2. رَمَضَانَ RAMADHAN: A DIVINE GIFT TO MANKIND THE GIVEN TOPIC Organiser Darul Arqam (Muslim Converts Assaociation of Singapore)

7. RAMADHAN IS NOT A GIFT TO MANKIND ! MY COMMENT ON THE GIVEN TOPIC ONLY THE OPPORTUNITY AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009 TO BEHOLD THE GIFTS.

8. AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER AND PERHAPS TO ACCEPT THE DIVINE GIFT SENT FOR THE WORLDS MY COMMENT ON THE GIVEN TOPIC AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009

9. WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT GIFT ? AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009

10. “ Now hath come unto you an messenger (Muhammad) from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that you should perish: ardently anxious is he over you: to the Believers is he most kind and merciful.” ( Qur’an: Taubah: 9:128 ) THE REAL GIFT FOR MANKIND IS THIS : AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009

11. “ We have not sent thee (O Muhammad) but as a (Universal) Messenger to all mankind, giving them Glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most men understand not.” ( Qur’an: Saba: 34: 28 ) THE REAL GIFT FOR MANKIND IS THIS : AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009

12. “ We do not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a mercy for the worlds. Say (tell them): It is only inspired in me that your God is One God. Will ye then surrender (unto Him)?” ( Qur’an: Anbiya: 21: 107-108 ) THE REAL GIFT FOR MANKIND IS THIS : AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009 TASAWWUR ISLAM

13. Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” ( Qur’an: Az-Zumar: 39: 53 ) THE REAL GIFT FOR MANKIND IS THIS : AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009

14. YET THERE IS NO FORCE OR COMPULSION UPON ANY ONE TO ACCEPT We are only to peacefully invite all to the way of our Lord ..... AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009

15. LET THEM CONSIDER THE SIGNS, THINK AND DECIDE .. “ Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth (the right way) stands out clear from Error; whoever rejects Evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.” ( Qur’an: Baqarah: 2:256 ) AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009

16. IT IS ALL ABOUT UNDERSTANDING MEANINGS OF ‘SIGNS’ AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009

17. STOP ! READY TO STOP GO PARABLE OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009

18. PARABLE OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS “ Read: In the name of thy Lord (the Divine Creator) Who creates” ( Qur’an: ‘Alaq: 961 ) AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009 THE FIRST REVELATION

19. PARABLE OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS آيَة - Aayat - “Signs” قَوْلِيَة – Qau-liyyah – “spoken” كَوْنِيَة – Kauniyyah – “created” شِعَار - Shi-’aar - “Symbol” READ WHAT ? AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009

20. PARABLE OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS READ WHAT ? AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009 THE MESSAGE FROM THE SIGNS OF THE DIVINE CREATOR

21. THUS, ALTHOUGH MOST MUSLIMS MAY HAVE NEGLECTED TO CARRY OUT THE CALL ( DA’WAH ) TO ALL MANKIND, YET ALLAH S.W.T. (THE ONLY DIVINE BEING) HAS MADE THE WAY OF LIFE OF MUSLIMS TO MANIFEST SIGNS OF THE TRUTH AND BEAUTY OF HIS RELIGION... AD-DEEN AL-ISLAM . AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009

22. “ And thus have We willed you to be a community of the middle way ( ummatan wasotan ) [i.e. justly balanced], so that [with your lives] you might bear witness to the truth before all mankind ( shuhadaa-a ‘alan-naas ) , and the Messenger as a witness over you.“ (Qur’an: Baqarah 2:143 ) AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009

23. THE MONTH OF RAMADHAN IS A SHI’AR (SYMBOL) WHERE MUCH SIGNS OF THIS DIVINELY INSPIRED RELIGION CAN BE OBSERVED, BY ANY ONE, THOSE WHO SEEK FOR GUIDANCE. AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009

24. THEREFORE, WE REFLECT UPON THESE SIGNS OF THE DIVINE “ Knowledge – is the arrival of meaning to the soul, or the arrival of the soul to meaning .” ( S.M.Naquib Al-Attas ) AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009

25. We have been advised by world renown contemporary scholar-thinker, S. M. Naquib Al-Attas, that: “ The learned and wise among Muslims must use constant vigilance in detecting erroneous usage in language which impinges upon semantic change in major key elements and creates general confusion and error in the understanding of Islam and of its worldview.” Quote: Prof. S M Naquib al-Attas “The Concept of Education in Islam” pp. 37-38 AND I AM OF THE VIEW THAT THE SUGGESTED TOPIC TO BE CLAIMING SOMETHING, WHICH MAY NOT BE ACCURATE ..... AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009

26. SO, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO MODIFY THE TOPIC ..... AllRightsReserved©Zhulkeflee2009