During Ramadan, Muslims seek atonement
Ramadan, 1443 Al-Hijri begins this weekend. It is the ninth and the holiest month of the Islamic calendar. The day will also mark the beginning of fasting season in Islam.
Usually, an event or holiday reveals the essence of a faith. Like Yom Kippur for Jews or Easter for Christians, Ramadan offers the central theme for Muslims: Submit completely — mind and body — to seek closeness to God in order to attain piety.
In almost all traditions, fasting is observed by abstaining or giving up food, water or personal pleasures or parting with wealth as charity. In some cases, it means living in solitude and silence. However, the purpose of this worship in Islam is to prepare an individual to be virtuous and upstanding, a person who will discharge his duties to his Creator on one side and to the society on the other.
Holy Quran commands Muslims: “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” — 2:183
Ramadan also fulfills one of the five pillars of Islam: “Saum,” which means fasting or abstaining is an obligatory form of worship for Muslims. Another standout feature is that Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed during this month as a guidance for humanity.
During this 30-day period, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset — no food, water or personal pleasures; clearing one’s mind of any carnal thoughts, connivance, plotting and scheming against others; purifying the heart from lust, bigotry and hate; and any other form of ill will toward others.
Fasting teaches restraint and the ability to control worldly desires and spend time in prayer and meditation. Fasting is a noble act that is much beloved by Allah (God).
This season allows Muslims to seek a spiritual asylum in their inner being to reflect upon life and the purpose of their existence, which is complete submission and obedience to Allah, seeking his pleasure and nothing less.
This experience helps formulate the ideal Islamic character in a believer — one who abides by the commands to abstain even in private, with no witnesses but the all-knowing, omnipresent God. Muslims develop a sense of duty to respect authority with obedience that obligates them to comply with the terms of fasting voluntarily. It is a test of resolve to choose between material and spiritual benefits, between the pleasures of this world and the reward in the hereafter — all for the pure pleasure of God.
It is a time for charity, attending to the relatives, the weak and vulnerable in the community.
Fasting for a month may seem difficult, but most Muslims look forward to it because it is the opportunity to reflect upon one’s actions and events of the past — recognizing the wrongs one has committed, admitting to one’s shortcomings and committing to mend the behavior are liberating experiences.
Collectively, a group of people that forsakes its own priorities for the sake of others, all for one reward — the pleasure of their creator — is a blessing for any community.