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Eid Mubarak! The month of blessed Ramadan has ended. During this blessed month Muslims were never more pious, as indeed they should be, after all Ramadan is a time of intense spiritual renewal and every effort is encouraged. However, its passing should not witness the end of our exertion in worship. We should continue our night prayers, and we should fast voluntarily, at least three days each month, and attempt to fast the six days of Shawwal. Our religion is an embodiment of all virtue and the epitome of all goodness. We must not let our goodness be that it begins and ends with Ramadan; let us continue to participate in pious activities, display charity and be peacemakers.

Muslims throughout the world observe a joyous three-day celebration called Eid ul-Fitr (the Festival of Fast-Breaking) as we in Bermuda started on Wednesday, October 1. We thank our many friends and relatives who came and shared in our festivities with us. May Allah richly reward you for your love and support of us your Muslim friend and relative.

Eid ul-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal, the month, which follows Ramadan in the Islamic calendar. It is a time to give in charity to those in need, and celebrate with family and friends the completion of a month of blessings and joy. The month of Shawwal has much significance and many Muslims observe six days of fasting during Shawwal beginning the day after the Eid ul-Fitr since fasting is prohibited on the day of the Eid. These six days of fasting together with the Ramadan fasts, are equivalent to fasting "perpetually", according to Sahih Muslim. The reasoning behind this tradition is that a good deed in Islam is rewarded 10 times, hence fasting 30 days during Ramadan and six days during Shawwal is equivalent to fasting the whole year in terms of reward.

Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: "Whoever completes fasts of Ramadan then adds to them the fast of six days in the month of Shawwal, it will carry the thawab of fasting for the whole year." (Sahih Muslim). Muslims should take this opportunity of acquiring such an enormous reward from Allah. "O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint." (2:183).

Above all, your heart and mind must be with you in fasting. Because fasting in its real sense, will not be complete unless your thoughts, your emotions, and your actions - in short, all aspects of our life - become pure, clean and free from blemish.

As Ramadan leaves us, may we let the spirit of heightened consciousness, devotion and sincerity continue to abide within. By doing so we will express our gratefulness to Allah for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us.

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