On this important occasion, the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan. I would like to wish all Guyanese and especially our Muslim Community Ramadan Mubarak. Almighty ALLAH said in the holy Quran Chapter 2: Verse: 183

Oh you who believe fasting has been prescribe for you as it was prescribe for those before you so that you may learn Takwah (self restrained) Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAS) he said about "Oh people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and

to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer's sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all." [Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah]

Ramadan brings to mind many things foremost among them the act of fasting which is a particularly intimate form of worship. About it Allah, Most High said, “All the deeds of Adam's children are for them, except fasting which is for Me...” To facilitate this special closeness Allah, Most High grants his servants assistance that is specific to this holy month. We hear of these things every year, that the demons are restrained and that the gates of Mercy are opened. This year insha Allah I would like for us to reflect on these things perhaps a bit more closely than before. Of particular concern to me is the effect these realities should have on our lives as Muslims and as Guyanese.

We know that fasting is not merely abstaining from food and drink and so forth. We know that its effect is meant to be much more than the experience of hunger and thirst for the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) has told us that in many authentic hadith. So what really is it about fasting that makes it special. Well the scholars of spirituality give us some practical insight into this matter based on the Quran and Sunnah and it is precisely this sort of insight that we need here in Guyana. Simply put it has been said that the secret of closeness to Allah and that of fasting is change.

In Ramadan everything changes. It has its own feel and its own character. We have all experienced it. The scholars tell us that drawing close to Allah is all about change and the resolve and effort it takes to go in the direction of change. This they say is the essence of the Hadith Qudsi where Allah says, “My servant draws nearer to Me with nothing more loved by Me than compulsory religious duties, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works until I love him.” Now I cannot overstate how important this concept of change is to us as individuals as well as as a nation. It is my conviction that it is solely up to the Muslims of this country to bring about the kind of profound and meaningful transformation that is necessary for success in this world and the next.

And that sort of transformation which results in the attainment of Allah's love is not possible except through obedience to Allah, Most High as the Hadith clearly indicates. So it is up to us to make the sincere effort, real effort motivated by faith and not worldly concerns to bring us closer to Allah, Most High. We have to recognize that worshiping Allah requires going beyond that which is convenient; that is the reality of effort or striving- words often used but perhaps seldom applied. Indeed Allah teaches us this with the fast. We are made to deny ourselves licit pleasures just in worship and this will as the Quran says teach us taqwa. Practically this means that just as we must bring ourselves to refrain from food and drink and must also bring ourselves to do more than that with a view to changing ourselves for the better.

The holy Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) has told us to impose such changes on ourselves by fasting with his saying, “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink.” And there are many other such texts. About the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) himself we are told by Hazrat Ibn Abbas, “The Prophet was the most generous of people, and he used to be more so in the month of Ramadan...”. The light of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) calls us to self improvement and transformation in this month and Allah Himself, Exalted and Majestic assists us with His Power in the Unseen world as we mentioned earlier. So what excuse have we not to seek change through effort during this month of Divine assistance?

I therefore remind myself and all my brothers and sisters that we should resolve to make the most of this noble and blessed month by making more effort then ever not just for twenty-nine or thirty days but for the eternal pleasure of our Lord. Here at the CIOG there is so much to be done and there is much self sacrifice to be made. Providing care for those in need be they orphans, the terminally ill, the destitute, or the misguided is no minor matter but in such things are to be found the keys to Allah's pleasure which as the Quran says is the greatest attainment. An attainment made easier for us in this month.

I therefore call on myself, all our donors, supporters, friends, workers and Imams, teachers, and of course our noble Shaykhs to join together in the exalted spirit of this month, a spirit of effort, generosity and change. Let us spend of our wealth and ourselves in the service of Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace), in the work of the CIOG and let us have a truly blessed Ramadan. Allah accept from you and us and grant us ease and success. Amin.