purity to inculcate in man willpower, composure, and
determination.Ramadanequips Muslims with the art of endurance and
stamina to face alladversities and overcome all obstacles and
difficulties of life. The Prophetused to congratulate his Companions
at the beginning ofRamadan, saying: "O people! The month of Ramadan
has come to you, a blessed month for the duration of which Allaah has
prescribed fasting for you. In it the gates of Paradise are open, the
gates of Hellfire are shut, and the devils are chained up. There is a
night]during this month[ which is better than a thousand months.
Whoever is deprived of its good is really deprived ]of something
great[." ]Ahmad and An-Nasaa'i[
In another version of the same Hadeeth )narration(, the Prophetadded:
"A caller calls out every night: 'O seeker of good, draw near; come to
Allaah! O seeker of evil, desist!' Allaah will have emancipated some
people from the Fire, and that happens every night." ]At-Tirmithi,
Al-Bayhaqi, and Ibn Hibbaan[
Ramadanis a holistic spiritually rejuvenating experience. It teaches
self-discipline, self-restraint and engenders the willpower to abstain
from what was deemed forbidden by Allaah The Almighty. It imbues man
with an honest dedication and submission to the will of Allaah The
Exalted, abiding by His commands and implementing Hislaws in all
facets of life.Ramadanteaches man to renounce whatever harms his
religion, worldly affairs, or body. It is a great annual training for
character-building, self-discipline,spiritual and physical
purificationof one's faculties and feelings both. Thus, one can attain
Taqwa)piety, fear of Allaah, God-consciousness, and righteousness( in
all times, places and situations, if he strivesto attain spiritual
rejuvenation.
He should also learn the sublime lessons ofRamadanthrough devoting his
days and nights to worship, refraining from all sins and misdeeds and
exercising self-discipline over one's facultiesto refrain from doing
what is impermissible. Thus, a fasting person can successfully go
through such a spiritual experience and victoriously triumph over
himself. Such a fasting person would save his talents and physical and
moral potentials as well as energy to face the enemies of Islam.
Indeed, the month ofRamadanisa great opportunity to pause for
self-reflection and self-reproach. It is a time of introspection and
self-evaluation in order to set therecords straight, make up for one's
past mistakes, and obviate potential mistakes or misdeeds before it is
too late. Such an opportunity to attain Taqwa, for those whom Allaah
The Exalted guides to Taqwa, a motivation todo good deeds and acts of
worship since people are inclinedtowards goodness. The rebellious
devils are chained up during the month ofRamadan, so they are unable
to incite and tempt people the way they do at other times. During the
month ofRamadan, the gates of Paradise are opened and those of
Hellfire are closed.
On each night ofRamadan, Allaah The Exalted saves many people from
Hellfire. Moreover, the rewards of ]worship on[ the Night of Al-Qadar
is better than the rewards of ]worship on[ of a thousand months. What
great glad tidings! If we ponder on such words, we would hasten to do
good deeds, compete with one another in doing good, refrain from grave
sins, ignore satisfying the desires of the flesh,and seize the great
opportunity ofRamadanto achieve Taqwa.
Indeed,Ramadanis an opportunity to relish Taqwa; to become among the
righteous, devout and pious servants. AllaahThe Almighty Says )what
means(:}O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was
decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.{ ]Quran
2:183[
The verse highlights the objectiveof fasting. Allaah The Almighty Says
)what means(: }…that you may become righteous.{ ]Quran 2:183[ This
indicates that the greatest benefit and the main rationale behind
fasting is attaining Taqwa. 'Umar ibn Al-Khattaabasked the revered
Companion Ubayy ibn Ka'babout the meaning of Taqwa. Ubayy ibn
Ka'breplied, "O Commander of the Believers! What would you do if you
walked on a thorny road?" 'Umarreplied, "I would raise my garment and
be cautious not to let my clothes get entangled in the thorns and
strive not to step on one of them." Ubayy ibn Ka'bsaid, "This is
Taqwa."
Taqwa is sensitivity of the conscience, transparency of feelings, a
continuous fear, permanent caution, and avoidance of the thorns on the
road. The path of life is full of thorns that symbolize lusts and
desires. There are thorns of fears and concerns, thorns of temptations
and vices, and thorns of false hope in someone who cannot fulfill
one's needs. The path of life abounds with thorns of forged fear of
those who can neither benefit nor harm us and dozens of other thorns.
This is what is meant by Taqwa.
If the concept of Taqwa is not yetclear, let us ponder on the wise
words of 'Ali ibn Abu Taalibreflecting on piety. He said, "It is the
fear of Allaah The Exalted, abiding by the commands in the Noble Quran
in one's life, feeling content with whatever little provision one has,
and preparing for the day of departure."
This is the genuine meaning of Taqwa. Where do we stand in relation to
such a refined concept?
To be continued …
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