The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Significance of Ramadhan fasting

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Wednesday, Oct 01, 2008
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Significance of Ramadhan fasting

Fasting, during the sacred month of Ramadhan, nineth month in Islamic lunar calendar, has been prescribed by Almighty Allah for every adult healthy Muslim, except the sick and the traveler, who shall make amends for the missed fasts later. We must remember the words of Allah, “Allah tasketh not a soul beyond its capabilities”. It lays down a pattern to be followed during the rest of the year to lead truly a pure and truthful life to attain proximity to your Ben evolent Creator.

Muslims abstain not only from all food and drink from the sight of Dawn (Sehri) to Dusk (Iftar) but also from “idle pleasures and unlawful acts. Fasting is a gateway to worship and like fasting, prayers at fixed times are enjoined at five times a day. Almighty Allah says, “And observe ye the times of prayers and fear ye God, for it is He to Whom you shall be gathered” (6:72).

The Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammed (Sal) “as a guidance to mankind and to explain that guidance, and to afford illumination (a criteria to distinguish between truth and untruth” (2:18.3), during this sacred month – a month rich of its graces, - “the Night of Power” Lailathul Qadre falling on one of the odd nights of the last 10 days. During this month, the gates of Heaven are more open and the Muslim individual and the community are able to purify themselves with the aid of Divine Grace.

It is a night of rich blessings and forgiveness. Hazrath Aisha (RA) relates “I asked the Messenger of Allah, what supplication should I recite in the Lailathul Qadre, the Holy Prophet said, “O Allah, You are surely Most Forgiving and You like forgiveness, forgive me also”.”

The Messenger of Allah recited Quran extensively and gave charity in plenty. Says the Holy Prophet, “For every good deed there is a measure of reward; but for a fast, says Allah, He Himself is the reward”. While every act of worship is open, fasting alone is just known to the individual and His Benevolent Creator. It helps the fasting man to exercise self restraint and strike at the root of all carnal appetites. It helps him in chartering his life on nobler plane, thereby shielding him from all evil thoughts and deeds. He becomes more responsive to be sufferings of others, when he has himself experienced such privations. It helps him to rein in animal passion and makes him realise that there is something God-like in him and that he feels that he “wears the armour of God Almighty against the world and that instills in his body the purity of death, “that purity and incorruptibility which are crystal hard and immutable yet transparent as light”. It is a shield against all sins, a reaffirmation that fasting makes a man pious. “The odour of the mouth of a man who fasts is more pleasing to Allah than the aroma of musk”. The culmination of fasting is celebrated the world over by the Muslims wherever they are scattered, gathering in open spaces before Noon and in to presence of Almighty to offer their prayers of thankfulness, standing shoulder to shoulder, obliterating all their tags of identify of rank and status, proclaiming to the world that the solution to this battered world lies in the eternal Islamic message of Oneness of God and Brotherhood of man.

Lion FIRDAUS K AHMED

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