Ramadan the blessed month

For those that have never experienced fasting during the month of Ramadan cannot understand why muslims around the world celebrate when Ramadan arrives.

Its amazing how fasting and praying during this blessed month makes me feel closer to Allah and the issues of the world fade into the background. This year, Ramadan started on 1 August, and as the days in the northern hemisphere are quite long I wondered if I would be able to do my job effectively and still fast.  (The Islamic calendar is 11 or 12 day shorter it rotates with the seasons). Alhamdullilah, Allah has given me inner strength and peace and today is already the 17th day of Ramadan.

According to hadith, The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad  (peace be upon him) said,

1. "Ramadan has come to you. (It is) a month of blessing, in which Allah covers you with blessing, for Allah sends down his Mercy, decreases sins and answers prayers".
2. "Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of sincere faith, hoping to attain Allah's rewards, then all of his past sins will be forgiven."
3. "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained."
4. "When the last one-third of the night remains, our Lord, the Glorious One, descends towards the lower heaven and proclaims:
   'Is there anyone supplicating to Me, so that I grant his supplication? Is there anyone begging of Me for anything so that I grant him his wish? Is there anyone who seeks My forgiveness, so that I forgive him?' "

Ramadan is such a precious gift and is transforming muslims around the world. Read this article where Kristiane Backer a host on the music channel MTV Europe, who converted to Islam in 1995, shares some personal Ramadan experiences and reflects on the meaning of this month of fasting. May Allah guide and unite us all during this blessed month