Combatting loneliness

Mankind, by their nature, are said to be social being, who engage with others and live within the concept of family and circles of friendship. ‘Need and want’ are two aspects of human life that bind us all together but if they are not met we feel unsupported by others. We are all aware that loneliness is different from being alone and many people enjoy the happiest of lives in the company of a book or by surrounding themselves with nature. For many others, many Muslims included, engaging in the remembrance and Glory of God fulfils their needs.

So what is loneliness?  To me, it is the state of being where people feel totally unsupported, their needs are not given any attention and they feel socially alone even when surrounded by other people. In other words, they have become a ‘social outcast’. We also develop this feeling of loneliness when we have people around us with whom we don’t have meeting of minds, or a deeper emotional connection or intellectual or social bond.

Many experts would say that ‘loneliness’ is not a mental health problem. Nevertheless, a long drawn out period of being lonely can and does have an impact on the mental welfare of a person and may adversely affect their lives.

Loneliness is at the root of many of our physical ailments such as depression, anxiety, mental tension and sundry other health problems.

Islam is well aware of the grave human problem of loneliness and offers its own solutions, through Allah’s teachings for the welfare of human life. So let us see how Islam deals with this phenomenon of human loneliness.

Loneliness, as indicated earlier, often arises from a feeling of social abandonment or lack of emotional, spiritual and intellectual engagement in our lives. Islam deals with all of these aspects to bring a purpose to human life.

Islam, through its teachings, encourages a close relationship between a person and his Creator or Maker. What does this close relationship with Allah mean in reality? Starting with the spiritual aspect; a close relationship with God gives inner strength and contentedness, no matter in what state we may happen to be, but also encourages us to strive to attain a better state of being, through the Mercy of God, by asking Him for it. One way to forge this relationship is to develop an attitude of gratefulness to God.

The Quran says: ‘And call to mind when your Lord proclaimed: If you give thanks, I will certainly grant you more (increase you in My blessings), but if you are ungrateful to my favours, My chastisement is terrible’. S14 V7

What does an attitude of gratefulness mean? It is the recognition of the good things we have and to then share them with others. This encompasses anything that others may lack in their lives. It may look like a strange solution to loneliness, however, life is meant to be about sharing and mitigating the pain of others, in order to make our society a healthier place. If we pay only lip service in our gratefulness to God and remain tight fisted and uncaring towards others, we commit an unacceptable act in the Sight of God.

Islam emphasises that there is no place for any feeling of despair in our relationship with God, for it will dilute our faith in the bountiful providence of Allah. Islam encourages people to travel in the pursuit of Allah’s blessings, as provision among other people and in different parts of the world is affected by their places of residence.

Islam offers ways of engaging with each other. The concept of ‘Jama`ah’, congregation or collectiveness in the society, is very important and a religious requirement. It starts with the Five daily obligatory prayers in congregation in the mosque. Then Friday is designated as being the day of weekly festival, so that all people in the society can engage and look after themselves and reduce any sense of loneliness. 

Zakah, or the payment of annual obligatory charity and its distribution strictly among the people who well deserve it, is another way to look after people and minimise their sense of loneliness.

Fasting in Ramadan is a community event, which engages the community as a whole. One of the names given to the month is the ‘month of consolation and solace’ (al-muwasaat),i.e. when a person reaches out to others suffering from a loss, lack of resources or community congregations.  This to show that fasting is a support mechanism for all those who need support, seek social and spiritual strength, wish to bond with others, and is not only an exercise in being hungry and thirsty.

Society matters in Islamic teachings. Islam engages people with each other. In a hadith, which is a saying of the Prophet Muhammed, he outlines some of the social obligations placed upon Muslims. He says: ‘The rights of a Muslim on another Muslim are six: when he meets him he should greet him with peace, if he invites him he should respond to his invitation, if he seeks some guidance or sincere advice from him, he should give him such, if he sneezes and praises God, he should bless him, when he gets ill he should visit him, and when he passes away he should attend the funeral.’

In another hadith, the Prophet Muhammed likened the attitude of one person to another with a building, all of its parts supporting it. He also said: ‘He who does not show mercy is not shown mercy’. This is directed particularly towards the weakest in society, older people, children, women, people in the service to others and orphans. They are all likely to be more susceptible to loneliness.

The role of a neighbour is very important in Islam in looking after the welfare of his own neighbours. The Prophet Muhammed advised one of his companions about his neighbours saying: ‘Abu Dhar! When you cook your curries, increase it with water and look after your neighbour’. 

Loneliness is also caused when a person find himself unworthy and devalued by the people around him or does not visit enough venues to engage in socially healthy contacts. Islam encourages people and makes it a religious duty to engage with each other and help fulfil other people’s needs. Congregations, collective actions, meetings are always to be encouraged to achieve this. Attending the daily prayers in congregation is said to be 27 times better than doing it alone. This is because a person’s attendance increases his benefits to others, his care for the welfare of other people and the society he is living in.

