Mashallah the month of Ramadan has arrived and will soon be gone forever, it is a time to make sacrifices for Allah and seek HIS devine forgiveness. The month of Ramadan is also a time to increase reciting of the Noble Quran and also listen to the Quran recitals as much as possible.

Did you not feel emotional on the first night of Ramadan to see the Masjid so full for Taraweeh salaah, Mashallah. One really was overwhelmed with a sense of pride to be a part of the Muslim ummah. On the first night my son advised me that we should come earlier to the masjid, so that we can get our usual parking, and sadly I responded that in a week's time the masjid will be less full and we will not have to look for parking. This statement still sits in my mind, how wrong have I been, on the third night already the amount of people at the masjid was half of what the first night was. Where has everybody gone, has the novelty worn off so soon?

The next day I made some calls to friends and family and investigated a bit myself. It seems that this trend is as bad all over the country, is this real? Sadly yes and we all know it.

One night after a Janaazah, my family and I broke our fast with family and we went for Taraweeh salaah at one of the local masjids. To our wonderful surprise we could hardly find parking, and was forced to make salaah outside. Alhamdulilah I thought to myself. Then, in a flash the taraweeh was over, finished. I even heard some youngster saying "Imam Turbo is regtig vinning ne". This is a disgrace I thought, how can someone recite so fast? Did all the musalis gain from this experience, was the Quran listened to and appreciated? Does it take an "Imam Turbo" to fill a masjid. Is this not a sign of the last day?

No, I thought it has not come to this; after all we are the Ummah of Mohamed (SAW), the best of all. But I was wrong, this is real. Where are all the youth, don't parents accompany their children to masjid? Is the masjid a place for old people? When driving home, I drove past a group of cars parked on the side of the road. There were many young boys and girls in Islamic wear waiting for the race to start. There must have been hundreds of youth and older people there. This event has taken priority over making a sacrifice to listen to the Quran being recited, and performing a salaah that only comes but once a year. Perhaps these "foolish" people are led to believe that they are guaranteed another year.

The next generation looks very bleak, is this, the people that will continue to take the Deen of Islam forward for the next 300 years? I pray that Allah grant us the wisdom, understanding and sabr to deal with a crisis that faces our community. I also ask Allah to increase our Emaan and taqwa so that we can inspire others to bring the Quran into all our lives, so that we read and understand its Divine words. May Allah forgive us all.

Signed - A parent

DUAA TO BE READ AT THE TIME OF BREAKING FAST-IFTAAR
THAHABA ATH THAMAA'U WA IBTALATIL UROOQU WA THABATAL AJRU INSHAA ALLAAH
The thirst has been quenched, the veins have been saturated and, if Allah wills, the reward of the fast is established. (Ibn Majah, Hakim)

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TOMATO SAUCE MIXTURE:
1 cup tomato sauce
2 tablespoon lemon juice
3 tablespoon butter

Method:
• Marinate the chicken with all the ingredients and leave aside for 1 hour
• Cook on low until chicken is tender
• Combine sauce ingredients together and cook on low heat until sauce boils
• Add tomato sauce mixture to the chicken and cook on low heat
• Serve with spring onion pancakes