Fasting controls the mind and body

By Mohammed Naalir

Ramadhan is the ninth month of the lunar calendar, and is the month of fasting for observant Muslims. Because the cycle of the lunar calendar does not match the solar calendar, the dates of Ramadhan shift slightly each year. Officially, the Ramadhan month begins with the sighting of the new moon in the Western horizon.

This has historically been a point of contention as the timing of the moon’s visibility may vary by location, but the start and end dates are now generally agreed upon based on modern understandings of the lunar calendar.

Muslims in Sri Lanka along with other Muslims will start fasting most probably on August 01 in which the Ramadhan will begin, depending on the sighting of the new moon and will be fasting throughout the month from dawn to sunset.

Ramadhan ends with the festival of Eid ul-Fitr.

Lailathul Qadr was the night in 610 C.E., that Muslims believe the Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Observance of Ramadhan is also mandated in the second chapter of Quran, verses 183-185: “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous”.

This practice Sawm (fasting) is one of the five pillars of Islam, and requires individuals to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual intercourse. Each evening, Muslims break fast at sundown with Iftar. All Muslims are expected to observe the fast once they reach the age of puberty.

By removing material desires, one is able to focus fully on devotion and service to Allah. Many Muslims go beyond the physical ritual of fasting and attempt to purify themselves of impure thoughts and motivations such as anger, cursing, greed, etc. As part of this, service to the community and to those in need is a major emphasis of activity throughout the month.

Hunger is the worst thing in one’s life. It is the bounden duty of the rich and those who have enough wealth to calm the hunger of the poor people.

Islam portrays valuable messages to Muslims through fasting about hunger and starvation.

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.

Fasting is a practical way of realising hunger and thirst experienced by the poor. This will lead the rich to do more charity towards the poor.

Based on certain elements, Islam has divided Ramadhan 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 the pardon of God for their previous sins. During the third phase Muslims beg of Allah for release from the abyss.

Lailathul Qadr night which falls within the last 10 days on the odd number days is the most important night in the whole month. But this night cannot be predicted as it is hidden by Allah.

So the Muslims must be engaged in performing more merits in the odd numbered days from the 21st day of Ramadhan to the 29th.

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.” Unlimited merit will be granted by Allah if the fast is observed properly.

Allah says relating to the fasting that “as it is for me I will reward 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.

At another time, Prophet Muhammad revealed that he would warrant heaven to the Mumin who successfully protects the organs between the lips and the lap.

When Ramadhan comes, the doors of heaven are open. The doors of the abyss is shut. 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 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 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.

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 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.