In conclusion, Islam offers a mix of spiritual, social and economic solutions with which to deal with the problem of loneliness. What would be best way to finish this? For me, nothing better than a hadith of the Prophet Muhammed, highlighting the great sense of care in human society, when he said: ‘The example of believers in their mutual love, merciful acts and compassion towards each other is like a human body, when a particular part of it suffers an ailment, all of the body falters with lack of sleep and temperature’! 

Charity – an Islamic perspective

Before I reflect on the importance of the acts of charity or indeed a charitable deed in Islamic teaching, let me read this verse from the Surah 63:

‘And spend of what Allah has granted you by way of sustenance before death should come to any of you, and then he says: ‘Lord! Why you did not defer my return for a while so that I might give alms and be among the righteous. But when a person’s term comes to an end, Allah never grants any respite. Allah is well aware of all that you do’. S 63 V10-11

This verse tells us all about the importance of charity in Islam. Some points from this verse to be noted are:

1-      God commands people to spend from the sustenance given to them, in the way of charity.

2-      God is generous and He wants His servants to be generous with what they have been granted by God.

3-      God telling us that an act of charity is one of the things that will be desired by people in the next life and they will wish they had done it in this life.

4-      Additionally, acts of charity lead to a righteous life, full of compassion, kindness and caring for people.

Hence, charity is a detailed subject in Islamic teachings. Charity is divided into two clear categories: 1) Zakah 2) Sadaqah

1)      Zakah is the compulsory act of charity, and applies widely to all aspects of finance and commodity related items.

a) Zakah is levied at 2.5% from the annual calculation of whatever a person may have in the form of money or investments.

b) Zakah also applies on commodities and merchandise that are held for trade purposes. Both are calculated as 1/40 or 2.5% of their value.

c) There is also Zakat on agricultural produce, if it exceeds a threshold of 651.4 kg, according to the majority of scholars.

d) Zakah also applies to livestock, such as cattle, sheep and camels, paid in kind, whose value is determined by an established method of calculation.

Zakah’s importance lies in its position as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Zakah, besides being a contributing factor in reducing social inequality, has a spiritual purpose. The Quran puts it succinctly, saying: ‘O Prophet! Take alms out of their riches and thereby cleanse them and bring about their growth (in righteousness) and pray for them. Indeed your prayer is a source of tranquillity for them. Allah is All Hearing, all-Knowing’. S9 V103

Who are the recipients of Zakah? The Quran gives the details. They are eight categories. It says: ‘The Alms (Zakah) are meant only for the poor and the needy, and those who are in charge thereof, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free those in bondage, and to help those burdened with debt, and for expenditure in the Way of Allah and for the Wayfarer. This is an obligation from Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. S9 V60

Sadaqah:

Now we come to the second type of the charity, Sadaqah. Sadaqah differs from Zakah in that it is a voluntary act of generosity, goodness and giving to others. Charity is a noble word and a highly appreciated act in Islam. Charity is something that pleases Allah and raises the ranks of the giving person. The general rule to describe this is: ‘All acts of goodness are charity’. It is extremely rewarding act and for a Muslim it is a way to get closer to God.

The Prophet Mohammad said: “Every act of goodness is a charity. And it is an act of charity to meet up with your brother with a smiling or cheerful face, or by emptying your bucket of water into his bucket.”

The Prophet Mohammad also said: “No Muslim plants a tree or grow a crop, but that a human, or animal or birds or anything else eats from it, but it would be a charity for him”.

As we can see, the concept of charity is not limited only to financial support for others. Charity is a much wider concept in Islam. Indeed,  it provides the opportunity for all segments of people to be generous and charitable in their own way, whatever their expertise or social standing.

The Prophet once said: “Charity is compulsory on all Muslims.” His Companions said: “O Prophet of God! If someone doesn’t have anything, what he would do?” He replied saying: “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and do charity.” The Companion said: “If he does not find anything then what he should do?”  He replied: “He should go out to help those in desperate need.” They said “If he didn’t find anyone to help what he should do?” The Prophet replied: “Let him do good and withhold himself from evil and that would be a charity from him”.

The Prophet also said: “Every soul is obligated with doing charity every day the sun rises in it. For instance,  he may reconcile between two people, which would be a charitable act for him. He may help someone to get on the back of his riding animal and that would be a charitable act. Or, he helps another to lift his goods on to the back of his animal and that would be a charity for him. Or, he should remove harmful objects from the path of people and that would be a charity for him. Every good word spoken is a charity. Further, the steps taken to go for prayers are also charity.”

We can see from all that I have  mentioned, that charity is a much wider concept in Islam and, of course, includes voluntarily giving financial support to those who need it. With regard to financial charity, we are provided with further guidance:

The Prophet said: Giving in charity does not decrease in your wealth’.

And the Quran says: ‘Allah deprives interest (usury) of all blessing, whereas He blesses charity with growth. Allah loves none who is ungrateful and persists in sin’. S2 V276  

The Quran says: ‘If you dispense your charity publicly, it is well; but if you conceal it and pay it to the needy in secret, it will be even better for you’. S2 V271

So who are the recipients of sadaqah?

