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Reality and Obligation in Ramadan
Al-Jumu`ah
Magazine, Vol. 8, Issue 9
During
this Ramadan do not let the sweetness of our deeds vanish into the
night, leaving only emptiness. When one contemplates the texts on
fasting, its wisdom and goals in Shari`ah, and looks at the reality
of the Muslim communities, one realizes a wide gap between the
reality and our obligations. Remember that Ramadan 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: 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 environment without contemplation. If one is
not aware of the divine wisdom of Shari`ah 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, peace and blessing
be upon him, called Ramadan 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: 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) Ibn 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 Allah is a thing that nobody can find out
about, and that is the essence of fasting." (Zad 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,
peace and blessing be upon him, 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, peace and blessing be upon him, said: "Whoever
performed the night prayer during Ramadan out of belief and
anticipating Allah's rewards, will be forgiven his previous
sins."(Related by Muslim). Performing `Umrah: The Prophet,
peace and blessing be upon him, said: "An `Umrah during
Ramadan is like a Hajj with me." (Related by Al-Hakim)
Offering
Iftar (meal) to those who fasted: The Prophet, peace and blessing
be upon him, 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, peace and blessing be upon
him, 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, peace and blessing be upon him,
used to recite the whole Qur'an to Angel Jibril each Ramadan.
Giving
in charity: Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
"The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, was the most
generous among people, and he was more generous during the month of
Ramadan." (Related by Muslim)
I`tikaf:
which is to confine oneself in the Masjid for prayer and invocation
leaving the worldly activities. Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased
with him) said: "The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him,
used to perform I`tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan."
(Related by Muslim). It is surprising that many people have
abandoned I`tikaf though the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon
him, 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: 186) This is an encouragement for the
fasting person to increase his invocation. The Prophet, peace and
blessing be upon him, 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:
Ramadan 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 Ramadan:
`A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "When the
last ten days come, he, peace and blessings be upon him, 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, peace and blessings be upon him, used to strive
in the last days of Ramadan 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, peace and blessing be upon him, 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 Ramadan
Excessive
spending: Ramadan 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 Ramadan. 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. Ramadan 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 Ramadan 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 Rak`ahs during the Taraweeh
(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 Taraweeh 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}.
(Sad: 29), and the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, 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 Ramadan. 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 Da`iyas 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 Shari`ah 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, peace and blessing be upon him, in every
aspect of his life, at all times and especially during the month of
Ramadan. 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.
Excerpted
from www.islaam.com with slight
modifications.
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