“Ramadhan a Sign of Rebirth”[1]
[1] The above essay is edited from a Jumah Khutbah given at the Islaamic Center of Dothan, Dothan, Alabama
We Begin all things With the Illustrious Names (99+1) of Allah,
The Merciful Benefactor, The Merciful Redeemer
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.
(Holy Qur’an 2:185)
Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Lunar Calendar and it is a month of rebirth and rejuvenation. Ramadhan is a month or time of purification and repentance. The ninth (9th) chapter of the Holy Qur’an is entitled Surat at-Tawba ( سورة التوبة ) (“the Repentance or immunity”, it is also known as al-Bara’ah “the Ultimatum” in many A’hadith) The whole month of Ramadhan is a month of seeking repentance and immunity from sin. Ramadhan is usually (30) thirty days long, and the prophet Muhammad said that if you fast the first six (6) days after the Eid Al-Fitra celebration you would have fasted the entire year. Thirty days (30) during Ramadhan and six (6) days after Eid Al-Fitra equal (36) days. There are (36) thirty-six degrees in a circle and the circle represents completion. We know that Al-Islaam is a universal religion or way of life. Al-Islaam is a way of life for the east, west, north and south; all the four corners of the earth.
If we take the numbers 36 and 4 and divide the 4 into the number 36 we get 9. 36 is 4×9. The 36 here is symbolic of 360 degrees of knowledge or over standing. The number 9 is a whole number in mathematics. As stated previously Ramadhan the ninth month represents a rebirth or rejuvenation, and the normal gestation period for the Human embryo in the womb is (9) nine months. The number (4) four is symbolic of the number (40) forty the age of the prophet when he received the holy Qur’an in the ninth month. The advent of the Prophet Muhammad is foretold in the Torah (Deuteronomy 18:18) which when added together equals 36 and Allah tells us in the Holy Qur’an that he Muhammad (PBUH) is the Khatim Nabiyyeen (Seal of the Prophets). The number 36 is symbolic of a complete circle or 360 degrees O.
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
(Deuteronomy 18:18 King James Version)
33:40 Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of
Allah and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things.
(Holy Qur’an 33:40 A. Yusuf Ali Translation)
As stated earlier the month of Ramadan is a month of repentance (Tauba), and it is very interesting to note that much of Sura Tauba was revealed during the month of Ramadan. Verses 30 thru 129 were revealed during the month of Ramadan, 9 A.H. So, we can see from this Sura certain insights into Ramadan i.e. Repentance and Immunity.
The True Light 