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Contrary to Samuel Huntington’s thesis of clash of civilizations, we did not witness a “clash” between the West and the Muslim word, at least, on the Denmark’s caricatures. At most, it caused outraged in the streets and economic boycott of Danish products which gradually subsided by lapse of time. Rather a “quarrel” occurred within the West Civilization, an antagonism between the Coalition of the Wiling led by United States along with United Kingdom, Spanish, Italy, Australia and dozens states, on one hand, against the France-Germany’s informal alliance, on the other hand, during the Iraq Invasion  in the early part of 2003. The former espoused a war while the latter insisted diplomacy. The opposing coalitions were driven not for the love of peace neither freedom but of their insatiable competing material and strategic gains in Iraq.
 
Whereas the West was then antipathetical for being protectionist of their opposing national interests, the Arabs and the Muslim World are more disunited by sheer jealousy or hypocrisy or by plain selfishness. The Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Conference, devoid of security component, have not played any major role in recent world affairs. While the denunciations by the 116 countries of the Non-Aligned Nations and the 52 countries in Africa had explicitly opposed the use of military in Iraq; seven Arab countries—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman—joined  the US-led coalition that attacked their neighboring Iraq.

Seemingly, the end of the Cold War and its swift shift to globalization paradigm has brought the world a sustainable peace. But a closer look of recent events, a contrary conclusion would surface. The United Nations under the system of collective security in the preservation of world  peace has became inutile. This was shown in US’s unilateral military action in Iraq 2003 where UN had displayed its utmost timidity. 

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Hollywood. Celebrities. HBO, NBA and MTV. This is what  I see of America  from Philippines; what they broadcast is the America that most people who do not have access to other information beyond what  materials third-world countries like the Philippines get  from media conglomerates. 

I came to America without the enthusiasm and expectation  that some people might have in  living in America for the first time. I came  to become a student in a  new university, new surrounding and new system. My purpose was clear:  to finish a degree, and then return home. The temptation of  staying to earn extra income did not really appeal to me intellectually, much less physically. I am a student.  

But, I have become more than a university student. Most cogently, I have become a student in the University of Life in America. This would manifest poignantly when I became a volunteer with the Commission for Voluntary Service and Action (CVSA). I went on a filed visit to some of the member organizations  that are in Philadelphia. to visit some of their member organizations  in Philadelphia.  

I had to admit that  I know nothing of Philadelphia except from what I discerned from the novel I read  when I was a kid, Libertine’s Destiny. The protagonist, Alexander Morrison came from the elite of Philadelphia. So while Susan Angus, the CVSA director was on the wheel, I was thinking of the Cinderella story of Libertine and  Alexander and half-expecting to find  the elite Philadelphia in the novel. 

On the way to Philly, as Philadelphia is also called, we passed by Camden, New Jersey. It is the poorest town in the United States. It was almost like a ghost town with hardly anything to see except houses in such bad shape that I could not actually believe that the only superpower in the world could actually have  a city like this. 

Once in Philadelphia, I did get to see the inner city and saw the beautiful buildings and the mural. We passed by the  Liberty Bell and I wasn’t feeling touristy enough to actually go to the tourist spots. It was enough to pass by them. The winter cold discouraged me from exploring the area, not to mention our time being limited. 

One of the organizations we visited was the Eastern Service Workers Association (ESWA). Like the CVSA, the ESWA is also run by volunteers  who are dedicated to extending  services and assistance to the lowest income people in the city in many different ways, and to organize for solutions for their problems. It was an education for me to learn how such an all-volunteer group that takes no government funding has lasted and grown for several decades.  

We participated in a membership canvass in South Philadelphia. It was a very cold winter day.  Being from tropical Philippines, I was very aware of the bitter cold. We knocked every door offering the residents to sign up as members and  at the same time learn of the benefits that they could get as  members. What I learned is something that is not taught in schools, nor known in my country about the mighty Uncle Sam.  

I guess I am mature enough to know that what information we receive in the Philippines about mighty America and the  “milk and honey” picture was never the true story. But the feeling is different when you see poverty and homelessness in the face, in the midst of such wealth! Experience is still the best teacher. On that chilly Saturday, we knocked on several doors whose occupants  are either running out of food stamps or threatened to be cut off from having heat in the winter, or already were without heat. To be hungry is one thing, but to be cold and hungry at the same time is something that is just unbearable and inhuman. 

