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During this Ramadaan 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 Ramadaan 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 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 sallallahu alayhe wa sallam called Ramadaan 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 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 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)
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 sake 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 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 sallallahu alayhe wa sallam 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. |
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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 sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "Whoever performed the
night prayer during Ramadaan out of belief and anticipating God's
rewards, will be forgiven his previous sins."(Related by
Muslim).Performing Umrah: The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam
said: "An Umrah during Ramadaan is like a Hajj with me." (Related by
al-Hakim).
Offering Iftar (meal) to those who fasted.
The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam 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 sallallahu alayhe wa sallam 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 sallallahu alayhe wa sallam used to recite
the whole Qur'an to Angel Jibreel each Ramadaan.
Giving in charity:
Ibn Abbas radhiallahu anhu said: "The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa
sallam was the most generous among people, and he was more generous
during the month of Ramadaan." (Related by Muslim).
I`tikaaf:
which is to confine oneself in the masjid for prayer and invocation
leaving the worldly activities. Ibn Abbas radhiallahu anhu said:
"The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam used to perforrn I'tikaf
during the last ten days of Ramadaan." (Related by Muslim). It is
surprising that many people have abandoned I'tikaf though the
Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam 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 2: 186). This is an encouragement for the
fasting person to increase his invocation. The Prophet sallallahu
alayhe wa sallam 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:
Ramadaan 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 Ramadaan:
Aysha radhiallabu anha said: "When the last ten days come, he
sallallahu alayhe wa sallam 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 sallallahu alayhe wa sallam
used to strive in the last days of Ramadaan 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 sallallahu alayhe wa sallam 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 Ramadaan
Excessive spending:
Ramadaan 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 Ramadaan. 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.
Ramadaan 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 Ramadaan 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 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'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
Tarawih 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," (Saad 38:29), and
the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam 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 Ramadaan. 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 sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, in every aspect
of his life, at all times and especially during the month of
Ramadaan. 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.
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