The Muslim world now prepares to welcome its holiest month, Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, known for fasting and spiritual endeavour, both of which have real and metaphorical meanings in terms of human development and our quest to find the true meaning for the purpose of life.
According to the Qur`an, fasting is not unique to Islam. God has prescribed fasting for other nations in the past, through their prophets and Messengers, whom He chose, for the purpose of attaining a life of virtue and righteousness, although the manner in which it was practiced may have differed.
The purpose, however, has remained the same; in that it has been designed to challenge human endurance and test the strength of our resistance to all that is evil and ungodly. By fasting a person will be better placed to abide by the guidance of his Creator and have a balanced life in this world and attain a life under the immense bounties of God in the hereafter.
Fasting is an act of pure worship and devotion to God and its importance is underpinned by the fact that it is one of the five pillars of Islam, and should not be seen only in terms of refraining from food and drink between certain hours of the day during the month. One has to comprehend its benign influence in terms of spiritual purification, social benefits, and its benefits to human physical and psychological health, human development and community life.
Fasting is so virtuous an act in the Sight of God that the Prophet Muhammad, Peace and Mercy of Allah be upon him, said, relating to Allah: ‘The act of fasting is solely for Me and I would reward for it’. As a matter of fact, all rewards belong to God, but specifying this reward gives it a special meaning.
The act of fasting is described as a‘shield’, meaning that those fasting are proactively defending themselves from the innermost evil traits present in their characters. At the same time, it enables us to resist more effectively the evil temptations and provocations directed at all of us in our daily lives.
The process grants the fasting person a clearer vision about the purpose of their life. The language of spirituality carries no meaning if the purpose of it is not understood. It becomes only shallow words, fashionable on the tongues of many people, but detached from the ultimate reality of its meaning.
Spirituality must be rewarding, both morally and physically, in both worlds, and should be closely connected with the purpose of life by the Creator, Allah (God). Spirituality is a practical phenomenon, arising consciously out of a person’s will when practised. In Islam, this methodology of spiritual attainment is called ‘Taqwa’. People must recognise the evil and its reality in front of them resist it and work to remove it. Similarly, people must comprehend goodness and its sources and work to achieve it for themselves and for others.
Ramadan, like other pillars of Islam, is meant to reinforce this. Fasting is real and its impact is felt. It does weaken the human body, but what is more important is that it weakens that part of our will which leads us to commit evil acts, while greatly strengthening that which encourages us in the doing of good.
With this in mind, the Prophet Muhammad emphasised it, saying: ‘when it is the day of fasting for any of you, let him not utter indecent words, or raise his voice, or speak ignorance. If he is provoked to reciprocate to a swearing, or act of fighting, he must say: ‘I am a person fasting’.’ That would be an act of reminder to him as well as defeating the forces of provocation.
Fasting is only meant for able-bodied people. Children, women in pregnancy, period, or breastfeeding, people who are travelling a certain distance which may cause hardship, people suffering from illness that may likely worsen or deteriorate, are all exempt from fasting. However, many of those in these categories are required to make up for their missed days of fasting after Ramadan.
Nonetheless, it creates such an environment of spirituality and close connection with God for all that everyone lives with the excitement of a special feeling and consciousness of their purpose in life.
The Prophet Muhammad has described this special environment of spiritual feeling by saying: ‘Ramadan has come to you. It is a month of blessings. God covers you in this month with His mercy. He sends down mercy, removes people’s wrongdoings (from them), and accepts their supplications and cries from them. Allah wants to see your competing acts from you in the month and takes pride with His angels. So show to Allah goodness from you. A bad luck person, therefore, is one who is deprived of His mercy in this month.’
The month of Ramadan is also described as the ‘month of patience’. Patience in life and in the human character is part of the endeavour to make life better, beautiful and meaningful. Impatience is the most likely cause of disbelief, animosity and corrupt actions.
The suppression of human desires during Ramadan is meant to train the body, and will, in patience and encourage the planning of one’s life with vision and milestones. It also helps to reduce the ‘rush and haste’ attitudes in one’s life, and grant him contentment and true happiness within the grand scheme of Allah’s destiny of His creation.
Ramadan is also named as the ‘month of care and support’, placing this month at the heart of a social mechanism that helps people and encourages them to show generosity to the rest of humanity. Everyone should compete in acts of goodness and generosity.
Everyone is capable of displaying that leadership of social distinction. Ramadan is another, better, opportunity for them to show that leadership. Ramadan may weaken the strength of the body but it reinvigorates and strengthens the power of human will and so widens the opportunity for human development for all.
