Pure thoughts during Ramadhan
By Mohomed NAALIR
Islam is a universal religion and it preaches of brotherhood between
Muslims and the followers of other religions. It stresses the necessity
to show sympathy on not having and those who live below the poverty
line.
Hunger is the worst thing in one’s life. It is the bounden duty of
the rich and those who have enough wealth to satisfy the hunger of the
poor.
Islam portrays valuable message to Muslims through fasting about
hunger and starvation.
Muslims all over the world sacrifice their material needs during the
month of Ramadhan and fast to pay homage to the Almighty by giving up
their food and other substances which are crucial to survive.
According to Islamic principles worldly life is unstable and it is a
harvest land of life after death. If one sows more and more one can
harvest more in the Jannahul Firdhouse (Most Luxurious Heaven). One
cannot achieve this goal without sacrificing his life for the Almighty
during his lifetime.
Compulsory
Allah has revealed five compulsory duties which should be carried out
by Muslims. Islam has given a systematic order such as Kalimah (the
belief in God and prophet Muhammad (Sal)). This should be done by the
mind. The second is five time compulsory prayers. The third is fasting.
Muslims throughout the world fast in the Month of Ramadhan every year.
The fourth is Zakath (charity). Zakath must be given based on the
financial strength of a Muslim. The fifth is the Haj the final
compulsory duty of Islam that should be fulfilled by those who possess
enough wealth to fulfil the Haj and to feed his family simultaneously.
Fasting is a practical way of realising the hunger and thirst
experienced by the poor.
This will lead the wealthy people to do more charity towards the
poverty stricken people in society. As such Islamists consider Ramadhan
as the Holy Month. Based on certain elements the Islam has divided
Ramadhan month into three parts, each comprising 10 days. In the first
phase Muslims will fast begging for blessings and in the second period
they fast asking for pardon of God for their previous sins. During the
third phase Muslims unanimously beg of Allah for the release from the
abyss.
The fasting must be carried out perfectly without leaving room for
unwanted temptations and feelings arising in the mind.
It has been scientifically accepted that the fasting is a medicine
for diabetics and cholesterol related diseases specially heart problems.
Fasting must start before the dawn and continue until the azan for
the Mahrib prayers (evening prayer at the time of sunset) is called.
If a Muslim is perfectly healthy he or she must compulsorily fast
every year in the Ramadhan month until his death.
The Lailathul Kadhr night most probably which falls in the 27th day
of the Ramadhan is the most important night in the whole month. But this
night cannot be predicted as it is hidden by Allah.
But there is a clue that it may fall on the odd numbered days. So the
Muslims must be engaged in performing more merits in the odd number days
from 21st day of Ramadhan to the 29th.
During this month special Tharavih and Withru prayers will be held in
the Masjids (Mosques).
Without colour and other caste difference the Muslims throughout the
world will pay their homage to the Almighty in every part of the world.
Sawm is the Arabic word referring to the fasting which means
refraining from having something.
The Arabians have trained their horses to be able to resist hunger
and thirst. So this term relates to the Ramadhan.
Allah says that the Mumin (Muslim) who sacrifice eating and drinking
which are most important for one to survive, and other sensations, for
me will get a reward for those sacrifice. Ten-fold merit will be granted
by Allah if one commits one fold merit.
According to “Muslim” merit will be granted from 10 to 700 fold for
meritorious activity in the Ramadhan month than other months.
Allah says relating to the fasting that as it is for me I will reward
for it. There are two types of happiness to a Mumin who is fasting. The
first one is when ending the fasting in the evening (Ifthar). At this
time he feels a different happiness. The second is that the smell coming
from the mouths of those who are fasting is supreme than musk in the
presence of the Almighty.
Due to these two statements we can study why Allah is keeping the
Ramadhan in his possession.
The human being sacrifices his desires, aspirations, feelings, hunger
and thirst to get close to Allah.
The fasting as far as possible closes the two main doors of fithna
(conflicts) such as mouth and sex organs. Due to these organs the human
being falls into unwanted problems.
Prophet Muhammad (sal) also recommended that those who protect these
organs will definitely enter the Jannathul Firdhouse.
In another time Prophet Muhammad (Sal) revealed that he would warrant
the heaven to the Mumin who successfully protected the organ between the
lips and the lap.
The fasting specially helps protect both organs from committing
evils.
When the Ramadhan comes, the doors of heaven are opened. The doors of
the abyss also would have been closed in the month of Ramadhan. Satan
will also be tied up.
Al-Quran says that the fasting has been assigned to you as was to
your ancestors.
Ramadhan will be a training to evacuate the unwanted passions from
the mind. The fasting makes one perfect in the manner to follow the
Sharia (Islamic law) properly.
Fasting will lead to thousands of good qualities in the mind of the
Muslim. The good qualities of compassion and dedication arise in the
mind of the Muslims.
He gets an opportunity to feel the grievances, sadness and the
hardships being faced by poverty-stricken people and not having to fill
their stomachs daily as well as the day-to-day needs.
He comes closer and calms the hunger of the underprivileged.
Ibnu Abbas (Rali) said that when Ramadhan comes, Prophet Muhammad
(Sal) becomes the philanthropist.
Prophet Muhammad (Sal) is a Philanthropist. When Ramadhan comes he
extends charity to the downtrodden according to “Saheehain”.
During Ramadhan, mankind comes closer to the Al-Quran than in other
months.
The real goal of fasting is to convert the mind, body, thinking and
soul towards the Almighty. This can be possible only by fasting.
When the last portion of Ramadhan comes Prophet Muhammad (Sal) will
be engaged in doing merit and also insists that family members be
involved in acquiring merit.
The victory of the fasting depends on the controlling of the mind and
material desires. Eating is a must, but it is not the life. But mankind
spends most of the time in eating and drinking.
Fasting is difficult for some. They think that they cannot pass the
day without partaking in food. They will be engaged in recreational
activities to spend the day.
They keep playing chess, reading magazines and are deeply involved in
reading story books and completely concentrating their minds on tele
serials. The Almighty will never acknowledge such fasting. There is no
meaning in such fasting apart from being hungry throughout the day.
Until one stops lying he or she will not be accepted by Allah (reported
by Abu Huraira (Rali)). Instead one must read useful books and read the
Quran which is most desirable. These activities will increase his or her
status in the presence of the Almighty. The audio cassettes comprising
the recital of the Holy Quran is also desirable in the Ramadhan month.
Those who are fasting can memorise mansoon duas and can read or
memorise most important versions of the Holy Quran.
The thinking and thoughts must be pure. Involving in activities which
break the fasting must be avoided. One must monitor his or her thoughts
daily.
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