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Ramadan: A Blessed Time
By Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi
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"Ramadan
is the month in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to
mankind." (Al-Qur'an, 2:185)
With these short words God introduced fasting during the month of
Ramadan. Ramadan is the 9th month of the Lunar Calendar. Like other
months of the lunar calendar this month was also known to
pre-Islamic Arabs with the same name. There was nothing unusual
about this month. Same days and same nights, sometime it was hot
and sometime it was cool, because the months of the lunar calendar
rotate and they are not fixed in hot or cold season as the months
of the solar calendar are. However, in the year 610 (or 611) of the
Common Era at one night of this month something new happened. What
happened
was something unusual, extraordinary. The eternal Word of God was
communicated from heaven to the earth during this month. Ever since
that moment Ramadan stands out as a unique month for Muslims. It
was during Ramadan that Muhammad, a noble Arab, about forty years
old was all by himself in prayer and devotion inside the cave of
Hira in a mountain near Makkah. The archangel Gabriel visited him
and told him that God had chosen him as His Prophet. The angel gave
Prophet Muhammad the first words of revelation:
Read! In the name of thy Lord who created, Created man from a clot.
Read! For thy Lord is most Gracious, Who taught man the use of the
pen and taught man what He knew not (96:1-5)
What followed after this for 23 years was Prophet Muhammad's work
as a prophet of God. The Qur'an continued to be revealed to the
Prophet piecemeal, received at different occasions of his life and
continued giving directions for him and his followers.
In many religions of the world there is something called
"auspicious time". That time is associated either with
harvest or spring season, birth of a hero, saint or savior or a
historical or trans-historical event that is important to that
particular religious tradition. Ramadan, for the Muslim community,
is an auspicious time. It is a time that makes all time valuable.
It is a time that is associated with the revelation of God.
Prophet Muhammad -peace be upon him- was fasting when the first
revelation came to him. Fasting awakens the heart, enlightens the
spirit, and prepares the mind and soul to receive the Word of God.
When the mirror of the soul shines then the Word of God descends
into it like a beautiful reflection. Islamic fasting is a means and
a method of purification, self-discipline and self-mastery. In
fasting one abstains from food, drink and sex from dawn to dusk.
The body is denied these basic urges during the day. At the end of
the day in the evening one satisfies oneself in moderation, but
then one abstains again next morning. Thus a whole training period
of abstention and satisfaction for a whole month trains a person in
self-control and self-mastery. One learns how and when to say 'yes'
and when to say 'no'. This is a lesson that one must learn to live
in this world of good and evil, opportunities, challenges and
temptations. One must have discipline in order to live by the Word
of God.
Fasting also teaches us to appreciate God's gift of food and drink.
Eating and drinking are simple mundane activities. We take them far
granted. But food is the gift of God and it is also His gift that
we are able to eat and enjoy our food. We must show our gratitude
to him and we must use our resources in moderation, with care and
responsibility. There are many who
are poor and in need. By fasting we learn what it means to be
hungry. It generates the spirit of giving, charity and kindness.
Ramadan is a time of charity and generosity.
It is ironic that we human beings sometime learn by contrast. By
controlling our appetite and hunger we learn how to appreciate the
gift of food and drink. By abstaining we learn how to give to
others.
Like their brothers and sisters in faith around the world, Muslims
in America also fast and pray during Ramadan. We are pleased that
many of our neighbors and co-workers are now aware of this
tradition and want to learn more about it.
Ramadan this year and for the coming two years will be at the time
of Jewish and Christian holidays. I hope this will give more
occasions for our three communities of faith to know more about
each other and learn to live in harmony and peace. Ramadan Mubarak
and happy holidays to everyone.
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