I welcome the guest with utmost delight;
For I know it has come to give me respite.
An air of happiness fills the space;
My home now seems, a better place!

Have you any clue who this visitor could be?
Yes!its Ramadhan,the month of mercy.
The pious and righteous can’t await its arrival;
Others seem to greet it, with waves of denial.

For Allah(SWT) we fast from dawn to dusk;
For Him our breath is the fragrance of musk.
The muslims who pray and fast with zest;
Are aware of the rewards of this month manifest.

Throughout this month we weep and repent;
Now is the time to strongly lament.
And those who shun this sacred month;
on the Day of Reckoning will face the brunt.

In the last ten nights,hides the Night of Decree;
Allah(SWT) then awaits for his slaves to plea.
The angels descend with Gabriel(AS) in the lead;
To check on the steadfast and record every deed.

To hold steadfast whilst suffering at great length.

To be fearless and stand tall in the face of a foe,

Just like Umm Imarah, at Uhud, long ago.

I beg to emulate A’isha in speech and mind,

To be learned in fiqh so as to help mankind.

I supplicate to the Lord above!

Bless me with Asma’s care and love.

I pray that I am at ease on that Day,
When kinship and ties are washed away.

That I will be handed my deeds on the right,

That out of me radiates a pure light.

Accept these sincere words and tears,

That stem from my hope and many fears.

Let me strive for You through thick and thin,

And show the World that Islam will win.

I yearn to be a reviver of Your State,

Making Your Word supreme, before it’s too late.

Let me not be in ignorance when I die,

But rather, like Fatima ascend with angels in the sky.

And attain the Garden with pleasures everlasting,

Ramadhan is coming, Increase your Iman.
Ramadhan is coming, Recite the Qur’an.
Taking “Suhur” in the dead of the Night;
No eating no drinking during the daylight.
Refrain from bad deeds and repent your soul;
The pleasure of Allah is our only goal.

Ramadhan is coming, so let us prepare.
Ramadhan is coming; there is peace everywhere,
Even if there is hunger, remember your Lord
And wait until ‘Iftar’ to earn your reward.
Fasting is one of the gifts of Allah
Given to believers to increase ‘Taqwah’.

Ramadhan is here, here is Ramadhan.
Ramadhan is coming, so seek the new Moon.
Ramadhan is coming, it will be here soon.
We pray to Allah to put right our hearts;
Ask for forgiveness from Allah and make a new start.

Be empty: give your lips to the lips of the reed.

When like a reed you fill with His breath,

then you’ll taste sweetness.

that fills the reed.

Be like Mary, by that sweet breath

with all your eating and choking.

Break out of your shell that your wings may grow.

Let yourself fly.

from calling the Beloved.

The sound of your call resounds

the month of Ramadan has arrived.

Cover the table

And open the path of praise.

it’s time to change your ways.

Can you see the one who’s selling the halvah;

how long will it be the halvah you desire?

has made you so sweet even honey says,

“I’ll put myself beneath your feet, like the soil;

Ibn Rajab, May Allah Have Mercy on him, says in Lata’if al-Ma’arif:

In that Satan has been chained up during the month of Ramadan; and the fires of the carnal lusts have died down due to fasting; and the authority of the soul’s vain inclination has been placed in isolation, and power has been turned over to the rule of the intellect, which rules justly; the sinner now has no excuse.

The clouds of heedlessness! Disperse from over the hearts.
The suns of piety and faith! Rise for this new day.
The pages wherein are recorded the deeds of the Fasting people! Elevate yourselves.
The hearts of the fasters! Be filled with humility.
The feet of those exerting themselves strenuously in their devotions! Prostrate to your Lord and bow in humility to Him.
The eyes of those passing the night in prayer! Do not sleep.
The sins of the penitent! Do not return.
The earth of the soul’s vain inclinations! Absorb your water.
The sky of the elevated souls! Hold back your rain.
The lightning of longing for the Divine! Shine for the lovers of God.
The intimate thoughts of the Gnostics! Graze in the pastures of Godly bliss.
The aspirations of all who love other than God! May you find no contentment with your imperfect beloved.
Junayd! Be overjoyed.
Shibli! Come quickly.
Rabi’a! Listen carefully.

