In the spirit of tawhid of Allah ﷻ, Muslims are obligated to be united in the way we live and in the decisions we make. Our ‘ulama (scholars) have said, “Islam has been built on two words: the word of tawhid and the tawhid of the word.” If we conduct our affairs according to the whims of the selfish nafs (self) and the instigation of the Shaytan, we risk disunity, exposing our weak points to external enemies and allowing them to do internal harm. 

We must not do things that will lead to division among Muslims, whether in our family or in the broader society. Islam, Sharia, and the akhlaq of Rasulullah ﷺ are what unite us. Violating these akhlaq leads to division, causing fissure and weakness in the Muslim community. As we hold dear to the tawhid of Allah ﷻ, we must hold onto the unity of the word. To achieve that, we have to be willing to give up things we want that will lead to division and ultimate weakness. 

Sayiduna Umar (Allah be pleased with him) taught, “That which you dislike in unity is better for you than that which you are attracted to in disunity.” If my action is going to contribute to disunity, then I must not do it no matter how much it appeals to me. Because what one may enjoy of whimsical pleasure in disunity pales in comparison to the disastrous consequence that will be regretted later in this world and on the Day of Judgment. 

May Allah ﷻ empower us to uphold His tawhid and attain its fruit that is our akhlaq and the unity of our word. Amin.

Ramadan is the month of solace (muwasa) and loving-mercy (rahma), the month during which Allah ﷻ opens the gate of Jannah to us so it is easier to do good. That same rahma from Him closes the gates of Hell in Ramadan so it is difficult to do evil. One has to be truly devilish (shaytani) to continue to be evil in Ramadan.  

Part of being grateful to Allah ﷻ for His gifts — of solace, loving-mercy, and facilitation to do good — is to be in constant dhikr of Him.  Let me recite Qur’an, be in plentiful salah, and send generous salawat upon Rasulullah ﷺ. Let me also, importantly, reflect on the values and akhlaq of the Quran, and project them in my life and relationships with others. The change in my akhlaq is the essence of fasting. 

May Allah ﷻ continue His special blessing on us in this noble month, and allow us to fast it with certainty and conviction. 

Rasulullah ﷺ was always very generous. In Ramadan, he was more generous in his giving than the wind sent with gentle rain to give life. In the spirit of giving, it is good to fulfill my obligation of zakat in Ramadan. 

I should spend in the way of Allah ﷻ lovingly, not begrudgingly. While people pay a much higher percentage of their income for taxes, zakat is only 2.5% of what has remained in excess with me for one year.  Let me not be a miser and withhold what is Allah’s right.

I must remember to pay my zakat and be generous — be kind to the orphans, the poor, and the needy. To be gentle and caring under all circumstances. This din is about akhlaq. My acts of worship should help me reform my akhlaq in my relationship with all of Allah’s creation.

May Allah ﷻ protect us from our greed and purify our hearts. Make Allah ﷻ allow us to truly worship Him and transform our akhlaq in this month and always. 

We are mirrors to one another. When I look at you, I see me. When you look at me, you see yourself in terms of character, values, and virtues. We observe each other to be reminded of what we must be, and what we must not be. When I see good things in you, it reminds me of what I must do. When you see bad things in me, it reminds you of what you should not do.

When we see our reflections in each other, we learn about ourselves. When we are with good company, our reflections remind us and we support one another. But when we are away from each other, we don’t have a mirror to look at. When we are not with the right company, we have broken mirrors that do not help us see clearly. We can’t see each other well in order to improve ourselves.

May Allah ﷻ keep us in good company and allow us to be polished mirrors to one another.

Calling to Allah ﷻ and Islam’s virtues (da‘wa) is an invitation.  But I cannot invite to what I don’t know and don’t do.  Da‘wa to virtue begins by knowing, and then by doing.  Therefore, to invite others, I must, first of all, invite my own self (nafs) and practice what I call to. I cannot invite others to where I am not. Think of an invitation to my house. But I am not there. It is empty.

I should be someone who establishes, or at least seriously strives to establish, the virtues I call to in my own life. As a spiritual poet said, “Begin with your own self, and stop it from its rebelliousness. If you succeed, then you become wise. Only then will your words be heard and teaching will be beneficial.” That’s the beginning of da‘wa. It begins with my self (nafs) and continues with my self (nafs) for as long as I live. If this principle underlies the spirit of my da‘wa, my invitation to others will be a self-reminder, positive self-reinforcement and self-reform.

May Allah ﷻ forgive us for the many shortcomings and inconsistencies in our lives, and for our claims of virtuosity and uprightness

Beyond the external requirements of fasting, we must not forget the internal dimension of fasting in the month of Ramadan. Along with our stomachs, our hearts, our limbs and our drives must also fast. Let us not tarnish our external fasting with improper internal conditions. Nor should we, as we internally prepare ourselves to be polished and cleansed, allow that to be tarnished by external stains and improprieties. Let us not be of those who, instead of honoring this month and being honored by it, do the opposite.

We must not improperly use our tongues, feelings, and limbs while fasting. We don’t become animals － animals can’t control themselves because they are created to instinctively do what they do. But we are not only animal instincts. We are human beings endowed with a spirit and intelligence, and therefore, we are required to control our emotions and actions. We must not allow ourselves to be like predators, devils, or cattle. We must, by the Will of Allah ﷻ, strive and implore Him to help us.

May Allah ﷻ help us fast with the meaning of fasting and attain the fruits of such a fast.