The month is full of grand inspiration. According to the Qur`an, in one of the odd dated nights towards the end of the month, the complete Quran was first revealed to the lower heaven from the most high one, in preparation for it to be revealed in parts to the Prophet Muhammad. In terms of spiritual endeavour, worship and devotion, doing of goodness, prayers and reading of the Qur`an, and works of generosity and good words, a moment in that night, if it be caught in prayer, is better than the nights of a thousand months.
Every reward is multiplied by seventy times that in the rest of the year, during the month of Ramadan, and that makes it even more rewarding.
This month with its fasting and prayers is all about our personal endeavours and efforts to offer goodness and pleasure to Allah and be successful in this world and, of course, on the Day of Judgement in the Hereafter. So let us give our best efforts and place our faith in Allah for our rewards.
May Allah accept our fasting and the month from us and help us achieve its purpose. Amen.
Sunday 31 July 2011
Monday 25 July 2011
The Norwegian tragedy: A moment of reflection
The gruesome and murderous acts committed by the self declared xenophobic and right-wing Christian Anders Behring Breivik, 32, are no doubt a shocking tragedy for the people of Norway and rightly they have the support and sympathy of the whole world. Terrorism, in its most brutal form, was redefined by Breivik when he embarked on his premeditated rampage, slaughtering the young people of his small nation and justifying it with his extreme right wing beliefs. Indeed, it could suggest a future course for all far right organisations, who seek to display their frustration at their failure to demonstrate the rightness of their cause to the people of their countries.
Since 9/11, any such tragic incident, especially on this scale, raises two different kinds of initial reaction from Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Indeed, when the news broke, my first reaction was; Is it Muslim terrorism? Is any Muslim involved in it? Oh no! Not again. I hope there is no Muslim is involved!
The reaction of non-Muslims was set, as usual, by the Western media, where some of the early commentators and so-called media pundits speculated, saying that all the hallmarks indicated the involvement of Al-Qaeda, or some affiliated Islamic terrorist organisation. See the link:
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/07/23/nyt/index.html
Some earlier commentators, on BBC and other media outlets appeared very keen to know what colour the person was, or did his appearance indicate any connection with the Muslim community. http://twitter.com/#!/ravisomaiya/status/94484706573299712
Other commentators mentioned the fact that there are a large number of Muslims living in Oslo, and that because of this Al-Qaeda must be involved. As a result of the reports by these commentators, now thankfully regarded as totally discredited, many non-Muslims, appeared to continue to think there was some sort of Islamist involvement, even though the perpetrator of this crime was quickly identified.
The New Statesman’s Laurie Penny tweeted: ‘I don't understand all the Islamophobia and finger-pointing on my Twitter feed. Wasn't the attacker a Christian fundamentalist? Who does this help’? Yes, but to some people the ranting must still about Islam and the Muslims.
However, some fair-minded people, like Dr Geoff Nash in Durham, tweeted. Saying: ‘In Britain the media rushed to judgment that this was the work of Muslim terrorists. We need to understand in the West that terrorism of this kind is a sickness of the modern world, not limited to the ethnic or religious 'other'. It is right here, within our own societies.’
There was, nonetheless, a reference to a Muslim connection. Anders hated Muslims and their religion. He glorified the ‘Knights Templar’, one of the most infamous of the early Western Christian military orders.
One can clearly identify all the symbolism of religious fervour and the spirit of the crusades in some of these so-called far right extreme organisations, who for obvious reasons are nothing to do with religion. However, with all these apparent ‘religious connections’ no one in the media, politics or faith leadership would call them ‘the holy crusaders’, or blame the religious community they proudly claim to belong to, or even find a connection between the ‘holy books’ they believe in, for their actions.
Anders Breivik allegedly had connections with other right wing organisations in Europe. He claimed that "Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom was the only "true" party of conservatives." "Breivik also praised the English Defence League profusely and called for the setting up of a Norwegian version of it."
