Assalamualaikum Wr Wb,
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. O Allah, we ask for your peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad SAW. Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list. InshaAllah this email finds you and your family in the best of health and imaan. May the peace and blessings of Allah SWT be upon you and your family, inshaAllah.
Selflessness. Honesty. Compassion. Discipline. Tolerance. These principles lie at the heart of Islam. Our Muslim brothers and sisters are bound to give, share and take care of others -- whether those joined by family bonds or by friendships, or simply those less fortunate than themselves.
Faith doesn't just mean believing in The Creator - it means tangible actions and rituals, built around the Five Pillars of Islam. Carrying out these Pillars (Syahadah, iman, serving the One; Solah, pray five times each day; Sawm, fasting during Ramadan; Hajj, making the pilgrimage to Mecca, and Zakat, charity) is the
foundation of each day is like a compass to guide one through in life.
Thus, as a Muslim, charity is not just something to be carried out when the mood strikes you; it really is a lifelong duty. There are even rules on how each person should donate (Zakat) from their earnings each year. Giving generously and regularly, and offering aid to those less fortunate -- both within and outside the
community -- is part of the essence of Islam.
During Ramadan, this essence is alive more than ever. Alongside the rituals of prayer and fasting, giving is a natural element of this auspicious month. It is a times for sacrifice and self-discipline; and parting with hard-earned money for the benefit of others is a reminder that we are not defined by our possessions,
but by our purpose.
Whether you are fasting or whether you are on a different faith, Ramadan is an opportunity to honor the universal values of Love, Giving and Unity. In doing so, we just might remind ourselves that we all have much more in common that we think. In these troubled times of extremist madness and lazy scapegoating, such a
celebration of our universal spirit seems good and right.
So, wishing you all Ramadan Mubarak! May our prayers and fasting be accepted by Allah SWT.
With life as short as a half taken breath, don't plant anything but love!
