Fasting - symbol of brotherhood

by Mohammed NAALIR

Islam is a way of unity and strongly stresses the brotherhood between Muslims and the followers of other religions. It treats all equally without any race, caste, colour and religious differences and also stresses the necessity of co-existence. Islam says that even though it is as small as the size of a gingelly to divide it into seven pieces and to eat sharing with others.

Islam is the pre-example of unity. Islam emphasises that Muslims hold the rope of unity. Then, you will never go on the wrong path. It will never be the course to separatism between Muslims.

Apart from practising the norms and values of Islam, it gives priority to co-existence with the neighbours and those who live in surroundings his or her residence, even though they are non-Muslims.

Al-Quran says that fasting has been revealed to the Muslims as well as to your forefathers.

Allah revealed in fasting for Muslims to fear the Almighty.

Fasting is also considered as the way of building up mutual relationship and the symbol of brotherhood between Muslims by taking part to solve one’s grievances.

Fasting must be carried out according to the preaching of Al-Quran and Prophet Muhammad (Sal). Then only it will become perfect. If one failed to do so there is no use of being hungry throughout the day. Fasting is carried out by Muslims globally wide to get close to the Almighty and to get his sympathy.

Wealthy people and the poor people fast simultaneously during the month of Ramazan begging for pardon, blessings and asking release from the hell. Realising the real hardships of thirst and hunger the rich people come forward to help the poor people to feed them or to economically promote them. It will also be considered as the symbol of brotherhood between Muslims.

Through fasting, Muslim pay considerable attention towards the poor people. It will lead him or her to do more and more charity towards the people who are leading a hand to mouth existence or below it.

Compulsory

Islam says that fasting is compulsory to Muslims during the month of Ramazan. Due to some courses a Muslim can refrain from fasting, when one is travelling a long distance. Then he or she can refrain from fasting but on the completion of the journey he or she must fulfil it. If one is suffering from diseases he or she can give up the fasting, but he must help the poor people to fast. Calculating the total cost for the month of Ramazan he or she must give them to the poor people to fast.

Allah strongly stresses maintaining mutual relationship with the neighbours and others even though they are following other religions.Islam also strictly prohibits to forcibly convert one to Islam. On one’s own will he or she can join Islam.

Although Firawn is the worst enemy of Allah, he directed Prophet Moosa to flexibly preach the Islam to him. Islam always follows the non violent way even during the sacred war (Jihad).

Even though they are the followers of other religions Islam stresses to maintain mutual relationship with them and share whatever the foods cooked in the home.

During another occasion Umar (Rali) arrived in his home after completing his works. Then his wife had cooked food for him. At once Umar (Rali) asked his wife,” did you give some food to the neighbour even though he was a non Muslim.?” His wife answered, “yes”. Then Umar (Rali) started to eat. Muslims had maintained the relationship in a rich manner with those who followed other religions while protecting the norms and values of the Islam.

On another occasion Asma bin Aboobakkar, the daughter of Aboobakkar (Rali), who was hungry for several days, was attracted by the delicious curry prepared using the flesh of the goat in the non Muslim neighbouring home. They who were unable to control the hunger and the temptation approached the neighbouring woman in the manner of asking fire for cooking food. They did so three times and ended in failure. They begged of the Almighty explaining the position.

Sharing

The husband of the woman after arriving home asked his wife did you give some curry to the neighbouring Asma? “She replied no”. “So give her some curry.” He started to eat after giving some curry to the neighbour. This is also an example for the mutual relationship between the Muslims and the followers of other religions in the past.

According to the Holy Quran, there are eight groups in Islam who are entitled to Zakath. Only these people can be given Zakath. There are nearly only five groups available here. Mostly other three groups are not in the practice. The first group is Fakkeers, they will be indulging in employment on daily wage basis, but it would not be sufficient to fulfil his day’s expenses. So this group is entitled to Zakath (charity). The second is Miskeens comprising the poor people and beggars leading their lives from charity. Third group is ill or differently able people. The fourth is new Muslims (recently who accepted Islam). The fifth group is the debtors (who spent funds in the halal way (permitted by Allah). The sixth group is those who are engaged in sacred war (Jihad) and those who collect the Zakath. This group vanished, but during the time of Prophet Muhammad (Sal) this group was also given Zakath.

If one possess more than 40,000 rupees he or she must give Zakath. He or she must give 2.5 per cent Zakath annually.

Allah says that as well as the forefathers favoured festivals, the Muslims also have been offered with two festivals, namely Eidul Fitr (Ramazan festival) and Eidul Aluha (Haj festival).

The Ramazan festival is the happiest day for the Muslims as they fulfilled fasting bearing hunger and thirst while paying homage to the Almighty during the nights round the month. It is the day to share the joys with relatives and the neighbours.

Nobody can mourn on this day, and fasting is completely prohibited on this day.

According to Islam, the worldly life is a hell to a Mumin. Everything he experiences in this world is equal to the punishment in the abyss. This world is a heaven for those who refuse to obey the Almighty.

Islam says that while you are fasting if anybody came to make trouble with you to leave the place silently or to be patient without getting into arguments with him. Prophet Muhammad also followed this same practice during his life time.

Once Prophet Muhammad was coming on a street. On that occasion one was scolding another. The one who was scolded was keeping quiet. Prophet was looking at him. When he started to reply the offender Prophet left the place. When some asked Prophet he replied that until he was keeping quiet the messengers of God were asking dua to him. When he opened his mouth to scold the person, the messengers left the place, I also left the place.