মানবতার মুক্তির প্রত্যাশায় Md. Abdul Jalil: The holy month of Ramadan comes once in every lunar year. This is the 9th month of the lunar year. The month comes with special offers of limitless blessings of Allah for the believers. The Muslim community all over the world receives this month with special attention and importance. Generally every believer accepts this month to gain the special offers-Rahmat, Magfirath and Najath. When the holy month of Ramadan arrives, there arises a solemn environment in the Muslim society. The special culture of this month e.g. Sehree, Ifter, Salatut-tarawe, Tilawatul Quran and so other righteous deeds give a solemn color to our society. In the holy Quran Allah (SWT) describes this month of Ramadan as an opportunity to gain self-purification through observing the month-long fasts. The importance of this month is so much for various causes. The month of Ramadan is the month of holy Quran: The holy Quran, the best gift and guide for the human beings was ascended from the ‘Laohe Mahfuj’ to the nearest sky for human beings in this month. According to the most of the Islamic scholars, at the ‘Lilatul Quadar’ in 27th Ramadan, the holy Quran was revealed for mankind. Allah says in the Quran: “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of the month (of Ramadan), he must observe Swum (fast) that month.”(Surahtul-Baqara-185) In this holy verse Allah (SWT) introduced the month of Ramadan as the month of holy Quran i.e. the revelation of the divine Scriptures from Allah (SWT). From the past history we can know that many other divine Books and Scriptures were revealed to the the Prophets and their followers in the same month of Ramadan. Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be on him) got the ‘Sahifa’ on 1st Ramadan. The ‘Torah’ was revealed to Musa(Moses), peace be on him, on the 6th of Ramadan. The Engine (Bible) was ascended to Isaac (Jesus) (peace be on him) on 11th /12th of Ramadan. The ‘Zabur’ was revealed on Hazrat Dawud(David), peace be on him on the 18th of Ramadan. Thus Allah has enlightened the human race by revealing the holy Quran and other divine books and Scriptures in the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the month of self-restraint and self-purification: In the holy Quran Allah (SWT) describes the month of Ramadan as an opportunity to gain self-purification through observing the fasts. In the holy Quran Allah (SWT) states why Fasting in the month of Ramadan are prescribed upon the believers. “O, you who believe! Observing As-Swum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become Al-Muttaqun( the pious believers).” At the last portion of this holy verse the main cause of the fasting lies and it is to be a Muttaque’. From the definition of Muttaque we know that a Muttaque is a pious believer of Islamic Monotheism who fears Allah much by abstaining him from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden and he loves Allah much by performing all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained. In every human being there are some evil things that are called instinct. This instinctive power explores a man to satisfy his hunger by hook or by crook. The instinct in a man also tries to bind a man to fulfill the sexual thrust either fairly or unfairly. But an observer of fasts (Saem) abstains him from any kind of eating or drinking or having any sexual relations (even with his wife) from Subhe Sadique(early morning) till the sunset. Thus an observer of fasts (Saem) turns into a self-restrained fellow by observing compulsory fasts in the month of Ramadan. The great Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) says,” The fasting is like a shield”. He also says, “The fasting is half of patience and the patience is half of Iman(Belief).This is the month of patience and its reward is the Jannah(Paradise).” It is the duty of an observer of fasts to save him from all sorts of falsehood and evil deeds such as usury, bribe, telling lies, immorality, unfairness, corruption, stealing, roberring, terrorist activities and so on. The word fast means ‘to burn’. Thus the result of fasting turns a man to a purified man as a piece of gold becomes pure when it is burnt. Ramadan is the month of victory of the Muslims: The historical Jihad of ‘Badr’, the first fighting in the Islamic history was taken place on the 17th of the month of Ramadan in the 2nd Higree. The Muslim Force consisting of 313 Ansers and Muhajeers commanded by Muhammad, Peace be upon him, won the fighting against the Kufre Force consisting of 1000 Kafers and Mushriks of Mecca in the field of Badar in 17th of Ramadan in 2 AH. The historical Victory of Mecca, ‘the final victory of Muslims’ against the Kafers was peacefully happened in the month of Ramadan in 8 AH. These victories are some important incidents of the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the month of feeling for the distressed: The holy month of Ramadan is a month to feel the sufferings of the poor and distressed of the society who starves for the want of food. By observing fasts the rich get the inspiration to extend their hands of help for the poor. So, Zaket, Fitre and other helping program for the poor are geared up in the month of Ramadan. In the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, all in the society enjoy the Eid festival in a body. The fasting updates the sense of responsibility to the helpless of the society. Ramadan is the month of rewards: Every act of goodness is rewarded. Rewards are given based on the sincerity of the intention. Fasting is the only deeds about which Allah has declared that He Himself is the reward for it. This means that one develops such a close relationship with Allah that Allah offers Himself for the Saem(Observer of Fasts). Abu Hurairah(R.) relates that the holy Prophet, Peace be upon him, said: “ Allah, the Lord of Honor and glory says: all other deeds of man are for himself, but his fasting is purely for Me and I shall reward him for it. The fast is like as a shield. When any of you is in fasting he should abstain from loose talk and noisy exchanges. Would anyone revile him or seek to pick a quarrel with him, he should respond with: I am observing fast. By Him in whose hands is the life of Muhammad, the breath of one who is fasting is purer in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of Mesk. One who fasts experiences two joys: he is joyful when he breaks his fast (at the end of the day) and he is joyful by virtue of his fast when he meets his Lord” ( Bukhari and Muslim). Sa’ad Ibn Sahl relates that the holy Prophet, Peace be upon him, said: “There is a gate of Paradise called Rayyan through which only those will enter on the Day of Judgment who are regular in observing the fast and no one else. A call will go forth: Where are those who observed the fast regularly? And they will step forth and no one beside them will enter through the Gate. After they shall have entered, the gate will be closed and no one else will enter thereby.” (Bukhari and Muslim). Abu Sa’id Khudri relates that the holy Prophet, Peace be upon him, said:” When a servant of Allah observes the fast for a day for the sake of Allah, He thereby repels the Fire from him a distance of seventy years of journeying”. (Bukhari and Muslim) Abu Hurairah(R) relates that the holy prophet, Peace be upon him, said: “He who observes the fast during Ramadan out of sincerity of faith and in hope of earning merit will have his past sins forgiven him” (Bukhari and Muslim). Abu Hurairah( R0 relates that the holy prophet, Peace be upon him, said: When Ramadan arrives the gates ofParadiseare opened and the gates of Hell are locked up and Satan is put in chains”(Bukhari and Muslim). May Allah (SWT) grant us to observe the fasting in the month of Ramadan with sincerity and to gain the blessings and rewards in the world as well as in the Hereafter. Writer: Senior Lecturer & Course Coordinator, Dept. of English Language and Literature Darul Ihsan Universiry, Motijheel Annex email: