Ramazan fasting - Paying homage to Almighty Allah

by Mohammed NAALIR

Muslims all over the world sacrifice their material needs during the Ramazan 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 jannah. One cannot achieve this goal without sacrificing his life for the Almighty during his lifetime.

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). 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 Ramazan every year.

The fourth is Zakath (charity). Zakath must be given based on the financial strength of a Muslim. The fifth is 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 Ramazan as the Holy Month. Based on the needs Islam has divided Ramazan 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 also accepted that the fasting is a medicine for diabetics and cholesterol related diseases caused to the human body.

Fasting must start before the dawn and continue until the azan for the Mahrib prayers is called.If a Muslim is perfectly healthy he or she must compulsorily fast every year in the Ramazan month until his death.

The Lailathul kadhr night most probably which falls in the 27th day of the Ramazan is the most important night in the whole month. But this night cannot be predicted as it is hidden by the 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 Ramazan to the 29th.

During this month special Tharavih and Withru prayers will be held in the mosques.

Without colour and other ethnic difference the Muslims throughout the world will pay their homage to the Almighty in every part of the world.Sawm is 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 Ramazan.

Allah says that the Mumin sacrificed eating and drinking which are most important to one to survive and other sensations for me so I am the gift 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 Ramazan month. Allah says relating to the fasting that as it is for me I am the gift 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 Ramazan 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 (most luxury heaven).

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 help to protect both organs from committing evils.When the Ramazan comes, the doors of heaven are opened. Al-Quran says that the fasting has been assigned to you as was to your ancients.

Ramazan 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 Ramazan comes, Prophet Muhammad becomes the philanthropist.Prophet Muhammad is a Philanthropist. When Ramazan comes he extends charity to the downtrodden according to "Saheehain".

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 Ramazan comes Prophet Muhammad 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 God. The audio cassettes comprising the recital of the Holy Quran is also desirable in the Ramazan 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.