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 Allaah blessed
His servants with, to strengthen their faith, and increase their piety
(Taqwa). Allaah
said (which
means): "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
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 Allaah's commands. The most important being
to carry the Message and propel it forward. The person trains himself to
be patient in obeying Allaah
by stopping at the limits set by Allaah
both by way of action and abstention. Allaah
said (which means): "These are the limits set by Allaah, 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 Allaah, and his knowledge
and feeling that Allaah is all-knowing of everything. For this reason Allaah
has made the reward for fasting greater than for any other type of worship.
Allaah
said in the hadith Qudsi
(which means): "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
Allaah 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
Pleasure 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 Allaah. It is by the Mercy of Allaah 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'aan, offering additional prayer or making I'tikaf. For this reason
the Prophet said (which means):
"Fasting is a shield, and a secure fortress against Hell fire" (Related
by Ahmad).
Discovering Allaah's
Blessings: A person experiences the hardship of the poor. He should
then be thankful to Allaah
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 Allaah 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 Allaah
established certain acts of worship with fasting. Among which are:
Qiyamul-layl: The
Prophet said (which means):
"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
said (which
means): "An Umrah during Ramadhan is like a Hajj with me." (Related by
al-Hakim).
Offering Iftar (meal)
to those who fasted. The Prophet
said (which means): "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'aan: The Prophet
said (which means): "Fasting and [reading] Qur'aan 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'aan 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
used to recite the whole Qur'aan to Angel Jibreel each Ramadhan.
Giving in charity: Ibn
Abbas said (which
means): "The Prophet
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
said (which means): "The Prophet
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
never abandoned
it from the time he arrived to Madinah until he died.
Supplication: In
the verses dealing with fasting, Allaah
said (which means) : "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
said (which means): "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 Allaah ,
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 Allaah
.
Applying oneself in
all good deeds in the last ten days of Ramadhan: `Aysha
said (which means): "When the last ten days come, he
would pray most of the night and wake his family, and apply himself, and
tighten up his loincloth.", and she
also said (which means): "The Messenger of Allaah
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 said (which
means): "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 Allaah 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 Allaah
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'aan too
fast: Some insist on finishing the whole Qur'aan once or more, even
if they have to read very fast. Although reading the Qur'aan many times
is desirable, this should not be done hastily, especially during the Tarawih
prayer without pondering upon its meaning. Allaah
said (which means): "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
said (which means):
"Those who read the Qur'aan 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 Allaah 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 ,
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 Allaah
to accept our fast and our good deeds aameen! And may Allaah
Guide us all to the Straight Path aameen.