What Ramadan means to world of Islam

The Irish Times ^ | 11/13/2001 | Fazel Ryklief

[a_Turk]

The Muslim holy month fast of Ramadan begins on Friday. Fazel Ryklief explains its significance to Islam

RITE AND REASON The scrolls of Prophet Abraham were revealed to him in the month of Ramadan, as were the Psalms, Torah and Injeel all revealed to David, Moses, and Jesus respectively during this holy month.

After Faith, Prayers and Charity, the most important pillar of Islam is Sawm (Fasting) during the month of Ramadan (the 9th month of the Islamic Calendar). Sawm literally means, "to abstain".

Fasting during the month of Ramadan was ordained on the followers of Islam in the second year of the Prophet Muhammad's (Peace and blessings be upon him) migration to Medina. It is a month in which Muslims abstain from food before the break of dawn till sunset.

Since Ramadan is a lunar month, it rotates around the year and falls in all the possible seasons over a period of 35 years. This way, wherever you live around the globe, you will get to fast during all the seasons instead of fasting only on long summer days or on short winter days.

It is a month of self-regulation and self-training, with the hope that this training will last beyond the end of Ramadan. The lessons learnt during this holy month can be beneficial for one's entire life. One of the primary purposes of fasting is the inculcation of discipline, self-restraint and patience.

The fasting entails not only refraining from food, drink, and marital relations during the daylight hours, but other important aspects of this sacred time. One is to remember not only the outward acts of fasting, but also its underlying purpose:

"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before so that you may attain taqwa (consciousness of Allah SWT)." (Koran)

There are numerous spiritual benefits from fasting. It is a means of acquiring taqwa (piety), without which a Muslim cannot gain closeness to the Almighty. The main benefit in the pursuit of piety is the suppression of the erratic demands of one's desires.

If these desires are allowed freedom, then they will succeed in making man a slave of lust, passion and base emotions, thus allowing one's faith to suffer. Therefore it is essential that the desires be restrained. Fasting helps in restraining these desires. It helps inculcate faith. Furthermore, it strengthens the bond with the Almighty.

Fasting trains the will to avoid desires and keep away from sin; it helps one to overcome one's own nature and to wean one away from bad habits. It also trains a person to get used to being organised and punctual.

Man becomes more aware and conscious of the less fortunate, which in turn teaches man to sacrifice his wealth and assist others in need. Thus the feeling for humanity is generated and increased in man.

For the acquisition of the numerous virtues and benefits of fasting, there are however some essential conditions; one of them is that a person takes extra precaution in making sure he/she abstains from sin and futility. A person should spend much of his time in praying and reflecting on the changes that he/she should make in order to make him/her a better human being.

If one does not abstain from sin and futility then his/her fasting will merely be staying hungry and thirsty, without any reward or spiritual upliftment.

Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) said "Allah says, 'every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except for fast. Verily, fasting is for Me, and I shall apportion out the reward for it' ".

It is further said, "For a fasting person, there are two pleasures, which please him. When he eats upon completing the fast, he becomes happy, and when he will meet his Lord he will be pleased due to his fast".

Fasting in Islam is in no way related to penance for sins nor is it regarded as a means of appeasing God's wrath as in some religions.

Ramadan is in fact an enjoyable time. A special atmosphere prevails in homes, Mosques and communities as a whole. Muslims look forward to the coming of Ramadan with great longing and expectation and feel certain sadness when the month is at an end.

This year Ramadan starts on November 16th. We in Ireland will have to start our fast at around 6a.m. and end the it at around 4.30 p.m.

This to most Muslims in Ireland is a short fast. In most Muslim homes people will rise at 5a.m. and eat a breakfast, which may consist of cereals, fruit, bread and a beverage.

They will stop eating at 6a.m., perform a prayer and may go back to bed or prepare for the day ahead.

Those who can get back in time for breaking the fast at home or at the Mosque will do so, but others will wait until they finish work, school or college.

