Ramadan Is Almost Here

Let's take a look at what Ramadan is all about. Allah says in the Qur'an [Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint](Al-Baqarah 2:183).

Of course we know that fasting means to abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset, but fasting is not only about physical restraint. It is also about growing spiritually and drawing closer to our Creator.

Let us reflect on the spiritual meaning of fasting in Ramadan:

• It teaches us the principle of sincere love, as fasting is observed only to obey Allah and it is a way to obtain His pleasure.
• Fasting instills hope and optimism, as we are hopeful of pleasing Allah and seek His grace.
• Fasting develops a sound conscience because our fast is private. No one is fully aware of whether or not we are fasting and no one can be forced to fast.
• It teaches us patience and unselfishness because when we fast we feel the pain of deprivation but learn to endure patiently. Even though this deprivation is temporary, the experience makes us realize the severe effects of hunger and thirst. This makes us more sympathetic toward those who endure hunger and thirst over long periods.
• Fasting strengthens our willpower and teaches us how to apply moderation. When we fast, we learn to discipline our passionate desires and place ourselves above physical temptations.
• Fasting makes us change the entire course of our daily lives and we naturally adapt to this change. We are thus equipped with a sense of adaptability and are able to deal with the unpredictable hardships of life.
• Fasting instills in us the real spirit of social belonging, of unity and brotherhood, of equality before Allah as well as before the law. This is because when we fast we feel that we are joining the whole Muslim community in observing the same duty in the same manner at the same time for the same motives and to the same end.
• When we fast in the proper manner, we are in control of ourselves, exercise full command over our passions, discipline our desires, and resist evil temptations.

Remember that while we receive many extra blessings in Ramadan, this month should not be considered solely as a redemption period for all that we may have done wrong throughout the year. Many people, unfortunately, live heedlessly throughout the year and try to make up for it in Ramadan. This is not what Ramadan is about, and certainly it is not what Islam is about.

In Ramadan we have the opportunity to rejuvenate ourselves, to get back on track. The challenge is to carry over all that we learn and the discipline we implement during Ramadan into our regular lives afterward. It is normal that we may not feel the same spiritual high that we do in Ramadan, but that means that we just have to try that much harder to maintain a steadfast life after Ramadan.

By the time we get to the next Ramadan, we should assess ourselves and see how much of that steadfastness and discipline we were able to maintain during the course of the year, and how we can improve on it once again.

*Reference: Islam in Focus, Hammuda Abdalati

Naseema Mall is from South Africa and works as a freelance journalist. She can be contacted at youth_campaign@islamonline.net