Teachings behind the ritual of fasting
Published: 04:03 PM,Mar 31,2024 | EDITED : 08:03 PM,Mar 31,2024
The holy month of Ramadhan marks an opportunity which shouldn’t be missed and undervalued. Its religious and social advantages are many and we should all invest in this time of the year that brings people together and cherish their lives with blessings.
Most significantly is the change in people’s daily routine during Ramadhan with adaption to its spirit that instills calmness and tranquility to people’s personality. Their attitudes and behaviours change mostly throughout the day. People tend to be more compassionate, patient, sociable, generous, cooperative and more. These are some of Ramadhan’s blessings to one’s character.
Observing this month and fasting is a very effective way of acquiring self-development skills. As Ramadhan is the month of fasting, mercy, forgiveness and kindness, people become more compassionate to one another. Fasting teaches people to stay soft, compassionate, merciful and respectful to others around them. One can be more supportive to his family, colleagues, friends and society overall. In other words, people tend to be more emotional more than any other time of the year.
There are many objectives and teachings behind the religious ritual of fasting during Ramadhan. Among the key objectives is that the Almighty Allah wants to teach Muslims different personal and social lessons. Fasting helps Muslims to develop and strengthen their powers of self-control, so they can resist wrongful desires and bad habits. Thus, one can control his or her behaviours, thoughts and desires too. The month-long of fasting marks a great motive to urge people give up bad habits and avoid wrong deeds, attitudes and practices.
Another lesson that one can learn during the month of fasting is by being away from all the bad things and refraining from personal desires, so one can be much closer to Allah. Knowing that Allah knows what we all do and think about whether it is good or bad, it increases the consciousness and remembrance of Allah in our hearts. This raises the spiritual bar of us, so we become more religious and attached to Allah during Ramadhan. That is why one can see people more obedient and kindhearted in Ramadhan.
Another important lessons that fasting teaches Muslims is to think about the poor and needy people who have shortfall of food and cannot afford getting three meals a day. Throughout such learning, fasting allows others to experience hunger like those needy families. Accordingly, Ramadhan brings the focus on the importance of charity and voluntary works in the society. Hence, you see people strive to do different sorts of charitable deeds with the poor people and needy families. This is due to the spirit of compassion that Ramadhan instills in people.
Luckily, people here are more considerate and they contribute in helping others through various charitable organisations. Their interest to support voluntary activities and charities is not only limited to this month, rather it increases in Ramadhan as the credit and rewards of such deeds are getting double. That is why Ramadhan is called the month of generosity.
In fact, fasting does not only promote refraining from eating and drinking, but from all kinds of selfish desires and wrong doings. Fasting is not merely intended for the body, but for the spirit as well. Thus, the physical fasting symbolises and expresses the real and inner fasting. Fasting is a spiritual practice that is targeting the spirit and body at the same time.
It calls upon us to discover ourselves, master ourselves, and discipline ourselves via various tasks. Thus, we should all realise the real message, reason and values behind fasting. It is a sacred annual religious ritual and a one of the main pillars of Islam, which all Muslims should comply with and practice obediently. May the Almighty Allah bestow us the great rewards and blessings from this month. Wish you all a rewarding fasting and a blessed Ramadhan!
Most significantly is the change in people’s daily routine during Ramadhan with adaption to its spirit that instills calmness and tranquility to people’s personality. Their attitudes and behaviours change mostly throughout the day. People tend to be more compassionate, patient, sociable, generous, cooperative and more. These are some of Ramadhan’s blessings to one’s character.
Observing this month and fasting is a very effective way of acquiring self-development skills. As Ramadhan is the month of fasting, mercy, forgiveness and kindness, people become more compassionate to one another. Fasting teaches people to stay soft, compassionate, merciful and respectful to others around them. One can be more supportive to his family, colleagues, friends and society overall. In other words, people tend to be more emotional more than any other time of the year.
There are many objectives and teachings behind the religious ritual of fasting during Ramadhan. Among the key objectives is that the Almighty Allah wants to teach Muslims different personal and social lessons. Fasting helps Muslims to develop and strengthen their powers of self-control, so they can resist wrongful desires and bad habits. Thus, one can control his or her behaviours, thoughts and desires too. The month-long of fasting marks a great motive to urge people give up bad habits and avoid wrong deeds, attitudes and practices.
Another lesson that one can learn during the month of fasting is by being away from all the bad things and refraining from personal desires, so one can be much closer to Allah. Knowing that Allah knows what we all do and think about whether it is good or bad, it increases the consciousness and remembrance of Allah in our hearts. This raises the spiritual bar of us, so we become more religious and attached to Allah during Ramadhan. That is why one can see people more obedient and kindhearted in Ramadhan.
Another important lessons that fasting teaches Muslims is to think about the poor and needy people who have shortfall of food and cannot afford getting three meals a day. Throughout such learning, fasting allows others to experience hunger like those needy families. Accordingly, Ramadhan brings the focus on the importance of charity and voluntary works in the society. Hence, you see people strive to do different sorts of charitable deeds with the poor people and needy families. This is due to the spirit of compassion that Ramadhan instills in people.
Luckily, people here are more considerate and they contribute in helping others through various charitable organisations. Their interest to support voluntary activities and charities is not only limited to this month, rather it increases in Ramadhan as the credit and rewards of such deeds are getting double. That is why Ramadhan is called the month of generosity.
In fact, fasting does not only promote refraining from eating and drinking, but from all kinds of selfish desires and wrong doings. Fasting is not merely intended for the body, but for the spirit as well. Thus, the physical fasting symbolises and expresses the real and inner fasting. Fasting is a spiritual practice that is targeting the spirit and body at the same time.
It calls upon us to discover ourselves, master ourselves, and discipline ourselves via various tasks. Thus, we should all realise the real message, reason and values behind fasting. It is a sacred annual religious ritual and a one of the main pillars of Islam, which all Muslims should comply with and practice obediently. May the Almighty Allah bestow us the great rewards and blessings from this month. Wish you all a rewarding fasting and a blessed Ramadhan!