During these days the tables of Divine Blessings have been spread out for the fasters, and there is no one who has not been invited to the feast. The Almighty says, “O our folk! Respond to the caller of God.” Al-Ahqaf: 31

O the lofty spiritual aspirations of the believers! Hasten. Paradise is for one who responds promptly and attains the blessings. Woe unto whomsoever is turned away at the door, and misses the invitation.

in the stomach’s emptiness.

We are all lutes, no more, no less. If the soundbox

is stuffed full of anything, no music.

If the brain and the belly are burning clean

with fasting, every moment a new song comes

out of the fire. The fog clears, and a new energy

makes you run up the steps in front of you.

Be emptier and cry like reed instruments cry.

Emptier, write secrets with the reed pen.

When you’re full of food and drink, Satan sits

where your spirit should, an ugly metal statue

in place of the Kaaba. When you fast,

good habits gather like friends who want to help.

Fasting is Soloman’s ring. Don’t give it

to some illusion and lose your power.

But even if you’ve lost all will and control,

they come back when you fast, like soldiers appearing

out of the ground, pennants flying above them.

A table descends to your tents,

Jesus’ table.

Expect to see it, when you fast, this table

spread with other food better

than the broth of cabbages.

Another translation of the first few lines:

The soul has escaped from separation
and bound nature’s hands;
the heart of error is defeated,
the army of faith has won.

The army of the snorting chargers
has put its hand to plunder,
from the fire of the strikers of fire
the soul is brought to lamentation.

The Cow was goodly,
Moses son of Imran appeared;
through him the dead became living
when it was sacrificed.

Fasting is as our sacrifice,
it is the life of out soul;
let us sacrifice all our body,
since the soul has arrived as guest.

Fortitude is as a sweet cloud,
wisdom rains from it,
because it was in such a month of fortitude
that the Koran arrived.

When the carnal soul is in need,
the spirit goes into ascension;
when the gate of the prison is broken,
the soul reaches the Beloved.

The heart has rent the curtain of darkness
and winged up to the sky;
the heart, being of the angels,
has again arrived.

Quickly clutch the rope out of this body’s well;
at the top of the well of water cry,
“Joseph of Canaan has arrived.”

When Jesus escaped from the donkey
his prayers became accepted;
wash your hands,
for the Table has arrived from heaven.

Awaiting the news, here, far away
in a land pretentiously secular
with In God We Trust
visited only on Sunday

Awaiting watching the Internet for the crescent news
And some calls made
Relatives far flung: Chicago, New York, London,
Frankfurt and Los Angeles

Yes! The crescent has been sighted! Ramadan Mubarakh!
Over miles and miles and miles of telephone lines

The masjid schedule consulted, and alarm clock set.
For the meal before first light

Work the next day, same tempo, same schedule.
The boss and co-workers say; “Oh, you’re fasting?” “Why?”
Unable to comprehend the beauty of a simple ritual:
“Come, we’re going to see a movie after work; we wont make you eat”(!)

Going home, 1/2 hour before sunset
from the 9-5 routine, never ending, never changing

Arriving home, break fast with some friends
meal cooked the night before.

Remembrance of Ramadan in Karachi, Casablanca, Lahore, Cairo
and Dhaka

Tears, and anger expressed today: Murder and slaughter on this day!
Killed in prostration!
Where Abraham (peace be upon him) lies!
Martyrdom in a Holy month!
On Holy land!

And hope expressed: Our faith desecrated,
but,
fastest growing in America!
A simple prayer; perhaps one day we will fast in San Francisco,
as we fasted in Dhaka, Cairo, Lahore, Casablanca and Karachi

A sight beautiful
signaling new,
fresh

Greetings one to the other: Ramadan Mubarakh

And a few hours later
sounds of drums
Wake up! Wake up!
have a meal,
a simple glass of water!
Before the first light,
before you begin the fast,
make the intention
Wake up! Wake up!

And the day progresses, a slowing down;
restaurants closed, coffee houses empty.

