Every action needs effort and has an  immediate and broader objective and a goal. And every object has farm and spirit. Most often people forget about the goal and keeping in mind only the immediate objective without considering the consequences or goal of their action they take and face irreparable loss, when it comes to its goal. The blessing month of Ramdan is here, it is therefore important that, we must understand both the objectives and goals of Roza and our Salah (prayers) and the additional Taraweh prayer. With simple example I will move further. A car is parked out of your house, it is called car because of its shape. It has tires, steering, hoot, mirrors seats etc. Now in question is its purpose, and why it was built for. That is simple to understand, as car mean what must be having the capability to carry passenger from one place to another. If this car does not have that capability can not be a real car. It is dummy car or it needs proper repair, same is about Roza and our prayers Namaz). We offer five times prayer.

Do we understand why we do that and why Allah wants us to pray? Usually the answer is not known to many including myself. We think (as taught) with offering prayers our sins are washed away five time a day. But do we bother about quality of our prayers?? Usually no, as Allah says Prayers stops you from bad deeds. We have put label of “bad things” on actions which have to do nothing with others mankind around us or do very less (No question those are major sins too) like taking Alcohol, adultery, pardha and targeting those who don’t regularly pray (ba-namaz) etc.

Regarding these actions, we can say I don’t use alcohol; I don’t do adultery, in my home the women are always in pardha, I offer five times prayer. Now the question is, Is that enough to be a true a Muslim?? Answer is no. Let’s come to the point now. I am praying for the last 45 years, do I avoid taking or giving Bribe?, do I avoid nepotism?, do I follow principal of merit? do I stand in queue and wait for my turn at service delivery places?, do I fulfill my duties assigned to me and paid for?, do I show respect for poor and elders and our parents specially? do I tolerate and forgive some one’s mistake and don’t take revenge?, do I avoid laying?, do I keep myself away from cheating? If the answer is no, or we do just one of them, then keep in mind all these are Major sins, more severe then using alcohol, much serious then adultery, far bad then not practicing pardha and offering Namaz. One can not go far the next prayer after committing any one of the above. He/she first has to go for repentance (TOBBA) first. Tobba with strong intention that, I will never ever repeat the same crime again at any cost in future. Cry in front of Allah (swt) for hours and seek forgiveness, and assure yourself, that you have broken the law of Allah, and you will never do that again, then we can go for our next prayer.

Every one of us must understand that Islam starts outside the gate of Masjid. Inside Musjid we make commitment with Allah ((swt). With prayers we promise with Allah (swt) that, we will perform our daily life activities according to commandment of Him and following the footsteps (Sunnah) of Nabi Kareem (saw). If we make commitment standing in front of Allah (swt) in our Namaz and don’t fulfill the promise on getting out of the Masjid in daily life activities according to the rules of Allah, that means we come to Masjid for lying to Allah (swt) five times every day, and expect blessing from him? Now take ramazan, and roza, we first of all should think at our best and understand, do we really stop eating and drinking from fear of Allah, or it is culture not to eat and drink one month in a year or we do it just to satisfy our ego,,? Are we fulfilling the commandment of Allah (swt) during roza? If we are sure we are doing it only for Allah, we have to abide by the rules of Allah regarding Roza and Namaz as well

Do we learn sacrifice during and after fasting month our wealth and physical strength to help the deserving ones? Can I pray for the one who slaps me during Ramadan, and forgive in respect of roza, do we feed our neighbor what we eat at IFTAR and Sehri? Do we understand or try to learn the meaning of Quran read during Tarweh and follow the orders of Allah (swt), and obey it during and after Ramadan? Do we sale the commodities of daily use at the same price we have been selling a moth before ramazan, do we avoid black marketing? Do we cut our food at least by 10% and give it to those who desperately need it.

Do we fully stop laying during and after Ramadan? Do we avoid playing with bank interests business; do we fulfill our duties in office, as boss or clerk, or as drive and chowkidar? Do we show best attitude while fasting? Do we avoid breaking the law and stand in queue and wait for our turn and don’t break into office by-passing other, in hospital, in PIA office and at and any other service delivery place. Do we fulfill our duties as mechanic, as labor, as carpenter? Do you work in office till it closes or go out with friends for walk during office time?. Do we think for a while before breaking fast what you are eating is available to every one in our neighborhood? If we don’t do every thing following our prayers, if we don’t fast according to rules set by Allah (swt) and practiced by His prophet (sws) as we are suppose to, then our Roza and Namaz are exactly same as the car in front of our home but it can not move from its place, it is either a dummy car or needs proper repair.

Allah (swt) may give us understanding to observe such Roza, and perform the prayers which bring good changes in our lives (Ameen) .-- Dr Khalil Jughooru, Canada, 01 Aug 2011.

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