Assalamua'laikum,
The main aim of fasting in Islam is to become God-consious (taqwa, as
mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 183). It is not mere abstinence from food,
drink, and sexual activity but as explained in a few hadeeth, also about
teaching oneself about patience: to abstain from vain speech and foul language
(when angry, being provoked and feeling annoyed, to abstain from lying,
deceiving, slander and slanderous behaviour, backbitting, ungodly oaths and
uncontrolled/unlawful lustful behaviour.
These lessons of self-discipline does not nullify the fast as eating,
drinking and sexual activity does, but it ruins the fast and its purpose- to
obtain taqwa.
The root word for Taqwa is "waqa", which means to preserve,
protect, to provide security. Bad behaviour affects the person who does it and
people around him or her, it is irrelevant whether this effect is obvious to
other people or not and whether the effect and consequence is observable in this
world or not.
It is a fear of Allah; fear that comes from an acute sense of
responsibility, here and in the hereafter. (re-quoted from page 20. See below
for reference). It is a normal fear which we feel due to our love for a loved
one. It is abnormal to say we don't feel fear in any special
relationship.
It is normal. There are seven traits and actions that are signs of feeling
love for another: (taken from the material for the topic
"mahabatullah")
1. always remembering it (arabic kasratudz zikr)
2. a feeling of adoration for it (arabic al-i'jab)
3. a highly tolerant behaviour towards it (arabic ar-ridha)
4. a willingness to sacrifice for it (arabic at-tadhiyyah)
5. fearful feelings in relation to it (arabic khauf)
6. hopeful feelings in relation to it (arabic ar-raja')
7. a sort of loyalty to it (arabic at-tho'ah)
Love, Good, Evil and Harm is as defined by Allah, as is all things is
defined by Allah in the guide for man to live on this temporary earth; this
guide is Islam, and the example is set by The Prophet Muhammad, may peace be
upon him.
But it is not easy to set our definition to follow another's. To suppress
our desires and wants, impulses, reactions and responses to follow a set of
rules, limits, definitions. Especially if other people around us do not live by
those definitions and rules either. And especially sometimes, when we are
provoked, challenged, brainwashed, deceived, or enticed.
It is not easy.
It is in my opinion, that some Muslimah especially, do not see what is the
'harm' in not covering one's aurat properly and they probably feel there is
some 'harm' to them in covering themselves as specifically ordained and
detailed by Islam. This is what I mean by; we need to define concepts by how it
is defined by Allah, Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him.
It is not easy. But it is not impossible.
Fasting requires a special obediance to Allah. Anyone can parade him or
herself as fasting and then eat or drink in secrecy. In this, I believe Allah
is teaching all muslims to be hopeful for his and her muslim brethren. He or
she may appear to be lewd or crass or ill-behaved or the likes of it, but if he
or she appears to be fasting, we should make do'a that his or her special
obediance will make a difference to them and increase their taqwa and iman.
Hunger and thirst is not the goal of the obligatory fast in Ramadhan but to
the very least of hopes- it would bring about some good to the fasting Muslim.
In a hadeeth authenticated by Imam Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said
that fasting is like a shield. Let us make do’a that the shield from food and
drink will affect the heart and soul of every fasting Muslim. And let us be an
example to them, especially during the breaking of the Ramadhan fast: to be
moderate and health-conscious as a part of being God-conscious. You cannot be
God-conscious without being health-conscious; taking good care of the body
Allah gave you.
From page 37:
“The spirit as well as the secret of prescribed fasting is
to weaken the flesh, which is the human ego’s tool for turning the self back to
wrongdoing.”
A physically weak person can’t afford to be truly egoistic. A
physically ill and weak person may sometimes choose to appear to be overtly
bitter, but really he or she is feeling inferior and disabled. The fasting
Muslim is at least the most hungry and thirsty right before the moment to break
his or her fast- after a long day.
“The weakening of the flesh is never achieved unless a
person reduces his food to the amount of food which he would have eaten in the
evening if he were not fasting.”
We should be careful not to overburden or ‘shock’ our stomach
during iftar, since it has not received food or drink for at least 10-12 hours.
I dare say that Allah is DIRECTLY teaching us to be health-conscious with the
Ramadhan fast and the sunnah of the breaking of the fast.
From page 53:
“Ramadhan is all about change”
This makes me want to ask myself and others, what good and
change has your fast brought about to you today? I should strive to remind
myself that Ramadhan is all about the Birth of a new, better, me.
Quotations taken from the book: The Blessings of Ramadhan by
Javed Ali, published by Goodwordkidz.