There was once a fire worshipper who saw his son eating in the presence of Muslims during the month of Ramadhaan. He immediately hit him and reprimanded him saying, “Why do you show disregard for the sanctity and respect of the Muslims during the month of Ramadhaan?”
It so happened that the fire worshipper passed away that very week. Soon after, the ‘Aalim of that locality had a dream in which he saw the fire worshipper in Jannah! In the dream, he asked him, “Were you not a fire worshipper?” The man replied, “I was a fire worshipper. However, shortly before I passed away, Allah Ta‘ala honoured me, by inspiring me to accept Islam, due to the respect that I had shown for the month of Ramadhaan.”
(Nuzhatul Majaalis pg. 201)
Lessons:
1. The salient symbols of Islam, such as the month of Ramadhaan, the masaajid, the Quraan Majeed, the azaan, etc., stand for and represent Islam. Hence, to respect these symbols is to respect Islam itself, and to show disregard to them is to show disregard to Islam itself. A few examples of showing respect for these symbols are: fasting, performing the complete Taraaweeh Salaah, abstaining from sin during the month of Ramadhaan, dressing and behaving appropriately within the masjid, regularly reciting the Quraan Majeed and holding it with reverence and wudhu, and remaining silent during the azaan so that one may listen to it attentively and verbally reply, as well as by physically responding thereafter by proceeding to salaah.
2. On account of a fire worshipper respecting the month of Ramadhaan, Allah Ta‘ala blessed him with Islam and Jannah. If the Muslims afford this blessed month the respect and honour that it deserves, how much more will Allah Ta‘ala bless them, in this world and the next! Conversely, if Muslims disregard this month, by failing to repent, fulfil the commands of Allah Ta‘ala and while away the precious moments, what a loss they will incur!