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Ramadhan: A Closer Look

By Atif Raja

Recently I have been drafting my articles in a style that is called simple descriptive prose. This style attempts to delineate the opinions of the writer away from the analysis. However, in this article I propose to write in the first person, because I intend to share my inner-thoughts with all of you.

Ramadan is once again close, and we’re all waiting for it to come. Well I have to admit I am waiting, may be that’s a problem? I should actually be preparing, not just waiting. It is at this stage I think about the bounties of Allah. Given the context of the world we live in, I do naturally feel initially that in this blessed month, Allah may give respite to those that are oppressed, and grant victory to those that are striving.

How do we all understand the concept of fasting and its significance during Ramadan? Well, as you might expect I am not going to run off excessive hadiths, or quotes from the traditional scholars. I am sure we are all, aware of these and probably are listening to them during our khutbahs in the Masjid right now.

What really got me thinking more deeply about Ramadan was the fact from my information food consumption during this month actually increases amongst Muslims – it is a worldwide phenomenon! Is this necessarily a bad thing, to completely satiate your hunger at dusk by over-consuming pakoras and samosas and jalebi etc.

Those of you who demand originality are possibly thinking right now that I have focused immediately on the physical aspects of the fast. Yes I have, and may be that is the mistake we all make by focusing on the physical aspects excessively. This extends to other traditions and religious rites as well.

Allah says in the Qu’ran about himself, “There is nothing like Him” (42:11). The prophet (pbuh) in a tradition has stated, “There is nothing like the fast”. These two statements are truly fascinating. Allah said, “The fast is Mine.” In reality therefore, the fast it is not an action. How can one describe this fasting – you are actually abstaining from the action of eating! And does anyone know of any other religious rite where Allah has described it as belonging to Him? Think about this carefully.

From my miniscule knowledge I do not know of any other concept in Islam that has been elevated to the level of fasting. If you reflect carefully, one can connect, that to participate in a ritual act, of which nothing is like it, is to be in a state where we are closest to the One – “There is nothing like Him”.

Praise is to Allah, it is during a state of fasting, and in the blessed month of Ramadan that we can move unbelievably close to Allah in a spiritual sense. This has given me a whole new outlook on fasting. I do not look upon it anymore as deprivation. I see it as removing the reliance on the physical, temporarily and relying completely on Allah.

Yet we have a choice here, it is up to us to take advantage of the state we are in, the hunger and thirst – we should be relying and praising Allah for this. This is what brings us closer to him. Each time we feel the physical need, we instead remember Allah. It is important for us during this time to remember Allah particularly through the silent recitation of his Names. Of course, when at home or in the Masjid, we should recite the Qu’ran without doubt. However when at work or travelling, this is the time to silently contemplate the beautiful Names of Allah throughout the day.

Each time we feel hunger, or have a headache, or feel sleepy, that is the time to remember Allah, and remember him through his names – it gives you a focus – a meaning. By depriving oneself of physical consumption, we rely on spiritual strength, the food from this strength truly comes from feeding the heart. Yes, my intention is to cleanse my heart, not my blood sugar levels, or excess fatty deposits or other benefits of fasting we are keen to highlight on a rational level. My intention is purely spiritual, to enlighten my heart, to make it work better, to allow it see better.

I remember reading a very interesting hadith, “God created the angels from intelligence, the beasts from appetite, and human beings from both intelligence and appetite. When a person’s intelligence overcomes his appetite, he is higher than the angels, but when his appetite overcomes his intelligence, he is lower than the beasts”

Please all of you reflect, contemplate and consider that, what better month than Ramadan, what better state than a fasting state for which nothing is like it, what better way can the Lord’s vicegerent, who He created in His own image, compel his intelligence to overcome his appetite, and Praise to Allah, be higher than Angels?