He seemed to have detested multiculturalism and called it Marxist cultural-ism. He made a film about it, full of anti-Islamic ranting and nostalgia for the crusades, which is extremely disturbing to watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mZ29eUVAxg
Indeed, Breivik seems to have mapped out a plan for an independent Europe, free from Muslims. Hitler of course made and practised similar plans against Jews, blacks and other non white races, and those who continue to believe in his Nazi ideology still wish to implement it. The misleading but powerful intentions outlined in Breivik’s declaration of ‘European independence’ could engulf everyone in a cycle of violence and murderous acts similar to those committed by him in Norway. If you want to read this declaration, here is the link: http://www.sharepdfbooks.com/3TZOU0V52W6B/2083_A_European_Declaration_of_Independence.pdf.html
However, the world is not completely full of madness. People of good conscience still dare to tell the truth, even in the media. The world, ever increasingly, is becoming a powerful arena and battle field for ideas and electronic media has made this battle faster and wilder. We can only hope that humanity continues to be on the side of good conscience, justice, fairness, human rights and human prosperity. We all need to develop rational themes for co-existence and sensible politics for all.
I recommend you to watch this Youtube link to RT which really augments good unbiased journalism. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PR9yjl4paQ
Since 9/11, any such tragic incident, especially on this scale, raises two different kinds of initial reaction from Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Indeed, when the news broke, my first reaction was; Is it Muslim terrorism? Is any Muslim involved in it? Oh no! Not again. I hope there is no Muslim is involved!
The reaction of non-Muslims was set, as usual, by the Western media, where some of the early commentators and so-called media pundits speculated, saying that all the hallmarks indicated the involvement of Al-Qaeda, or some affiliated Islamic terrorist organisation. See the link:
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/07/23/nyt/index.html
Some earlier commentators, on BBC and other media outlets appeared very keen to know what colour the person was, or did his appearance indicate any connection with the Muslim community. http://twitter.com/#!/ravisomaiya/status/94484706573299712
Other commentators mentioned the fact that there are a large number of Muslims living in Oslo, and that because of this Al-Qaeda must be involved. As a result of the reports by these commentators, now thankfully regarded as totally discredited, many non-Muslims, appeared to continue to think there was some sort of Islamist involvement, even though the perpetrator of this crime was quickly identified.
The New Statesman’s Laurie Penny tweeted: ‘I don't understand all the Islamophobia and finger-pointing on my Twitter feed. Wasn't the attacker a Christian fundamentalist? Who does this help’? Yes, but to some people the ranting must still about Islam and the Muslims.
However, some fair-minded people, like Dr Geoff Nash in Durham, tweeted. Saying: ‘In Britain the media rushed to judgment that this was the work of Muslim terrorists. We need to understand in the West that terrorism of this kind is a sickness of the modern world, not limited to the ethnic or religious 'other'. It is right here, within our own societies.’
There was, nonetheless, a reference to a Muslim connection. Anders hated Muslims and their religion. He glorified the ‘Knights Templar’, one of the most infamous of the early Western Christian military orders.
One can clearly identify all the symbolism of religious fervour and the spirit of the crusades in some of these so-called far right extreme organisations, who for obvious reasons are nothing to do with religion. However, with all these apparent ‘religious connections’ no one in the media, politics or faith leadership would call them ‘the holy crusaders’, or blame the religious community they proudly claim to belong to, or even find a connection between the ‘holy books’ they believe in, for their actions.
Anders Breivik allegedly had connections with other right wing organisations in Europe. He claimed that "Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom was the only "true" party of conservatives." "Breivik also praised the English Defence League profusely and called for the setting up of a Norwegian version of it."
He seemed to have detested multiculturalism and called it Marxist cultural-ism. He made a film about it, full of anti-Islamic ranting and nostalgia for the crusades, which is extremely disturbing to watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mZ29eUVAxg
Indeed, Breivik seems to have mapped out a plan for an independent Europe, free from Muslims. Hitler of course made and practised similar plans against Jews, blacks and other non white races, and those who continue to believe in his Nazi ideology still wish to implement it. The misleading but powerful intentions outlined in Breivik’s declaration of ‘European independence’ could engulf everyone in a cycle of violence and murderous acts similar to those committed by him in Norway. If you want to read this declaration, here is the link: http://www.sharepdfbooks.com/3TZOU0V52W6B/2083_A_European_Declaration_of_Independence.pdf.html
However, the world is not completely full of madness. People of good conscience still dare to tell the truth, even in the media. The world, ever increasingly, is becoming a powerful arena and battle field for ideas and electronic media has made this battle faster and wilder. We can only hope that humanity continues to be on the side of good conscience, justice, fairness, human rights and human prosperity. We all need to develop rational themes for co-existence and sensible politics for all.
I recommend you to watch this Youtube link to RT which really augments good unbiased journalism. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PR9yjl4paQ
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