This holy month of Ramadhan, usually, holds a special significance for Muslims worldwide. Above and beyond being the month of fasting, a key pillar of Islam, it stands as a distinct school of learning for individuals and society alike. Ramadhan brings various religious, health and personal-development teachings that Muslims could learn through fasting other than the tolerance of being fasting.
All that one should do is to recognise the real message and reason behind fasting, while understanding the values of fasting as a sacred ritual. Generally, Muslims observe a change on their daily routine due to their adaption to the spirit of Ramadhan, which instills calmness and tranquility to people’s personality. Their attitudes and behaviours change to reflect the moral of mercy during this month, tending to be more compassionate and tolerant. Besides, Ramadhan revives people’s sense of care and sympathy.
Actually, fasting does not only promote refraining from eating and drinking, but ceasing all the selfish desires and wrong doings. Fasting is not just intended for the body, but for the spirit too. In fact, 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. That is why Ramadhan is urging Muslims to discover, master and discipline themselves in various tasks they perform.
Accordingly, there are many objectives and lessons behind the ritual of fasting during Ramadhan. The major one is that fasting enables Muslims to develop and strengthen their self-control, so they can resist wrongful desires and get rid of bad habits and behaviours. Therefore, one can control personal behaviours, attitudes, thoughts and wishes too. The month-long fasting marks a great motive to help Muslims give up bad conducts and avoid wrong deeds, which they used to do before Ramadhan.
Another important lesson that one can learn while fasting is that by being away from all the bad things and refraining from personal desires, one can have a closer and stronger relation with the Almighty Allah. Knowing that Allah knows what we all do, think of and plan to do, whether good or bad, it increases one’s consciousness and remembrance of the Almighty Allah in our hearts. This uplifts our spiritual bar, so we become more compliant to Allah’s instructions and seriously attached to Him during this sacred month. That is why one can see people more devoted and kindhearted.
Furthermore, fasting teaches Muslims to think about the poor and needy people who have shortfall of food and cannot afford getting food supplies and daily meals. Through such learning, fasting allow others to experience hunger like those poor families and individuals. In this regard, Ramadhan brings the focus on the importance of charity and voluntary work in the society. Consequently, you see people strive to do different sorts of charitable deeds with poor people and needy families. This reflects people’s spirit of compassion, mercy and solidarity, which all revive in Ramadhan.
As one becomes more compassionate in Ramadhan, people contribute a lot in helping others through various charitable activities. Their interest to support voluntary work and charities is not only limited to this month, though it increases in Ramadhan as the reward of such deeds is getting doubled. That is why Ramadhan marks the month of generosity, where 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.
Overall, the holy month of Ramadhan is an opportunity, which should not be missed or undervalued. Its religious and social advantages are many and we should all invest on this time of the year that brings blessings to our life and unites people together. May the Almighty Allah bestow us the great rewards and blessings from this month. Wish you all a rewarding fasting!
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