"O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, so that you may learn self - restraint."
The month - long fast from the new moon of the ninth month ( Ramadaan ) of the Muslim calendar to the new moon of the tenth month is the fourth Pillar of Islam. The purifying process of fasting in which the stomach is emptied so spirit may be filled with piety and righteousness has been practised throughout history and was well established amongst the Arabs at the time of the Prophet s.a.w. The Christian Lent and the Jewish Passover both recognize the importance of fasting, but it is only in the fast of Ramadan that the practice takes the true form intended by Allah s.w.t. This is a total abstinence from physical consumption. Eating, drinking,smoking and sex are all forbidden from dawn to sunset.Control of our physical urges is the first step to spiritual growth. Only by controlling the body can we transcend it. The intention is not simply to deprive ourselves but to rise above the the desires themselves. To loosen our worldly attachment and move closer to Allah s.w.t. The Pillars of prayer and zakat- that is thoughts of Allah s.w.t and of others rather than ourselves - are our allies in this endeavour.
"Fast for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey the prescribed number should be made up later. For those who can do it ( with hardship ), the feeding of a poor person is a ransom. He that does good of his own account shall be rewarded, but it is better for you to fast if only you knew it."
In this fourth Pillar, the self-discpline practised daily and weekly in the Pillars of prayer and zakat is taken a step further with far - reaching benefits. Although there are set amount of charity which can be given as a ransom instead of fasting if a person is old , sick, travelling or pregnant, it is better that charity be an addition to, rather than in place of fasting.We are taught the lessons of equality and compassion for all Muslims; rich and poor, upper and lower class are levelled in the moderated hardship. Hunger and thirst are the lot of all. Sympathy for those who have no choice but hunger is given the depth of experience. This is the way of Islam, to show by example.The fast builds our Faith and our morality. Only Allah swt and our conscience know truly whether we have honoured our fast. Therefore the strength of our resolve is based on sincere devotion and our own conscience, not the force of social pressure.Patience and perseverance are developed and we receive a great lesson in being able to adapt to new circumstances. We are thrown into a completely different set of rules and hardship to which we adapt ourselves and our daily life. For many Muslims who have emigrated for one reason or another these attributes of perseverance and adaptability are of great spiritual and physical advantage.For all these reason, the succesful completion of Ramadan not only brings us closer to Allah swt but it creates a sense of freedom, self-assurance and compassion. These are the building blocks of peace - peace with ourselves, with Allah swt and with humanity. As always, our acts of devotion are greatly rewarded by Allah swt
"Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down as a Guide to mankind, full of clear signs of guidance and judgemnent between right and wrong. So every one of you who is at home during that month should spend it in fasting, but if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period should be made up later. Allah desires your well-being, not to put you in difficulties. He wants you to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him and to be grateful for His Guidance."
Although the Quran was delivered piecemeal over twenty-three years, it is beleived that the Book as a whole was sent down with Gabriel at this time to the lower heaven or to some place known only to Allah swt. The Prophet s.a.w. also received the first Revelation during Ramadan. To be of value to us the fast must be understood as an act in the tradition of God's Guidance. He sent us the Book in the month of fasting because both are ways to which He provides us with Guidance. Therefore it is particularly beneficial in this month to spend extra time reading and studying the Quran.The breaking of the fast is the occassion for glorifying Allah swt at one of two Eid Festivals of the year, the second being after the Hajj. This Festival of Joy is a day when we express our gratitude to Allah swt for his Guidance in sending the Quran and in helping us complete the fast. Eid is a day of peace and Remembrance of Allah swt. It is a time for charity and visiting the sick, for Remembrance of Allah swt is never far from remembrance of all humanity.
