What does Ramadhaan mean to our children?

What does Ramadan mean to our children? What wonderful benefits do our children get from Ramadan? Like sponges they may only be listening to the long list of "exciting" foods we are going to cook and whom we are going to invite.

Sending greeting cards and e-mail invitations. Of course on the top of the list is "What am I going to get for E'id?" Sounds familiar? Food, people, cards and presents? It sounds what Christians have turned their holidays into, doesn't it? This is scary because it is as though we have turned out imitating those around us which Allah and His Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, has warned us about.

Allah, Most High, Says (what means): "Whoever contends with the Messenger after guidance has become clear for him, and follows other than the way of the believers, We shall leave him to it and land him in the Hellfire, what an evil refuge." [Qur'an 4:115]

It is so easy for us to fall into the traps of materialism and commercialism. It seems now that we are worshiping this world more than ever before. Many are loosing the benefits of Islam that gives us peace and tranquility.

Allah, Most High, Says (what means): "If anyone desires anything other than Islam as a religion, it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers." [Qur'an 3: 85]

Our Muslim nation is becoming more and more like the rest of the world. It is hard sometimes even to distinguish between Muslims and non-Muslims in looks, actions and manners. With Satellite the melting pot is growing faster and faster. We believe the "almighty" TV is telling us who we should be if we want to be "somebody". We are loosing our Islamic identification at an alarming rate.

We are looking for answers for our anxieties through so-called "modern" innovations. But we will never achieve any true peace unless we truly believe that Islam has the answers to every single problem that afflicts the human race.

Allah, Most High, Says(what means) "Do they then seek the judgment of the Time of Ignorance? Who could be better at giving judgment than Allah for people with certainty? " [Qur'an 5: 50]

What can we do for our children to help them benefit from Ramadan? We need to show them that Ramadan is one of the most important months of the year. Not because their taste buds will be tantalized, but because we gain something from our worship.

We plan months in advance for weddings, graduations etc. We insure that when our boss asks us for a presentation we do our best. Staying up late at night, checking the minute details on a Power Point Presentation. But what do we do to prepare ourselves for Ramadan? Buying extra food, children handing in E'id "wish lists", crossing off names on our Iftar invite list because they didn't invite us for Iftar last Ramadan? Going through our cookbooks to find new exciting recipes? Is this what Ramadan has come to?

In the Qur'an, Allah tells us the situation of those people who are accustomed to think superficially:

"They know an outward aspect of the life of this world but are heedless of the hereafter. Have they not reflected within themselves? Allah did not create the heavens and the earth and everything between them except with truth and for a fixed term. Yet many people reject the meeting with their Lord." [Qur'an 30: 7-8]

Will we then follow the mental numbness of the majority? Going through empty rituals that have no benefit?

"Those are who have lost their own selves. What they invented has abandoned them. Without question, they will be the greatest losers in the Hereafter. As for those who believe and do right actions and humble themselves before their Lord, they are the Companions of the Paradise, remaining in it timelessly, forever. The likeness of the two groups is that of the blind and deaf and the seeing and hearing. Are they the same as one another? So will you not pay heed?" [Qur'an 21:24]

We need to take a fresh look at this Ramadan for ourselves and our children. We must ask Allah to cleanse our hearts and minds so that we may gain the full benefit of Ramadan. Our children need to see that it isn't only the stomach that fasts, but it is our hearts, ears, and eyes too.

We need to work on this before it is too late, and the trumpet is blown:

"The stupor of death will come in truth. (And it is said unto him): "That is what you were trying to evade! The trumpet is blown. That is the day of the threat." [Qur'an 50:19-20]

Or do we fear what the people will say; have we conditioned our children to be followers and slaves of this world? Have we forgotten the lessons from the Qur'an and our Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam? Have we put the Qur'an and Sunnah in a dusty shelf believing that it has no relevance in our "modern" day lives? Have we really became so detached and out of touch from our Creator?

"Like those before you who had greater strength than you and more wealth and children. They enjoyed their portion; so enjoy your portion as those before you enjoyed theirs. You have plunged into defamation as they plunged into it. The actions of such people come to nothing in this world or the hereafter. They are the lost." [Qur'an 9:69]