“Shall I not inform you of a better act than fasting, alms, and prayers? Making peace between one another: enmity and malice tear up heavenly rewards by the roots” – Prophet Muhammad
Ramadan Mubarak!
Our blessed month of fasting and charity has arrived! Muslims around the planet will be abstaining from food and drink from pre-dawn to sundown. Here in Austin, Texas that means from approximately 5:30 am to 8:30 pm. Lest you dismiss this as just another proof that Muslims are insane, I thought I might explain why we voluntarily go hungry for these 30 days.
Right around 610 A.D. in Arabia, an uneducated but good-hearted merchant named Muhammad used to take excursions out to the desert to spend time praying and pondering some of the injustice and misery he saw in his society. One evening, an angel named Gabriel appeared to him and commanded him to RECITE! And what came from Muhammad’s mouth were words of such exquisite beauty and eloquent language that those who heard it (including some of his enemies) were moved to tears. That was, of course, the beginning of the revelation we know as The Qur’an (which means, in English, The Recitation).
The night of the very first revelation of the Qur’an occurred during the Arabic month of Ramadan. Later, as Muhammad continued to receive revelations and more people heard the Message and embraced Islam, Ramadan was declared a holy month during which time all Muslims were to refocus their attention on their faith.
The main practice during Ramadan is fasting, which is also considered one of Five Pillars of our religion. During the hours that the sun shines, Muslims refrain from food, drink, and sexual contact. We also strive to make perfect prayers, read the Qur’an each day, offer charity to those in need, and meet together with other Muslims to encourage each other in our faith.
Fasting for 12-15 hours can be difficult, but the key to doing it successfully is waking up before dawn for a meal called suhoor. When the sun sets, Muslims are commanded to break the fast immediately and it’s common to do so with water and dates, as was the custom of Prophet Muhammad. We then partake in a break-fast meal called iftaar.
The benefits of fasting are many. First, it allows you to focus on the spiritual aspects of your life, putting your physical needs on the ‘back-burner’. Fasting has been done by religious people from the beginning of history as a way to purify the body and soul and teach self-control. But perhaps the most important benefit to fasting is that it teaches us to empathize with those who are hungry because they have no choice. Islam has a strong emphasis on social justice and on caring for those who are in need. It is easy for us to forget that there are millions of people who go to bed hungry or thirsty each night because they simply cannot afford food, or have no access to it.
For those of you fasting this month, I wish you all success. May Allah bless you and help you to keep your fast without hardship. May your sacrifices be given with a joyful heart. Ameen.
Asalaamo’alaikum!