I still believe that America is a great country. It is great because it has great citizens who volunteer not just their time and money. Some people have dedicated their entire lives  to help their fellow human beings -- regardless of color, race, ethnicity and status—and to organize to change these conditions entirely. At the end of that Saturday, I regretted that we were not able to reach more people, and that our stay was short.  

I left Philadelphia the following day happy with the thought that the beautiful African American school-crossing guard we met who ran out of food stamps with other six members of her family knew where she could get help. When we knocked on her door, I was almost annoyed that we were standing out in the cold doing something for her without her inviting us in. Later, I realized that the reason might have been that it was as cold in her apartment as it was outside.

I could not imagine myself being out on the street in the U.S. for days, not only cold but hungry. Then I thought of the fact that 12.5% of Americans  are living in poverty: those men and women with their children left homeless for months and years. For some people such as those we met in South Philadelphia, they are lucky to have ESWA. But not everyone who needs it knows there is an organization that they can go to. Sometimes, when people are poor everything gets shut from them, from doors to hearts of their fellow human beings and even information that could save them. But then, there are still great ordinary citizens out there who not only brave the cold but offer their whole lives to organize that people may know that some hearts are not closed after all, and that change is possible through working together. That is the other America that so much of the world has not seen yet. I am proud that I became a part of it, and hope that its ranks continue to grow.  

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She was wearing a camo. Short for the hot camouflage fashion must-haves nowadays. Most designers have something in their line in camouflage, ranging from the affordable to the ridiculously expensive. No, she wasn’t wearing a pair of  cargo nor low-waist pants nor an upper shirt that  exposes her navel. Her camo was in fact styled as an abaya, the long-flowing type of dress worn by Muslim ladies. Her hijab was also in camouflage. She invited attention to herself, not only for her unique style and taste, but because she was holding a sign that read: My name is not Terrorist.

Like her, I was among the hundreds of Muslims  coming from all over the world converging to attend the Annual Muslim Day Parade in New York City. The parade happens every year and this year’s parade was the 22nd. It was sponsored by the Muslim Foundation of America (MFA) and usually held on the last Sunday of September. However, since Ramadan this year fell  on the third week of  September, the MFA decided that the parade should be on September 9, only two days before the commemoration of the 911 tragedy.

It drew the ire of some New Yorkers, claiming that the parade  was a threat to New York City. About twenty protesters shouted anti-Muslim slogans from behind police barricades along Madison avenue where the parade ended. Earlier on, the office of New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg received letters of protest asking him to cancel the permit for the parade.

However, Mayor Bloomberg allowed the Muslim Day Parade to go on, citing that the New York’s Muslim community is a vital part of the city and that “it would be terrible mistake for anyone to implicate a whole group of innocent individuals with the terrible acts committed on September 11, 2001.”

Being new to New York, I didn’t know that Muslims have their own parade. I knew about the famous other parades here in New York City like the Macy’s Thanksgiving, St. Patricks’ and other slew of ethnic parades which were naturally featured on TV and other media. I only learned about the Muslim Day Parade after I have read the many hate blogs condemning the parade.

As one Muslim said, the protest against the parade will only increase the resolve of the Muslims to join the event. Despite the summer heat  and my splitting headache at that time, I joined the parade, more because I was challenged by the gripes against it. It was also an opportunity for me to be both a Muslim and a New Yorker, finally.

I was with two other Moros. Unlike other Asian countries like Malaysia and Indonesia who had a sizeable Muslim population in New York, we were only specks in the tapestry of Muslims in the financial capital of the world. We looked at the other Muslims  with envy who were representing their countries from all over the world: Afghanistan, Malaysia, India, Morocco and United States. Between the three of us, we could hardly follow the parade and make a separate contingent. We decided to join the Indonesians instead. After all, we are neighbors.

The delegations had their own banners, songs, chants and some even had floats. The Indonesians were singing the Arabic songs I so often hear in radio stations in Lanao  every Ramadhan. My heart grew heavy with remembrance of my beloved home as I sang with the Indonesians. There is no place like Ranao.

