RAMADAN & ITS SPIRITUALITY, HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?

By Munirah Abdullah

In the name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful the Exceptionally Merciful

All praise to Allaah – the Lord and Creator of the universe. May His Peace and Blessing b upon the noble soul of the last Messenger, Muhammad bin Abdullah, his households, his companions and those on the path of righteousness until the Day of Judgement.

What does the world say about Ramadan and Spirituality?

Google defines Ramadan and Spirituality as follows:

“Ramadan/ˌraməˈdɑːn,ˈramədan/noun the ninth month of the Muslim year, during which strict fasting is observed from dawn to sunset.”

“Spirituality/spɪrɪtʃʊˈalɪti,spɪrɪtjʊˈalɪti/noun the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.”

But, Ramadan and its spirituality are much more than this definition. You have to be a devoted and practising Muslim to know. Being a Muslim without practicing the religion and searching about your religion on google well is nothing compare to reading the All Quran and seeking for knowledge from the rightful source. Now let’s see from the perspective of Islam.

What does Islam say about Ramadan and Its Spirituality?

The prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Islam is built on five [pillars]…” (Al-Bukhari)

Among these pillars is fasting the month of Ramadan. Whoever breaks the fast during Ramadan without a legitimate excuse has committed a major sin. The Prophet (PBUH) said, describing a dream that he had seen:

“…until I was at the mountain, where I heard loud voices. I asked, ‘What are these voices?’ They said, ‘This is the howling of the people of Hellfire.’ Then I was taken [to another place], and I saw people hanging from their hamstrings, with the corners of their mouths torn and dripping with blood. I said, ‘Who are these?’ They said, ‘The people who broke their fast before it was the proper time to do so,’ i.e., before the time of iftar.” (Sahih At-Targhib).

This year the month of Ramadan will start on May 26 in sha Allaah. Muslims all over the world will start this month with fasting from dawn to dusk daily for twenty-nine or thirty days as ordained in Quran.

"O you who believe fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you can learn Taqwa" (Quran 2:183).

This Ibadah [Fasting] is one of Islamic pillars and compulsory for all Muslims, except for children below the age of puberty, the very old, the permanently sick, and so on. It also may be temporarily exempted for some excuses like pregnancy, lactation, menstruation, blood of childbirth, illness, and journey. All of the people under these conditions are allowed to postpone their fasting until the end of their excuses.

But, why do we need to fast? It is our experience that temptations and ways of the world tend to spoil our purity and austerity. Thus we indulge in food all of the time, snacking and nibbling the whole day, heading to obesity. Some “sexaholics” cannot stay away from sex unless they do it at least once or more a day. When we argue, we leave our decency aside and resort to vulgar talk and even physical fighting.

Now when one is fasting, he or she cannot do all of that. When he looks at the mouth watering food, he cannot even taste it and he has to give up snacking and nibbling as well as smoking cigarettes if he does. No Sexual passions have to be curtailed and when he is provoked to fight, he says "I am fasting that I cannot respond to your provocation".

To achieve God consciousness or God nearness, a better word, we are advised to do additional prayer and read the Quran.

The spiritual doctors of the heart are in agreement that fasting softens the heart, making it more receptive and humble to the recitation of the Qur’an. Perhaps this is the wisdom that links together fasting and night prayer, the two most distinctive acts of worship in the month of Ramadan.

Spiritual Objectives of Islamic Fasting:

Fasting is usually combined with additional prayer, mediation, reading and translating the Holy Quran and this combination helps in:

1.      Closeness to and consciousness of Allah

The Quran says:

“O you who believe! Observing As- Sawm (the fast) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun.”

The Muttaun are the pious believers of Islamic monotheism who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained).

2.      Sympathy with the poor and hungry

Anyone who has experienced the pangs of hunger while fasting must sympathy with the poor and with homeless refugees to whom hunger is a common experience. During the fasting month it is common express this sympathy by giving out food as and when one can afford it, and this practice is encourage at any tie of the year as an important act of charity. The act of giving food to those in need is made compulsory at the end of the fasting month when Zakatul-Fitr is to given out on behalf of every member of the family of those who have the mean.

3.      Unity, Brotherhood and Charity

The fast of Ramadan helps the Muslims to be aware of their unity. From the moment the new moon is seen, the whole Muslim world enters into the spiritual discipline of fasting. Mutual awareness and mutual sympathy between Muslims is increased. We try doing more acts of charity towards each other. We bear in mind that back-biting gossip, quarrelling and so on can take away the spiritual benefits and reward of our fasting, as shown in a Hadith from Abu Hurayrah in which the Prophet is reported to have said:

“If a person does not keep away from falsehood and false conduct Allah has no need of his fast.” (Bukhari). According to another Hadith “If someone tries to pick a quarrel with a Muslim who is fasting he is to control himself and reply

“I am fasting.”

By all these means Muslims cultivate peace and Fasting teaches man the principle of sincere love; because when he observes the fasting he does it out of deep love for Allah. And the man who loves Allah truly is a man who really knows what love is.

4.      The Virtues of Fasting

The virtues of fasting are great indeed, and one of the things reported in the authentic hadiths is that Allah has chosen fasting for Himself, and He will reward it and multiply the reward without measure, as He says [in the hadith qudsi]:“Except for fasting which is only for My sake, and I will reward him for it.” (Al-Bukhari).

·        Fasting has no equal (An-Nisa’i), and the du`a’ of the fasting person will not be refused (Al-Bayhaqi).

·        The fasting person has two moments of joy: one when he breaks his fast and one when he meets his Lord and rejoices over his fasting (Muslim).

·        Fasting will intercede for a person on the Day of Judgment, and will say, “O Lord, I prevented him from his food and physical desires during the day, so let me intercede for him.” (Ahmad)

·        The smell that comes from the mouth of a fasting person is better with Allah than the scent of musk. (Muslim)

·        Ramadan is extremely significant in Islam; the Qur’an was revealed in this month, and in it there is a night that is better than a thousand months. “When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are put in chains.” (Al-Bukhari).

Now how much do you learn about Ramadan and its spirituality? I sincerely want to believe you've learnt something that will get you through this Ramadan, 1438AH. I pray Allah extend our lives to witness Ramadan. I wish you a saheed (happy) Ramadan.

By Munirah Abudullah