By Shofi Ahmed

Best things come to those who wait, and King Charles can certainly be considered an archetypal example of this well-known saying. After waiting a staggering seventy years, he was finally crowned as the king of the UK in a spectacular ceremony on May 6, 2023. Throughout the course of this prolonged period, he had ample opportunities to groom himself most aptly, which will certainly help him to scale up to the top-notch position he now holds. As a monarch who tends to embrace contemporary arts and disciplines, he has expressed a praiseworthy intention to be the defender of faiths, including the faith of British Muslims.

Will he succeed and ultimately be able to see the full moon down this challenging highway? It’s a matter for history to tell. However, there is one surefire way to raise his high watermark, and that is by leveraging the intelligent social virtues embedded in Ramadan. By learning these valuable lessons on empathy, unity, and solidarity, King Charles can use this knowledge to create a more inclusive and harmonious society for all faith communities.

I am delighted to share that King Charles has read my writing in the Bangla Mirror before, a paper that I found, and was considerate enough to inform me through his aides of how impressed he was. I am thrilled as the newly minted king ploughs the seed across the land, ushering in a new era. Once again, I pick up my pen and paintbrush.

Ramadan, one of the five cores of Islam, has a plethora of core elements that can help foster a stronger and understanding diverse faith community. As King Charles has expressed his desire to become the defender of faiths, there is much that he can learn from the intelligent social virtues embedded in Ramadan.

Ramadan requires us to refrain from food, water, and physical intimacy while fasting. In addition to its spiritual values, there is a panoply of disciplines that can help us better organise our daily lives on Earth. It teaches us to be selfless, putting the needs of others before our own, and to be charitable and tolerant. These are values that are essential to building a harmonious and peaceful society where all faiths can thrive.

Furthermore, the practice of fasting during Ramadan requires Muslims to show tolerance towards others who may not be fasting, as well as towards people of different faiths and cultures. This spirit of tolerance promotes understanding and respect between different groups, contributing to a more harmonious and peaceful society.

Ramadan also fosters a sense of community cohesion. The shared experience of fasting and spiritual reflection brings people together, creating a sense of unity. This is exemplified during the iftar meal that breaks the fast at sunset, where Muslims often invite others to share in the festivities, creating a sense of community and belonging that extends beyond the month of Ramadan.

If King Charles were to embrace the intelligent social virtues embedded in Ramadan, drawn from the blessed content of this holy month, he would be better equipped to foster a stronger and more understanding diverse faith community. Although these virtues are quite common, their origins in Ramadan provide a unique perspective and depth to their understanding and practice.

Practically, it teaches individuals to prioritise the needs of others, be charitable and tolerant, and promote community cohesion, thus contributing to the creation of a harmonious and peaceful society with a divine purpose, where existence means more than just a mundane passing by.