As the second Friday of Ramadan graces Jammu and Kashmir, the call of Azan from Jamia Masjid and shrines reminds us: fasting trains the soul for taqwa.
Allah declares in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:183): “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous (muttaqin).”
This taqwa—God-consciousness, restraint, empathy—must endure beyond the month. The discipline that curbs hunger must curb anger in Lal Chowk crowds, impatience in Jammu offices, and indifference toward the needy.
In our Valley, where terrain isolates remote villages and disparities persist, true transformation shows in sustained action. The Quran ties righteousness to ongoing charity: “Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah… and gives wealth… to relatives, orphans, the needy…” (Al-Baqarah 2:177). This demands year-round zakat, sadaqah, and support for education, artisans, and border hamlets—not seasonal gestures.
The test arrives post-Eid: Will gentleness replace haste? Will moral courage advocate for the marginalized when Ramadan’s fervor fades?
Mastering hunger today equips us to master selfishness tomorrow. Let this Friday mark the pledge: from ritual observers to constant ambassadors of compassion, carrying Ramadan’s spirit through every season.
The crescent sets, but taqwa rises eternal.
