EsinIslam
Ramadan
Ramadan Explorer
2. Ramadan gives us a break and provides us with a rare
opportunity to think about our own selves, our future, and our families. It is
a time to give ourselves a mental break and to temporarily forget about the
hundreds of worries and stresses we are constantly bombarded with. In hectic
times, such as ours, and in places like the West, this valuable time to think
about our lives, on individual basis, is a luxury and is desperately needed!
It is a unique month of self-analysis, and of taking stock of one's moral and
spiritual 'assets and liabilities'. 3. Fasting
indoctrinates us in patience, unselfishness, and gratitude. When we fast we
feel the pains of deprivation and hunger, and learn how to endure it
patiently. The meaning of this powerful experience in a social and
humanitarian context is that we are much quicker than anybody else in
sympathizing with the oppressed and needy around the world, and responding to
their needs. "It is the month to visit the poor, the sick, and the needy to
share their sorrows. It is the month where the food, sustenance and the
earnings of a believing Muslim increases and they are blessed," says the Final
Prophet of God, Muhammad (peace be upon him), a man who was known for his
noble humanitarian causes, for social justice, and for being the first to
respond to other's needs, despite the fact that he himself lived a very simple
and humble life. It is only during such a trying time as Ramadan that we can
reflect on the condition of those in this world who may not be as fortunate as
us. 4. Fasting in Ramadan enables us to master the art
of mature adaptability and Time-Management. We can easily understand this
point when we realize that fasting makes people change the entire course of
their daily life. When they make the change, they naturally adapt themselves
to a new system and schedule, and move along to satisfy the rules. This, in
the long run, develops in them a wise sense of adaptability and self-created
power to overcome the unpredictable hardships of life! A person who values
constructive adaptability, time-management, and courage will appreciate the
effects of Fasting in this respect as well. 5. It
cultivates in us the principle of sincere Love, because when we observe
Fasting, we do it out of deep love for God. And a person, who loves God, truly
is a person who knows what love is and why everyone on this Earth should be
loved and treated justly, for the sake of God. 6.
Fasting elevates the human spirit and increases our awareness of God. It
strengthens our will-power as we learn to rise above our lower desires. The
institution of fasting is both unique and a shared experience in human
history. From the very beginning of time, humans have struggled to master
their physical and psychological selves: their bodies and their emotions.
Hunger is one the most powerful urges that we experience. Many, through over-
or under-eating or consumption of unhealthy foods, abuse this urge. Thus, when
a person purposefully denies something to their own self that it craves, they
are elevating their mind above their body, and their reason and will above
their carnal passions. "A fasting person empties his stomach of all the
material things: to fill his soul with peace and blessings, to fill his heart
with love and sympathy, to fill his spirit with piety and Faith, to fill his
mind with wisdom and resolution," says H. Abdalati in Islam in Focus. The
person who can rule their desires and make them work, as they like, has
attained true moral excellence. 7. With the clarity of
mind and absence of distractions, also comes a greater focus. As students, the
period of fasting, especially early during the day, serves as a tool to focus
our minds on our academics. In the month of Ramadan, many Muslims try to avoid
watching TV, listening to music, and some other leisure activities, which
spares them more time and energy to be spent on more productive activities
such as academics, intense study of Islam, voluntary prayers, social and
humanitarian causes, and a quality time with the family, to name a few. It is
a reminder of our duty to God, our purpose and higher values in life, as God
Himself describes the purpose of fasting as follows, "O you who Believe!
Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you,
so that you may develop consciousness of God" (Quran 2:183).
8. Fasting has numerous, scientifically proven, benefits for
our physical health and mental well-being. The time, length and nature of the
Islamic Fast all contribute to its overall positive effect. One of the medical
benefits is a much-needed rest to the digestive system. The reduced food
intake during the day allows the body to concentrate on getting rid of harmful
dietary toxins accumulated as natural by-products of food digestion throughout
the year. The length of the Islamic Fast itself (around 12-14 hours) is in
sync with the 'transit time' of food from the mouth to the colon of the large
intestine, ensuring that no stimulus reaches the stomach or digestive system
while it remains in homeostasis. Therefore, for the vast majority of healthy
individuals fasting poses no medical risks but in fact provides many health
benefits, such as: an increase in serum Magnesium, essential for
cardio-vascular health and prevention of heart complications; improvement in
the quality and depth of sleep; improvement in memory and slower skin aging
over time; increased production of growth hormone, etc. Also, as a general
note, it has been observed that underfed animals live longer than their
heavily fed counterparts and suffer fewer illnesses during their lives.
9. The month of Ramadan provides us with a sort of "Boot camp."
It is a month of intense moral training. Since we know that Fasting is a
special duty prescribed by God, we learn that any sins may spoil our record of
fasting with God, so we go through great lengths making sure we are on our
best behavior. Many people who experience fasting in this month, feel the
impact that this intense training has on their habits, and realize the power
of this transformative tool designed to make us better human beings- the
ultimate goal of any spiritual exercise. The entire Ramadan atmosphere
provides the driving force for this positive change.
10. It makes us realize the reality of life and death. Fasting makes us
realize how dependant our lives are on things that we often take for granted,
such as food and water. It makes us think about our dependence on God and
God's mercy and justice. Moreover, it reminds us of the life after death,
which itself has a great impact on our character and our world-view.
11. Ramadan is a blessed month for a special reason: It is
actually the month in which God first revealed His final message and guidance
for mankind to our beloved Prophet Muhammad. This message has been perfectly
preserved both orally and textually in the form of a Book, called the Qur'an
(The Reading/Recital). Therefore, Muslims try to do an intense study of the
Quran in this month especially, and evaluate their lives according to the
standards and guidance contained in it. 12. After the
month of Ramadan is over, Muslims celebrate one of the two most important
holidays in the Islamic year: EID-UL-FITR, or the Festival of the Fast
Breaking. It is a day to thank God for the blessing and training that He
provides us with throughout the month of Ramadan. EID-UL-FITR is marked by
praying in a huge congregation at an Islamic center or mosque, and by giving a
small donation to the poor in the community. The adults give the donation on
behalf of their children as well. Dinner parties, family outings, fairs,
carnivals, and great joyous celebrations follow the prayer and charity.
In a nutshell, even though the real purpose of the dynamic
institution of Fasting is to discipline our soul and moral behavior, and to
develop sympathy for the less fortunate, it is a multi-functional and a
comprehensive tool of change in various spheres of our lives, including:
social and economic, intellectual and humanitarian, spiritual and physical,
private and public, personal and common, inner and outer ---all in one! Comments 💬 التعليقات |