They will break the fast at the prescribed time with either fruit or a drink or any other food that is available and then return home or to the Mosque to eat.

In Dublin the Islamic Foundation of Ireland and the Islamic Cultural Centre will prepare meals for the fasting person. Anyone who is fasting can partake of the meal.

Last year the Islamic Centre prepared close to 400 meals per day for the month of Ramadan. Particularly in the month of Ramadan most students or single people would come to the Mosque to break their fasts because many feel a sense of belonging and the community spirit is better when they sit and eat together. Many students feel homesick during this month because they would miss the atmosphere of Ramadan at home during this special month.

The end of Ramadan marks the celebration of Id ul-Fitar. Muslims all over the world will celebrate this occasion by exchanging presents, dressing up in their best attire and by eating the best foods that they can afford.

This year many Muslims will feel a great sense of sadness for the people of Afghanistan who are fleeing the bombing there.

They are not be as fortunate as us because many are starving and have to endure the constant barrage of bombing which will make the month of Ramadan excruciatingly hard indeed for them.

They will be remembered with great sadness.

We will also ponder on the innocent people of Iraq who are enduring sanctions which are resulting in 5,000 children dying every month, and on the plight of the Palestinian peoples.

We will also remember September 11th, when 6,000 people were killed.

I believe this Ramadan will be a soul-searching month for all Muslims.

[a_Turk]

This article posted FYI, and not to draw outbursts of hatred. The article contains information which some of you may be lacking.

Fazel Ryklief is administrator at the Islamic Foundation of Ireland

[Hodar]

"We will also remember September 11th, when 6,000 people were killed."

Having witnessed the celebrations by Mud-slums at the deaths of 5,000 American innocents, I find it fairly offensive that mud-slums would now expect us to respect their version of Christmas. I saw celebrations all around the world, at the attrocity committed agains us. Celebrations not only in the mid-east, but in Asia (Singapore, specifically), Turkey, Africa, Barcelona and elsewhere. Even in war, America would never do another country, what "peaceful, god-fearing" mud-slums did to us. Even in war, if a group of degenerates took it upon themselves to commit a similar attrocity against mud-slums, we would be outraged ......... I can honestly say that we wouldn't celebrate that. If you act like inhuman animals, expect to be treated like animals. I have greater respect for a leech, than a mudslums; for at least a leech doesn't pretend it isn't a leech.

[MaxwellWolf]

I read some emails from a guy in Saudi Arabia and he said most people are irritable and short-tempered during Ramadan. He said it gets worse near the end of Ramadan.

[ThePoetsRaven]

Fasting was ordained

So was not eating meat on Fridays for Irish Catholics...but they still did it. Who cares about man made laws?

[GuillermoX]

Arabs and Muslims are irritable all the time, not just during Ramadan.

[wideawake]

Thanks, a_Turk, but this article does not get a free pass.

This year many Muslims will feel a great sense of sadness for the people of Afghanistan who are fleeing the bombing there.

I wonder if those same Muslims felt a great sense of sadness during Ramadan last year, when the same Afghanistanis were suffering under Taliban misrule. I doubt it.

They are not be as fortunate as us because many are starving and have to endure the constant barrage of bombing which will make the month of Ramadan excruciatingly hard indeed for them.

They will be remembered with great sadness.

We'll pass over the fact that the bombing is not a constant barrage to 95% of the population there. And their hunger has nothing to do with any bombing campaign. They were just as hungry last year as they groaned under the Taliban yoke. I'd like to see a similar article Mr. Ryklief wrote last year decrying that situation. But I know I won't.

We will also ponder on the innocent people of Iraq who are enduring sanctions which are resulting in 5,000 children dying every month,

This figure of 60,000 childhood mortalities is false, no matter how many times the lie is repeated. Such mortality in Iraq is the same today as it was before the Gulf War. This bit of propaganda was dreamt up by UN ideologues who presented no data to substantiate their claim.

and on the plight of the Palestinian peoples.

