The Sunday Mail
Umari Stambuli Holy Qur’aan Speaks
Continued from last week
FASTING makes all people share in the feelings of hunger and thirst.
In normal circumstances, people with decent incomes may go from one year to another without experiencing the pangs of hunger that a poor person may feel every day of his life. Such an experience helps to draw the rich nearer to the poor. Indeed Muslims are encouraged to be more charitable in Ramadhaan.
Unity of purpose
Fasting has also a universal or communal aspect. As Muslims throughout the world share in this blessed act of worship, they feel their unity and equality. Their sense of unity is enhanced by the fact that every Muslim individual joins willingly in the fulfilment of this divine commandment.
The unity of Muslims is far from superficial; it is a unity of action and purpose, since they all fast in order to be better human beings. As a person restrains himself from the things he desires most, in the hope that he will earn God’s pleasure, self-discipline and sacrifice become part of his nature.
He learns to give generously for a good cause.
Joy of Ramadhaan
The joy that millions of Muslims feel as Ramadhaan comes upon them once more is difficult to put into words. Those who are not Muslim cannot imagine what Ramadhaan is really like. It must seem like a severe diet that lasts for a month.
How, they say, can people look forward to going without food and drink between dawn and sunset for a whole month? And yet, that is what Muslims have done. They have looked forward all year to this one special month in the calendar, knowing that their fast will be total.
They have prepared themselves for the fast, and now Ramadhaan is upon them they enter into it with their whole mind and body.
Why we fast
This is a common but interesting question which a child may ask his/her parents. Non-Muslims may also pose it to Muslims. Here are some of the reasons why Muslims observe a one-month fasting during Ramadhaan.
- To obey Allah’s injunction: The main reason for it is quite simple: They have been commanded by Allah Almighty to do so. “O ye who believe. Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you. That you may gain God consciousness,” Holy Qur’aan Chapter 2:183).
- To practice the tradition, and way of the Divine Messengers and pious people: Fasting is not new to Islam; it is, indeed, as old as Adam, who was the first to be created and the first to submit to only one Allah (a Muslim). The Holy Qur’aan mentions that Prophet Musa (Moses peace be upon him) fasted for 40 days and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that Dawood/David )PBUH) used to fast every alternate day throughout the year. Also, ‘Issa/Jesus (PBUH) used to fast for 40 days.
- To attain piety and gain forgiveness of sins: By the very nature of human beings, they are susceptible to sins and transgression of Allah’s limits. Generally, Muslims are prohibited from gossiping, back-biting, slandering, hypocrisy, lying, cheating, grudges, fornicating as these vices oppose the teachings of the Holy Qur’aan. Since Muslims are human beings created to err as a result of forgetfulness, they need to be reminded and coached against any social vices from time to time.
This will require a fixed training period where Muslims will know and learn how to put an end to vices, learn virtues and get closer to Allah. That training period is fasting during Ramadhaan, which occurs once in every year.
- Spiritual cleansing: For the Muslim, Ramadhaan is a time to set things right once more, to sort out the priorities in one’s life. It is a time to make a new start and to take one’s religion seriously again, to be faithful to prayers, to recite the Qur’an, to give thanks at all times to Allah for His goodness.
Ramadhaan gives the chance to start all over again and to forget the mistakes of the past. It is a time to spring-clean one’s spiritual house and invite Allah into every room in that house.
- Lessons to be learnt, gratitude to be observed: When each day’s fast is over there is a sense of joy and happiness. It is a time when Muslims share what they have achieved during the day.
They are Muslims and they have fasted for Allah’s sake.
And yet, let us remember something very important. For many in the world, the call to the evening prayer as the sun sets will not signal the end of their thirst, nor will it give them an opportunity for food! Let us not forget that in Ramadhaan, as we rejoice and celebrate the end of each day, there will be many in the world who will starve to death because they have no food! We take many things for granted, like food and drink, like the love of our wives and children, our material possessions and so forth. Let us truly be grateful every day not only in Ramadhaan but for all the good things of this life that Allah has bestowed upon us.
For further information on Islam or a free copy of the Holy Qur’aan, please contact:
Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe, Council of Islamic Scholars
Publications Department
PO Box W93, Waterfalls, Harare
Tel: 04-614078/614004, Fax: 04-614003
e-mail: [email protected]
