Reorient yourself to faith that is upright, resembling the nature of God in which He created mankind. There should be no alteration in God’s creation – the right faith (be preserved), but most people seem ignorant. (30:30) – what is the true nature of human existence? Our affirmation of faith in God and our human goodness to everyone and everything that we come in contact with. Truth and justice to be restored constantly, every time we fail ourselves individually and collectively
Ramadan Reflection #19
God made him (mankind) complete and breathed into him of His spirit, and gave you ears, eyes and hearts – yet, you give thanks but little! (32:9) – what does being thankful means? It is to use God-given senses and intellect to direct our efforts and pursuits towards truth and justice and to benefit all of humanity, while taking care of ourselves and our loved ones.
Ramadan Reflection #18
Evil of corruptions has appeared on land and on sea based on activities propagated by human beings that God may make them taste the consequences of what they have done. Perhaps they will reassess (their conducts) (30:41) – political corruption, social and economic injustice, profiteering, racial and gender inequity, pollutions, deforestations, rise of atheism, mistreatment of cows and chicken in cages to feed consumers hooked to fast and unhealthy food, etc. are just some of many examples of our contemporary rise in corrupt behavior that feed our animal instincts and diminish our human spirit. We need to rethink our priorities and reestablish our human purpose.
Ramadan Reflection #17
“And when he (Moses) attained his maturity and become firmly established, We [God] granted him knowledge and wisdom. This is how We bless those who are good and virtuous.” (28:14) – what is knowledge and what is wisdom? Can you have wisdom without knowledge? Does knowledge always lead to wisdom?
Ramadan Reflection #16
“Who originates the creation, and then reproduces it? Who gives sustenance from the heavens and the earth? Is there a deity besides God? (say) Bring your proof, if you speak the truth.” (27:64) – In our contemporary world, atheism is on the ascent and threatens the very foundation of a God-centric world view, sometimes aided by those who claim faith but do evils in the name of faith.
Ramadan Reflection #15
Prayer of Solomon: He (Solomon) wondered at the word of the ant, smiled and then prayed to God: “O my Sustainer God, grant me that I may be grateful, for the blessing that you had showered on me and my parents, that I may do good that will please You, and admit me, by your mercy, to be among the righteous.” (27:19) – being thankful for what we have, aspiring to be good and to do good – are fundamental to our mental and spiritual wellbeing. How often we forget such basic teachings of the Qur’an?
Ramadan Reflection #14
“Give full measure and be not of those who diminish, and weigh with a just balance. Wrong not others of what is due to them and do not act corruptly on the land, making mischief. Be mindful of God Who created you and your previous generations” (26:181-184) – our financial, economic and political systems are becoming increasing corrupt, disproportionately and negatively impacts the poor and the minorities, and fails to protect the earth. Think of our public corporations giving 100% of profit to shareholders while failing to give living wages to essential workers, lying by politicians has become the open currency and abuse of minorities by majority, even in countries that claim to be democratic, let alone the authoritarian regimes across the globe is becoming more common.
Ramadan Reflection #13
Abraham, father of the three monotheistic religions – Islam, Christianity and Judaism, defines God and his relationship with God this way – “God, the Sustainer of the World - Who created me and shows me the way; Who gives me to eat and to drink; when I am sick, He heals me; Who will cause me to die and then give me my life back; Whom I hope will forgive me my shortcomings and mistakes on the Day of Judgment; My God, grant me wisdom and count me among the righteous.” (26:78-83) – How does our faith in God defines our day to day activities, pursuits and aspiration?
Ramadan Reflection #12
There is no living being on this planet except that its sustenance is with God. He knows their residences and their accomplishments—all are documented in full detail. (11:6) – we are worried about how we come across on social media but what about our profile with God? Are we being true and faithful with God? Is our conduct true to our human nature or driven by our selfish desires? Are we treating others the way we would like to be treated?
Ramadan Reflection #11
Say: O people, truth has indeed been conveyed to you from your Sustainer God. Now whoever seeks and follows the true guidance, does it for his or her own good and whoever commits evils, does it to his or her own peril. I am (as a prophet) not responsible for your conducts! (10:108) – our freedom of choice needs to be guided by our innate sense of responsibility but also with accountability to God and to fellow human beings.
