In the lead up to Ramadan I wanted to post something that would serve as a reminder and be of some benefit to all those who are preparing for the blessed month of fasting. Now, with about a week to go, we should begin preparing ourselves both physically and mentally. Now’s the time to start cutting back on food in preparation for the fast, and now’s the time to control our tongues and train our eyes to observe only what is good for us.
Whilst there is so much more I’d like to write, it’s 2am and I’m quite exhausted. I’m only keeping myself up because I have one more fast to make up from last year and if I sleep now I’ll never get up. Therefore, the remainder of this Ramadan post consists of an article I wrote for a magazine a year ago.
Ramadan, a month of spiritual training
‘O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you may learn self restraint.’ (2:183)
In this ayaa of the Quran, Allah reveals to us part of the valuable essence of Ramadan: the principle of self restraint. Self restraint not only refers to restraining oneself from food and drink, but from any act which would displease Allah. Ramadan is therefore a period of time where all things haraam for the eyes, the ears, the mouth and the heart are avoided. In effect, Ramadan is a time of fasting for the senses. The ears are trained to avoid listening to gossip or indecent music, the eyes are shut to haraam images on the TV screen and the heart and mouth are prohibited from back biting and telling lies. So important is it that we avoid backbiting and lies during Ramadan that Prophet (pbuh) warned: ‘if one does not abandon falsehood in words and deeds, Allah has no need for his abandoning of his food and drink.’ (al- Bukhari) Therefore the self restraint we are asked to exercise during this wonderful month pushes us beyond the self restraint of our stomachs and towards the self restraint of our souls.
At what is the purpose of exercising self restraint on the soul? What do we gain?
Well the answer is that primarily, we are training the soul in Taqwa. During Ramadan, we avoid lawful things, such as food. Therefore by giving up the lawful, we are much more capable of avoiding the unlawful. Additionally, we learn sincerity. Fasting is one of the few acts of worship which is entirely based on self restraint. So no other person except for yourself will know for sure whether you are fasting, or if you have broken your fast in secret. Therefore, restraining one’s self from doing these acts teaches us a high level of sincerity. This restraint is also a form of jihad. It teaches our soul how to master our desires rather than being controlled by them, which is by no means easy. And Inshallah, Allah will reward us for our efforts. The self restraint that we practice during Ramadan is indeed an act of atonement for our past mistakes, as mentioned by Prophet (pbuh): ‘whoever fasts the month of Ramadan in the basis of Iman and seeking the pleasure of Allah, his past errors are forgiven.’ (Ahmad).
So, as we wake for suhoor each morning during Ramadan, we must remind ourselves that that purpose of our fast is not just to avoid food and drink but to avoid all that is unlawful and harmful for the soul. By doing so, we are nourishing our souls and training ourselves in becoming obedient, sincere and worthy young Muslims. Inshallah, we will be on the path towards forgiveness and in reach of the gates of Jannah, which during this month are held wide open for us.
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