mind and heart," says Imam Gayth Nur Kashif, Director of Washington,
DC's inner city Masjid ash-Shura.
Imam Kashif, who came to Islam by way of the Black Muslim movement and
was an editor of the movement's Muhammad Speaks newspaper and a
contemporary of MalcolmX, explains: "During Ramadan one concentrates
on rendering good and abstaining from the wrong. Such a pursuit
creates peaceful serenity in the hearts of men and women. Ramadan
fastingcannot be complete and in fact, the fast can be invalidated if
one fails to control his or her temper.The fasting persons are advised
to refrain from argument and to inform the other party that they
cannot continue the troublesome dialogue because they are engaged in
the sublime obligation of fasting. Without doubt a full month of such
restraint isdestined to leave its markupon our bodies and souls."
The fasting during Ramadan that requires certain restraints from dawn
to dusk, the hours when the human interaction is the greatest, is
designed to mould the lives of its practitioners.
Dr. Molook Roghanizad, amember of the Curriculum Advisory Committee of
the Fairfax County School Board in Virginia and an educational
consultant, says, "Ramadan fasting offers an opportunity forTazkiyah,
- the cleansing of the self - through its disciplinary regimen. Andon
another level, Ramadan offers a unique opportunity for synthesizing
with the lessfortunate."
She points out that the tazkiyah aspect is clearly emphasized by
Prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam) who, according to
Ka'b ibn Malik, said:
"Two hungry wolves sentagainst a herd of sheep will not do more
damageto it than a man's eagerness for wealth andprestige does to his
religion."[Cited in Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi and Abu Yahya]
"The Quran," she adds, "started to be revealed during Ramadan and it
is recommended that during this month we concentrate on the reading of
the Quran. Why? This is because during this month, we are less
involved with physical needs and have a better opportunity of
understanding the Message – the Quran, thatis. Therefore there is a
better chance of understanding the truth and reaching that spiritual
elevation that we all desire." This state of 'special elevation', she
is says comes when we elevate ourselves through understanding the true
message. "The moment you have reached the absolute truth is your
Lailut ul Qadr, the Night of Power," she stresses.
She says that the real attainment of Qadr for ordinary beings is not a
physical act, nothing sort of pulling a spiritual rabbit out of a hat,
but inreality that indescribable moment when all things become clear
to you and this moment of truth is worth one thousand months, more
than a lifetime. Considering the ambience of spirituality, there is a
chance that is other worldly experienceof a person, the Qadr, may
occur in Ramadan. The Qur'an says:"But those will prosper who purify
themselves and glorify of their Guardian-Lord and (lift their hearts)
in Prayer."(87:14-15)
Dr. Muhammad Hamidullah, 95, the eminent scholar and translator of the
Quran into French, in his monograph Why Fast? (Centre Culturale
Islamique, Wilkes Barre, PA) discusses the physical aspect of fasting.
He likens fasting to the break from the ordinary to sleeping and to
the weekend breaks in work and school. He points out that just as
sleep renovates the body, the fast rejuvenates and invigorates the
body, noting that Prophet Muhammad said, "There is a tax on
everything, the tax of the body beingthe fast."
What is fasting does to a Muslim is perhaps best explained by Jim
Quraishi, who wrote in an internet religion forum, "I am much more
forgiving and accepting of my coworkers. I am more liable to overlook
their frailties and petty jealousies. I'm like a man who knows that at
the end of the day there is a pot of gold that awaits him."
Islam does order withdrawal nor asceticism, however those who desire
can undertake itikaf, that is to confine oneself to a secluded corner
of a mosque – women can select a corner at home - during the last ten
days of Ramadan to devote their full-time to prayer and remembrance of
God. The itikaf experience can be likened to a retreat in a secluded
camp. Ibn `Umarsaid, "The Messenger of Allah [Prophet Muhammad] used
to seclude himself for the last ten days of the month of Ramadan."
Dr. Alija Izetbekovic, former President of Bosnia, (Islam Between East
& West, American Trust Publications, p. 210)says: "The Islamic fast
which is the union of asceticism and joy – and even pleasure in
certain cases – is the most natural and most radical educational
measure thathas ever been put into practice. It is equally present in
the king's palace and the peasant's hut, in a philosopher's home and a
worker's home. Its greatest advantage is that it is really practiced."
The fasting during Ramadan has been ordained for Muslims as fasting
had been ordained for people that preceded them. Prophet Muhammad,
addressing his companions on the last day of Sha`ban, the preceding
month, said:"Opeople! A great month has come over you; a blessed
month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months;
month in which Allah has made it compulsory uponyou to fast by day,
and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by
performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall
receive the same reward as performing an obligatorydeed at any other
time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall
receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other
time. It is the month of patience, and the rewardof patience is
Heaven. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer's
sustenance is increased. Whoever givesfood to a fasting person to
break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved
from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the
fasting person, without his reward being diminishedat all."[Narrated
by Ibn Khuzaymah]
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