Mir Muhammad Nayyar Azam
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and is regarded as a very special month as the Holy Book got revealed to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) during Ramadan.
Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new moon and falls 10 or 11 days earlier each year.
Ramadan is delineated not just by its commitment on every single Muslim to refrain from certain things but also by the blessings attached to every good deed performed in this month.
The most momentous is the fact that in Ramdhan, the gates of Jannah are thrown open, with the gates of hell closed and devils chained. This essentially manifests that, in the holy month of Ramadan, the devils along with their aides find it a much more difficult job distracting true Muslims from fully garnering the bounties of Almighty Allah by performing every single religious duty with pure and genuine ambition.
Messenger of God (PBUH) said: “When Ramadan enters, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed and the devils are chained.”
Another connotation of this month is the act of fasting itself. Fasting indoctrinate self-restraint as the person fasting does not only have to refrain from food and drink but must also abstain from many other things including backbiting, futile gossiping, using foul and abusive language etc. The fasting tests our restraint and tolerance and ability to be kind even through hardships and uneasinesses; the increased prayer forces us to think about the role God plays in our lives.
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Whoever does not give up false statements and doing evil deeds, giving up deceit and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink”
So a person fasting should take utmost care about the above said things otherwise his fasting will yield nothing and will go in vain.
“Almighty Allah said :
‘All the deeds of Adam’s sons are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the
Reward for it.'”
Fasting is an action which, being told, will safeguard us on the Day of Judgement.
On that day, when we will be held accountable of every good and bad deed done in the world, fasting will arbitrate for us, provided that every single condition about abstaining from off-limit activities was utterly done. It is sensible that if the fasting aimed to stop only eating and drinking for a particular period of time, then the spiritual ambitions of fasting, which has been mentioned in the Quran, would not have been met.
Fasting is also seen as being healthy for the human body, some of the benefits include losing weight and body fat, lowering the peril of Diabetes and downturns most of the heart disease.
There is some resilience within Islam as there are certain exemptions from fasting such as when people have a long term illness, old age; and pregnant women or s breastfeeding mother.
People who cannot fast are supposed to make up for their fast at a later date.
However, if the illness is protracted then they have to pay or provide food for needy.
During Ramadhan Muslims are obligated to offer money to a charity known as Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam and is an unavoidable act which makes the system balanced and uniform by providing money to the needy.
The way Islam is solicitous for the welfare of poor and needy is its beauty.
Another factor, which characterizes Ramadan, is the advent of Lailat-ul-Qadr. The Holy Night of Laylat-ul-Qadr is a single night worth a thousand months of reward in Islam. Any good deed done on this single night is tantamount to carrying out that good deed for a thousand months.
It is a night in which sins are forgiven, gates of goodness get opened, bonuses are multiplied.
Angels come down to the earth with generosity, blessing, and mercy for the believers.
The Prophet (saw) said:
“Whoever did prayers on the night of Qadr out of candid faith and hope for a reward from Almighty Allah, then all his previous sins will be pardoned; and the
As Quran got descended from the heavens in this night, so it is a clear indication that the recitation of the Quran on this Night is more rewarding than during any other time of the year. If someone recites a single letter of the Quran, will get blessed with ten deeds.
This divine and angelic month full of rewards and bonuses finally end with a holiday called “Eid el Fitr“. If we interpret this literally, it is “Festival of breaking the fast”.
This holiday celebrates the end of the 30 days of complete fasting during the month of Ramadan. This holiday is one of the most important holidays in our Islamic calendar. It is observed for over three days. During Eid el Fitr people beautify their homes with all kinds of decorations, the children are given EIDI and lots of sweets. People being happy, enjoy with family and friends.
(Author:Persuing Masters in economy at SMVDU Katra)