Once the Prophet said: “Give in charity.” A man said: “I have one dinar, Who deserves it as a charity?” The Prophet replied: “Yourself. “The man said: “I have another dinar?” The Prophet said: “Give it to your wife as charity.’’ The man said: “I have another dinar. Who deserves this charity now?” The Prophet replied: “Your child.” The man said again: “I have another dinar, who would deserve this one?” The Prophet replied: “If you have any servant she deserves this charity.” The man said “I have another dinar, now tell who deserves this charity?” The Prophet replied: “Now it is your discretion to spend it on whoever deserves it most.”

In conclusion, it seems to me, as a student of Islamic theology, that in addition to those acts of goodness and charity designed as obligations in Islamic teachings, all other voluntary acts of monetary help, generosity and goodness to others and dealing with people kindly, is regarded as Sadaqah, or charity, and considered as rewarding acts by God.

Hajj 2020: downsizing of hajj

The date of hajj 2020 is getting ever closer, but this year we face an unusual situation for hajj and pilgrims. Potential pilgrims were, as usual, excited and waiting to fulfil their fifth pillar of Islam. It is a spiritually emotional occasion; a lifetime journey, taken for Allah, alone, which binds us with a spiritual attachment to our destiny.

However, the devastating effects of coronavirus, Covid-19, have turned the world upside down. The world ‘s affairs seem to have come to a grinding halt. The resultant lack of routine in people’s lives and its negative impact on our thinking, may also have created cynicism or despair in our minds.

As a result of the Corona virus epidemic many world governments have imposed strict measures in their efforts to minimise any further spread of the virus. Social distancing has been one of the required measures and has, in some countries, been strictly enforced. In the Muslim world, this has impacted heavily on the five congregational daily prayers, Friday congregations and other such activities, such as night prayers in Ramadan or Eid salaah; all of which are extremely important activities in a Muslim’s spiritual life. Muslims are still waiting for their mosques to be reopened and their religious, spiritual and their social lives, to restart.

Hajj was always in the back of Muslims’ minds. People wondered whether Hajj would be performed this year or not. Most of us thought it was unlikely, at least on any big scale, despite it being an international event.

This was partly due to the required social distancing between people, but also due to the fact that international flights have been brought to a near halt. Strict measures taken by different countries, to stop the spread of Covid-19 through the movement of people, meant people would not be able to travel internationally to any destination. As a result, flights were not organised and any flight that was would be many times more costly, even if available.

The social distancing rules meant less people in a wider space which would make it impossible to accommodate any large numbers of people and control them in one place.

In the wake of this difficult situation, the Saudi Government took, after much long and hard thought, a wise decision; not to hold the hajj this year for international pilgrims. Instead, the decision was taken to organise the hajj on a smaller level and only for pilgrims from within Saudi Arabia, drawn from both the expatriate Muslim communities and Saudi citizens. This decision has been well received, widely appreciated and supported wholeheartedly by Muslim communities all over the world.

Islam is a live religion and serves its communities in their changing situations accordingly through a process call Ijtihaad; finding a current solution to a relevant problem through a process of applying the spirit of religious texts and the target purpose of its teachings.

So, hajj 2020 has not been cancelled. Instead, its spirit has been accommodated and it is being performed on a smaller scale, which is nearly as good as being performed on a larger international level.

Islam has a very important rule in the form of a saying of the Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him. The Prophet said: ‘Allah loves that His allowances were taken and applied as He loves His obligations were performed’.

We find, in Islamic teachings, so many allowances, even in the matters of religious obligations. For example, when people are on journey, they are allowed to shorten their prayers (Salaah) from four Rakaah to two Rakaah. In difficult situations, Muslims are allowed to combine certain daily prayers in order to avoid certain difficulties.

Women are allowed not to offer their salaah during their monthly cycles and to make up for any missed prayers afterwards. Men and women are allowed not to fast during extended travel or, if they are ill, until they get better. In Islam, we have numerous other examples that show Islamic teachings as being pragmatic and applied in accordance to the situation at the time.

The Quran offers certain guidance in this regards too. It says in the Surah 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse 286: ‘Allah does not lay a responsibility (obligation) on anyone beyond his capacity.’

This guiding rule exists in the Quran in many different forms and seems to be the spirit of divine teachings.

Saving life has precedence in Islam over all other considerations such as the consumption of what is considered haram if it saves life. Because of the possible or potential infection of Coronavirus, the downsizing of hajj this year will help in the saving of many lives,

It is estimated that, throughout Islamic history and for many reasons, there have been more than 40 occasions, when hajj was either downsized or was not performed at all. In the light of this, the Saudi Arabian government’s wise decision to avoid the infectious viral disease of Covid-19, makes very good sense.

Hajj demonstrates the majesty of Islamic teachings and sends a powerful message of Islam towards humanity and towards their Creator the Almighty, Allah. The powerful Khutbah (sermon) given by the Prophet Mohammad, during his farewell hajj, reminds us all of the ever binding obligations towards Allah and humanity on each occasion of hajj every year.

The downsizing of hajj this year, by the Saudi Government, does not mean its purpose has less value or that we pay less attention to the spirit of its teachings. Hajj will return and continue in all its majestic appearance and continue to send a powerful message by our performance of its spiritual activities. We look forward to next year and pray to Allah, the Almighty, to remove the epidemic of Covid-19 or any other such viral diseases from humanity and that the world regains its health and full glory of activities.

