As the blessed month of Ramadan approaches, a peaceful calm fills the air in Kashmir. This is not just a time for fasting; it’s a time for hearts to soften, prayers to deepen, and communities to come together. For many of us, Ramadan is like a gentle embrace—a chance to step back from the noise of life and reconnect with what truly matters: faith, family, and fairness. But this year, as we prepare, there’s a quiet worry in our hearts: *Will we finally see relief from the struggles that shadow our daily lives?*
Walk through any market, and you’ll feel the buzz—the hurry to stock up on essentials like flour, bread, vegetables, and meat. But behind this urgency lies a simple plea from every parent, every elder, every neighbor: *Give us what is pure. Give us what is fair.* We’ve all heard the stories—bread that’s lighter than it should be, vegetables soaked in chemicals, meat that’s been tampered with. For families already stretching their budgets, this isn’t just dishonesty—it’s a betrayal of the very spirit of Ramadan.
Dear shopkeepers and traders, this is your moment to shine. You’re not just sellers; you’re neighbors, friends, and part of this community. When a mother buys flour from your shop, she’s trusting you to feed her children something safe. When a laborer buys bread after a long day of fasting, he’s trusting you to give him his due. Ramadan is a test for all of us, but especially for you. Will you choose short-term profit over the dignity of your faith? The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught us, *“The honest trader will be among the prophets and the truthful on Judgment Day.”* Let that truth guide your hands and hearts this month.
To our brothers and sisters in the business community: Imagine the reward of feeding a fasting person with food that’s pure. Imagine the blessings that come from a customer’s grateful smile. This Ramadan, let’s make our markets places of trust, not doubt. Let’s promise to sell bread that’s full in weight, vegetables that are fresh from the fields, and meat that’s clean and wholesome. Let’s drop the shortcuts and remember that Allah sees every grain, every coin, every intention.
And to those in authority: We know your work isn’t easy. Cracking down on fraud matters, but so does protecting the poor from inflated prices. Let this Ramadan be different—act swiftly, but act kindly. Help honest sellers thrive, and hold accountable those who exploit the hungry.
Friends, Ramadan in Kashmir has always been more than a month—it’s a feeling. It’s the smell of *kehwa* at dawn, the sound of prayers echoing in mosques, and the joy of sharing *iftar* with those in need. But none of this means much if our basic needs—clean food, fair prices—are out of reach.
So let’s make a pledge together. Let’s promise to look out for one another. Let’s choose kindness over greed, fairness over fraud, and unity over indifference. This Ramadan, let’s make every bite of food a blessing, every transaction a act of faith, and every day a step toward a better Kashmir.
May this month bring us all closer—to Allah, to our values, and to each other.
Ameen.
