Today is Friday and the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan thus making it a day of countless blessings. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that there is an hour on Friday when whatever a true believer supplicates gains acceptance by God. And he told us about Ramadan that during this month doors to Paradise are opened while doors to Hell are shut. God's grace and mercy is particularly stirred in Ramadan and true believers are showered with blessings. Indeed the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said there are some conditions to attract God's grace. One should shun idle, vulgar matters and chaos, eschew using abusive language and getting involved in altercations and should respond to all evil with: I am fasting and I am eschewing all this for the sake of God. This would make one fast in the true spirit. God has tied the significance of Ramadan with acceptance of prayer in the following verse: 'And when My servants ask thee about Me, say: 'I am near. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he prays to Me. So they should hearken to Me and believe in Me, that they may follow the right way.' (2:187). Thus stressing the blessedness of Ramadan by placing this verse directly after the verse regarding Ramadan and tying in acceptance of prayer with fasting during the holy month. Fridays during Ramadan are of enhanced significance but God has not pinpointed the hour during Friday when supplications gain acceptance, thus emphasising that supplications should be made night and day. Generally speaking during Ramadan God puts Satan in fetters, opens doors to Paradise and comes closer to man. On top of this, Fridays during Ramadan should be fully availed of. The main prayer of a believer should be made with humility to be included among those whose prayers of night and day are accepted all the time and not only in Ramadan; so that one may be permanently guided. The verses preceding 2:187 state that earlier people also fasted, but this is not the impetus for fasting. The impetus for fasting is to adopt righteousness and avoid spiritual and moral weaknesses. 2:187 states: '…may follow the right way.' This signifies having correct morals and maturity of senses on a permanent basis. Ramadan is a month of countless blessings but these blessings are given to those who follow the commandments of God and enhance in faith. If one only offers Friday Prayers during Ramadan and does not carry on afterwards, one is not abiding by God's commandment and has weakness of faith. How can one go on to complain that one's prayers are not answered! Those who are restless to come in the refuge of God need to spend their time praying with extreme humbleness and humility by acknowledging their shortcomings. Some people assume that God comes closer to man during Ramadan so praying during this month is sufficient. This is a misleading thought. One should seek God's closeness with complete and utter humility. Indeed, God is Ever-Present but man can only gain nearness to God when he abandons all else except God and turns only to Him with humility. It should be understood very well that the objective can only be attained with righteousness and piety leading us to enjoy personal as well as communal fruits of success that God has destined. Man does wrong and man sins but as long as he has fear of God and acknowledges his wrongs and has righteousness, God covers his sins and wrongs and ultimately enables him to repent. We should pray during Ramadan for ourselves, our near and dear ones and for members of the Jama'at that may everyone attain righteousness and fear of God. If we pray for each other with compassion angels will join in our prayers. What is righteousness? It is fear of God and as long as we have righteousness God will cover our shortcomings and our sins unless we become so audacious that fear of God leaves us when committing sin! If