Ramadan, a time to right the wrongs

Our nation faces many hardships, and we are challenged to find solutions to the obstacles that block the path to continued strength and prosperity. As Muslims, we are required to act with a greater sense of responsibility to apply Islamic principles in our daily lives in order to build a healthier society for our younger generation.

Let us all strive to end the bad habits and social ills that go against Islamic teachings of moderation, compassion and hard work. To begin with, let us put an end to the obscene waste of food during Ramadan and eat in moderation. Let us show more respect for the blessings of God and cherish his gifts on earth.

Within the spirit of Ramadan, traders and the business community should willingly lower prices to ease hunger and poverty among the poor. The wealthy among us should be more humble and show compassion for the underprivileged and those in need.

In the spirit of Ramadan, let us show more respect for human life and show more compassion in our attitudes and behavior toward others.

Let us avoid road rage and reckless driving. Traffic safety experts have ranked Saudi highways as among the world’s most dangerous. On average, 19 road fatalities occur each day in the Kingdom, and, unfortunately, during Ramadan those statistics increase. What is needed is a climate of respect in which no form of arrogance, discrimination, violence or harassment is tolerated.

The true principles of Islam

Let the spirit of Ramadan remind us of our noble Muslim values of trustworthiness and integrity. As Muslims we must shun dishonest practices of bribery, corruption and other forms of unethical behavior that continue to plague our society.

Let the spirit of Ramadan inspire us to promote the true Muslim culture of hard work and ethical behavior as a way of life. Encouraging a culture in which the work ethic is respected and ethical behavior is taught in the schools and in our homes will help address the problems of underemployment and poverty and boost the morale of our national workforce.

Young graduates need to be taught work ethics, and they should learn how to apply them. Implementing such principles will help put an end to the complacency and negligence that hobbles our economic growth.

Let the spirit of Ramadan dominate all our actions. May it encourage all workers in government institutions and elsewhere to carry out their duties with dedication and sincerity and be eager to serve others and avoid un-Islamic procrastination, negligence and carelessness. Applying the true principles of Islamic ethics is essential for guiding the conduct of individuals and ensuring a more efficient workforce in the future. Incorporating Islamic ethics into the business environment is also vital for improving productivity and helping us build a more prosperous society. Developing strong principles and work ethics can promote social, economic and cultural cohesion within society.

In the spirit of Ramadan, let us defend the rights of women and children and put a stop to discrimination against women and prosecute the child abuse cases that have been unchecked for too long.

Community doctors and social workers urge the need to combat the increase in domestic violence and are critical of parents who fail to provide proper care for their children. Charity begins at home. Muslim parents are called upon to show love for their children and to strive to make them better human beings and productive citizens.

Muslim parents have an obligation to build a healthy environment for their families. They should fulfill their duties as responsible guardians and instill in their children the true principles of Islam.

In the spirit of Ramadan, we need to reject the racism and extremism that sullies our society. We need to separate tribal heritage from religious precepts and to reject the former and embrace the latter in order to lead our people to a better future. We must all work to build a society based on the Islamic principles of tolerance, moderation and social justice.

May Allah accept our fasting and forgive us our sins, give us the strength to fight evil and spread goodness and happiness around us. Let the spirit of this holy month of Ramadan renew our commitment to serve Allah and our nation by being true to our Islamic principles. Our faith has given us the gift of a moral compass; let’s make sure we use it in everything we do.

This article was first published in The Saudi Gazette on July 20, 2013.

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Samar Fatany is a Chief Broadcaster in the English section at Jeddah Broadcasting Station. Over the past 28 years, she has introduced many news, cultural, and religious programs and has conducted several interviews with official delegations and prominent political personalities visiting the kingdom. Fatany has made significant contributions in the fields of public relations and social awareness in Saudi Arabia and has been involved in activities aiming at fighting extremism and enhancing women’s role in serving society. She has published three books: “Saudi Perceptions & Western Misconceptions,” “Saudi Women towards a new era” and “Saudi Challenges & Reforms.”