Ramadan Illustration

Ramadan Mubarak

A Blessed Month of Reflection and Devotion

"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may attain piety." (Quran 2:183)

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What Is Ramadan?

It’s not a hunger strike or an unusual fad diet... It’s Ramadan, the 9th month on the Islamic calendar and a blessed period of fasting during daylight hours that purifies the soul and unites Muslims in worship of the Creator. Among the many benefits of Ramadan, Muslims practice self-control and experience what the world’s hungry experience on a daily basis. Ramadan provides numerous opportunities for self-improvement, making one more humble, generous, and inclined towards good deeds.

Many Muslims spend the month of Ramadan performing acts of charity and working to quit bad habits, like smoking or backbiting. By fasting, Muslims perform a vital act of worship that was practiced by all of Islam’s Prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them).

"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint." (Quran 2:183)

The month of Ramadan suffuses the whole environment with a spirit of righteousness, virtue, and piety. As flowers blossom in spring, so does taqwa (God-consciousness) in Ramadan.

Its Importance

Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as guidance for humanity, distinguishing right from wrong. It is a time of immense spiritual benefit, forgiveness, and divine mercy.

“Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

In Ramadan, whoever provides food to a person who is fasting to break their fast will earn forgiveness for their sins, deliverance from the Fire, and as much reward as the one who is fasting, without any reduction in the recompense of the latter. (Baihaqi)

Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas tells that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to become unusually kind and generous during Ramadan. No beggar in that period went empty-handed from his door, and as many slaves as possible were set free. (Baihaqi)

The Spirit of Fasting

The spirit of fasting is to make a believer strong, active, and develop taqwa (God-consciousness). It transforms individual worship into collective worship, where fasting together as a community multiplies the moral and spiritual benefits many times over.

Fasting has been prescribed to instill fear and love of God, strengthening willpower and character. It trains a believer to avoid seemingly profitable but displeasing acts to Allah and to embrace what pleases Him, even if it comes with sacrifice.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized that fasting is not just about hunger and thirst, but about upholding the true spirit of worship. Without sincerity and righteousness, fasting holds no value in the sight of Allah.

Abstention From Falsehood

"If one does not give up speaking falsehood and acting by it, Allah has no need for his giving up food and drink." (Bukhari)

He also said:

"Many are the people who fast but gain nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst; and many are those who stand praying all night but gain nothing except sleeplessness." (Darimi)

The lesson is clear: real worship during fasting means avoiding all forms of disobedience, not just abstaining from food and drink.

True Spirit of Fasting

Faith and self-scrutiny are essential. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"Whoever observes the Fast, believing and counting, has all his past sins forgiven." (Bukhari, Muslim)

Believing means keeping faith in God alive, while counting means seeking only Allah’s pleasure, constantly reflecting on one's actions, and trusting in the rewards promised by Allah and His Messenger. Through this sincerity, past sins are forgiven, as a true penitent is like one who has never sinned at all. (Ibn Majah)

Shield Against Sins

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said:

"The Fast is like a shield [for protection from Satan’s attack]. Therefore when one observes the Fast, he should [use this shield and] abstain from quarrelling. If anybody abuses him or quarrels with him, he should simply say: Brother, I am fasting." (Bukhari, Muslim)

Objectives of Fasting

The objectives of fasting are not just about abstaining from food and drink, but understanding what to do, when to do it, how to do it, and why to do it. One of the fundamental purposes of fasting is to transform your entire life into the worship (‘Ibadah) of Allah.

Fasting is a deeply personal form of worship known only to Allah. While others may not see whether one is truly fasting, Allah is always aware. From the pre-dawn meal (Suhur) until sunset (Iftaar), believers abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs as an act of obedience and devotion.

Allah tests the faith of believers through this daily discipline over an entire month. Emerging from this trial strengthens a person’s ability to resist sin and increases their awareness of God.

"O believers! Fasting is ordained for you, even as it was ordained for those before you, that you might attain to God-consciousness." (Quran 2:183)

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"Every good deed of a person is multiplied from ten to seven hundred times. But Allah says: Fasting is an exception; it is exclusively for Me, and I reward for it as much as I wish." (Bukhari, Muslim)

Fasting as a Way to Piety

Fasting was prescribed to help believers attain taqwa (God-consciousness). By controlling physical desires for the sake of Allah, a Muslim develops self-discipline, patience, and a heightened awareness of the Creator, carrying these qualities into everyday life.

Misconceptions of Fasting

One of the common misconceptions about fasting is reducing it to merely abstaining from food and drink from morning till evening. Many believe that by doing only this, they have fulfilled the worship of Allah. However, the real spirit of ‘Ibadah (worship) is often overlooked, which is why the full benefits of fasting are not achieved.

In Islam, every act of worship depends on sincere intention and true understanding. The purpose of fasting is not just the physical form of refraining from food, but the deeper goal of spiritual refinement and self-restraint.

Consider the contradiction: a person who fasts, supposedly engaging in the worship of God, yet lies, slanders others, quarrels without cause, violates the rights of others, or earns and spends wealth through unlawful means. How can such actions align with the true worship of Allah during fasting?

The answer is clear: fasting is not complete if it is limited to hunger and thirst while the heart and actions remain disconnected from righteousness and sincerity.

Daily Reminders

Each day of Ramadan brings a new opportunity for spiritual growth. Hover over the quotes below:

“Whoever feeds a fasting person will earn reward.”

“Fasting is a shield from sins.”

“Remember Allah often and practice patience.”

Contact

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