The Black Muslims had their own way of  chanting  too which reminded me of cheerleaders in many American games we often see in movies. A sister wearing an abaya was leading the group shouting at the top of her voice, ala cheerleading style of  vocalization: We are the Muslims, the mighty, mighty Muslims!!! Everywhere we go, people want to know.

Every now and then the different groups would shout Takbir! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! I too would join the shouting as I proudly added myself to the number of Muslims in New York City. Like the sister wearing camo, we wanted the world to know, that our name is not terrorist.

The parade ended at Madison where the group of protesters were also waiting for us ready with their anti-Islam placards. The only acknowledgment they got from us was a louder, stronger and heartfelt proclamation of Allah’s greatness. Allahu Akbar! There were no confrontations although we were both pretty aware of each other.

The New York Police Department (NYPD)  were there to manage the traffic and to see to it that the parade was orderly and peaceful. They were also some who joined us in the parade. Yes, some of them are Muslims too and they proudly joined our ranks -- officers, men and women who were neither afraid nor ashamed of their Muslim roots.

Some non-Muslim Americans lent support to us by joining the parade and holding placards that read: We support our Muslim neighbors and friends. Community High School parents support the Muslims. There were also leaders from the government and from the Jewish and Christian community who showed solidarity with us in very supportive and sincere speeches.

There may had  been a handful protesters but there was also a lot of others whose support to the Muslims were significant. Mayor Bloomberg for one who was fair and wise enough to allow the parade to go on, despite the complaint of some sectors of New York.  I have never seen so many Muslims in one place at the same time speaking so many different tongues. The mini bazaar was a display of different Islamic arts and crafts  and cuisines from different parts of the Muslim world, not to mention a melodious mosaic  of different languages  and accent too.

Indeed, the parade gave us the chance to meet  other New Yorker Muslims who were mostly immigrants from various countries. It was a very unusual and memorable experience. I would hop from one store to another not only to look at the merchandize but also to see the vendors who were wearing their native costumes. I heard Assalamo Alaikom so many times that I felt teary-eyed. After being a year in New York City, I  rarely hear the Azan, unless I am inside a mosque nor people  who greet each other with the Muslim greeting. I would often hear, “Hey dude, what’s up?” It was a nice break from my life in the Big Apple.

Being a Muslim is in the heart. No matter what people say or do to you, nor how governments will regulate you, nor how mighty monarchs will stop you from practicing your religion -- nothing can really shake your faith unless you allow them. In such a country like America, it is also easy for you not to observe your religion because of the distraction, temptation, freedom and anonymity you have in this vast land. But, you can also practice your religion when you want to. For once, I was glad that the New York City government gave us the opportunity to gather together.

The parade was a very New Yorker thing to do. Parades in New York had been around for decades, most famous is  the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which was started by European immigrant workers at Macy’s who wanted to celebrate the American Thanksgiving with an event they were familiar with back in Europe. Most months in New York have parade events.

The Muslim Day Parade was to me more of a New Yorker tradition, rather than a Muslim or Islamic one. But then, who says one cannot be a New Yorker and a Muslim? Who says that I cannot have so many layers to my identity? Meranao, Moro, New Yorker and above all a Muslim? Did I just forget Filipino? Oh, yes, add that to those  strata.  After all, our beloved Prophet Mohammad S.A.W. exhorted us to seek education, be it as far as China.

I didn’t go to China to search for knowledge , I went to the United States instead and yes, one can still be a practicing Muslim here. One can still be a Meranao here. Sometimes I would walk along the streets of Manhattan wearing my malong proudly.  Oh yes, by the way, the Chinese also have their own Lunar New Year Parade.

Perhaps I will watch the parade, one more time before I finally go home to the land of “dancing light”—Ranao. One thing that my adopted home shares with my beloved home is their flickering lights. New York with the bright neon light that glimmer at night only in some parts of Manhattan like the Times Square and Broadway. But my beloved Ranao is different.

The lights in the entire province  of Ranao would shimmer at night in unison that would seem to a faraway observer to be an artistic display of alternating luminance and darkness. Or perhaps a drill like those during the World War where an entire city would be purposely bathed in darkness to camouflage it, or to train or prepare its  people for the bomb raids. Except of course, the reason for our “sparkling light” in Ranao is neither for art’s sake nor for the art of war.
   

