Is it enough to give up food? (Issue 1, 2012)

“He will pay them their wages and increase them of His grace; for He is Oft-Forgiving Most Ready to appreciate (service).” Qur'an 35 verse 30

There are lots of write ups and messages being shared during this august month of Ramadan. Ramadan Message was not going to publish because it is not our intention to repeat what is already being said, or to add to the piles of resources competing for your meagre time. However, there is a lot of focus on giving up food and drinks during the long hours of the day, as if this is precisely the goal of Ramadan. Therefore we have decided to publish Ramadan Message again and ask the important question: is it enough to give up these things to fulfilling the objectives of Ramadan?

The desired objective of Ramadan is well known by all as stated in Qur'an chapter 2 verse 183 is to “achieve taqwah”. The verse reads thus: "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become muttaquun (those who have taqwah or piety)."  It is obvious that becoming pious or having piety has little to do with food. Temporarily giving up something is not the end in itself, but a means to the end. If we concentrate on the long hours of not eating and drinking, do we not run the risk of focusing on the means, at the expense of pursuing the end?

Fasting in Ramadan like all other acts of worship requires that you give up what is legally right for the sake of Allah. In a free world, we sacrifice our independent freewill and free-thoughts only to entertain the codified Iman (belief) in God’s Oneness and Supremacy. We give up our precious time to pray the Salaah five times in a day. We give up our wealth to share with others through Zakaah every year. We give up ourselves to undertake the hajj pilgrimage. We also give up our desires to consume and copulate during the day time of Ramadan. We do these only for the sake of Allah.

Yet, Ramadan demand more than that. Allah demands that we give up lewd talk and evil speech to free our tongues from flaming the ambers of Hell. Allah demands that we give up vain pursuit, envious attitude and belligerent qualities to free our soul from the shackles of Shaytan. Allah has made Ramadan an ample instrument of refining our character, reforming our heart and refraining from lowly desires.

To this end, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) cautioned, “Whoever does not give up false speech and offensive speech and behaviour, Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink.” (Bukhari) To emphasis the significance of getting the fast right, the Prophet (peace be upon him) further added, “there may be a fasting person who gets nothing more from his fast that hunger and thirst…” (Ahmad). The goal of the fast is not deprivation; it is elevation of the self from sins, from slavery to passion and from servitude to Shaytan, whose eternal purpose is to undermine our journey towards Allah and His Paradise.

The Rightly-Guided Caliph Umar echoed the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) by explaining: “Fasting does not mean abstaining from food and drink only, rather it is also abstaining from lying, falsehood and idle speech.” Similarly the Ansari Jabir ibn Abdullah explained: “When you fast, then let your hearing, sight and tongue fast from lying and sin and stop abusing servants. Be tranquil and dignified on the day of your fast, and do not let the day you do not fast and the day you fast be the same.”

As we are discouraged from following the path of sins, we are encouraged to engage in a plethora of noble deeds, including closeness to the Qur'an in our recitation and application, seeking opportunities to help the vulnerable, attaining selflessness and purifying the soul.

Therefore, far from the pains of thirst, pang of hungers and emotional paroxysm of unfulfilled passion, Allah requires that in Ramadan, we take steps to get closer to him with our deeds and in our character and we refine ourselves. Allah demands that deep in our heart, on our tongues, in our relationships and within society that we become better. Therefore the question is: are you willing to give yourself up to Allah this Ramadan? What will you do, what step will you take, what in your character will you improve and what in your attitude will you change purely and permanently for the sake of Allah this Ramadan? That is the crucial question. Once you are able to do this during Ramadan and maintain this after Ramadan, then you will have truly fasted and fasting would have truly impacted on you.

“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)

- Contributed by Shamsideen AbuSuad, UK. 2012  www.ramadanmessage.blogspot.com

Day 18: Limits of Mingling & Tingling

The human nature is such that it cannot really exist in isolation. It must mingle and tingle to evolve, to innovate, to be sane and to be nurtured. Whereas mingling would result in influencing (either you influence or you are influenced), tingling would result in ethics (defining acceptable and unacceptable mores). Both will inadvertently promote creativity, civility and progress. Little wonder then that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "He who mixes with people and endures the harm they do is better than he who does not mix with them or endure the harm they do." (Tirmidhi)

Society is composed of several kinds of personalities with various kinds of agenda and directions in life. They could even have different dispositions. While some will always see things half-empty (pessimism), others would have the attitude of half-full (optimism). While some would work for good and progress of community, others would seek to plunder, destroy, and spread hatred and evil. Society is composed of those who are nurtured towards the good and those who are nurtured towards the evil.

Allah has defined the group we should belong to when He says, “Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity.” (Qur'an 3 verse 104). Also, “You are the best of peoples evolved for mankind enjoining what is right forbidding what is wrong and believing in Allah....” (Qur'an 3 verse 110)

We must therefore choose carefully when we mingle in society. Surround yourself with people who are truthful and forthright; who are progressive and compassionate; people with whom you share good and complementary influence. According to the Prophet (peace be upon him), "The case of the good companion and the bad companion is like that of the seller of musk and the blower of the bellows (iron-smith). As for the seller of musk, he will either give you some of the musk, or you will purchase some from him, or at least you will come away having experienced its good smell. Whereas the blower of the bellows will either burn your clothing, or at least you will come away having experienced its repugnant smell.” (Bukhari)

The question arises then if a Muslim can have a non-Muslim as a close friend. Yes! Islam has not taught us to segregate ourselves or alienate one another. It does not teach us to segregate community. How would non-Muslims learn from us if they are not close to us? However, we must be clear about which non-Muslim to have as friends and what level of friendship because as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “A person is influenced by the religion of his close friend, so beware whom you befriend.” (Tirmidhi) Therefore, we must beware of friends whose secret objective is to draw us into their religion. Those who would desire to convert you cannot be your true friends. Allah warns, “O you who believe! Take not into your intimacy those outside your ranks; they will not fail to corrupt you. They only desire your ruin: rank hatred has already appeared from their mouths; what their hearts conceal is far worse. We have made plain to you the Signs if you have wisdom.” (Qur'an 3 verse 118) You cannot have a non-Muslim as a friend from whom you take religious or spiritual advice. They will sincerely and innocently give you what they would give themselves, but which is not okay for a Muslim.

There are no easy criteria for choosing a friend. Even a Muslim does not automatically qualify to be your friend. You may have a completely opposite world-view. He might be a terribly-weak Muslim. He might be ignorant or even mischievous. The characteristics of the sincere Muslim friends are set out in the Qur'an thus: “And the believers, men and women, are protecting friends one of another; they enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and they establish worship and they pay the poor-due, and they obey Allah and His messenger. As for these, Allah will have mercy on them. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise.” (Qur'an 9 verse 71)

Our friendships do have limits so that you do not encroach on the rights of others. You need the following characteristics to guide your friendship and also enable you to be a true friend. The Rasul (peace be upon him) said: "There are three characteristics; whoever has them will taste the sweetness of faith: first, that Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than anyone else; second, that he befriends and stop befriending a person except for the sake of Allah, and that he would hate to revert to unbelief just as he would hate to be thrown into the Fire.” (Bukhari)