The opportunity of Ramadhan

Jun 19, 2017

It helps us come into communion with God directly by making us realise his blessings and his presence

By Sheikh Muhammad Ali Waiswa

The holy Month of Ramadhan is coming to an end in a few days' time. But what lessons does it come with and leave with those ordained to observe it?

Fasting the month of Ramadhan is one of God's most beloved ways to teach us to love him and his messenger and to see beyond ourselves and find God.

It helps us come into communion with God directly by making us realise his blessings and his presence, but also indirectly, by realising the condition of his other servants, our fellow human beings in need. Ramadhan is the month to overcome our love of our lower selves and nurture that part of our souls that yearns for the divine for the truth, for the creator and sustainer.

To know the worth of the treasure you are about to be offered should infuse your search with enthusiasm and spirit. The messenger of God (SAW) said: "Whosoever fasts the month of Ramadhan, with faith and anticipation of God's forgiveness and reward, whatever sins he has committed shall be forgiven" (Bukhari and Muslim).

If your fasting does not increase your love for God and overcome your self-love and rebellious desire, you should remember this teaching of Allah's messenger: "How many there are that fast but attain nothing from it but hunger and thirst" (Nasai ibn Majah). The Prophet (SAW) also said "Fasting is a trust, so let each one of you protect his trust".

How do we protect the trust that is fasting? By calling it a trust, the Prophet has reminded us of the element of responsibility we bear. It is not merely abandoning certain normal acts, but a conscious struggle to protect the trust of fasting that makes a fast count.

The real fast, the one that is rewarded and beloved, the one about whom Allah Almighty says that "fasting is for me and only I shall reward it" is the fast which goes beyond staying away from food and spousal relations. Rather, it masters staying away from sins, big and small. If, in fasting even the usually permissible acts necessary to sustain life have been prohibited, in order to control our animal self, how much more prohibited and abominable are sins there in acts that violate God's commands and indicate rebellion against Him?

 

So what are the commendable acts to maximise the benefits of fasting?

Since fasting the month of Ramadhan is a divine gift of ultimate bliss, but it needs to be unwrapped and used; it is a trust, which needs to be kept with care and concern. All great things require great sacrifice and determination; if you wish to receive this gift and protect this trust, you must be determined to sacrifice and start early.

Organise your life in advance: the preparation of the soul is the most important, of course. However, putting your ordinary life activities in order is also important. Complete your deadlines before Ramadhan. Reschedule what can be. Plan iftar invitations and other Ramadhan activities ahead of time to minimise the distractions that might keep you from the true purpose of fasting and Ramadhan. Your plan to make the best of this divine gift should include the following spiritual preparation:

Recognise your sins: Reflect on their causes and the harms they have done in your life. Think about the greatness of the one against whom you have sinned and whom you have ignored. Think about the gifts he has given you that you have wasted. Think about the time, the years of your youth, that he has given you that you have squandered. Think of the days you have been healthy and strong, but which you have chosen to use in sinning rather than worshipping God. Look back at your life, until you weep over what you have missed. And if you do not realise this, as some of the scholars say, weep over that fact that you still do not recognise it.

 

Recognise your gifts and opportunities: realise how you have wasted so much of your talents, so many of your chances and how you might put them to better use in service to God and those in need in what little time you have left.

Fast a farewell Ramadhan: consider this hard and deep until you believe it, because it is true: You may not see another Ramadhan. This month might be your last month of mercy, forgiveness and ransom from the fire. This may be the last Laylatul qadr, Night of Destiny; you have the opportunity to worship. Plan accordingly.

Set self- improvement goals: Use this Ramadhan to achieve these goals. They should be realistic, precise and measurable. Challenge yourself, but do not forget that even in Ramadhan, you will have limits. The Prophet said: "the best deed before God is the most persistent one, albeit small" (Muslim) 

What are the enabling things to perform best in Ramadhan?

Make all five salawat on time: strive to perform as many as possible (in particular fajr and isha') in the masjid. This is highly desirable for men. Remember that the taraweeh salah are extremely blessed, but the other salawat are obligatory, without which all your efforts are invalid. Hence, the five daily salah are comparably more important.

Recite the entire Qur'an: start reading the Qur'an before the beginning of Ramadhan and plan to read the entire Qur'an with reflection on its meanings, at least once during Ramadhan.

Mend relationships: Think about those against whom you have harboured hatred, dislike, envy or jealousy. This is urgent if you have caused someone harm due to your ill feelings, or if you have spoken ill of them, even to one person in secret.

Give much charity: find a worthy cause or several, and contribute to it. If you do not find one, work on creating one. Give until it becomes hard to give, until it hurts. The Qur'an states: "you shall not attain piety until you spend from what you love" (3:92)

Finally, recall that each one has his or her own gifts that God has given us. And each of us has his or her challenges and flaws. No one is devoid of virtues. Nor is any one free of faults. Fasting is our time to connect with the source of all goodness, all beauty and all truth. And in the process, we embody, by way of reflection, some of these divine qualities and overcome our short comings.

Writer is the Second Deputy Mufti of Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, the Imam of Makerere University Business School and a national population champion and executive board member of the Interreligious Council of Uganda

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