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Below is a statement issued by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the shadow government of the Afghan Taliban) on the importance of the Islamic month of Ramadan:
"Ramadan is a month of blessings and grace. Salman Farsi (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Prophet Muhammad … said in a sermon which he delivered to them on the last day of Shaban [the month before Ramadan]: 'A great month, a blessed month, containing a night which is better than a thousand months, has approached you people…' Similarly, the amount of rewards in the month of Ramadan is a secret between Allah the Almighty and His servant. Therefore, the Prophet Muhammad … said: … Allah the Almighty said, 'Every deed of the son of Adam is for him except fasting, it is for Me and I shall reward for it.'"
"Ramadan gives a practical and applicable lesson of solidarity, unity, and harmony to [the] Muslim Ummah. All Muslims observe fasting from early morning until evening. They observe fasting at day time and recite the Holy Koran at night. All poor and rich suffer from the same feelings of thirst and hunger and wait to open [i.e. break] fasting. Fasting conveys a message of sympathy and offerings. It also gives a lesson of good ethics and forgiveness because these comprise the attitude which brings the masses of a society close to each other.
"Similarly, Ramadan is a month of success and victories on behalf of Allah the Almighty for the mujahideen. Islamic history shows that major [military] victories have been achieved in the month of Ramadan. The great victories of mujahideen in the Battle of Badr on the 17th of Ramadan, in the second year of Hijra (Islamic calendar), and the Conquest of Mecca on the 23rd of Ramadan, in the eighth year of Hijra, show the help of Allah the Almighty and demonstrate that Ramadan is a month of glories and victories for the Muslim Ummah.
"The month of Ramadan is symbol of glory and greatness. It is a great reward and grace of Allah, the Almighty. It is a symbol of the demonstration of patience, determination, piety, and strong faith of the Muslims. Fasting is an annual examination of the hearts, tongues, and all organs of believers. Success in this practical examination of Ramadan is the beginning of a bright future for a human being because then he deserves the blessings and mercy of Allah the Almighty. [He can] obtain salvation from the fire of hell and thus deserves to be dressed in piety by the grace of Allah, the Almighty."
Source: Shahamt-english.com (Afghanistan), accessed June 24, 2015. The original English of the statement has been lightly edited for clarity and standardization.