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I have always admired the U.S. for their advocacy of democracy and equality. Americans have contributed so much towards stopping negative developments in the world and they have continued to support our government’s efforts to recover from our financial crisis. But now the U.S. has shown hypocrisy and double standards in dealing with Muslim countries in order to achieve the objective of gaining control of Iraq. It had to propagate lies, half-truths and inaccuracies to such an extent that it has totally undermined its own credibility.

Despite claims to the contrary, it is clear that it is the Muslim world and Muslim governments that are being targeted. These injustices to our fellow Muslim brothers will only result to more FATHUR AL GHOZI recruits. Half a million Muslim children in Iraq and Afghanistan have died because of U.S. sanctions and, sadly, more will die before the American troops decide to eave Iraq. The Gulf War was the start of the Americans’ arrogant show of force. It showed that the US has complete liberty to decide on what to do with any state. The war against Saddam Hussein was portrayed as an international effort, but in reality it was a US military action intended to get complete control of the oil-rich Middle East. Although previous years have shown how the U.S. military have attacked Somalia and other countries, Bush’s decision to attack Iraq without a UN mandate has shown that they no longer pay respect to international laws and human rights. Ironically they also continue to mouth the words “international laws” and “human rights” in its mad drive to be the world’s lone “super power”. It did not respect the multilateral process of the UN and its charter.

Let’s face it, the UN has become a useless debating chamber. In terms of enforcing its policies, a concrete example of its inability would be the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands by Israel this despite the fact that many of the UN members totally disagree with Israel’s actions. And let me ask you, can the US war games in Muslim Mindanao be any different? These are all blatant violations of UN resolutions. Muslims have been repeatedly the targets of gross misrepresentation and verbal disrespect. Highly visible to Muslims is the political hypocrisy that routinely makes Muslims shortchanged. All the Muslims around the world whatever their differences are united in their outrage over the obvious singling out of Muslims with regard to the enforcement of the ban on nuclear proliferation. The injustice of how Israel was created and the long chain of related events have also been a symbol of niversal Muslim grievances. The rush to liberate Kuwait while Bosnia-Herzegovina was allowed to be partitioned and devastated by its Serbian and Croatian neighbors show the biases against Muslims. I have lost a lot of respect for the U.S. as a country that is supposed to uphold the rule of law and human rights.

In its proclaimed fight against international terrorism, it is endangered of becoming a “terror” itself – acting like a law unto itself. The Americans have placed this war on our doorsteps, as seen in the necessary increase in security precautions here in the Philippines this past few months. For Muslim countries, the U.S. has lost its credibility as the defender of values it seeks to preach around the world. I guess the September 11 attacks have been used as an alibi for the U.S. to fulfill its imperial ambitions. nd this whole war against “terrorism” was hyped up to convince the rest of the world that its unjust war against Muslims is justifiable. Unless there is a change in the kafirs’ attitudes towards Muslims, a just and lasting peace will never be possible. Isn’t it time that the US realized the error in its approach toward combating terrorism? Isn’t it pointless to wage a full-scale war which not only claims countless innocent lives and creates further destruction, but also breeds hatred and new supporters of Islamic xtremism? The solution instead should be to alleviate some of the desperation felt by most of our mujaheedin brothers, isolate the troublemakers or fanatics and promote justice, freedom and democratic values throughout the Muslim world. That can only be won through negotiation, education and peace offerings– never through the barrel of a gun.

WASSALAM!

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        Economic motivation can be a phenomenal problem when people are economically backward or living in the state of poverty. This problem is happening when the government through its established institutions failed to perform their mandated task. Concerned people have to emerge and actively participate in various activities and processes in order to survive and stand as significant witnesses in various modes so the government can pay attention and thus provide sustainable solution.

        Poor economic conditions is among the factors which actually motivated among Meranaos to participate in various activities.  It is observable that: 1) Some Meranaos participated in the elections in order to assume the leadership and become rich out of the government funds allocated for the improvement of their area of responsibility; 2) Civil and criminal cases in their area are rooted in economic disputes/conflicts; 3) Cooperation and unity of some Meranaos broke-up due to poor economic conditions; and 4)  The prevalence of vote selling and buying; killings and kidnappings, borrowing money or any kind by the poor from the rich with fixed interest and of some Meranao children who cannot go to school to study are all directly related to poverty.

