing more conservatively with my goal being to please my Lord and I’ve learnt to balance my time better to ensure that I make pray and converse with Him too.

I have found Allah, and in doing so realised that Islam is practised simply for Allah places no burdens upon His slaves. My addiction to social media is no longer an addiction as I’ve learnt to use my time for better. In essence, the miracle was finding Allah, and choosing the path of change. Ramdhaan is a month for change and if we allow it, the change will be a lifelong one. Alhumdulillah, how merciful is our Lord?

We’ve decided to share Eid with our new found friends and my family happily agreed that this was a good thing to do. Our brothers and sisters, who are new Muslims, find that Ramadaan and Eid, in particular, to be a lonely time and we need to welcome them into our homes and hearts. Many have lost family and friends and need to rebuild their lives from scratch.

Look around for those who need help financially as sometimes, they find it difficult to ask from those they hardly know. Understanding their struggles will open your eyes to the bounties Allah has given to you. Remember to share not only from your wealth but from your heart too and in sincerity for the pleasure of Allah.

Lead by example, in your home and out. Allah calls us to success five times a day, don’t delay, grab the opportunity instead. Encourage your spouse to pray on time and allow your children to join in because a family that prays together stays together. Follow the example of Ebrahim (AS) by allowing your children to pray with you. Children love to learn, fill their minds with positive Islamic stories, examples of the Prophets and sahabah to find role models and to emulate their behaviour, give them knowledge of Qur’an to grow their love of Allah and fill their hearts and minds with the seerah of our Nabi (SAW).

To gain knowledge of the Deen is imperative upon us to ensure that we can answer the questions our young ones have and more importantly to open the doors of knowledge and love of Deen.

As we near the end of the blessed month, let’s remember the oppressed, their poor, the struggling Ummah globally, let’s pray for all our deceased too and let’s not forget our friends and family. May Allah accept from us all and may He accept our ibadaah and efforts in this glorious month of Ramadaan.