جمعه: 1403/01/10
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The Holy Month Of Ramadan
FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF "ISLAM" AND "US"

 

 

THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN

FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF ISLAM AND US

 

Undoubtedly, those who wish to look at Islam in the mirror of the actions and behavior of Muslims, and who wish to witness that sparkling beauty and glowing sunshine through a dark and blackened landscape, they are totally mistaken.

If the portrayal of Islamic face was possible, and a person aware of all the Islamic teachings, distinguishing qualities and guidelines, as well as its comprehensive educational programs, could paint its beautiful face, it would be the most beautiful and the most attractive picture ever.

If the Lord of the world and the creator of Earth and Heaven – who bestowed the bounty of Islam by means of his holiness, the seal of Prophets (peace be upon him and his progeny) – would have personified the face of Islam, then certainly the beauty of its face would have mesmerized the entire creation from the beginning till the end.

Islam must be witnessed in the mirror of Quranic texts and tradition, and in the lifestyle of the leaders of religion and those inside whose existence Islam has totally absorbed and reflected itself, and in the life of the warriors and Muslims of the early phase of Islam.

Such a society can be completely recognized as an Islamic society in which all the rules and laws of Islam are dominant over the affairs of individual and social livelihood, and in other words, wherein Islam cannot be separated from their marketing, socializing, governing and political programs etc.

With this definition, our societies cannot be recognized as a completely Islamic society from all aspects; because a majority of Islamic rules have been neglected among the Muslims today, and except the acts of worship (like prayer, fasting, pilgrimage etc.) – which are observed by the Muslim societies – other rules and commands of Islam are paid less attention and some are totally forsaken. Often prayers are also not performed in the appropriate way that can portray the message of Islam, and those who are deprived of its effects and bounties are also large in numbers.

In the acts of worship, great meanings and profound lessons are given to us towards which if we pay attention, our horizon of thoughts will brighten and our way of thinking will change.

Even in the acts of worship, both the aspects of habit and the manifestation of Islamic glory, unity, and coordination among Muslims, ethical guidelines, educative and nurturing, social teachings, mental, intellectual, scientific as well as hygienic and economic growths are also intended.

Is the fasting of Ramadan, which is among the pillars of Islam and also a great ritual and means of attaining Allah’s proximity, observed as per the ascertained program? Is our month of Ramadan the same as Islam’s month of Ramadan? This is a subject and question which requires analysis and research.

 

The Islamic Month of Ramadan: As we can comprehend from the sermon of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him and his progeny) it is an opportunity for increasing the good-deeds and noble acts, helping the poor and destitute, reconnecting with the relatives, supporting the weak, completing and purifying moral values, suppressing the anger and controlling the carnal forces.

 

Our way of observing the Month of Ramadan: Excessive eating at the time of Iftaar (breaking the fast) and Sahar (dawn), bad temper and abusive language with close ones and strangers, malignant evening parties.    

 

The Islamic Month of Ramadan: The best opportunity and the most precious time, not even a minute or a second of which should be wasted on unwanted things. All its minutes and hours must be spend in performing good deeds and noble acts, thinking and contemplation, repentance and reformation of one’s condition.

 

Our Month of Ramadan: Most of its time is wasted and such precious moments are given away unproductively.

 

The Islamic Month of Ramadan: In this month, Muslims must deeply contemplate the life of the holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny), upon whom the holy Quran had been revealed, and regard the sayings and guidelines of that great heavenly leader – which repels all the harms and losses, and cures all the social and vital problems – as their exemplar and imitate the life style of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him and his progeny) following the command: “There is certainly a good exemplar for you in the Apostle of Allah – for those who look forward to Allah and the Last Day”.[1]

 

Our Month of Ramadan: Majority of us, Muslims, are unaware of the biography of our great Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny); and they do not focus on this subject, whose learning and discussion, contemplation and study, is obligatory on every Muslims, neither in the month of Ramadan nor in any other month. We do not pay enough attention towards knowing the life history of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him and his progeny), which are the most insightful pages of history. The history of which personalities, historic men, founders and leaders of reformations and revolutions, and the great Prophets, is as benefitting and enlightening as the history of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him and his progeny).

 

The Islamic Month of Ramadan: A month of happiness, good-fortune and haste towards worship and attaining proximity of Allah (s.w.t.).

 

Our Month of Ramadan: Some of us spend it in laziness and indolence, self-indulgence, sleep and unawareness.

 

Islamic Month of Ramadan: The beginning of a new season and a new phase of age and life wherein we must guide our mental and moral forces towards development and growth; leave our past and enlighten our hearts by removing the stain and rust of sins and evildoings from it.

 

Our Month of Ramadan: It is a slight change in the timings of eating food and abstaining from the things that can end the fast, which is the way of imitating and obeying the divine command and a proof of awakened religious conscience and awareness of thought, and it has a great dignity and virtue when compared to those disgraced and misguided people who do not fast; but in spite of this; a person who is fasting must not suffice in abstaining from things that can end the fast, instead, they must perform all those programs that are allotted for them in order to attain maximum benefit from the abundant mercy of Allah in this holy month.

 

Islamic Month of Ramadan: It causes the cleansing of one’s inner self, the purification of heart with the help of praiseworthy moral values, habituating oneself with good habits, practicing ourselves for pure intentions, reviving the teachings of Islam and humanity, spreading love, philanthropy and truthfulness.

 

Our Month of Ramadan: Most of the evening gatherings and parties conducted after the Iftaar are deprived of the prophetic wisdom that says: “Observe fasting to become healthy”[2], because of our extravagant expenditure on overeating, our habit of backbiting, unnecessary activities and void humor, and unproductive conversations. Due to the absence of any sign of the spirit of Islamic cooperation and sympathy for each other, and lack of spiritual connection, lack of paying and repaying of visits and socializations, it results in hatred, hostility and misunderstanding.           

 

[1] Chapter Al-Ahzab, verse 21

[2] Bihar Al-Anwar, v. 96, p. 255

Friday / 29 March / 2024