As–salamu alaykum. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon all as we enter this Holy Month of Ramadan.
As we begin this sacred observance, I address not only our Muslim brothers and sisters but every Guyanese citizen. For Ramadan carries a message meant for us all.
The Holy Month of Ramadan is a period of deep introspection, of fasting and prayer, of spiritual renewal. But it is also a month that poses a profound question to every soul and, I believe, to our nation itself: What do we owe one another?
The Holy Quran teaches us that true righteousness is a belief manifest through action. It is giving of our wealth, despite our love for it, to relatives, to orphans, to the needy, to the traveller, to those who ask. It is patience in poverty and hardship. It is keeping faith with our promises. This is the standard against which we are measured.
My fellow Guyanese, we are witnessing extraordinary times. Our nation is building wealth at a pace we have never known. Resources once imagined are now realised. Opportunities once distant now stand at our doorstep. And yet, even as we ascend, we must ask ourselves: Who ascends with us?
We are our brothers‘ keepers. We are our sisters‘ keepers. This is the very foundation upon which durable nations are built. Let this month of Ramadan remind us that the truest measure of our progress will not be the height of our buildings but the depth of our compassion. Not the volume of our exports but the reach of our care.
The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, “Show mercy to those on earth, and the One in the heavens will show mercy to you.
This month, I call upon every sector of our society to demonstrate what it means to be a keeper. Let your success be marked not only by profit margins but by opportunities we create for those left behind and especially the less fortunate in our midst. Let your zakat- your charity–be generous.
And to all Guyanese: Let this be the Ramadan when compassion becomes our national habit. When we cease to see charity as an occasional gesture and instead recognise it as an ongoing responsibility.
This month, I ask every Guyanese to examine their own capacity for giving. Not everyone can donate large sums. But everyone can give something. Your time. Your attention. Your voice advocating for fair treatment. Your presence beside someone who is suffering. Your refusal to look away. These, too, are forms of wealth. These, too, are righteousness.
To my Muslim brothers and sisters, I pray that our fasting brings us closer to the Divine, that our prayers are answered with peace, and that our sacrifices are accepted with mercy. May this Ramadan fill your homes with blessing and your hearts with certainty.
And to every citizen who hears this message: May the spirit of this Holy Month inspire in us a new covenant with one another. May we emerge from these coming days not only spiritually renewed but practically transformed. May we resolve that the Guyana we are building will be a Guyana where wealth serves people, not the other way around.
We are our brother’s keeper. We are our sister’s keeper. Let us prove it–not with words alone, but with our wealth, our policies, our daily choices, and our unwavering commitment to lift as we climb.
Ramadan Mubarak!
May Allah accept from us and from you. May God bless our Republic. And may He guide us all toward righteousness.