        These observations imply that almost all the problems are caused by poor economic conditions.  However, this does not mean that all the Meranaos are poor.  But it is generally accepted that majority are economically unstable or belong to the poverty line. 

        Poverty, I think, does not just stem from economic factor per se.  Rather, they might arise from certain psycho-social and  political constraints as illiteracy and ignorance due to poor education, , poor health, lack of technology and means for productivity and gainful pursuits plus other factors as unemployment.  This means that poverty emerges out of problems obtaining and affecting people in a given locality.  On the other hand, economic motivation refers to the economic factors  (i.e., financial problems, underdevelopment.) This is a universal phenomenon  which eventually influenced concerned people to emerge to make reforms.

     With this problem, the Philippine government can urge its line agencies, including the Mindanao State University to do their task in the effective delivery of basic services.  This University in particular should seriously perform its mandated instruction, research and community services.

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In the month of Ramadhan, it is very important that we spend a few moments to take a stock of and understand the real purpose for this month of fasting. Unfortunately, many Muslims come into this month without even contemplating of the real objective of fasting. No wonder our beloved Prophet Nabi (saw) said: "Let it not be the day that you fast and the day that you break fast be equal." Meaning, one's behavior, attitude or outlook are the same whether one fasts or not (i.e. fasting has no effect upon that person.) This is why we need to reflect on the very pinnacle of fasting.

Fasting has been legislated in order that we may gain TAQWA. Allah (swt) said: "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed upon those before you in order that you may gain Taqwa" [2:183]. In other words, Qur'an describes attainment of Taqwa to be the real purpose of fasting.

WHAT IS TAQWA?

Umar Ibn al-Khattab (radiallahu anhu) said: " A person with the quality of Taqwa is like a person walking with a caution on a thorny road. The way he would take care to save his clothes from getting entangled in the thorns, so is a person with Taqwa conscious of every action he does (for fear of falling into wrong).

On the other hand, Ali Ibn Abi Talib (radiallahu anhu) said: " Taqwa means fearing Allah, acting in accordance with the Qur'an, contentment with whatever little you have, and preparing for the day of departure (death)."

Taqwa in this case means learning self-restraint and God-fearing. So, we should ask ourselves when we break our fasts: "Has this fasting day made us more fearful and more obedient to Allah? Has it resulted to restrain ourselves from the "thorns" that our way in the form of worldly temptations in the society in general? Has it aided in distancing ourselves from sins and disobedience?

Fasting is extremely efficient for the acquisition of Taqwa without which a Muslims cannot gain closeness to Allah (swt). The prime benefit in the pursuit of Taqwa is the suppression of the erratic desires and demands of the nafs (based carnal desire), which is always working in collusion with Shaytaan, to spiritually and morally ruin the believer. If the nafs is allowed freedom, then it will succeed in making man a slave of lust, passion and base emotions, due to which his Imaan will suffer.

By fasting, a Muslim learns to suppress his lowly desire. Thus, the ability of inculcating Taqwa is created. Further, fasting purifies the soul, and creates gratification in worship, making the heart conducive for worship. The bond with Allah (swt) is also strengthened. Once our beloved Prophet Nabi (saw) supplicated: "O! Lord of the Universe! When does the servant become closest to You? The Divine Reply came, "When the servant is hungry and when he is in sadjah (prostration).

The concept of Taqwa is always linked to Ibaadah in the Qur'an. Ibaadah can be defined as doing what Allah (swt) has commanded and what He has prohibited. Ibaadah has also been defined as a concept that includes all actions that Allah (swt) loves and approves of whatever they are actions of the heart, the tongue or the limbs. Taqwa is the fruit of doing the actions of Ibaadah. In other words, if one does what Allah (swt) has commanded Him to do, and abstains from that which Allah (swt) has forbidden, he will achieve Taqwa.

