O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you – as it was for those before you – so perhaps you will become mindful of Allah. (Koran, 2:183). Fasting during Ramadan is prescribed for Muslims as it was for those before them, with a profound purpose: to cultivate Taqwa (God-consciousness).

We are now entering the second part of the holy month of Ramadan. Trusting we have been blessed with an easy fast and not suffered to much physical hardship.

The spiritual benefit of the fast definitely outweighs any physical inconvenience we may experience. Although one should not fast if ill or experiencing undue hardship. Allah is most Merciful and has put into place alternatives for us to still receive the rewards of fasting.

Hopefully we have been spiritually uplifted and have benefited from the many blessings of these first ten days of Ramadan; days of mercy. We should now see a change for the better in our attitude and conduct towards one another, after all the tenets of this holy month help us to come out better people than we went in.

We pray and hope to experience a total purification of the soul. We are currently on the tail end of the first ten days of Ramadan, which are days of earnestly seeking Allah’s mercy; for without mercy, we are technically doomed, akin to those without hope.

Not only should we expect to receive Allah’s mercy but we too are required to show mercy to one another. We should endeavour to show compassion to others, especially to those in worst situations than ourselves. Mercy, compassion and forgiveness are all interconnected. We should not have one without the other. May Allah bestow upon us His powerful and unrelenting mercy.

“Surely, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed He is the most Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Koran 39:53)

The second ten days of Ramadan, namely days 11 to 20, consist of the Ashra (stage) of forgiveness. Muslims should be seeking the forgiveness of Allah, the Almighty, all day and all night. We should seek Allah’s forgiveness with sincere repentance for all our past mistakes and strive hard not to repeat them.

We should seek forgiveness of those we may have aggrieved by our actions or words. This will allow us to move forward in seeking peace among us. Islam is all about peace and harmony. Notice I said “Islam”; meaning the religion as we are taught by Allah, but as always there will be followers that are misguided and thus do otherwise.

Forgiveness is the bridge to peace and success.

May the upcoming days of Ramadan be successful and may Allah accept our fast and our good deeds.

Bermuda, let us continue to pray for peace and ceasefire in countries that are bereft with war, hardship and injustice. There seems to be no end in sight; the struggle continues and we must continue our cries for ceasefire now.

As salaam alaikum (peace be unto you) and Ramadan Mubarak (Blessed Ramadan)

• Linda Walia Ming is a member of the Bermuda Hijab Dawah Team, a group of Muslim women who reside in Bermuda and have a goal of educating the community about the religion of Islam