As we come to this 29th day of Ramadhan, once again we find the blessed month leaving us. It’ll be another 11 months before we get to see it again. IF we live to see it again. What had passed before, we can’t go back and change. There’s no do over. The only thing we can do, on this last day is to ensure we observe our fasting in full accordance and pray for the forgiveness of our past trespass.

Indeed Ramadhan is an oppurtunity for us to make amends and even the score between us and God. To have our slate of sin wiped clean. To return to the state of being as when God first created us and intended for us. To return to Grace.

In our daily lives, we sometimes inadvertently stray and sin. But even if we had acted like animals, Ramadhan is the doorway to salvation, should we make full use of it’s blessings. May God accept our deeds and absolve us of our sins. For even the seemingly saint-like of us may get trapped in the sin of others through subahat.

However, we must realize that Ramadhan is between us and God. He can and will absolve all our wrongdoings to Him, but our trespass against our fellow men? Only they can forgive. That’s why God created the month of Syawal, and ask us to celebrate on that first day. It is also our opportunity to come together with family, friends, acquaintances, neighbours to share the joy, and to be able to seek their forgiveness for the wrongs that we may have done them. For we are but humans, prone to mistakes, led by desires and full of emotions.

In that spirit, I want to take the chance given to me now, to ask for your forgiveness for any wrong I may have done you. For any harsh or insensitive words I may have said. For any harm or offense I may not have planned but affected you nonetheless.

And let us also make one more supplication to Allah, that may He bless us with long life so that we may greet and complete the next Ramadhan.

Let us celebrate joyously this coming Syawal. Happy Eid Mubarak my brothers and sisters.