Ramadan, an Exquisite Plan
by Bushra Ahmed
The Light (UK), December 2006 Issue (pp. 3–4)
Due to traditional and cultural values we lose sight of the significance of Ramadan. Also with the insight and proper understanding of this occasion, perhaps the inner struggle of fighting hunger and general behavioral control becomes easier to manage. The Holy Quran says:
شَہۡرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِیۡۤ اُنۡزِلَ فِیۡہِ الۡقُرۡاٰنُ ہُدًی لِّلنَّاسِ وَ بَیِّنٰتٍ مِّنَ الۡہُدٰی وَ الۡفُرۡقَانِ ۚ
“The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for guidance for mankind and the criterion for right and wrong.” [The Holy Quran, 2:185]
During this month the Mighty and Majestic Allah sent down the first verses of His Book as a guide to us and a way to choose the best possible path laid out before us. You may ask: So what if the Quran was revealed, why fast for the whole month? It is because great importance is placed on this Book. There was great hardship and struggle to put this Book together. If we remember this time in history, we will allow more time to read the Holy Book and that will initiate and encourage abiding by the guidance provided. Perhaps due to Allah’s bountiful wisdom He has made the Quran 30 parts long to coincide with the days of a month, which are approximately 30, allowing us to complete reciting of the Quran in this Holy month.
The purpose for fasting according to the Holy Quran is for Taqwa or righteousness. It is the month for doing right and gaining reward. Allah through His mercy and compassion sent down a Book for guidance and also opened the doors of Heaven for this month so as to let more people to enter therein. This has been said on various occasions by the Prophet (peace be upon him). We should show some sort of gratitude to Allah for giving us this chance.
How does Ramadan start? The sighting of a thin crescent of the moon indicates the first night of the whole month. This can be done by the naked eye or through various technological methods discovered recently. Ramadan goes by the lunar calendar which causes the time for it to shift about 12 days ahead every year around the world. This means all countries get a chance to have short or long times for fasting depending on the calendar.
The duration of one fast is throughout the day. We eat before dawn and after sunset. The time for Sehri [Suhoor] is in the early hours of the morning and Iftari [Iftar] is just before maghrib in the evening.
Towards the end of Ramadan, even more mercy is shown on the night known as Lailat-ul-Qadr [The Night of Majesty]. It occurs in the last ten nights of Ramadan. We must stay up and pray as much as we can till Fajr. It is the best time to have our prayers answered.
The whole of Ramadan is by far not easy. It is said in a proverb:
‘Heaven is surrounded by hardships and Hell by desire’.
Allah has ordained us to do something that would be a struggle and cause hardship but simultaneously is helpful to us in particular for our health, mind, body and soul. It also helps us to be humane. This develops our character. It builds our strength and changes our perspective on life.
Specifically, it is advantageous to us in the following ways. It helps our digestive system, it is beneficial to our organs, it teaches self control and self discipline. It forbids bad habits such as lying or foul speech or arguing, falsehood, sexual intercourse and encourages alms giving as well as many other things.
If, however, you are unable to keep fast for a genuine reason such as illness, taking medication, are pregnant, also if you are a traveller, then you must abstain from fasting. However you must make up for it later. This is why perhaps fasting lasts only a month, so as we have the rest of the year to catch up! If, however, you will not even be able to keep the fast later, then a fixed amount of money known as fidya must be paid for all the unfortunate people of the world who cannot afford food let alone fasting.
The reward for fasting, in short, as promised by Allah, is reward and recompense in this life and the hereafter. In fact Allah loves it so much that He has said:
“The smell of your breath during fast is more aromatic than musk”.
I pray during this period that all our brothers and sisters be rewarded for all their efforts and struggle made not only in Ramadan but all throughout the year.