By: Abdullah R. Sirad
“Its general cleaning because Ramadan is coming!” Pinky shared at her Facebook’s wall. Pinky believed that our intention of keeping surrounding clean in welcoming the Holy month of Ramadan also cleanses our souls from sins as simple reward from the Almighty. Somehow, Pinky’s statement reflected Maranaos tradition of welcoming the Holy month. Among Maranaos, Ramadan is very significant for it unites family and relatives, it opens the once closed relationship due to misunderstanding and disputes the fact that Ramadan commands forgiveness, and above all it is the best month in which Allah bestowed His mercy to all fasting Muslims, hear those who sincerely repent and saved every fasting Muslim from the hell fire.
What is then a Ramadan means? The month of Ramadan is that in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction”- Holy Qur’an 2:185
It is the month in which every able Muslim is compulsorily obliged to practice fasting – an abstinence from eating, drinking, and sexual activity from dawn until dusk. The Holy Quran states: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, so that you may develop Taqwa (self-restraint)” [2:183]
I am not well learned of the religious explanation of the benefits one can earn from fasting in the Holy Month of Ramadan but by reading some related literatures I found out that fasting in the month of Ramadan is an opportunity for self-character building.
The fact that we are refraining from what we usually do during day times because of Love and Fear to God motivates us of virtuous conduct and train us to keep away from evil actions. It leads us to be God-fearing person for we would be spending most of our times remembering the greatness of God through submissiveness and obedience. By considering the significance of worship, we gradually recalling and evaluating the extent of deeds or services we had offered to Him as well as to our fellow creations. This inculcates us of our accountability to the would-be life in the hereafter.
Through the hardship we would be experiencing during fasting like thirst and hunger and of sacrificing in avoiding from accessing to our usual habits like Facebook activity, we are developing the spirit of Patience within us. It help develop contentment of what we have for we would be putting our trust to God’s will instead of feeling despair, hopelessness, sobbing and complaining.
The effort of voluntarily depriving ourselves from worldly pleasure, desire, and enjoyment when we are fasting means training ourselves of Self-control and self-discipline. I would admit it’s not easy to control our temper or to reconcile with someone else but because Ramadan requires it for our fasting to be credited, we have to practice it. Likewise, leveling our life standard with less fortunate people such as refraining from our pleasure of seeking expensive and delicious foods or simply avoiding from watching shows on TV as it is forbidden during fasting is a means of inclining and boasting our self-discipline.
Keeping our body in a state of ablution and refraining ourselves from unpleasant or unnecessary talks like backbiting, criticism, teasing, and bullying keeps our souls purified. Turning our usual habits into a habit of daily Zikr – remembrance of God’s greatness leads us to purity in which, if maintained, would guide us to take our walks of life away from the influence of Satan, the devil.
Fasting also develops social responsibility. It is in which fasting individual feels what the poor and hungry people are experiencing thus it allows us to understand the need to care and be concern to them, being a less privileged people in the society. Charity and donations, refraining from wasting of foods and drinks are added lessons that we would learn from fasting.
Above all, by fasting a person keeps away himself from the pleasures of life, with no preventive or hindering factor, except that of obeying God and showing genuine devotion to His commands. This teaches us to become 'Conscious of God' in our daily living.
Tomorrow, 11th of August shall mark our first day of fasting in this Holy month of Ramadan. I am wishing, especially to myself, that these characters brought about by Ramadan will be maintained and be actualized not only for this holy month but throughout our life on earth.
Ramadan Kareem to all Muslims in the world. Mabuhay!