Ramadan in Corona virus lockdown

Tonight the blessed month of Ramadan begins and once again we warmly welcome it in order to fulfil our duty towards one of the five pillars of Islam. This year Ramadan arrives at a time that finds all of us in the particularly stressful situation described as ‘lockdown and social distancing’. How will this affect our spiritual commitments in this blessed month of social and community engagement? Our mosques are closed and religious congregations are not allowed, while the pilgrimage journey to the centre of Islam not possible. How will that impact the intensity and quality of our spiritual journey throughout this month?

Every single pillar of Islam is designed to have an impact on our spiritual wellbeing. They purify the inner soul, then lift it and connect it with the Most High, Allah. They are perfectly designed to achieve their purpose under all circumstances. As the Quran puts it beautifully: ‘So fear Allah as much as you can, and listen and obey, and be charitable. This is for your own good. And whoever remains safe from his own greediness, it is such that will prosper.’ Surah 64 Verse 16

The preceding verse means we must practice our religion to the best of our ability, despite the inconvenience of the time and place. Islam is gentle and kind to the personal circumstances of people, indeed, it encourages people to strive to get the best out of their efforts. It never seeks to diminish the quality of any of our actions or dampen people’s enthusiasm when we face adversity.

Ramadan comes to assist in the recuperation of human souls and reconnect them with each other and put them in the service of all humanity. It gives people, rich and poor, one of the greatest experiences in human life: the appreciation of Allah’s favour upon mankind, and the opportunity to connect with each other through the acts of kindness, compassion and charitable work.

I would like to mention two of the guiding sayings (hadith) of our beloved Prophet Mohammad, Peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, which highlight some of the sublime purposes of the blessed month of Ramadan.

In the first, the Prophet said: ‘Ramadan has come to you, it is a blessed month, its fasting has been prescribed upon you, the gates of Heavens are opened in it, and gates of Hell are closed therein, all the rebellious satans are chained in this month. Allah has made a night in it which is better than the nights of a thousand months; if anyone was deprived of its goodness, they would be deprived of all goodness’.

In the further extended version of this hadith, it is narrated: ‘ the gates of the heavens are opened and none of them are closed and a caller calls: O seeker of goodness come forth and O seeker of evil deeds stop. In the month, Allah frees people from the Hellfire, in every night of the month.’ (narrated by Ahmad, Nasai and Timidhi

In the second hadith, the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him said: ‘Ramadan has come to you, a month of blessings in which Allah covers you through them. He sends down His mercy, removes (forgives) sins and grants acceptance to people’s calls and supplications to Him. Allah looks to your competitions in this month and takes pride with His angels in you. So show Allah goodness from you (in your deeds).

These two hadith highlight some important points for people to understand. There is a ‘lockdown’ mentioned in the hadith: that is for satanic forces and its instigators. There is never a lockdown for the forces of goodness. The doors of opportunity, for making a difference and changing to a better situation, are always open and available. In the lockdown situation that we are in now, perhaps the isolation will help many of us into becoming more focussed on the more serious purposes for our being. Social distancing could be regarded as a step towards a spiritual closeness to Allah and employed as an act of introspection or retrospection, by which to reflect and correct much of what is wrong in our lives.

The double effect of both lockdowns, one that we are in at the moment and the other that is the satan’s lockdown in the month, should be far reaching and doubly effective in changing our outlook on life and on the purpose for our lives, granted by Allah the Creator.

What both hadith do seem to be impressing upon us is, that if we are deprived of the benefits of these blessed times in this month, then indeed we are deprived of all goodness. This needs to be reflected upon and looked into seriously. A moment of reflection could save us from a hard time for a long time.

According to the hadith, Allah wants to see us in competition in all our acts of goodness. This is no time for depression or giving up, so a lockdown situation should not be a barrier to making difference to our own lives or indeed to the lives of others. That is the beautiful message of Ramadan, the month of fasting and restraints, but also the month that develops, in believers, new disciplines and fresh ideas.

A person who pauses for reflection in this month, may hear a voice calling to him in his innermost being. If this person has carried out acts of goodness, they will be encouraged to keep walking the path of goodness and do more. If the person is someone who commits evil deeds, it reminds them of the time and opportunity to desist and cease from their evil actions and think about the consequences.

Ramadan quenches the spiritual thirst of those who want to enlighten themselves through the guidance and teachings of Allah. The manner in which it’s days and nights should be spent are both excellently designed as peaceful and reclusive connections with Allah. It is a journey that catapults us spiritually into the realm of pious people.

We may miss the glitter of outside life in Ramadan, but surely, that may be a blessing in disguise. We all need time without distractions when reflecting on our own spiritual commitments. Ramadan is often showcased, by outsiders and indeed by many Muslims, as the month of excessive food preparation, with too much focus on the end of fasting meals. This may be the opportunity we needed to cleanse this impression and be the opportunity for all of us to understand the true meaning of its purpose and what a spiritual connection with Allah means in our lives.

