Imam Monawar Hussain is founder and director of the youth project, the Oxford Foundation

Ramadan is time for reflection, prayer and family. In this month was revealed the Qur’an so most of our focus is on reading the Qur’an, reflecting and meditating upon it.

I find that I spend a great deal of time reading classical commentaries on the Qur’an and also reflecting upon its meaning for me here and now – the key question here is relevance – what is the Qur’an’s relevance for me in my life and my particular plural societal setting?

Although outwardly fasting is to go without food, water and sexual relations from dawn to sunset, it is more than that. It is about cultivating a state of being in which through prayer and meditation one is in a perpetual state of God consciousness.

That one’s existence, friendships, family, community, the air we breath, the clean water, the food for our sustenance, and so much more are a great gift from God.

This deep sense of gratitude has a direct impact on how we respond to those who are less fortunate then we are.

This is the month in which there is great charitable giving to all sorts of good causes, especially focusing on the alleviation of poverty.