And workers begin their trek home early

Late afternoon, the speciality stores open
selling the special once a year snacks,
crowds flocking and moving hurriedly
collecting their Iftar (break fast)

And mothers prepare the traditional meals
taking extra time
for the fasting family

Only an hour before the sun sets
city streets empty,
as in a curfew,

And now only a few minutes,
family and friends gather around the table
making small talk
awaiting the moment…silence…

Allah-hu Akbar
Allah-hu Akbar
Allah-hu Akbar
Allah-hu Akbar
(God is great)

Ash-hadu an la illaha illal-lah
Ash-hadu an la illaha illal-lah
(I witness that there is no God except Allah)

Ash-hadu anna Mohammadan rasoolol lah
Ash-hadu anna Mohammadan rasoolol lah
(I witness that Mohammad is the Prophet of Allah)

Hay-ye alas-slat
Hay-ye alas-slat
(Hurry up for prayer)

Hay-ye alal falah
Hay-ye alal falah
(Hurry up for prosperity)

Allah-hu Akbar
Allah-hu Akbar

La illaha illal-lah
La illaha illal-lah
(There is no God except Allah)

And the siren, signalling the sun dipping below the horizon

And together, some with dates, some with a pinch of salt
“We take this food in the name of Allah, most gracious, ever merciful”

“When a servant thinks of Me, I am near.
When he invokes Me, I am with him.
If he reflects on Me in secret, I reply in secret,
And if he acknowledges Me in an assembly,
I acknowledge him in a far superior assembly.”

Glory be to Allah who sent Ramadan as a mercy to mankind
Its a purification of our soul, our heart, and our mind
With the most sincere devotion and love we fast
To be cleansed and free from sins of the past

Glorified is He, who choseth this holy month,
To test our sabr and fill our hearts with warmth
Of his Divine Light, His blessings shall glow,
The Seer of the unseen, all He does know

Ya Allah! For thee, let my breath be more pleasant than musk
Ya Allah! For thee, let me be thankful when day turns to dusk
My thoughts and heart are purified, my eyes truly see’
This blessed month, the month of spiritual rhapsody!

Take heed oh people of Muhammad!(pbuh)
Rememba dat we’re here to deliver a Message!

Girls, it’s time to stop frettin wit your hair
And boyz it’s time to get up from your lazy chairs!

Time to stop worryin bout where he said she sat
Or who’s turn it was to feed da cat!

Cause Ramadhan is where we at!!

Ramadan! You are never more needed than when we think we’ve had enough,
I long for the passion of my thirst to linger past the hour, your company do we Love.

That I may recall the pleasure of the first sip,
Running sweetly to where the fast once nestled in my throat’s grip.

Lord! You are never more present,
Than in the moment before we succumb to our elements!

In the Creation of the Earth and Heaven,
In the sailing of the ships through the Ocean,

Rain that Allah sends from the Skies,
Here indeed, are all Signs.

O Believers! Do you not see,
What Allah has revealed to thee?

O Believers! Do you not ponder,
Allah’s Mighty and Super Power?

Ramadhan, Ramadhan, ahlan was’sahlan ya Ramadhan,
We welcome your sweet stay and your strong bond,
Month of purity, month of me, month of blessed rhapsody!

The thought of you makes me eager,
As I resist my thirst and my hunger.

For Allah’s Sake I fast Ramadhan,
In every weather, even Harmattan!

It was this blessed month the Qur’an was revealed,
Where Al-Islam was to no longer be concealed.

Where the gates of Mercy are opened,
The gates of hell are locked, the devils chained.

It’s a month that helps us ward off evil,
Removing from our hearts a dark veil.

Where we are taught to reach our peak of generosity,
And not to hesitate to give the needy.

Ramadhan, Ramadhan, ahlan was’sahlan ya Ramadhan,
We welcome your sweet stay and your strong bond,
Month of purity, month of me, month of blessed rhapsody!

You are never more beautiful than when daylight draws your veil,
It is by Allah’s Grace and Mercy that through you the Truth does prevail.

Silence morning in Ramadhan,
I wander amid the Qur’an.

My soul is moved to tears,
The ayyat full of awaken fears.

Our days go without food, but we are full with growing will power,
Our days go without water, but we are quenched with our nafl prayer,

Time is spent without gossip and back-biting, yet that’s just fine with me,
I’d rather do something more exciting, that brings a promise of Eternal glee.

I long for certainty of our nights,
To spread to my day’s hunger strike.

That I may continue my moon-filled vigil,
My lips never cease, in His remembrance they mingle.

Our nights are full of family, rejoicing in Allah’s everlasting Mercy,
Our nights are full of prayer, to Allah our thanks we share.

