The Right Fast
Of course, there is a right kind of fast and a wrong one. Which are you having? If the fast does not achieve the correct objective, surely it will be the wrong one. So right from the beginning, we must know and work towards the objective of the Ramadan fast. The stated goal is “attaining taqwah.” (Qur’an 2:183)
What is “taqwah”? Taqwah is not a badge of honour, nor is it in your dress or outlook. It is a state of being! Taqwah is a state of consciousness; a level of awareness of the Creator’s presence and ambience. It is a heart high in humility which motivates towards high and noble deeds and which prevents from low and sinful deeds.
Taqwah has been described as walking through a narrow path with thorny bushes on both sides. The person with taqwah navigates through this narrow path avoiding the thorns as best as he or she could. Taqwah is the torchlight (flashlight) with which one sees in the dark. Allah says: “O you who believe! Have Taqwa (consciousness) of Allah and believe in His Messenger; and He will provide you with a light by which you will walk.” (Qur'an 57:28)
But why tie taqwah to Ramadan? Ramadan helps to train the soul towards obedience and trim the desires towards moderation. Greed and selfishness are destroyed by Ramadan, while desires for selflessness, fellow-feeling, humility and patience are strengthened. These are the qualities of taqwah. These are not mere gloss-over actions, but actions sincerely from the heart. This is how Ramadan re-formats our hard-disk.
Taqwah is to obey God’s commandments and abstain from His prohibitions and treat the people with utmost justice and care. It is so important that Allah warns: "O you who believe! Have Taqwah (Consciousness of Allah), as you should have of Him and do not die except as Muslims (surrendered him/herself to God)." (Qur'an 3:102)
Taqwah is the criterion by which God judges human: “O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has Taqwa (God-consciousness, fearing Allah). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (Qur'an 49:13) Therefore, it is not surprising that “taqwah” is the main attainment goal for Ramadan. Little wonder then that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) noted that Ramadan “is the month which invites you to be the guests of Allah and invites you to be one of those near to Him.” (Baihaqi)
People who have developed “taqwah” are ever truthful and patient and God is ever with those who are truthful and patient. They are also ever easily forgiving and ever compassionate, reliable and dependable; hence Allah forgives them, rewards them and is merciful to them. They have no problem distinguishing right from wrong, truth from lies. (Qur'an 33:70; 3:76; 65:5 and 8:29).
Taqwah is the natural texture and only outcome of a truly acceptable Ramadan fast. How much transformation will Ramadan make to your nature? If you will not become selfless, soft-hearted, humbled, detached from materialism, in control of your desires and be attuned to the frequency of one who is a permanent quest of Allah, you would not have fasted the right way. You would not have attained the sole objective of Ramadan. This beginning of Ramadan is the best time to keep the end in mind.
- Contributed by Shamsideen AbuSuad, UK.
Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) said, “Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadhan with ‘Eman and hoping for the reward of Allah, his sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
ReplyDeleteThe importance of Ramadhan is to do it only for Allah's sake and his sake alone, with the hope of being rewarded for it. In Allah's countless mercy and benevolence as well as provision, all our previous sins are forgiven in addition to numerous other rewards He SWT gives. Ramadhan starts with this level of Taqwa - why am I fasting in the first place? Allah SWT tells us even in Al Qur'an that all other deeds we do are for our benefit (or disbenefit if bad) but fasting is for Allah. Knowing this and then doing this accordingly for the sake of Allah is Taqwa at its most sincerest (Allahu Alim).
We have lost sight of so many of the basics, it has become important and needed now to break it down to people what those basics are so the penny drops. Masha'Allah another brilliant post that achieves this with intellect and simplicity.
For some, Ramadhan is about going hungry but shopping to prepare nightly feasts when the Prophet (SAW) had stated the worst vessel the son of Adam could fill was his stomach, hence the admonition to eat 1/3 only and for the rest 1/3 water and leave 1/3 for air. For others it may be cultural, to lose weight, as everyone else is doing it and so on. All the wrong reasons and all for no benefit.
With taqwa and before that comes niyyah (intention) as Umar (RA) related the importance of intention as spoken by Rasul'Allah (SAW):
The Prophet, (صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ)said, “The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.” (Muslim, Bukhari)
May Allah SWT purify our intentions so that we conduct our sawm for His sake and His sake only, only to seek reward from Him SWT in doing so - Ameen
Barak'Allahu fik
a big Jazakallah and well done to the ramadhan message team. every ramadhan i find your messages, quotes, suggestions and reminders very informative and useful. The blog approach makes this even bigger, more accesible and beneficial for users.
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