Ramadhan marks the most important month of Islamic belief; this is the month that holds many mysteries and wonders. There are 6 important points that will be mentioned here that can shed light and understanding of this topic.
What is Ramadhan?
We can hear several times that Muslims do this act of worship in its specific time, but what is it really? Ramadhan is the 9th month in Islamic calendar where Muslims are obliged to fast during the whole month from sunrise until sunset. The word “Ramadhan” comes from “Al-Ramd” which means “burning heat of the sun.” This name was given to this month due to the thirst experienced while fasting and to the belief that this act of worship burns the sins. In this time, Muslims are prohibited to eat, drink, and do bad deeds in order to enjoy more what the essence of the month gives.
Significance of the month of Ramadhan
The month of Ramadhan holds a lot of mysteries and wonders. According to the traditions and high clerics of Islam, the Scripture of Ibrahim, the Torah of Moses, the Psalms of David, the Gospel of Jesus, and the Quran are all revealed during this month. Another significance that it holds is the act of fasting of the prophets before Muhammad – according to Islam, Moses fasted for 40 days and Jesus with his disciples fasted for 40 days also. Then, by identifying the traces of fasting and its significance, we can see through the history and the traditions that this holy month is not only relevant to Islam but holds similar wonders and connections to other religions as well.
Benefits of the month of Ramadhan
In Islam, all kinds of worship provide benefits for the person performing them at personal, social or spiritual level. Personal benefits can be in the religious realm. Most of Muslims take this month in the pure context of religious obligation and worship and some do it because of health reasons. According to Life Magazine, September 1996 issue, “fasting is the healing revolution” – and so we have to admit that we cannot perform acts of worship if we are not healthy. While some people are religiously driven, they are also conscious of their health. Thus, these are two reasons why Muslims have to fast in this month of Ramadhan.
Another benefit for Ramadhan is Spiritual. While some fast for religious and health reasons, there are also some who fast for spiritual healing. According to Quran chapter 2 verse 183, “Oh you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who were before you so that you may observe self-restraint”. This verse talks a lot about spiritual discipline. In the last word indicated in the verse – Self-Restraint, one benefit of Ramadhan is healing the body through fasting and the soul through restraining from one’s own ego that can result in bad deeds like slandering, backbiting, gossiping, and talking behind the back of someone. Just as much as it is hard for someone to restrain from drinking and eating so is the soul from doing these things. Therefore, Ramadhan is the best time to start doing these restraints and disciplines.
Social concern is also considered as one of the benefits of this month. Humans have formed this concept of classes: rich, average, and poor. However, during this month, all Muslims can feel how it is like to be poor and not to eat during the day so that they may practice sharing. According to Imam Sadiq “Verily, Allah made fasting obligatory in order to equalize between the poor and the rich”. One thing I always look forward to this month is that this is the month of giving, sharing your meals with your neighbor, and paying charity on days before the end of Ramadhan. Ever since I was a child, I would think that Ramadhan may have been designed to highlight the condition of how it is like to be poor, but still you can be able to give something.
Unique Characteristic of Ramadhan
There are many things that features the uniqueness of Ramadhan above all the acts of worship in Islam:
- Ramadhan is the longest act of worship starting from sunrise until the sunset. Fasting in Ramadhan is different from the usual act of prayer or charity which only takes a short time in its fulfillment. It is taking a set of time and sometimes may take up to 15 hours or more;
- While you perform this act of worship, you don’t have to excuse yourself from performing your usual work. Although praying or going to pilgrimage requires to be absent in your current work for a while, fasting in Ramadhan will not interrupt your daily work;
- It is restraining yourself from consuming any food or doing bad deeds.
- It is one of the sincerest acts of worship because its fulfillment is only known between you and God, and it is not easy to do self-restraining; however, once fulfilled, it is the sincerest thing that a believer has ever done.
Rewards of fasting
According to Qur’an chapter 2 verse 45 – “and seek help in patience and prayer”, patience and prayers are rewards of fasting in Ramadhan. Ramadhan teaches you to be very patient and prayerful for whatever that may happen in your life. God himself is another reward. Being patient and having faith are signs of divinity. Many Islamic clerics and Ulamas pointed out that once you inhibit these traits within you then it is a Godly gift. What could be more amazing than having and inheriting God in your life!
Etiquettes of Fasting
There are many etiquettes or actions of performing fasting. First, when in the state of fasting, a person is obliged to avoid haram (evil) deeds. Moreover, eating and drinking, doing verbal and physical sins, gossiping, swearing, lying, and backbiting are prohibited. These mean that just as we restrain our body from taking in food so is our soul from unhealthy acts. Furthermore, it is said that the month of Ramadhan is the month that the Qur’an and other scripture are revealed. This month is the month of Qur’an and all Muslims around the world are reading and reciting this holy scripture for reflection and realization.
Secondly, Ramadhan is the month of night prayers. Many Muslims around the world take the night to perform prayers and reflections. In this month of Ramadhan, Muslims are obliged to pay the charity on the days before the end of Ramadhan and Eidul-Fitr, the feast after Ramadhan. This charity is given either to the poor or for anyone who experiences hardship.
According to the narration of Imam Sadiq (as) as stated in Al-Kafi “the first thing that the messenger of Allah was breaking his fast with was a ripe date, if it was its season and dried date in other seasons”. According to general tradition, prophet Muhammad would break his fast with dates and milk while some tradition (Al-Kafi) of the household of the prophet with water to cleanse the stomach and liver and relieves headaches. Thus, Ramadhan is very important to Muslims to cleanse both body and soul.