Ramadan Reflection #10
(To every generation) We [God] deliver Our messages and to those who believe – always! It is incumbent on Us to take care of the believers (10:103) – we should rejoice in such assurance from God but to earn such assurance is the real challenge. Some people wonder – why bad things happen good people? May be the real question is – are we being good people? What is our definition for goodness? What is a good conduct? What does believing people do? We can’t define faith without goodness.
Ramadan Reflection #9
If your Sustainer God had willed, people on earth would have accepted faith and goodness, all of them. Will you then force people to become believers (take away their God-given choices)? (10:99) – We are born in a religion and stay in such religion without ever questioning. Is that the kind of religious upbringing we want to have? Should our faith be build on reflection, questioning and reasoning and not just on blind following?
Ramadan Reflection #8
The life of on this planet can be explained in this parable: We [God] send down rain from up above and cause vegetations to flourish which become the source of nourishment for mankind and animals alike. Such abundance of growth beautifies the earth with color, fragrance and joyful presence and people begins to believe that they have become the master of their fortune and this earth. But Our [God’s] reminders come by day or by night and We render the earth like a field freshly mown down, as if it did not exist the day before. This is how We [God] spell out the details for those who wish to reflect (and repurpose their lives).(10:24) – our life has parallels in the natural world that should be constant source of reminders. The earth provides not only material nourishment but also the spiritual awareness, but we need to be mindful, reflective and seek out such signs for God’s presence!
Ramadan Reflection #6
“ O People of Faith, be upright for God, bearing witness for justice and never letting your hatred for a people to incite you to acts of inequity. Be just, it is nearer to being responsible. Be mindful of God and be aware that God knows what you do.” (5:8) – are there examples in our society where hatred leads to injustice? Who about Shia and Sunni fights? How about White Supremacist? How about ISIS and Boko Haram kidnapping young girls from schools? How about systemic racism against blacks in the western world? How about persecution of faithful in communist countries? How about ethnic cleansing in Myanmar? How about anti-immigrant rhetoric by far-right politicians in Europe and America? How about Islamophobia? How about anti-Semites? The list goes on…
Ramadan Reflection #5
“O People of Faith, do not consume one another’s property and possessions through illegal means, nor even by means of trade based on mutual consent. Do not destroy one another. Know that God is ever merciful to you!” (4:29) – our modern day company act that is used to justify all profits for shareholders to the exclusion of employees whose hard labor and low wages generates those profits is aptly applicable here – something for all of us to reflect on.
Ramadan Reflection #4
“You cannot achieve true piety and righteousness unless you offer to others what you love for yourself. Whatever need you fulfill for others by any means, God is always aware of such giving.” (3:92) – This is the same golden rule that has been in the Ten Commandment of Moses and what Jesus talked about in the Sermon on the Mount. God has allowed religious plurality but the foundational teachings of Moses, Jesus and Mohammad are the same.
Ramadan Reflection #3
“They say, “ Trading (buying and selling) is like usury.” But God has allowed trading and forbidden usury. (2:275) – what is usury? Simple interest or excessive interest? Is profiteering ( as opposed to reasonable profit) the same as usury? Speculative trading, derivatives, options, forward sales – are these usury? Giving 90% profit to shareholders while denying employees a living wage – it is usurious? Monopolistic pricing – is it usurious? Great divergence in profitability across the supply chain – it is usurious? Wall street vs. Main street – whose conduct is closer to usury? We need answers to all these questions in the 21st Century to make the world more equitable and reduce the widening wealth gap.
Ramadan Reflection #2
“When it is said to them, “Do not make mischief on this earth”, they say, “We are but peacemaker.” (2:11) – do we know such people in our community? Among our political leaders? Among businessmen? Among religious figures? Has hypocrisy become the new norm?
Ramadan Reflection #1
“This is a book (the Qur’an) about which there is no doubt. It is a guide for those who act responsibly.” (2:2) – what is a responsible act? How do we become responsible human beings?