With all the hustle and bustle of our daily routine and political turmoil, the season of Muslim festivities has just crawled into our lives. Blessed are we, to be a part of this holy month of Ramazan once again. In this auspicious season when, the food and festivities are in full swing, we must not forget the innocent souls lost during this whole year. Be it the heart wrenching incident of APS massacre or Ismaili bus attack or any other such national tragedy, it becomes our obligation to remember the martyred souls and their families in our prayers.
While prayer is one of the most significant obligation we are going to perform this month for ourselves, there are a lots of other simple and worthy acts we could perform for the non-affluent ones. I bring to you an easy guideline to spend this season with piety, remembrance and some teeny-tiny good deeds.
Feed the innocent souls – by innocent I relatively mean animals and birds. While the summer season is on its peak, it becomes unbearable for these innocent souls to look out for food, water and shelter, the least we could do is to provide our leftovers and clean water for them to drink; on our roof tops and if possible provide them with shelter. Not only will that be a good deed but the little souls will be a source of witness for us on the resurrection day.
Put less burden on the housekeeping staff – Since fasting season is filled with more day-to-day chores than normal days we somehow unintentionally put more burden on our housekeepers, maids and other domestic workers. The point of realization is that most of the time they are also observing fast and they do not have the luxuries and shelter from heat like we do. So, the least we could do is to reduce their working hours/duties in order to facilitate them.
Keep an eye on your neighbor – By keeping an eye does not really mean cast an evil eye but rather during this month the idea is to observe our neighbors in need or feed them if they are unable to afford or even perform little chores for an elderly neighbor (if there is ample of time). Most of the time we are unaware of our neighbor’s condition so this is the right time where we can actually earn some good reward by actually taking care of our neighbors and society as a whole.
Put your interest money to a better use – more or less all of us these days use banking system (exceptions are there of course). Why not this time of the year utilize our interest money in some good deed. Although, since it is already forbidden to use in Islam so why not utilize a chunk of that money to invest in some poor man’s business, an underprivileged girl’s dowry or even to ration and accommodate for a family.
Spend in a Great Feast – why not this time of the year plan a great feast for all the under privileged ones? We do spend thousands of money for those amazing Iftar and Seher – All you can Eat deals (nobody is restricting that) but this time of the year why not hold an Iftar party for our domestic staff, drivers, plumbers, electricians on a Deig of Biryani or a Qorma? One cannot definitely miss the smile on those faces.
Say Asalam-u-Alaikum – Well, nothing seems to be new about saying Assalam-o-Alaikum but this time let’s try doing it to all the people you meet on the way to the office or on the way to the grocery store or to that barber who works under that old tree or even to your societal janitor (if you do not already do that). Islam lays stress on the power of salam, for the one who initiates the salam as well as the one who responds to it. So why not earn some extra ajar during this Holy Month.
Narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (SAW): “What is the best thing in Islam?” He said, “Feeding others and giving the greeting of salam to those whom you know and those whom you do not know”(Bukhari 12)
With all these festivities of Ramazan remains the same, the Seher, the Iftar, the uncountable numerous blessings of Allah remains there what just adds into it, is the power to share this happiness with people who otherwise will not be able to enjoy it. As for us, it’s a wonderful chance of filling our pockets with tiny good deeds which are not even time consuming. Till next time, AsSalam-o-Alaikum.