Evenings spent in brethren remembrance,
In our Ummah, lays therein no concept of distance.

Pre-dawn hours full of Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem,
Our faithful tears flow like a tranquil stream.

Ramadhan, Ramadhan, ahlan was’sahlan ya Ramadhan,
We welcome your sweet stay and your strong bond,
Month of purity, month of me, month of blessed rhapsody!

We unite as one during this blessed month,
No longer worrying about our tummies getting lunch!

But each one filling our souls with the remembrance of our Creator,
He Who Provides us with food, yet we fail to remember.

It’s a time that brings us His Mercy,
Causing us to remember others’ reality.

It is a time that brings us His Forgiveness,
Allowing us to release some stresses.

Remembering of a slave,
Tortured in the grave!

Buried down so so deep,
No comfort and no sleep!

Ramadhan, Ramadhan, ahlan was’sahlan ya Ramadhan,
We welcome your sweet stay and your strong bond,
Month of purity, month of me, month of blessed rhapsody!

It’s a time that frees us from the fire of Hell,
Saving us an Eternity of horror to dwell.

Speaking of the blazing fire,
Removes one’s desire.

The fate of sinful Souls,
Tread on scorching coals.

Ramadhan, Ramadhan, ahlan was’sahlan ya Ramadhan,
We welcome your sweet stay and your strong bond,
Month of purity, month of me, month of blessed rhapsody!

I long that these last minutes turn to days that I may save the pace of time,
That runs with the rosary twisting through my finger’s vine.

Rose! You are never more beautiful than the moment before you surrender to die,
Ramadhan! You are never more precious then in your closing hours that brings tears to the eye.

Love! You are never more treasured than the moment I see you leave my lover’s eyes,
The Source of Force in this World, it is from Allah, the emotions that we desire.

Ramadhan, where have you gone?
I search and I search, but here comes the new dawn.

In my heart you will always rest,
To Allah belongs the result of my Final Test.

Awaiting the news, here, far away
in a land pretentiously secular
with In God We Trust
visited only on Sunday

Awaiting watching the Internet for the crescent news
And some calls made
Relatives far flung: Chicago, New York, London,
Frankfurt and Los Angeles

Yes! The crescent has been sighted! Ramadan Mubarakh!
Over miles and miles and miles of telephone lines

The masjid schedule consulted, and alarm clock set.
For the meal before first light

Work the next day, same tempo, same schedule.
The boss and co-workers say; “Oh, you’re fasting?” “Why?”
Unable to comprehend the beauty of a simple ritual:
“Come, we’re going to see a movie after work; we wont make you eat”(!)

Going home, 1/2 hour before sunset
from the 9-5 routine, never ending, never changing

Arriving home, break fast with some friends
meal cooked the night before.

Remembrance of Ramadan in Karachi, Casablanca, Lahore, Cairo
and Dhaka

Tears, and anger expressed today: Murder and slaughter on this day!
Killed in prostration!
Where Abraham (peace be upon him) lies!
Martyrdom in a Holy month!
On Holy land!

And hope expressed: Our faith desecrated,
but,
fastest growing in America!
A simple prayer; perhaps one day we will fast in San Francisco,
as we fasted in Dhaka, Cairo, Lahore, Casablanca and Karachi

A sight beautiful
signaling new,
fresh

Greetings one to the other: Ramadan Mubarakh

And a few hours later
sounds of drums
Wake up! Wake up!
have a meal,
a simple glass of water!
Before the first light,
before you begin the fast,
make the intention
Wake up! Wake up!

And the day progresses, a slowing down;
restaurants closed, coffee houses empty.

And workers begin their trek home early

Late afternoon, the speciality stores open
selling the special once a year snacks,
crowds flocking and moving hurriedly
collecting their Iftar (break fast)

And mothers prepare the traditional meals
taking extra time
for the fasting family

Only an hour before the sun sets
city streets empty,
as in a curfew,

And now only a few minutes,
family and friends gather around the table
making small talk
awaiting the moment…silence…

Allah-hu Akbar
Allah-hu Akbar
Allah-hu Akbar
Allah-hu Akbar
(God is great)

Ash-hadu an la illaha illal-lah
Ash-hadu an la illaha illal-lah
(I witness that there is no God except Allah)

