By Famidah Mundir-Dirampaten
Almost everybody knows that Ramadan is a month of fasting for Muslims around the world. But, beyond that, what do most non-Muslims know? Numerous Muslims themselves have no clue about the quintessence of fasting, which goes far beyond abstaining from eating and drinking from the crack of dawn to the onset of the night for a period of 29 to 30 days.
Fasting during Ramadan is a distinct pillar of Islam in which worship is performed by way of self-restraint. All of Islam’s other pillars are demonstrated by physical actions that can be witnessed by others.
During the fast, not only is abstinence from food observed, but also abstinence from intimacy, and throughout the month, one must abstain from doing harm or causing harm. A fast from lying, cheating, swearing, among other things. It truly provides an opportunity to reflect on one’s words and deeds. Without this abstention, the physical fast is pointless. As the Prophet (SAW) says, “Whoever does not cease speaking or acting falsely, then Allah does not need him to cease eating and drinking.” (Narrated by Abu Hurayrah, and recorded by al-Bukhari, Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah.)
Islam seeks to awaken our souls and elevate ourselves through self-control, by reminding us that our lives have meaning and that we are not simply here to consume, sleep and procreate. Rather, we are of a much higher status and have a much higher purpose. The goal is much more about embarking on a journey of iman (faith), releasing ourselves from our desires, and living the reality of the message by returning to Allah SWT.
Despite hunger and thirst and what you desire being right in front of you and no one seeing you, you will not actually touch anything or break your fast because you know Allah SWT is watching. This consciousness of Allah determines your behavior. It is not difficult to imagine someone secretly breaking his fast throughout the day, with no one knowing except Allah SWT.
In the Noble Qur’an (as translated into English), Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says:
“O’ you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may [gain taqwa].”(Qur’an 2: 183)
Taqwa is an Arabic word that essentially means “God-consciousness” or “piety.” This ayah pretty much says it all: fasting was decreed by Allah SWT to carry us nearer to His prowess, or in other words, to help us attain taqwa, as the ayah clearly states.
Fasting is the practice of self-restraint to pull us from physical pleasures to focus on the spiritual, to reflect on God’s blessings and our complete reliance on Him.
We need to grapple with something more substantial – and by accepting the challenge, we must battle our pride until we realize we are incapable of accomplishing anything on our own. It is only through the Almighty that we can succeed. Its main purpose is to develop a stronger human spirit characterized by will power, self-control, and a greater understanding of Allah’s power and presence.
While fasting is intended to develop self-control in individual Muslims, it ought to also awaken the social consciousness of observant Muslims to the plight of humanity’s suffering. An individual Muslim’s personal obedience to Allah must be linked to his social conformity to Him and His creatures. The intertwined nature of the personal and the society teaches us that we cannot isolate ourselves from the world around us. Fasting should serve as a stark reminder of the importance of social responsibility; otherwise, our fast will be little more than a dieting exercise.
Muslims gain first-hand experience of what it is like to be hungry and thirsty as a result of this yearly commitment. This instills feelings of compassion and empathy in the hearts of practicing Muslims for those who are suffering from hunger or are unable to feed themselves and their families. By and large, this creates a two-way sensitivity bridge, allowing devout Muslims to be genuine in their concern for those in need. Thus, when a Muslim expresses concern for the poor and the needy, he/she is speaking from personal experience. Furthermore, because everyone is expected to fast during Ramadan, it provides a sense of equality to both rich and poor, haves and have-nots.
Furthermore, Ramadan is a time for a strong sense of community and family spirit, as well as for mutual support. Throughout this time, many individuals and families pray, eat, and share support with one another through a variety of means. The annual Ramadan celebration this year is better prepared than two years ago when the pandemic was at its zenith. Community activities such as family iftars and group prayers have resumed as restrictions have been lifted across the globe as the pandemic abates.
The fasting that Muslims worldwide observe during the same lunar month is undoubtedly one of the factors that unify the Muslim community. Moreover, it provides an avenue for strengthening family bonds and fostering community through various acts of generosity.
About the Author
Famidah Dirampaten is a candidate for the Master of Arts in Religious Studies with concentrations in Interfaith Peace Building and Nonprofit Leadership at the Unification Theological Seminary in New York. She is currently based in Doha, Qatar. Instagram @famidz