The importance of Family

Al Sayyida Mayya Al Said -

My love for the month of Ramadhan began at a very young age, I must have been 12 or 13 years old. I remember it as if it were yesterday, we are all gathered at my grandmother’s house, seated around the dining table. My grandmother at the head of the table, my father to her right and my brothers and I gathered around them.

The air filled with sound of the call for maghrib prayer announcing the time to break our fast.

The table was laid out with all our favourite dishes, which was one of her ways of showing us how special we all were to her.

This was our family’s tradition every Ramadhan we would break our fast together. I also recall that it was with my grandmother that I attended my first taraweeh prayers at the mosque close to her house.

My grandmother is no longer alive but these happy memories still live on. It is during these gatherings that I learned how blessed I am to be have my family around me.

How ironic is it that although we had fasted for the whole day but it is not the types of food that we remember but who we shared the meal with.

We are sadly living in a time where we rarely get the opportunity to sit down as a family to have a meal, let alone spend quality time together since we are so busy trying to make it through life.

Ramadhan is such a blessing as it is during this month that families tend to have gatherings such as the ones we had. Not only do these gatherings strengthen the family ties but by doing so one is fulfilling an important aspect of Islam.

Islam came to set all our relationships right. Firstly starting with our relationship with Allah our creator but also with human beings. Maintaining the bonds of kinship is called silat ur-rahm in Arabic.

The exact meaning of the word rahm is “womb.” It is derived from the Arabic root word raheem which means “to have mercy on.”

Two out of the 99 names for God in Islam are Ar-Rahmaan and Ar-Raheem, which are derived from the same root word.

There are various Quranic verses and Ahadith instructing Muslims to be kind, merciful, affectionate and caring towards parents and relatives. Thus making the act of maintaining family ties an obligation.

As hard as it may seem to find the time in our busy lives, your family is a priority. You are who you are because of your family.

The least one should do is visit them as often as possible and ask about them by calling them and help them when needed.