Ramadan: An Opportunity
If a person were to resolve each Ramadan to rid themselves of one bad trait and acquire one good quality, where might they be in five or ten years? Thirty days is not a short period for such focus and effort. To witness that one can exercise self-restraint — that one can act not under the pressure of emotions but in accordance with the principles of faith — is a tremendous gain on the path of spir...

The Miraculous Meal of the Night
Ramadan is the time when, as a servant of Allah, I feel my faith and reverence for Him most deeply. Fasting is a way of showing devotion to Allah.  It doesn't need to be shown in a way that everyone can see; its sincerity is known only to Allah. Yet beyond that, despite the weakness of long Ramadan days and the fatigue of tarawih prayers that stretch late into the night, getting up at an unus...

Iftar in Haramayn (Two Sacred Sanctuaries)
We are always chasing after worldly things, but every year, Ramadan gives us a chance to reflect and refocus. When it arrives, we experience the three essential disciplines on the path to becoming a complete believer: Eating less, sleeping less, and speaking less. We only experience these for a month, though. This is why we are told that a person's faith will deepen after Ramadan.

Ramadan is a mer...

Closed for Renovation
Our soul is like the vessel from which we earn our eternal provision. We flourish in proportion to our soul’s longing, and Paradise is prepared for us in proportion to the beauty of our devotion. For this reason, the maintenance of the soul must never be neglected. Whenever needed, every corner should be carefully cleaned, repaired, and furnished. But when? Worldly responsibilities never come to a...

Barakah of Ramadan
When we talk about the barakah of Ramadan, the first thing that comes to mind is the overflowing refrigerator, as the snacks between meals have ended and the meals have been reduced to two. It is a competition among people to help each other and to provide iftar to as many people as possible. It is the increase in the circulation of food aid, zakat, alms in society, and much more.

For me, the bles...

Will Our Children Love Ramadan?
As Ramadan begins, our friends with children express concerns about how to raise awareness among them and foster a love for Ramadan. They seek advice from us in this matter. Although we attempted to convey something vaguely, we couldn't find an answer that resonated with us. I've been pondering this issue for a few days now.

What is Ramadan? It entails strict control over eating and drinking, mana...

Fasting as a Celebration
In accordance with the command of Allah and the Hadith Jibreel, which is a widely transmitted narration from our Prophet (pbuh), we understand the significance of fasting as one of the five pillars of Islam. We are also aware of its value in the eyes of Allah. However, some of us harbor an unnamed distress and are hesitant to express it, both during the day while awaiting iftar and as Ramadan appr...

Those Who Rule Their Property
Ramadan is a season of complete purification. It purifies our bodies through fasting, our souls through prayer and reciting the Quran, and our possessions through zakat and alms. Sadaqah (charity) stems from the  Arabic root sidq and reveals the sincerity of our faith; by giving alms, one becomes a sincere individual.

As you may know, only the wealthy give zakat. Yet, Allah has not confined t...

After Ramadan
Sometimes we want to stop time and live some moments forever, but time, luckily, doesn’t listen. It passes as it always does. Time flows in the same speed for everyone everywhere, but depending on the situation we find ourselves in, one day may seem like an entire century, or like the blinking of an eye.

For me the moments that I wish wouldn’t end are the ones when fasting women, tired from suhoor...

The Three States of Ramadan
Ramadan, the beginning of which is mercy, the middle forgiveness, and the end release from Hellfire, is a lot like the prayer with its standing, the bowing down, and the prostration.

When Ramadan came we all rolled our sleeves and got ready for worship. Just like standing at the beginning of our prayer. Every believer did this in his/her own way. Just like how everybody has his/her own way of stan...

Ramadan Butterflies
One of our friends who has written a reflection about Ramadan upon our request is dear Ayşe Şebnem Yeşilkaya. She compares our Ramadan joy to the gaiety of butterflies in spring; our enthusiasm in charity to the flight of butterflies from flower to flower; our refining souls to the elegance of butterflies; and the transitory nature of this season of happiness to the short life of a butterfly:

“The...

Our Feelings in Ramadan
Today I am sharing sister Sare Çizmecioğlu’s reflections on Ramadan, with great gratitude to her for sharing her feelings with us.

“I saw the crescent in the sky of the dark blue night, in the red of the flag, on the top of the dome, above the Neretva.* I had a difficult time fasting through the long hours. The gates of divine help opened wide. The sun hid its heat, and the clouds wished the faste...