Ramadan is a habit breaker and helps us in rethinking and re-evaluating  our habits, good or bad. We enter into error and divert from the path of wisdom too often, sometimes unwittingly, but continue on blindly without further thought, walking a different path to that which leads us to the right destination. Ramadan gives us a chance to break this cycle and grants us the opportunity to examine ourselves. Let this Ramadan be one of those times that becomes ever blessed in our memories. The once in a lifetime opportunity, resulting in a successful outcome, beyond our wildest dreams. May Allah grant us that opportunity and accept from us this Ramadan all the acts of worships and goodness that we may do in the month and grant acceptance to our dua. Aameen.

Developing a good personal character

We often hear that we are what we eat. No doubt ancient or modern health professionals took, and continue to take great care, when dealing with human health care problems and continue to explore the effects that food has on them. We also take great care about what we eat, not only to sustain our lives, but also so that all the necessary quality ingredients are included to ensure a healthy life and as a result we have all developed our own tastes.

However, we are not going to talk in this article about the benefits derived from our food but rather about the intriguing taste of our characters. Man’s character is either a credit to the quality of his life or discredist it to the point of shame and lowliness. As a Muslim, I always look for the traits, or tastes in my life, that make me positively happier and please our Lord Allah in the first place.

A life can only be honourable and qualitative as long as we are mindful of its place and dutiful responsibility in this world. Islam, unlike other religions, focuses comprehensively and intensively on human development so that a person is empowered and equipped with all the necessary positive qualities to ensure a life of fulfilment.

The Quran makes this point in this verse: ‘He it is Who has sent to the gentiles a Messenger from among themselves, one who rehearses to them His verses, purifies their lives, and imparts to them the Book and the Wisdom although before that they were in utter error.’

A very beautiful verse that so succinctly highlighted the purpose of the mission of the Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him. Indeed the Prophet has said: ‘I have been sent in order to accomplish for mankind their honourable characters’.

Anyone, who has studied the life of the Prophet, lifting himself above all prejudices and biased opinions, finds in him a perfect spiritual and moral leader who paves the way to connect with God the Almighty.

Islam came to lift the mankind from the abys of ignorance and distinguishes itself by its enlightening teaching, in sharp contrast to what has been regarded as the era of Ignorance. So in the above verse, the prophet does not only ‘rehearse God’s verses to people’, but he helps ‘purify their lives and hearts’ too. He not only teaches people ‘the Book’ that was revealed to him but he also teaches them the ‘Wisdom’ as well. Wisdom results from the highest function of human intellect in judgement and understanding. It was a part of prophetic mission to teach the good and proper use of human judgment and intellectual faculties to raise human life above the animalistic desires and unjust attitudes. The Quran has said: ‘He grants wisdom to those whom He wills; and whoever is granted wisdom has indeed been granted much good. Yet none except the people of understanding take heed’ S2 V269

The emphasis placed on acquiring and teaching wisdom to mankind becomes obvious in this verse: ‘O Prophet! Good and evil are not equal. Repel (evil) with that which is good, and you will see that he, between whom and you there was enmity, shall become as if he were a bosom friend (of yours). But none attains to this except those who are steadfast ; none attains to this except those endowed with mighty good fortune. And if you are prompted by a provocation from Satan, seek refuge with Allah. He, and He alone, is All-Hearing, All-Knowing’. S41 V34-36

Verses like this fill the pages of the Quran and the teaching of the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him. Unfortunately the learning and teaching of such wisdom is rare in the Muslim educational institutions and even rarer are the necessary actions required to achieve it.

Islam is, unfortunately, seen only as a collection of rituals of certain obligatory acts, hardly any of which are performed in the required manner and result in the intended outcome. Islam embraces the good qualities in people’s lives and appreciates them and promises good rewards for them.

The Prophet has always been known as patient educator and he very proudly said to people: ‘I am sent as a teacher’. That is a different mission than to being the Prophet, one who receives revelation and a Book and preaches them to their people.

Once the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, said to a person who came to the Prophet and became a Muslim and whose name was al-Ashajj: ‘O Ashajj! You have two qualities in you that Allah loves them; forbearing and carefulness’. By praising the man and appreciating these manly characters in him, that are the good qualities of a responsible leader, the Prophet encouraged others to followed suit and grow those characters in themselves as well. The Prophet also drew the attention of others to find in themselves or in their characters that quality that may be pleasing to Allah or to grow one.

We find in Islamic teachings an intensive emphasis on character building guidance that develops a man socially, morally and spiritually to high rank. Only the strength of such a fortified character can help a man fend against all unseen harmful elements in life.

In another hadith, the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, teaches another companion a beautiful wisdom to live with in life for everyone, saying: ‘the upper hand is better than the lower hand, start (your charity) with those for whom you are responsible, the best charity is what is given after fulfilling your needs, and whoever seeks chastity Allah will grant him that, and whoever seeks dispensation with people Allah will grant him protection from needs of people.’

There is a wide range of teachings in the Quran and in the guidance of the Prophet that build and strengthen the social, moral and spiritual characters of human being. Islamic teachings are not the kind of ‘religious teachings’ of a ‘religion’ that are all about occasional display of rituals and that has nothing to do about the lives of people or a nation. Islam guides, educates and rewards the goodness that a person has acquired in his characters that which will uplift him higher in respectful rank.  This is a struggle we are all expected to go through in order to purify ourselves.

