Once again we, the Muslim community,
heartily welcome the blessed month of Ramadan. This blessed month, in which
fasting is a divinely prescribed obligation, allows us to fulfil the fifth
pillar of Islam. It is exciting for all believers to observe the act of fasting
and by so doing seek out Allah’s mercy in their lives.
For Muslim communities, it is a
collective as well as an individual way of submitting to Allah’s command. A
community is collectively brought into a pattern of spiritual discipline and
change the routines of their daily lives. This month provides us with the
opportunity to guide the community towards a collective remembrance of Allah
and bonds us in unity.
Ramadan is first and foremost an act
of spiritual dedication (Ibadah) to Allah and is an obligation on all Muslims
who are capable of fasting in the month. However, like all of the spiritual
obligations in Islam, Allah fills this month with blessings of all kinds for
all observers of the fast, in terms of health, economic and social benefits and
internal peace.
Fasting was not a new phenomenon
when Allah’s guidance was given to humanity. The remnants of this blessed act
of fasting can be seen in most world communities which have been ‘reshaped’ by
humans to ‘best suit’ their desired situations.
The Quran says: ‘Believers! Fasting
is enjoined upon you, as it was enjoined upon those before you, that you become
God-fearing’. S2 V183
According to Islamic teachings, God
did not leave any group of people without His guidance or without prophets. The
essentials of God’s obligations upon human beings remain unchanged and fasting
has always been one of them. The outcome of fasting has been described in the
verse, translated as: ‘That you become God-fearing’. The Quranic words are ‘la`allakum tattaqoon’.
Tattaqoon is from the root word of ‘Taqwa’, which is described as the essence
of all goodness in life. Taqwa has many shades of meaning and so the verse is
translated in many different ways.
One of these meanings is mentioned
in the above translation, however other meanings are: ‘So that you seek righteousness’,
or: ‘So that you learn self-restraint’. Taqwa is all about spiritual
self-discipline that brings peace, calmness and a sense of purpose into our
lives. It creates a lifelong connection through our human souls with the
eternally ingrained guidance of Allah.
Taqwa makes life easier for people
and introduces peace into their lives when they are fulfilling their
commitments and human responsibilities. Taqwa provides the right context for
human engagement and saves them from woes arising out of relationships.
Taqwa is the source of most positive
energy in a human-being’s life. It counters all aspects of negativity that can
undermine the quality of a peaceful and tranquil engagement within our lives.
There are two reasons for engaging
to gain Taqwa. The first is that the
believer strengthen his belief in the good teachings of his Lord, Allah the
Almighty. The second, is the recognition that it is God (Allah) Himself who is
the Creator and He is promoting the welfare of His servants when they answer
His call.
Taqwa is the most desired and sought
out outcome of fasting. Fasting is indeed a well recognised training ground for
gaining Taqwa and developing a well-balanced lifestyle that is most pleasing to
Allah. Taqwa helps to build the most positive characters in human beings and
for that reason the month of Ramadan is regarded as the most perfect month of
the year.
To underline the importance of this
purpose, the Quran states: ‘During the month of Ramadan the Quran was sent down
as a guidance to the people, with Clear Signs of the true guidance and as the
Criterion (between right and wrong). S2 V185
The Quran is the Book of Allah’s
guidance for mankind. It was first sent down in its complete form from the
seventh heaven to the lowest heaven in the month of Ramadan. It was then
revealed to the Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, in one
of the last ten nights of Ramadan. This night is therefore called in the Quran
‘the Night of Power’. This ‘Night’ is so significant that it is described as
‘better than (the nights of) of a thousand months in which angels and Gabriel
descend with all kinds of decrees’. S97 V3-4
Ramadan is the month in which gates
of Paradise are opened and gates of Hell are closed and Satan is chained. A
caller calls out: ‘O seeker of goodness! Come forward, and O seeker of evil!
Stop, until the end of the month of Ramadan.
Fasting is described as a shield.
The Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, said: ‘When it is a
day of fasting for someone, he must not speak evil, or shout or behave like
ignorant person. If he were to be sworn at or being fought with, he should say:
‘I am fasting, twice’.
Fasting is such a great act and so
pleasing to Allah, the Almighty, that he proclaimed: ‘All acts of the children
of Adam belong to him except the fasting. It is for Me and I would reward for
it’.
All aspects of Ramadan contain
goodness, mercy and the chance to make positive changes. Speaking on the
spiritual aspect of the fast, the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon
him, said: ‘Whoever fasts Ramadan out of belief and seeking the pleasure and
rewards of Allah, their past sins (wrongdoings) would be forgiven’.
It is a blessed opportunity for all
believers to make the best out of this most auspicious season of Ramadan and
fast if we are capable of doing so. It is a time for all of us to ensure our
obligatory salaah are done at the correct times, to increase our voluntary
salaah and read and recite the Quran. It is also the time to increase our acts
of charity in the name of Allah and offer every goodness that we can to others.
We should not allow these opportunities to pass us by; there is no guarantee
that we will be around for Ramadan next year!
May Allah bless us all, make this
month of Ramadan an opportunity for us to increase in every goodness, gain the
pleasure of Allah and show that all our good deeds are acceptable to Him.