Ash-hadu anna Mohammadan rasoolol lah
Ash-hadu anna Mohammadan rasoolol lah
(I witness that Mohammad is the Prophet of Allah)

Hay-ye alas-slat
Hay-ye alas-slat
(Hurry up for prayer)

Hay-ye alal falah
Hay-ye alal falah
(Hurry up for prosperity)

Allah-hu Akbar
Allah-hu Akbar

La illaha illal-lah
La illaha illal-lah
(There is no God except Allah)

And the siren, signalling the sun dipping below the horizon

And together, some with dates, some with a pinch of salt
“We take this food in the name of Allah, most gracious, ever merciful”

I welcome the guest with utmost delight;
For I know it has come to give me respite.
An air of happiness fills the space;
My home now seems, a better place!

Have you any clue who this visitor could be?
Yes!its Ramadhan,the month of mercy.
The pious and righteous can’t await its arrival;
Others seem to greet it, with waves of denial.

For Allah(SWT) we fast from dawn to dusk;
For Him our breath is the fragrance of musk.
The muslims who pray and fast with zest;
Are aware of the rewards of this month manifest.

Throughout this month we weep and repent;
Now is the time to strongly lament.
And those who shun this sacred month;
on the Day of Reckoning will face the brunt.

In the last ten nights,hides the Night of Decree;
Allah(SWT) then awaits for his slaves to plea.
The angels descend with Gabriel(AS) in the lead;
To check on the steadfast and record every deed.

A blessed month is casting its shadow upon us
A night of this month is better than a thousand months
Bear with patience for the sake of Ar-Rahman
It’s a continuous training to strengthen our Imaan.

Glory be to Allah who sent Ramadan as a mercy to mankind
Its a purification of our soul, our heart, and our mind
With the most sincere devotion and love we fast
To be cleansed and free from sins of the past

Glorified is He, who choseth this holy month,
To test our sabr and fill our hearts with warmth
Of his Divine Light, His blessings shall glow,
The Seer of the unseen, all He does know

Ya Allah! For thee, let my breath be more pleasant than musk
Ya Allah! For thee, let me be thankful when day turns to dusk
My thoughts and heart are purified, my eyes truly see’
This blessed month, the month of spiritual rhapsody!

A blessed month is casting its shadow upon us
A night of this month is better than a thousand months
Bear with patience for the sake of Ar-Rahman
It’s a continuous training to strengthen our Imaan.

Glory be to Allah who sent Ramadan as a mercy to mankind
Its a purification of our soul, our heart, and our mind
With the most sincere devotion and love we fast
To be cleansed and free from sins of the past

Glorified is He, who choseth this holy month,
To test our sabr and fill our hearts with warmth
Of his Divine Light, His blessings shall glow,
The Seer of the unseen, all He does know

Ya Allah! For thee, let my breath be more pleasant than musk
Ya Allah! For thee, let me be thankful when day turns to dusk
My thoughts and heart are purified, my eyes truly see…
This blessed month, the month of spiritual rhapsody!

Ramadan is coming, Increase your Iman(faith).
Ramadan is coming, Recite the Qur’an.
Take “Suhur” in the dead of the Night;
No eating or drinking during the daylight.
Refrain from bad deeds and repent your soul;
The pleasure of Allah is our only goal.

Even if there is hunger, remember your Lord
And wait until ‘Iftar’ to earn your reward.
Fasting is one of the gifts of Allah
Given to believers to increase ‘Taqwah’ (piety).
We pray to Allah to put right our hearts;
Ask for forgiveness from Allah and make a new start.

The month of reflecting on the life we’ve spent
And how it healed after every dent.
The time to realize your true objective
And to live Islam fully and not selective.

The time to appreciate the food and drink.
To unite rich and poor and provide the link.
The month of the struggle to grasp your soul,
For the next eleven months, in full control.

This is the time when the gates of hell are shut.
The devil is locked up and his work is cut.
The doors of mercy are opened up wide
And Allah’s blessings are always on your side

This is the month when the Qur’an was revealed,
The last revelation – the door had been sealed.
A true guidance for the whole of mankind,
No better words elsewhere will we ever find.

This is the month in which falls the Night of Power,
‘Better than a thousand months’, the blessings shower.
The angels descend on us so that they may see
The faces of believers in tranquility.