Allah, through His Book the Quran, speaks directly to every single human being and invites them to reflect on every thoughts and actions that affect their lives and its outcome. Allah says in the Quran:

‘Surely We created man in the best mould. Then We reverted him to the lowest of the low; except those who have faith and do righteous deeds. Theirs is a never-ending reward. Who, then, can give the lie to you, (O Prophet) about the reward and the punishment? Is Allah not the greatest of all sovereigns? S95

In conclusion, as a time well spent looking after our health is a worthy cause, a time spent on the development of our characters and personal behaviour is also a much worthier cause for our benefits and the benefits of all those who are around us. We expend so much thought on our diet, should we not spend little more on developing our characters?

The Day of Arafah

Today is the day of Arafah, which, in the Islamic calendar and history, is one of the most important milestones to be remembered. The day of Arafah is essentially the day of Hajj, when Muslim pilgrims stand in the Plain of Arafat in complete devotion and devoid of any materialistic attachment. This event is said to be a foretaste of the scene on the day when Allah the Almighty will collect all humanity together for their accountability on the Day of Judgement.

This standing at Arafah is one of the pillars of Islam, to  be performed by all Muslims that have all the necessary legitimately gained means to travel to Makkah and spend their time in performing the obligation of this duty. It is a day when nothing but a devotional return to Allah is required and people feel the need to attach themselves to the purpose of their lives in the next world, which are blessed by Allah and will be a permanent existence without fear or grief.

The Prophet Muhammed, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, performed only one hajj and that was called the ‘Farewell Hajj’. All the tell-tale signs of that occasion indicated that the divine revelation of Allah’s guidance for mankind had been completed and that the role of the Prophet Muhammed, as a messenger of Allah, was coming to an end. While it was a Farewell occasion in which the Prophet Muhammad unequivocally announced that ‘perhaps I may not meet you after this year’, he gave a series of sermons, most famously on the mount of Arafa’, in which he highlighted the summary of Allah’s guidance through His revelation to him. We will in this short article remember some of those important points that the Prophet left for our guidance.

But first: Islam is guidance towards the Almighty, Allah the Creator, Who has no associates of deities or partners in creation, or sons and daughters. Allah has described Himself by Himself in the Surah al-Ikhlas. He said: ‘Say He is Allah, the One and Unique. Allah Who is in need of none and of Whom all are in need. He neither begot any nor was He begotten. And none is comparable to Him.’

This guidance we call ‘Tawheed’ or oneness of God. This is the most honourable and logical belief to have if we want to make a sense of our life and its purpose and of the creation. This concept of belief, ‘Tawheed’, brings humanity together and connects us all to the Lord, the Almighty Creator. On the day of Arafah and during the Hajj, this is proclaimed by pilgrims: ‘Here I am, O Allah, here I am, here I am, You have no associate or partner, here I am, indeed all praise and thanks, and favours belong to You and the dominion, You have no associate and partner.’ This chant re-emphasises or re-establishes our belief in the One God, the Almighty.

To invite humanity to this guidance was the purpose of all those prophets and messengers whom Allah sent out to people throughout human history, culminating with the Prophet Muhammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him.

The announcement of this culmination came through this Quranic verse, which said: ‘This Day I have perfected for you your religion (Deen), and have bestowed upon you My Bounty in full measure, and have been pleased to assign for you Islam as your religion,’ S5 V3

It is said that a Jew came to the Omar, May Allah be pleased with him, who was the second Caliph after the passing away of the Prophet, and said: “O leader of Believers! There is a verse in the Quran that you read, which if it was revealed to us we would have made it a day of celebration”. Then he read the verse. Omar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “We know that day when this was revealed to the Prophet peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, while he was standing in Arafah on Friday”.

So it should be a day of reflection and resolution for stronger attachment and devotion to Allah and for a full and stronger belief in Allah’s guidance.

When the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, realised that this was his last opportunity to address such a big gathering of Muslims, he took the occasion to remind them of some of the bullet points of Islamic guidance.

The Prophet, in his summary of his prophetic mission, said: ‘Indeed your blood, your possessions (wealth) and your honour are inviolable to each other until the day you meet your Lord; they are as inviolable as that Day (the day of Arafah), in this month and in the city of Makkah. They are all called al-haram, meaning sacred and inviolable’.

The Prophet also said: you are going to meet your Lord and He is going to ask you about your deeds and actions and I have told you about it. So if anyone owes to anyone a trust (Amanah) let him return it to him. All usury is removed, but you have your capital money and so neither you should wrong nor you should be wronged.

The Prophet also reminded people of their responsibility towards women. He said: Your women have rights over you and you have rights over them. He said ‘I advise you to treat your women well’.

Among many things, the Prophet also said: ‘I have left with you that, which, if you hold them tight you will never go astray, ever; the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet’.