WRONG CONCEPT OF IBAADAH

The greatest mistake of all is to regard Salah and Fasting and their outward shape as real Ibaadah and we suffer from the delusion that whoever fulfilled those requirements performed the "Ibaadah" of Allah (swt). We think that mere abstention from eating and drinking throughout the day is called fasting and that this alone is "Ibaadah". Therefore, we observe it meticulously. We feel the fear of Allah (swt) to the extent that we avoid every transgression which even slightly endangers the break-up of the fast so much so that eve if our life is at stake, we are not prepared to break the fast. But we do not know that being merely hungry and thirsty is not real "Ibaadah" but only a form of it. And the wisdom of prescribing this form is to create in us the fear of Allah and love of Allah or simply called TAQWA. And thereby develop in us so much strength that by repressing ourselves, we are enabled to avoid the seemingly profitable things but which actually displease Allah (swt), while on the other had, by controlling ourselves we made ourselves agreeable to those things which possibly entail risks and losses but definitely please Allah (swt).

This strength can be developed only when we understand the purpose or wisdom behind fasting and make use of the practice we have gone through for curbing the corporeal urges, under fear of Allah (swt) and love for Allah (swt), and then making these urges work according to the pleasure of Allah (swt).

THE REAL PURPOSE OF FASTING

Contemporary scholar Sayyed Abul 'Ala Al-Maududi in his article entitle "Let Us Be Muslim" strongly emphasized the real purpose of fasting by making a comparison of the purpose of fasting to eating. He stressed that the purpose of eating in the case of food, for instance, is to remain alive and maintain our strength. The method of achieving this purpose is that we take a morsel, put it in our mouth, masticate it and push it below the throat. This method is adopted by us since it is the most effective and proper one to achieve this purpose. But every one of us knows that the main thing is the purpose for which food is taken and not the form and procedure of this action.

But what will say if anybody were to make a morsel of saw-dust or cinder or mud, put it in his mouth, chew and gulp it? You will say that this man is out of his mind. Why? Because this idiot man did not understand the real purpose of eating and is suffering from the misunderstanding that only the aforesaid four component actions constitute eating. Likewise, you will call that person also mad who after taking the food vomits it by thrusting his fingers into his throat.

If we have a little sense then how could we fast and engaged in the Ibaadah of Allah from morning till evening and at the same time in the midst of that Ibaadah, we utter a lie and indulge in backbiting? Why do we quarrel at the slightest pretext and utter abuses from our mouth? How dare we encroach on other people's right? How do we acquiring illicit money and giving money to others illicitly? And having done all those things, we still think that we have performed Ibaadah of Allah (swt). Does this not resemble the work of that person who eats cinder and mud, and think that by merely completing the four requirements of eating, he has actually done the job of eating.

Prophet Nabi (saw) has drawn attention in various ways towards the real purpose and wisdom behind fasting. He (saw) has also explained that to be hungry and thirsty without keeping in view of the objective is in no way useful. He said: "Whoever did not give up falsehood in speech and action, Allah is no need of his giving up food and water." In another hadith, he said: "Many are fasters whose fasting does not bring them anything except hunger and thirst and many are those who keep standing in the night but their standing does not bring anything except being awake in the night".

The purpose of these hadiths is quite plain. It means that being merely hungry and thirsty is not by itself "Ibaadah" but an instrument of performing the real "Ibaadah". The real Ibaadah consists in not violating the law of Allah (swt) for fear and love for Him and lastly avoidance of satisfying corporeal urges as far as possible. Why should Allah (swt) need to make us merely give up food and water for twelve to fourteen hours?

____________________________________

ABOUT THE SUBMITTER:

Written by AbdulGaphor M. Panimbang who can be reached at his online web journal "The Lake Lanao Post" at http://gpanimbang.wordpress.com . This article may be published without the consent of the author so long as the publisher's box is included in the post.

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Imagine the Banker credits your account each morning with P 86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening it deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you prefer? Keep the money in the bank and save it or invest it in the stock market so that your money will be compounded? You will earn multiple times what you put in. IS IT A DEAL OR NO DEAL?

NO DEAL of course! That is you have to draw out every penny of it and invest or run a business of your own, right?

Brethren in Faith! Each of us has such a bank if we only know. Its name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with P86, 400 seconds (60 seconds x 60 minutes x 24 hours).

Every night it writes off as lost whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a news account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back.

