Ramadan: The Blessed Month

“Ramadan Kareem” or “Ramazan Mubarik” goes the greeting to everyone, whether in person, on Social media, or on phones. It is a happy announcement, a joyous greeting for those who observe. Lovely memes with Qur’anic verses accompany greetings of the faithful to each other a day or two before the start of the Holy Month. “Sawm” is upholding of a beloved tradition, and obeying one of the most important command of the Lord,

“…you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous" -- Surat Al-Baqarah 2:183

Historically, Ramadan is the ninth month of Islamic Calendar. It is a holy month on many accounts. The first Chapter of the Holy Qur’an, Al-Baqra, articulates the emphasis on fasting multiple times; the Word of God, was reveled in the last few days of this holy month, because:

…[it is] a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you, ease and does not intend for you to experience hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.

-- Surat Al-Baqarah 2:185

“Sawm” or fasting, one of the five metaphorical pillars of Islam, is, therefore, an exercise of people that seek their Creator’s favors by remembering His blessings upon them, and by experiencing personally, how some of His children may be dependent on their fellow human beings to sustain their lives. The Arabic word “Soum” for fast means “abstaining” and therefore it is an entire month of abstinence from food, water & carnal pleasures, from before dawn to dusk, deliberately starving the body so that the spirit awakens. It awakens to its own potential: can one forgo all these pleasures of the material world, for the pleasure of the Creator?

“…But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.” -- Surat Al-Baqarah 2:184

This, then, becomes a month of grace and charity, another one of the five pillars, of giving Zakat, (mandatory giving to the poor and the deserving). The shape and form of a Muslim fast may be different, but every religion and philosophy recommends fasting for certain reasons, and on certain occasions. The purpose is to enhance one’s of spirituality. It thus become a gift for people of faith, and they gratefully and happily accept it. Without that promise of spiritual rejuvenation, fasting would be starvation, without much meaning to the practitioner. Would one take the opportunity to identify with the dispossessed, so that one can reflect on one’s own blessings?

What is going to be missed this Ramadan, will be the communal congregation of Taraveeh every evening in the local mosque, where the entire holy Qur’an is recited in parts. Muslim countries have Taraveeh congregations already cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic. The enthusiastic, happy preparation for the big reward: Eid-ul-Fitr, will also be missed. The first day of the new month will still dawn with every fasting adult and child touching a heap of money (amount determined every year, by the scholars). This money is fitrana, another form of mandatory charity, symbolic of gratitude to God, o be paid to the poor, even before offering the celebratory, communal prayers. Colorful, cultural, rituals will be missed this Ramadan & on Eid-ul-Fitur 2020, the tight hugs after the Eid prayers will be missed, the visits to family and friends will be missed, but there will always be hopes and passionate supplications for a better and normal tomorrow, for as the saying goes, hope is the weapon of the faithful.

Ghazala Afzal

Tutoring Coordinator, Writing and Liberal Arts