The point of Ramadan is doing good deeds and getting closer to Allah - not rushing to stockpile food, Muslims will be told today.
"We should always remind ourselves that Ramadan is for fasting during the day and standing for prayer at night," says the sermon, "so let us be moderate in our consumption, teach ourselves how to control our senses and make them respond to acts of worship."
The sermon cites a hadith by Prophet Mohammed that says: "And eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess."
Ramadan is the high season of good deeds, midnight prayer, and avoiding sin and gossip. Rewards for any good deed or act of worship done during the month of Ramadan is double that in normal days, so Muslims should consider the Holy Month an intensive course to collect credits and rewards.
The Prophet urged us to perfect ourselves to welcome Ramadan. "If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, 'I am fasting'."
[ hdajani@thenational.ae ]