The sacred month of Ramadan has begun (March 10-April 9) and we wish all our Muslim friends worldwide a Ramadan Mubarak (Blessed Ramadan).
The chaplain’s office at SMU issued, which includes a Muslim chaplain, issued a lovely description of the significance of this month of fasting and prayer:
Ramadan comes to us like a heavenly serenity, softens believers’ hearts, motivates them to do good, and gives them an otherworldly experience. It arrives with its unique charming beauties with suhoor (pre-dawn meals) preparations, Quranic Recitations (Muqabalah), Taraweeh (Rest and Relaxation) prayers, iftar (fast-breaking) dinners, and generous charity, among other good deeds. Even in the most difficult times as violence, aggression, and polarization prevail among humanity, a unique delightful atmosphere is still possible under the shade of Ramadan. Â
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Ramadan carries the potential to recondition souls, heal broken and foster sound hearts. Ramadan never leaves us until kindness and peace prevails in the heart of a believer. Muslims have the opportunity to learn or re-learn what makes them human in Ramadan; they also try to sustain these heavenly qualities gained in Ramadan until the next one arrives. Muslims reinforce unconditional respect to the whole creation because of the Creator, empathizing with others’ pain, helping those in need, remembering thanksgiving, and restoring so many other heavenly human values. Ramadan is the time when violence, anger, hatred, and other ill feelings would cease, and peace, understanding, and reconciliation would be restored. We embraced those special times again. Muslims are thankful to God because of getting another chance to observe it.
Non-Muslims might consider the wisdom of the late Swedish Lutheran bishop Krister Stendahl. The third of his three rules for understanding of other religions is this: Leave room for holy envy. By this he meant that we should look at the practices of other religions and find things to admire, things that might cause us to reflect on our faith tradition and how it might be strengthened in light of theirs.
~ George A. Mason
10 March 2024