Ramadan is here!

Our esteemed guest arrived a few days ago, bringing with it mercy, forgiveness, and a renewed opportunity to draw closer to Allah.

You will hear greetings of “Ramadan Mubarak” everywhere among Muslims. The phrase means “Blessed Ramadan” — a way of wishing someone a month filled with blessings, peace, and spiritual growth.

Across the Muslim world, hearts turn towards worship, reflection, and gratitude. Ramadan is not merely a shift in eating habits or sleep patterns but it is a sacred season of return, a time when believers respond to Allah’s invitation to purify their hearts and strengthen their faith.

It is the month in which guidance was revealed in the Koran, a light for humanity and a reminder of Allah’s closeness to those who seek Him.

Fasting in Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, the foundational acts that uphold a Muslim’s faith.

Alongside prayer, charity, and pilgrimage, fasting trains the believer in discipline and sincerity. From dawn until sunset, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and marital relations.

Yet the true fast goes deeper; it is a restraint of the tongue from gossip, the heart from envy, and the limbs from wrongdoing. The goal is not hunger, but mindfulness of Allah in every moment.

Fasting holds a special place among acts of worship because it is done solely for Allah. In a sacred narration, Allah declares that fasting is for Him alone and He Himself will reward it.

“Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting; it is for Me, and I alone will reward it.” (Hadith Sahih al‑Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

Why fasting is described this way

Scholars explain that fasting is uniquely:

• Hidden (only Allah truly knows if someone is fasting)

• Sincere (no showing off, no outward display)

• Purely for Allah (it’s an act of self-restraint done privately)

While prayer and charity may be visible to others, the fast is known fully only to the worshipper and their Lord. This hidden sincerity makes Ramadan a powerful school for the soul, nurturing humility, patience, and trust in Allah.

The beauty of Ramadan is best understood through the example of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). He welcomed the month with joy and urged his companions to prepare their hearts before it began.

His fasting was marked not only by abstinence, but by generosity, compassion, and constant remembrance of Allah. He increased in charity, recited the Koran more frequently, and spent long portions of the night in prayer.

His companions followed his example with devotion and eagerness. They treated Ramadan as a season of transformation, filling their days with service and their nights with worship. They reconciled disputes, guarded their speech, and sought forgiveness with sincerity. For them, Ramadan was not a burden but an honour — a precious opportunity to cleanse the heart and draw nearer to their Lord.

Today, Muslims are invited to walk that same path. Ramadan reminds us that faith is lived in quiet sincerity as much as in public devotion. Through fasting, we remember the hungry, discipline our desires, and affirm that our lives belong to Allah alone.

As this noble month unfolds, may our fasting be accepted, our hearts softened, and our intentions purified. May Ramadan strengthen our communities, revive our faith, and draw us nearer to the One who invited us to this blessed season.

“O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain taqwa.” (2:183)

And as Black History Month is in full swing, we honour all our Black Bermudians who have made remarkable accomplishments and lasting contributions to our island. There are so many deserving of recognition that I will attempt to name only a few, knowing they are far too numerous to mention fully through this medium. Please forgive me in advance for anyone I unintentionally leave out.

Among those we honour are trailblazers whose influence has shaped Bermuda’s story across generations, such as Dame Marjorie Bean and Edgar Fitzgerald Gordon, who advanced education, labour rights and social justice. Sir Edward Richards broke political barriers as Bermuda’s first Black government leader and premier.

In the legal sphere, Khamisi Tokunbo became the first Black Bermudian to hold the office of Director of Public Prosecutions — a milestone in national leadership.

Athletic excellence has echoed loud and clear: Clarence “Nicky” Saunders, Commonwealth Games gold medallist; Debbie Jones‑Hunter, best known for her explosive speed, record‑breaking performances, and her pioneering role in Caribbean youth athletics. She competed internationally throughout the 1970s and became one of Bermuda’s most decorated athletes.

Katura Horton-Perinchief, the first Black woman from any nation to compete in Olympic diving; and Clarence Hill, Bermuda’s first Olympic medallist. International sporting icons such as Clyde Best, who broke racial barriers in English football, and Shaun Goater, celebrated for his achievements with Manchester City, carried Bermuda’s name onto the global stage.

Cultural influence is equally powerful — from beloved community figure Johnny Barnes, whose daily greetings uplifted a nation, to artists like actor Earl Cameron. These figures — to name a few — reflect the resilience and dignity woven into Bermuda’s Black history.

We also remember the contributions of journalists and storytellers such as Ceola Wilson — may she rest in peace — whose work strengthened the voice and visibility of Black Bermudians in the media.

During this Black History Month, we also reflect on the life of Reverend Jesse Jackson — may he rest in peace — a global trailblazer for justice and dignity across the Black Diaspora, whose lifelong struggle for equality, faith, and human rights inspired generations and helped shape the moral voice of our times.

February 2026 is indeed a loaded month and we have so much to be proud of and thankful for. May we always strive for excellence — onward and upward. As we reflect on these lives of service and achievement, we are reminded that legacy is cultivated through discipline and moral grounding.

Bermuda, may we continue to pray for those at home and abroad who are less fortunate than us; those experiencing dire situations. Pray that their situations will improve and their burdens be lifted immediately.

“O Allah, bless our families with peace, guide our children, strengthen our community, and make this Ramadan a light for us and for the generations after us. Ameen.”

Ramadan Mubarak.

As salaam alaikum (peace be unto you).

• 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