يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ١٨٣

“O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺”. — Quran 2:183

Allah tells us specifically that Ramadan is a chance for us to turn back to him and be mindful of him. The main aim, is that through our worship of him we are mindful of Allah. Just as with all things in the religion, and this life as a whole, our primary aim is to have taqwa, mindfulness of Allah. To understand him, appreciate him and know him deeper.

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ١٨٥

“Ramaḍân is the month in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the standard ˹to distinguish between right and wrong˺. So whoever is present this month, let them fast. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramaḍân˺. Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful.”

— Quran 2:185

A few ayahs later Allah tells us about the virtues of the Quran and it’s why we endeavour to read more of the Quran both in its original Arabic and a language we understand so that we can enjoy and benefit from its meanings as well as it’s recitation. This may be through reading ourselves, listening to recitation or through night time prayers such as taraweeh where many mosques will aim to finish a complete recitation of the Quran in this month.

It’s important we don’t do all these things as mere rituals though and through it all we remember what Allah told us was the primary purpose of Ramadan, to be mindful of Him, to draw closer to Him and to know him through Ramadan.

He is the one that we thank for all goodness and we rely on throughout all hardships.

وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةًۭ وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ حَسَنَةًۭ وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ٢٠١

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌۭ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ ٢٠٢

There are those who say, “Our Lord! Grant us the good of this world and the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.”

It is they who will receive a ˹heavenly˺ reward for the good they have done. Surely Allah is swift in account.

— Quran 2:201 – 2:202

#ramadan2022 #alhumdulillah #رمضان