He said: ‘O mankind! Indeed your Lord is One, and your father is one. You all belong to Adam and Adam was created out of earth. Indeed the most honoured among you is the one who is most righteous among you. No Arab has excellence over a non-Arab, or a white over a black or vice versa, except through piety and righteousness. Behold I have conveyed, O Allah be my witness’. Then he said: ‘Let those in attendance here convey the message to those who are not here’.

The Prophet delivered this sermon to a congregation of over 140,000 people in the Plain of Arafah, on a day like today.

Every hajj should be a reminder to the Muslim community of their commitment to learn and convey those messages from the sermon of the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, and should draw us all to worthwhile reflection and action.

Islam or Islamic teachings no longer seem to bind us together in brotherly and spiritual commitments as they used to. Words have lost their meaning and relevance. The occasions on which we could have accepted guidance to the right path are beyond number. If we had availed ourselves of these opportunities, by now we would have been most clean thinking beings or thought bearers, the wisest among us the most wise, the humble the humblest, the kind the kindest and strictly walking the path of God.

May Allah grant that this year and every year, on this Day of Arafah, we will all make the most of the opportunity!!!

Month of blessings comes to an end

The Muslim community are enjoying their last ten days of this blessed month of Ramadan. This period is one of intensive spiritual activities and community engagement for Muslims. Whilst we are looking forward to happy spiritual accomplishments and, at the end of this blessed month, to a joyous Eid festival, we should also hope to see positive changes in our character and to our outlook on life.

Ramadan is a month of fasting for the sake of Allah, in complete devotion to Him and as such is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is a beautifully spiritual experience for those whose desire is to become closer to the Almighty, the Creator, the one God, He who alone is worthy of our devotion and worship. The more we travel along this path in the pursuit of this beautiful experience, the more we may enjoy the blessings of understanding our purpose in this life and discovering what accomplishments matter most to us.

Generosity has always been the hallmark of Ramadan. This generosity began when Almighty Allah granted this blessed month to humanity through Islam and manifests itself in many different ways. In a Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him said: ‘Your Lord has made breezes through the days of your years, so make sure you benefit from them; because if you manage to get a breeze out of them, you may never go unblessed’. (Al-Tabrani)

This is a translation of the Hadith in which the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, describes blessed days like Ramadan, the Day of Arafah, the Night of Power, or other days and hours which Allah has blessed them, as ‘breezes’, which are a refreshing experience.

Ramadan is one annual breeze that comes to refresh our hearts and spiritual life and strengthens us as a community and reconnects us with our Lord, Allah. It is also the longest continuous period of spiritual activities which embodies many of our spiritual and religious commitments. In a hadith Qudsi, Allah says: ‘All the deeds of the children of Adam are meant for him except for fasting. It is for Me and I will reward for it’. This Hadith shows the especial spiritual status of fasting in the Sight of Allah. Allah has dedicated a special gate to the Paradise named al-Rayyan, through which only fasting people would enter the Paradise.

The generosity of Allah is also manifested through His forgiveness and infinite mercy to all those who seek it for themselves. We humans commit all kinds of wrong-doing in our lives. If such wrongdoing is a violation of people’s rights they may not be forgiven, but all other sinful acts are granted forgiveness by Allah when we ask Him to forgive us.

Once the Angel Gabriel came to the Prophet and asked him to say Aameen (Amen) on three of the supplications that he made. One of these supplications was: ‘Whoever gets to Ramadan and did not get himself forgiven, may Allah remove him from His mercy’ and then he asked the Prophet to say Aameen and he responded by saying Aameen.

This Hadith shows how important it is to seek forgiveness from Allah in this blessed month, so that a person can revert to a purer status in order for him to be reconnected with Allah.

Engaging with the Quran is one such means that will bring a person closer to Allah. The Quran is the word of Allah that came to us as His Guidance and mercy for our lives in this world and the Hereafter. Allah emphasises this point to remind us what the month of Ramadan is all about. It says in the Quran: ‘The month of Ramadan is in which the Quran was revealed, as guidance for mankind, and clear Signs of guidance and Criterion’. S2 V185

This was a very special occasion of divine engagement with mankind, celebrating the accomplishment of Allah’s Guidance and revelation through His Prophets and Messengers. The night in which the whole Quran was brought from the ‘House of Honour’ to the lowest heaven in preparation to be revealed to the last Messenger of Allah, is marked as the Night of Power or destiny’; Lailatul Qadr.

There is a whole surah in the Quran which only talks about this Night. It says: ‘Behold! We revealed this Quran on the Night of Power. And what do you know what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. The angels along with the Spirit descend in it by the permission of their Lord with all kind of decrees. All peace is that night until the rise of dawn’. S97

In another description of this Night, Allah says further in the Surah 44 Ad-Dukhan: ‘We revealed it on a Blessed Night, for We were intent on warning. (we revealed it on the Night) wherein every matter is wisely determined, by Our command.’

The Muslim community celebrate this Night with extra and longer salaah, recitation of the Quran, charitable deeds of all kinds, engaging in supplication and dua and by turning to Allah through every means available to them.

