An Act of Ibadah (Worship)
According to many sayings of Allah's noble
Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be
Upon Him),
Ramadan
is a great and blessed
month. Fasting during this month constitutes one
of the five pillars of Islam. It is an act of worship
which is done to please Allah. Like the other
pillars (Declaration of Faith, Salah, Zakah and
Hajj) fasting helps to produce and nurture a
whole range of positive values and qualities in
both individual and community life. In
particular, through fasting a person can
develop piety, strengthen their conviction in
God, and develop moral character. Let us see
how:
Building Taqwa (God-
Consciousness)
First, fasting helps to develop God-
Consciousness (Taqwa). According to Islam,
this is the seed to all good. A God-conscious
heart is in actual fact a driving force for
positive action. It is a fundamental
prerequisite for self-purification, selfinspiration,
self-motivation, and for selfless
sacrifices and contributions towards the
development and welfare of society. Taqwa
also brings peace and tranquillity to hearts, creates
energy in individuals for righteous action, forges brotherhood and sisterhood and
cultivates community spirit.
Building Brotherhood
Second, fasting nurtures brotherhood and sisterhood, which is essential for the development
of a strong community life.
Fasting is such an act that brings people together a number of times a day; at sahoor (predawn
meal), iftaar (sunset meal), and Tarawih prayers (special night prayers), in addition to
the normal five prayer times. Also Ramadan is a month of sharing, of giving Sadaqah
(voluntary charity), of paying Zakah (compulsory charity).
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
" If someone gives one who has been fasting something with which to break his
fast, it will provide forgiveness for his sins."
Through all these means a strong sense of purpose and community is cultivated.
Building a Relationship with Qur'an
Third, Ramadan is the month in which the Glorious Qur'an was revealed. Thus, fasting in this
month brings the Muslims closer to the Qur'an. In many parts of the world, Muslims aim to
complete at least one reading of the Qur'an in this blessed month, especially during the night
prayers (Tarawih).
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
"He in whose heart there is no part of the Qur'an is like a deserted house."
This helps to remind the Muslim community of the message contained in the Qur'an and their
purpose and mission in life. This is therefore a powerful means for revitalising the Muslim
community.
Building Patience & Steadfastness
Fourth, fasting cultivates Sabr (i.e. patience and fortitude) amongst the Muslims. Through
fasting Muslims learn to be patient and to endure hunger and thirst. This also helps them to
understand the sufferings of the poor and needy people in our world thus generating
compassion and a feeling to help others. Sabr is also an essential quality required for pursuing
the mission of Islam - a mission to enjoin the good and forbid the wrong; to establish peace
and justice in society and the world for all people.
Building Self and Social Discipline
Finally, fasting during the month of Ramadan produces discipline and order in the life of
Muslims. The waking times, prayer times, time to break the fast, and
so on, all help to create order and coordinate the actions of the
Muslim community. Again, like Sabr, discipline is also an important
ingredient for pursuing the mission of Islam.
Community Relationships
The above points highlight how fasting, together with the other
pillars of Islam, act as a powerful glue that keeps Muslims together
in a community. Each pillar, if understood and practiced properly,
can contribute in the purification and development of the inner self
as well as in social development. They bring community members together (rich and poor), aid
in the cultivation of a strong relationship with Allah, affect attitudes positively and strengthen
relationships between members of the community. All these are the seeds for effective
community development.
The Importance of Knowing Why?
Every year during the blessed month of Ramadan, we see Muslims flock to the mosque in
great numbers. During this month the mosques get filled, the feeling of piety and Godliness is
generated; hearts become soft, people engage in Zikr (remembrance of God), in reading of
the Qur'an, in prayers, tears flow before God as people earnestly seek His Forgiveness and
Mercy, acts of Ibadah increase with more sincerity, devotion and humbleness, etc. However,
soon after Ramadan is over, the feeling of piety weakens, hearts become negligent of God,
mosques become empty, contact with the Qur'an is reduced, and God is little remembered.
None or very little change occurs in our family and community life, our problems continue and
worsen, life carries us on in pursuing our own agendas, ambitions, careers, interests, etc.
All that we achieve during the great month of Ramadan seem to
completely vanish. This happens because many Muslims have
forgotten why they fast. For too many it is staying without food and
drink. This is why once Ramadan is over, many feel that the
objective has been achieved and that they can now continue with
their normal routine of life. They have not fully grasped the whole
purpose of fasting and its relationship with the general body of Islam.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) reminded Muslims:
"Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward from God will have
their past sins forgiven; whoever prays during the night in Ramadan
with faith and
seeking reward from God will have their past sins forgiven; whoever passes Laylat
al-Qadr (night of power) in prayer with faith and seeking reward from God will
have their past sins forgiven." (Bukhari and Muslim).
"Many are the tasters who get nothing from their fast except (hunger) and thirst,
and many are those who pray during the nights but gain nothing from their
prayers except wakefulness". (Daarimi).
"If one does not give up falsehood and actions in accordance with it (fasting), God
has no need that he/she should give up food and drink. "(Bukhari).
It is therefore important not to lose sight of the real purpose of fasting and the great
qualities that can be produced in people through this act of worship. Sincere and real fasting
should directly affect our lives. It should strengthen our relationship with Allah and motivate
people to strive for building a God-centred society. Fasting should not be seen as an
objective in itself, but as a powerful means for fulfilling the Islamic purpose in human life
and society.
Ramadan
is a springboard which energises Muslims for the rest of the year. It is
a powerful month of spiritual, moral, physical and social training - equipping the Muslim for
the many struggles ahead - indeed for the ultimate struggle
to bring society to the worship of God.