Now imagine the Banker wishes to take a holiday and has offered you to run the business for one month. The arrangement is that for every second that you will personally man the business, you will get paid of twenty pesos (P 20) per second. If you have to leave the business for any necessity like sleeping, the Banker will get the money for the duration of time that you were out. The question is: IS IT A DEAL OR NO DEAL?

First, let the scenario settle in your mind. Now, imagine that the month of running the business has just commenced. A close friend of yours calls to invite you to a party. Your almost spontaneous reply would perhaps be: "I'm sorry but I am very busy and you will not be able to attend". The first weekend comes. Your children want to "go out for a "drive", "Not today!" "I am very busy" says their father. The children's mother also wholeheartedly agrees. After all, she is dreaming every night about what she will do with the twenty pesos that her husband is earning. Here she does not ask to be taken anywhere. How can she even think of it? Twenty pesos per second - and just for one month only! And you - well obviously, you are working beyond the limits of overtime. No time to eat in place. There is only the minimal amount of sleep. No shopping. No "drives". No time to sit around with friends over a coffee and entertainment? Whatever is that? The very word sounds unfamiliar. All this is due to the once in a lifetime opportunity or earning twenty pesos per second for one month only.

Yet, if the person who slogged to the entire month to earn twenty pesos per second . . . passes away on the thirtieth day, the wealth he earned will be of no use to him. He cannot take it along to his grave. If he does live to use it, the tax collector will be there to first take his share. He will have to worry about how to protect his wealth. Besides this, he will have to answer on the Day of Judgment about how he earned it and where he spent it. Generally, despite the above-mentioned problems will grab the opportunity of running the business for one month.

Brethren in Faith! Allah (swt) is also granting us a lifetime opportunity. The month of Ramadhan with its unlimited blessings is here. One month of earnings at the rate of twenty pesos per second cannot be called petty cash in comparison to the rewards of Allah (swt) grants and the blessings and mercy that He showers in the month of Ramadhan. Every Ramadahan must be treated as a once in a lifetime opportunity since we have no idea whether we will live till the nest Ramadhan.

What are the rewards of good deeds in the month of Ramadhan? The reward of every Fardh (compulsory) act is multiplied seventy times while ever Nafl (optional) act earns the reward of one Fardh out of Ramadhan. It is important to understand the latter aspect in proper perspective. Tahajjud (nafl), Salah in the last third of the night is extremely great ibaadah. Great virtues have been narrated for this salah. However, a lifetime of Tahajjud cannot equal to one Fardh of Fajr salah! Yet in the month of Ramadhan, Allah (swt) grants us the reward of a Fardh action for every Nafl performed.

Thus, can we afford to waste this time? Can we still have for "drives" Is it possible for a Muslim who values Ramadhan in a similar manner that he values twenty pesos a second to spend hours "eating out" after Taraweeh feats, or have time for other idle pursuits.

Think of the twenty pesos per seconds. We could break the record for over-time work. Thus, in Ramadhan, we should break the record for the amount of time spent in Tilawat, Zikr, Du'a, etc. Rather, it is a month to engage every moment possible in these acts.

Prophet Nabi (saw) has even stressed upon us to excessively engage in some practices. He reported to have said: "And in this month, you should endeavor to perform four things in great numbers, two of which shall be to please your Rabb, while the other two shall be those without which you cannot make do. Those which shall be to please your Rabb are that you should in great abundance recite the "Kalima Tayyiba" (Laa Illaaha Illa'llah} and make much Istighfar (beg Allah's forgiveness). And as for those who without which you cannot make do, you should beg Allah for entry into paradise and seek refuge with Him from the fire of Jahannam"

While one should engage to the maximum in the above good deeds, the purpose of Ramadhan must be kept foremost in mind which is to acquire Taqwa (piety). Thus together with the maximum amount of religious actions, one must totally refrain from all sins. One month of strictly conducting oneself in this manner will Inshaallah have the effect of enabling one to live the next eleven months in a similar manner - in the obedience of Allah (swt).

May Allah (swt) enable us to appreciate and value the moth of Ramadhan - more than we value twenty pesos per second.

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ABOUT THE SUBMITTER:

Written by AbdulGaphor M. Panimbang who can be reached at his online web jounal "The Lake Lanao Post" at http://gpanimbang.wordpress.com . This article may be published without the consent of the author so long as the publisher's box is included in the post. 

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