Ramadan is the greatest opportunity for expressing the spiritual nature and devotion of believers in Allah, One and Only the Almighty, Most Forgiving and Most Merciful. The Night of Power and destiny is the crowning moment when we can bridge the gap between ourselves and our God, Allah the all Merciful. We need to realise the shortcomings in our lives before we can become better and purer. The fasting of Ramadan and the opportunity offered in this Night of Power can bring us back to a world of humanity and brotherhood and to the realm of Allah. May Allah count us amongst His righteous servants and grant us his forgiveness and mercy.

Ramadan: a spirit of rejuvenation

Once again, we, the Muslim community, are celebrating the much awaited and loved month of Ramadan, the month of fasting in Islamic calendar. As soon as many people hear that we fast from from dawn to sunset, they gasp and ask how do you do it? We answer that it is not that difficult. Indeed, if people realised the benefits we gain from fasting for this long period, they too would also look forward eagerly to this month. The Quran says: ‘And that you should fast is better for you, if you only know’.

The spiritual benefits of fasting are, of course, well known to believers. Personal concerns about our religious commitments, in our devotional worship and ibadaat on a daily basis, reconnecting with Allah the Almighty, the fixing of broken or neglected relationships, or rejuvenating our social fabric and community relationships, all benefit from the act of ‘fasting’. Ramadan provides solutions for all these and much more that has a negative impact on our life.

Islam’s obligatory commitments and its moral and educational guidance are not meant only to serve the spiritual aspects of human life. They can also benefit our physical wellbeing and enhance the quality of our life style in all aspects. Allah says of this in the Quran: ‘Soon shall We show them Our Signs on the horizons and in their own beings until it becomes clear to them that it is the Truth. Is it not enough that your Lord is a witness over everything’? S41 V53

Allah’s Signs are manifested through the benefits that we gain from the practices of His obligations upon us, especially in the improvements to our health. Indeed, the Prophet Muhammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, said: ‘Fast and you will be healthier (or you will gain health)’. 

The benefits of fasting have long been recognised by the medical community. Much research and its reporting in medical journals has revealed that, amazingly, fasting provides or aids cures for many health problems.

One research paper that attracted my attention was by Yoshinori Ohsumi. I read an article submitted by Dr Jason Fung MD titled ‘How to renew your body: Fasting and autophagy.

What is autophagy? The word, in Greek, literally means to eat oneself. But essentially it is the body’s mechanism for getting rid of all the broken down old cell machinery (organelles, proteins, and cell membranes), when there is no longer enough energy to sustain it. It is a regulated, orderly process to degrade and recycle cellular components.  In the process of autophagy, the sub-cellular organelles are destroyed and new ones are rebuilt to replace them. Mr Yoshinori Ohsumi discovered the mechanisms for autophagy and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

So if this is the process of autophagy, how does it work and what activates it?

The article says: Nutrient deprivation is the key activator of autophagy. In fact, fasting (raises glucagon) provides the greatest known boost to autophagy. (Glucagon is kind of opposite hormone to insulin.) As we eat, insulin goes up and glucagon goes down. When we don’t eat (fast) insulin goes down and glucagon goes up. This increase in glucagon stimulates the process of autophagy.

The article goes on saying: ‘Fasting is actually far more beneficial than just stimulating autophagy. It does two good things. By stimulating autophagy, we are clearing out all our old, junky proteins and cellular parts. At the same time, fasting also stimulates a growth hormone, which tells our body to start producing some new snazzy part of the body. We are really giving our bodies the complete renovation’.

‘You need to get rid of the old stuff before you can put in new stuff. The consequences of accumulating old junky proteins all over the place can be seen in two main conditions – Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and cancer.’

‘What turns off autophagy? Eating. Glucose (or decreased glucagon) and proteins all turn off this self-cleaning process. So this process of autophagy is unique to fasting – something not found in simple caloric restriction or dieting.’

Interestingly, there are recommendations for fasting between 12 to 16 hours or even a bit longer, if we are to benefit from this process. Islam’s guidance of ‘intermittent fasting’ seems to be the right one and shows us that fasting is not only considered the devotional act of a believer but it delivers health and physical wellbeing to mankind. It shows God’s well planned and the all-encompassing benefits from His obligations to human beings. 

Fasting in Islam also helps people develop a better character and human values by removing bad habits and refraining from evil.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, said: ‘Fasting is a shield. So one should not get involved in idle talk (indecent talk) or in ignorance. If someone is provoked into fighting or by being sworn at by someone, he should say I am a person fasting.

In another hadith, the Prophet said of the purpose of fasting:  ‘If a person does not abandon the habit of falsehood, in saying and practice and acts of ignorance, then there is no need from Allah that he relinquish his food and drinking’.

In the hadith, there are three types of speech that a fasting person should stay away from:

‘Fala yarfuth’: Rafath is talk or conversation that is of a sexual nature in any shape or form.

‘Laa yaskhab’:  raising one’s voice in argument, or any agitated action that takes away the serenity of the moment.

‘Laa yajhal’: Jahl literally means ignorance. Here in this context, it is more of an impatient attitude, agitation, or failing to demonstrate forbearance.

Ramadan grants us all these benefits to our lives; spiritual, mental, physical, social and moral. We should welcome the blessed month of Ramadan and pray to Allah that He grants us all the benefits that it brings with it and makes us better human beings and wise believers.