23/02/2026
As the blessed month of Ramazan begins and the nights begin to glow with quiet supplications, I pray this sacred season settles gently upon every heart around the world.
It should be borne in mind that Ramazan is far more than the experience of an empty stomach. As taught and lived in word and action by the Noble Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and embodied so beautifully by the Ahl al-Bayt, it is a month designed to refine the soul, discipline the self and draw us nearer to God. Through restraint, we learn patience. Through hunger, we awaken compassion for those who endure it daily. Through giving, we rediscover generosity. Through Suhoor and Iftaar, we learn balance, routine, punctuality and moderation - care for the body as well as the spirit. True fasting is not confined to what we refrain from eating, it extends to guarding the tongue from harshness, the heart from arrogance, the mind from malice and the self from pride and intolerance. This month does not authorize us to police the choices of those who follow a different path. Rather, it calls us to embody mercy, to live and let live and to show dignity and understanding to people of other faiths and ways of life, for coercion has no place in the spirit of our religion. Abstinence alone will not elevate us unless it transforms us softening our hearts, reforming our habits, strengthening our self-control and inspiring us to seek God’s pleasure and nearness through sincere self-improvement and repentance. Let this Ramazan be not merely a change of timetable, but a change of temperament, an opportunity to know our faith more deeply and to reflect its essence of compassion, humility, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Ramazan Kareem!
P.S. Please brush your teeth! Yes, you absolutely can and should. Cleanliness is half of faith, and the fragrance honoured in the heavens while fasting is not the result of poor oral hygiene, but the scent that rises from an empty stomach and sincere worship. Remember, the Prophet (PBUH) would use Miswaak while fasting which goes to prove that using it does not invalidate the fast. People of the Prophet’s time cleansed their teeth with miswaak, we use toothbrushes and toothpaste. The tools may have changed, but the principle of cleanliness remains timeless. So, keep your toothbrushes busy and conscience clear. Your fast is not that fragile!
