Friday, October 28, 2005

Friday Congregation and Prayers

It is Friday, the day when we gather in a congregation for the weekly prayers. We were reminded that Ramadan is coming to an end, only five days left to be exact. We were asked whether we have truly observed the requirements of Ramadan. There is still time to recoup and recover, to seek repentance on past mistakes and sins, to devote full attention and supplication to HIM, the Almighty, who is ever forgiving and ever merciful. There is still time to intensify efforts and offer ones devotion to him in these remaining days of Ramadan and continue performing all obligatory prayers and other practices to HIM, lest one go hungry and thirsty in vain. There are many reminders. No need for the weekly Friday sermon to be reminded. The mass media runs many daily programmes related to Ramadan and even the cell phone service providers send daily reminders and short messages to individual cell phones (I receive it daily) on the virtues of the various prayers during Ramadan. We stand reminded!!

We spend the daylight hours fasting, going without food and drinks, and abstain from most other worldly pleasures, but we are free to indulge in them at night. However the night time is also the time where we are obligated to devote more prayers, to read the Quran and do other religious deeds. As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, the last ten days of Ramadan are very important days and nights for those who know and who seek that one night that is equivalent to a thousand Ramadan. As the remaining days in Ramadan get less and less, the worries that one is not or has not done enough gets more and more. I seek guidance and solace from the Almighty, that my deeds had been fruitful and that I have been steered in the right path.

Soon, all will be rejoicing in the celebration of Eid’lFitri. It is something that all are looking forward to, especially the children, my grandchildren included. The two bigger boys are looking forward to their trip back to PJ, to Tok Bah’s house for hari raya they say. The joys of Eid’lFitri will be all the more meaningful if one had consciously spent the one month in the true spirit of Ramadan. May HE, the Almighty, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful, guide us and show us the right path always………..

MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Petaling Jaya

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