Does Mr. Ryklief give any thought to the much more dire plight of the Christians of the Sudan, or the Moluccas? Of course not. Since Muslims are murdering them it's fine by him.

We will also remember September 11th, when 6,000 people were killed.

Oh, you'll remember it, Fazel? Bully for you. Everyone without amnesia will too. Funny though - you said you'd remember the Muslims in Afghanistan with sadness, whereas the murdered - oh, I'm sorry, killed - infidels apparently deserve no such emotional regard.

I'll remember your moral rudderlessness, Mr. Ryklief. I'll remember that.

[Martin Tell]

This article posted FYI, and not to draw outbursts of hatred.

Well said, and I know where your loyalties are (in all sincerity, you and many, many Turks are very good friends to America). This should not be an opportunity for hatred. Americans are hurting, justifiably seeking justice against the terrorists, and also justifiably suspicious of (some) Muslims. This article does not help to reduce those suspicions by loudly protesting the US bombing of Afganistan and the Iraqi sanctions, promoting the Palestinian cause, then, almost as an afterthought, noting that "We will also remember September 11th, when 6,000 people were killed."

Finally, I do join in the hope that "this Ramadan will be a soul-searching month for all Muslims." I pray that the forthcoming month of Advent will be the same for Christians. Remember we have Holy times as well!

[a_Turk]

There were no celebrations in Turkey, only a 2000 person demonstration against the war. We have are a nation of 70 million.

Also, I am a mud-slum, if you prefer. Peace be with you.

[wideawake]

Not eating meat on Fridays is not, and never was, considered of divine ordinance. Please get your facts straight.

[Cyber Liberty]

I've been pondering this for a while: Is it bad form for the US to be sending in food shipments during a month where they're supposed to be fasting?

[a_Turk]

Granted that the article concludes with a skewed perspective. I was hoping that you could see past the BS. Did you?

[a_Turk]

Is it bad form for the US to be sending in food shipments during a month where they're supposed to be fasting?

ROFLMAO! Love that sense of humor!

[Lejes Rimul]

Please abstain from calling more than 1 billion people worldwide 'mud-slums'. Really, is that the best you can do? I'd expect more from kindergardeners.

[ikanakattara]

My understanding is that the Ramadan rules are very flexible for those who are pregnant, sick, nursing, old, very young, etc. I certainly think that the starving would be entitled to eat food during the daylight hours of Ramadan. Both reasonable Muslims and Christians have a good understanding of God's mercy.

[onedoug]

A muslim former co-worker used to tell me of his and his family's Ramadan fasts.

They would essentially binge on a large evening meal, then make sure to awaken before daylight and do the same for breakfast.

I mused that I couldn't really understand the nature of sacrifice in that particular practice...and he never did clarify it very much for me.

[onedoug]

#13: Well, let those who are not islamists claim it.

[wideawake]

I understand the rationale behind Ramadan. Fasting is a form of piety recommended in the Old Testament and the Gospel as well.

My argument is not against observance of the holiday.

I have a problem with Muslims talking about how important Ramadan is to them, while Muslim governments deny Christians living in their lands public observance of their fasts and feasts. The US will not outlaw Ramadan observance and prayer this season - but no Christian in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to display a Christmas creche or have an open procession to midnight Mass.

Turkey may be the most responsible and advanced Muslim nation - but it is sadly atypical. And it is the one-sided attitude of the Rykliefs of Islam which will ensure that this regrettable state of affairs continues.

[reedmelnick]

Don't give a sh** what it means. Go home.

[a_Turk]

Turkey may be the most responsible and advanced Muslim nation - but it is sadly atypical.

So was Martin Luther atypical, yet his practices led to the reformation of a whole church.

And it is the one-sided attitude of the Rykliefs of Islam which will ensure that this regrettable state of affairs continues.

Continues until it's reformed. I am not accusing you of this, but hatred and bigotry coming from without Islam will help the Rykliefs and hinder reformers. Works well for the Osamas.

[a_Turk]

Don't give a sh** what it means. Go home.

Thanks for your very valuable contribution :^D