New to Islam from Glasgow, Scotland – On Fasting in Ramadhan
IMAN President’s conversations (via email) with Sr Elena Vidican of Glasgow, Scotland, a Romanian sister who recently converted to Islam.
On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 6:39 AM, Elena Vidican wrote:
Ramadan Mubarak Dr. Kamar,
As the month of Ramadan is starting, I would like to know how can we prepare better and also how is the fasting in this period to be interpreted ( as compared to other religions)?
Elena
----- Dr. Kamar Oniah replied:
Salam and Ramadhan karim, Elena. I have discussed some points regarding Ramadhan in my book, Understanding Islam. To add to these:
1. Fasting is so special in Islam - it is a sacrifice of oneself to Allah Almighty. It can only be carried out when a person already feels convinced and committed to the religion of Allah. Thus it is a stage after the shahadah and solat.
2. During fasting, we are not in our normal condition in that we feel thirsty and hungry and even tired and uncomfortable, i.e., we are in need and experience difficulties. It is in the nature of humans that in times of needs and difficulties to turn more inward and towards our Creator. This is the fitrah of human beings, i.e., human nature. Fasting is therefore an imposed (self-imposed) situation, as it were, of needs and difficulties to assist us in turning more intensely and consciously towards ourselves and our Creator Almighty. Unfortunately, for those without religion, they turn to external stimulus such as drinks, drugs and cigarettes in times of needs and difficulties in their attempt to overcome their situation, and often end up tragically. The fact that they do so reflects the existence of that fitrah in them, i.e, a fitrah that calls out for help during times of need and difficulties.
3. In fasting, we give our physical organs a much needed rest and thereby too shifting our focus from our bodily and physical needs to our spiritual and intellectual needs. We take a spiritual journey into ourselves - reviewing our weaknesses and strength, training to improve ourselves spiritually and intellectually. Thus Ramadhan is a month of spiritual intensification and of humble reflection, particularly at night when we connect with the Almighty more intensely than during other days. It is a time when we pay more attention to our spiritual existence than our physical existence as compared to other days. In fact, in the Holy Qur'an, Allah Most Merciful informed us that others before us were also ordained to fast.
4.Other religions have retreats in one form or another; either physically by going into remote areas, as in Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Shinto or refraining from all works as the Sabbath of Judaism, and some other religions even make spiritual retreat a full time and a whole life affair - thus the monks, devotees and elects in such religions. In Islam we do not retreat physically since we are created as the khalifah of Allah on earth and have social responsibilities, but we take an inward journey into ourselves. Thus, during Ramadhan, we should not fast but eat normally at night - this is in order to replenish our strength so that we can carry out our normal duties. Fasting is therefore not to destroy our physical entity but to strengthen our spiritual entity. In the ultimate, our physical, spiritual and intellectual entities are balanced up, and thus the nurturing of the wholesome person as required by our religion
5. After a month of fasting, we celebrate our sacrifice and spiritual training with the 'eid - a time for healthy festivities. Thus celebration too is part of the rituals in Islam for in such celebrations, we give thanks to the Almighty and celebrate His Mercies and Blessings. As such, Islam is not a religion of glum and gloom but a religion of balance.
6. The tarawih solat is a beautiful experience of congregational solat with its intense yet cheerful atmosphere. Even if done alone, we should feel a deep sense of fulfillment and joy in its performance. At the end of tarawih, especially when we are alone, we should become reflective, turning to Allah with deep gratitude and joy at being linked with Him. Indeed, the tarawih can be described as both fulfilling and joyful, a celebration of Allah's Blessings and a joy in being a Muslim.
7. Ramadhan too was the month when the angel Gabriel came to read the whole of the Qur'an with the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon them, testifying to the exactness and accuracy of the revelations. And during Ramadhan too is a special night most blessed where the angels come down to perform errands. The exact night is not specified because if so, our focus will be for the blessings of this night rather than on sincere worship of Allah Almighty.
So Elena, enjoy Ramadhan with all its blessings and glory.
Wassalam, Dr. Kamar
posted by Interactive Muslimah Association (IMAN) @ 11:39 PTG
5 Feb 2010 -
IIUM will be organising a talk on kalimah Allah on Feb 5. Muslimin and muslimat are invited to join the program.
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