Happy Ramadan to all

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Naim Naqvi

11 August, 2010

During the month of Ramadan, fasting is an exercise of discipline and an act of absolute worship; an unconditional surrender to the will of God. You can't fast and be an unjust to a fellow human being at the same time.

IN A beautiful tolerant Indian society one doesn’t need to tell what is Ramadan. In many localities, several fast-breaks are organised by non-Muslims as a gesture of goodwill, friendship and respect towards their Muslim brothers throughout Ramadan. Fasting is an exercise of discipline and an act of absolute worship; an unconditional surrender to the will of God. You can’t fast and be an unjust to a fellow human being at the same time. You can’t cheat, you can’t leer evil and you can’t talk with arrogance. You are supposed to be humble all the times and stay away from all undesirable worldly temptations. It is an exercise of self-discipline.

Fasting is meant to strengthen the mind and not a punishment. It directs and orients us towards the higher objectives. Islam says: “Oh ye who believe, fasting is prescribed to you just as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint. (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (with hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will, it is better for him and it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew.”

In Ramadan, Muslims are supposed to reflect and to question whether we Muslims are really on the true path. We should be bold enough to admit that we have created many of the problems ourselves. We are supposed to follow the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The solutions of our present difficulties lie in reading, understanding and to follow the teachings of the Holy Qur’an in its proper perspective.

It is sad to see that many people view Ramadan as a time for extravagant Iftar parties, heavy dinners, sleep and laziness. No, it is not the time of flouting our talents on gluttony; it is not the times to trumpet our prosperity and it is not the time of one-up-man-ship.

If someone loses his temper, we are told he is edgy because he is fasting. It negates the spirit of Ramadan. Fasting is an act of total worship. You can’t fast and at the same time cause trouble to others.

The Holy Qur’an says: “Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves.”

We must realise that there is no conspiracy which is destroying us; it is we ourselves who are doing that with our sloth, lethargy and inaction. In Ramadan Muslims should leave the habit of blaming others for our shortcomings and inertia. A lot of soul-searching should be the part of our prayers.

Let us understand that faith demands that our concerns go beyond our own selves and families to our brethren in faith and brothers in humanity. We are living in a small global where thousands of people are facing horrible incurable diseases, floods, unwanted wars, discriminations, hunger, internal strife, genocides.

As Muslims we are spiritual beings. Someone has said: Spirituality is one's character or quality that makes one transcend the barriers of worldliness, caste, creed and sensuality; and realise one's connection with the truth and universal brotherhood is the absolute truth.

Let us pray that this Ramadan we all make a sincere effort and hard work to come close to each other and closer to Allah through fasting, prayers and charity.