Source: Al-Jumuah Magazine, Vol 8, Issue 9
During this Ramadhan do not let the sweetness of our deeds vansh into
the night, leaving only emptiness. When one contemplates the texts on
fasting, its wisdom and goals in Shariah, and looks at the reality of
the Muslim communities, one realizes a wide gap between the reality
and our obligations. Remember that Ramadhan is a bounty that Allah
blessed His servants with, to strengthen their faith, and increase
their piety (Taqwa). Allah said: "O you who believe! Fasting is
prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you
may become pious." (Al-Baqarah 2:183). This article is an attempt to
present the essential causes of this gap, and to some remedies.
primary reason for the gap is ignorance about the goals of fasting and
the wisdom behind it. Many Muslims ignore the purpose and wisdom of
fasting. Fasting is done merely to conform to the social environmet
without contemplation. If one is not aware of the divine wisdom of
Shariah and its fruits in this world and in the hereafter, one will
not apply it in the right way.
Goals of Fasting
Achieving Taqwa: is one of the most important wisdom of fasting.
Fasting brings on Taqwa as it lessens the desire of the stomach and
mutes the sexual appetite. Whoever fasts frequently would overcome
these two desires more easily. This deter against committing
abominations and sins and assist in controlling life leading to Taqwa.
Strengthening willpower and acquiring patience: The Prophet sallallahu
alayhe wa sallam called Ramadhan the month of patience as it increases
one's will power to control his desire and the selfishness of his
soul. This training allows him to be strong in following Allah's
commands. The most important being to carry the Message and propel it
forward. The person trains himself to be patient in obeying Allah by
stopping at the limits set by Allah both by way of action and
abstention. Allah said: "These are the limits set by Allah, so
approach them not." (Al-Baqarah 2:187)
Fasting is pure worship: The fact that he is abstaining from food and
drink both in public and in secret shows his honest faith and strong
love of Allah, and his knowledge and feeling that Allah is all-knowing
of everything. For this reason Allah has made the reward for fasting
greater than for any other type of worship. Allah said in the hadith
Qudsi: "Every deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied [in rewards],
the good deed by ten of its like, up to seven hundreds, up to whatever
Allah wills, except fasting, it is for Me and I will reward it. He
abandons his desire and his food for My sake.." (Related by Muslim)
lbn al-Qayyim said: "...And people may see that a person is not eating
in front of them, but the fact that he is really abandoning his food
and his desire for the sake of God is a thing that nobody can find out
about, and that is the essence of fasting." (Zaad al-Ma'ad 2/29).
Relieving Muslims from life's distractions: Eating, drinking, and
socializing all distract a person and weaken ties with Allah. It is by
the Mercy of Allah that Muslims are ordered to fast so as not to be
bothered by the intrusion of these activities. Nor by the thought
about them nor the anticipation for them when devoting themselves to
the all types of worship Either reading the Qur'an, offering
additional prayer or making I'tikaf. For this reason the Prophet
sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "Fasting is a shield, and a secure
fortress against Hell fire" (Related by Ahmad).
Discovering Allah's Blessings: A person experiences the hardship of
the poor. He should then be thankful to Allah Who has blessed him with
His bounty while others are deprived. This should make him more
sympathetic and willing to share this bounty. The poor rediscovers
that fasting helps a person be more devoted to worship. More able to
concentrate and meditate. He should then be able of this devotion all
year long, a blessing he should thank Allah for.
Acquiring strength and endurance:It has been discovered that depriving
the body of food for a period of time helps its defense and endurance
mechanism. This in turn this protects the body from certain diseases.
Remember that fasting is not only dependent on abstentions: Many
believe that fasting consist only of certain abstentions, forgetting
that Allah established certain acts of worship with fasting. Among
which are:
Qiyamul-layl: The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "Whoever
performed the night prayer during Ramadhan out of belief and
anticipating God's rewards, will be forgiven his previous
sins."(Related by Muslim).Performing Umrah: The Prophet sallallahu
alayhe wa sallam said: "An Umrah during Ramadhan is like a Hajj with
me." (Related by al-Hakim).
Offering Iftar (meal) to those who fasted. The Prophet sallallahu
alayhe wa sallam said: "Whoever feeds a fasting person has the same
reward as him, except that the reward of the fasting person will not
be diminished." (Related by Ahmad).
Reading and completing the Qur'an: The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa
sallam said: "Fasting and [reading] Qur'an will intercede for the
person: fasting will say: O Lord I forbade him eating and drinking so
let me intercede for him, and the Qur'an will say: I deprived him from
his night sleep so let me intercede for him," he then said: "So they
will intercede." (Related by Ahmad). The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa
sallam used to recite the whole Qur'an to Angel Jibreel each Ramadhan.
