Sayyiduna Ibraheem Nakh’ee رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated, ‘One day’s Sawm              in Ramadan is greater than a thousand Siyam; making Tasbih (i.e. saying  سُبۡحٰنَ اللّٰه) once in Ramadan is better than saying it a thousand times in any other month and offering one Rak’at of Salah in Ramadan is better than offering a thousand Rak’aat in any other month.’ (Ad-Durr-ul-Mansur, vol. 1, pp. 454)

On the other hand, unfortunate people [who do not value this month] waste this spiritual month [which is the month of forgiveness] by spending their time in accumulating wealth, expanding their business, increasing bank balance, plundering people, flying kites and pigeons, playing games like cricket, hockey, football, tennis, cards, chess, carom board games, ludo, snooker and video games, misusing mobile phones and internet and wandering in the markets. Especially the last 10 days of Ramadan for the business community are not less than a blessing. Past Muslims had great passion and enthusiasm to worship Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ in the month of Ramadan and they would worship Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ abundantly during this sacred month so that more and more closeness to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ could be attained. Let’s listen to a faith-refreshing parable for persuasion so that we can get rid of our laziness and be blessed with the yearning for worship.

Pious maid

Sayyiduna Muhammad Bin Abi Faraj رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: I felt the need of a maid in the month of Ramadan who could prepare food for us. I saw a maid in the market who had a very low bid. Her face was yellow, body was weak and skin was dry. Feeling pity for her I bought her and took her home and said: Hold this vessel and come with me to the market for buying the necessary things for Ramadan. She started saying: O my master! I was with the people who spent their entire life like Ramadan. Having heard this I realized that she must be the righteous bondwoman of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. She would worship the whole night in the month of Ramadan. When the last night came I asked her: Come with me to buy the necessary things for Eid. She started asking: O my master! Will you buy the necessary things for ordinary people or special people? I asked her to explain what she had said. She said: The necessities of ordinary people are famous dishes of Eid whereas the