Reflection: Ramadhan 1434- Book Review

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.