Giving in charity: Ibn Abbas radhiallahu anhu said: "The Prophet
sallallahu alayhe wa sallam was the most generous among people, and he
was more generous during the month of Ramadhan." (Related by Muslim).
I`tikaaf: which is to confine oneself in the masjid for prayer and
invocation leaving the worldly activities. Ibn Abbas radhiallahu anhu
said: "The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam used to perforrn
I'tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadhan." (Related by Muslim). It
is surprising that many people have abandoned I'tikaf though the
Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam never abandoned it from the time
he arrived to Madinah until he died.
Supplication: In the verses dealing with fasting, Allah said: "And
when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then answer them, I
am indeed near to them. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant
when he calls on Me." (Al-Baqarah 2: 186). This is an encouragement
for the fasting person to increase his invocation. The Prophet
sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "Three invocations will be answered:
The invocation of the fasting person, the invocation of the oppressed,
and the invocation of the traveler." (Related by Muslim).
Repentance: Ramadhan is the time of repentance and return to Allah,
for it is a time when the devils are chained, and when many people are
saved from hell fire every night by the grace of Allah.
Applying oneself in all good deeds in the last ten days of Ramadhan:
Aysha radhiallabu anha said: "When the last ten days come, he
sallallahu alayhe wa sallam would pray most of the night and wake his
family, and apply himself, and tighten up his loincloth.", and she
also said: "The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe wa sallam used to
strive in the last days of Ramadhan more than he did during the other
days." (Related by Muslim).
Abstaining from vain talk: Sins decrease the reward of fasting
although they do not annul it. The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam
said: "Fasting is not [only] abstaining from eating and drinking, but
abstaining from vain and obscene talk, so if someone insulted you or
wronged you say: I am fasting." (Related by al-Hakim) and he also
said: 'Whoever does not abandon lying, then Allah does not need him to
abandon his food and drink." (Related by al-Bukhari).
Common errors made during Ramadhan
Excessive spending: Ramadhan should be a time to avoid being wasteful,
and learning to be prepared in facing harder times by distinguishing
the needs from the luxuries. Unfortunately, many people go beyond
their limits to spend during Ramadhan. Whether in the varieties of
food that they savor each night, or by the other types of spending.
Staying awake during the night and sleeping during the day: Some
people sleep during most of the day when they are fasting. Ramadhan is
not a time of being lazy, and this do not allow the full benefit from
the experience of fasting. It is as if they have only inverted their
nights into days and vice versa. In addition, some may spend a great
portion of the night indulging in eating and drinking and socializing
Spending more time in socializing: Because people invite each other
more often during Ramadhan they do tend to spend more time socializing
with friends, and relatives. While it is a good deed to feed the
fasting person, this should not result in precious time lost in vain
talk. Use the occasion for remembering Allah and offering additional
prayers, and for the Da'wah to Allah.
Insisting on performing a certain number of Rakaas during the Tarawih
(night) prayer to the point of not praying behind the Imam and thus
forfeiting the benefit of congregational prayer. This might also bring
hatred and disagreement between the Muslims of one community.
Reading Qur'an too fast: Some insist on finishing the whole Qur'an
once or more, even if they have to read very fast. Although reading
the Qur'an many times is desirable, this should not be done hastily,
especially during the Tarawih prayer without pondering upon its
meaning. Allah ta'ala said: "This is a Book which We have sent down to
you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its verses," (Saad
38:29), and the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "Those who
read the Qur'an in less than three days do not grasp [its meaning]"
Socializing in l'tikaf: Many people are eager to do I'tikaf but some
confine themselves in the masjid not to pray and worship Allah but to
talk and socialize.
The ways of doing good are numerous in Ramadhan Many people try to
perform more than they are able to. By going beyond their
capabilities, they end up not performing any deed in the desired way.
Scholars and Dai'ahs should assume a more prominent role in educating
the people - both by talking to them and by giving the best example in
their behavior which should comply to the Shariah and following the
Sunnah.
The Muslim should realize that his priorities dictate that he does
what benefits him in the Hereafter and should not put worldly
interests first.
The Muslim should apply himself to deepen his sense of following the
Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, in every aspect of
his life, at all times and especially during the month of Ramadhan.
This necessitates seeking more knowledge about the Fiqh of fasting and
its etiquette, assimilating the wisdom and goals of fasting, and
facilitating the means that allow all the Muslims to benefit from
their fasting.
We ask Allah to accept our fast and our good deeds.
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