Ramazan — the month of fasting, is a special and blessed month for Muslims. It was in this month that revelations of the Quran began to be made to the Prophet Muhammad, marking the commencement of Prophethood.
Ramazan is a month of restraint and worship; of caring and thanksgiving; of repentance and piety. The multitude of benefits of Ramazan inspired the Prophet to exclaim: "Welcome to the one who purifies!"
Ramazan is a month of spiritual activism when believers endeavour to awaken their spirituality. It is a scheme to improve human beings. The main aim of fasting is to weaken a man's dependence on material things and strengthen his spiritual resolve, so that he may enter the higher realms of piety.
The Prophet Muhammad divided the month of Ramazan into three parts. He called the first ten days, "Blessings", the next ten days, "Forgiveness" and the last ten days, "Freedom from hell-fire". The Prophet also said, "The best days of this world are the last ten days [of Ramazan].”
The Month of Supplication While giving commands regarding fasting, the Quran makes special mention of supplication, or dua.
When my servants ask you about Me, say that I am near. I respond to the call of one who calls, whenever he calls to Me: let them then respond to Me, and believe in Me, so that they may be rightly guided. (THE QURAN 2:186)
Fasting by its very nature is an act of patience. Patience and forbearance are what lead man to the state of the heart which enables him to experience the feeling of nearness to God. It is only then that words worthy of divine acceptance come to one's lips. Patience is the ground on which the blessed tree of dua is grown.
Dua is not just a verbal act. In its essence, it is an act of the heart. This shows the relation between fasting and dua. Fasting increases the spiritual capability of a man's heart and when this capability increases, the dua which ensues is genuine, heartfelt and more precious. Real fasting is that which induces real dua.
The Essence of Ramazan
According to Islam, man has been brought into this world so that he may be put to the test. He has been given freedom of will so that he may make use of this freedom in following the commandments of God willingly. To pass the test of life, man has to restrict the use of this freedom: he has to promote all that is good and try to eradicate all that is bad. Self-control is needed for this and fasting is a form of annual training to gain this self-control.
One has to have patience for this self-controlled life. Fasting inculcates in the individual this spirit of patience. On this ground, the month of fasting has been termed in a Hadith as the month of patience. The most important thing required to lead an Islamic life in this world is patience. For this very reason it was declared in the Quran:
Those who persevere patiently will be requited without measure. (THE QURAN 39: 10)
The same glad news of immeasurable reward for patience is also given in a Hadith. Abu Hurairah quoted the Prophet as having said "The good deeds of a person will receive tenfold to seven-hundredfold reward. But [God, the exalted has said] fasting is [observed] for Me and I will give reward [without measure] for it."
The Month of Contemplation
During Ramazan a dramatic change comes over the Islamic community. Believers are seen sitting inside mosques, reciting the Quran, immersed in prayer (dua) and the remembrance of God. They become more detached and contemplative. Their boisterous and frivolous urges are curbed.
Man is a social being: he is either encouraged or depressed by his surroundings. This sea change in communal life during Ramazan therefore affects the individual believer. He is encouraged by the change in his brethren and inclines more and more towards God. Believers turn away from common vices and peace and tranquillity reign in all the neighbourhoods and market places.
All these changes create a good environment for moral rectification. The bad become less so and the good become better.
Training in Humility
The Quran tells us that fasting is prescribed for you so that you may fear God (THE QURAN 2: 183). So what does it mean to fear God? Fearing God means that man should acknowledge his helplessness vis-a-vis God's greatness.
The feeling of helplessness is not simply a feeling but is rather the greatest motivational force in the life of a person. The feeling of helplessness relates to God, but when this feeling is produced in man in the real sense, it finds expression in human relations. One who becomes truly modest before God finds this same spirit making him modest before human beings.
The height of spirituality is a person's realization of his own helplessness and the supreme power of God. The biggest obstacle to a person's spiritual growth is his own ego and false pride which lead to his being distanced from God. The sole concern of a spiritually pure person is earning God's pleasure.
The Month of Sympathy
The Prophet said: The month of Ramazan is the month of sympathy.
Fasting teaches a man what basic human requirements are. It tells him what hunger is and what thirst is. Those who do not get a chance to feel hungry or thirsty, experience these feelings during this month when they fast. For a few hours, the rich also come to live in the same conditions in which a poor man lives.
Ramazan is thus a process of rejuvenation of a believer. He can look forward to applying the lessons learnt during Ramazan to everyday life. A person who has fasted in the true spirit can count on drawing upon the reservoir of fortitude that he has built up, on the power of dua, of patience and gratefulness when he is faced with any trying situation.
