Dr. Bilal A. Bhat & Intizar Ahmad
In lunar year there are twelve months namely Muharram, Safar, Rawial-Awwal, Rawial-Sani, Jamadal-Awwal, Jamadal-Sani, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu Qada and Dhu Hijjah. The name “Ramadan” is the name of the ninth month; the word itself derived from an Arabic word for intense heat, scorched ground, and shortness of rations. Allah has set the moon for mankind as a means of keeping record of months and years. Based on this, therefore, the Islamic month does not exceed thirty days. Abdullah bin Umer (RA) said that Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAW) said: Do not fast until you see the hilaal (crescent), and do not end (the month of) fasting until you see it. It is not allowed in Islam to fast a day or two days before month of Ramadan, except for a Muslim whose regular fasting coincides with these days. It is essential that the beginning and the end of the month is established if two just Muslims witness the sighting of the moon. It is expected in future Islamic Calendar will be based on astronomical data, rather than on the physical sighting of a new moon so that this would bring to an end any confusion on start dates of observations such as Ramadan. The Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAW) said, Whoever does not determine that he will fast before Fajr will have no fast (that is, it would not be accepted). Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. The others being declaration of faith, praying five times daily, performing acts of charity and making a pilgrimage to Mecca. Fasting is a Quranic order, after Imaan, Salaah and Zakaat, the most important pillar of Islam is Sawm (fasting) during the month of Ramadan. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is amongst the fundamentals of Islam; one who denies its obligation goes out of the fold of Islam. One who does not fast during this month is a faasiq (an immoral and flagrant transgressor) of the highest degree. Such a faasiq completely destroys his spirituality and morality. Sawm (fasting) in the terminology of Shareeiah, means to refrain from eating, drinking and cohabitation from Sub’h saadiq to sunset, with the intention of fasting (Baqarah, 2:187). Allah assigned the blessed month of Ramadan for every adult and healthy Muslim as a period of fasting. In essence, Ramadan is an auspicious opportunity for believers to renew their commitment to Allah, their creator and the Sovereign of the day of Judgment. It is reported in Bukhari Shareef, that when Prophet Mohammad (SAW) came to Madeenah, he (SAW) commanded the people to fast on the 10th of Muharram, but when fasting during the month of Ramadan was made compulsory, our Prophet (SAW) said, Now fasting on the 10th of Muharram is optional (alongwith 9 or 11th Muharram). According to Holy Quran, O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint (Quran, 2:183). It is appropriate that every Muslim should receive the blessed month of Ramadan with sincerity. He/She should make thee intention to perform extra acts of devotion and worship therein, including the Night prayer (qiyam), recitation of Holy Quran, and abundant charity to the poor and needy. The Holy Prophet (SAW), used to say the following when the month of Rajab begin. “Oh Allah! Bless us in Rajab and Shaban, and bring us, Oh, Allah to Ramadan (Tabarani and Ahmad). The Messenger of Allah (SAW) addressed his companions on the last day of Shaban; saying,”Oh people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. This is the month of patience and perseverance (Sabr) and the compensation of Sabr is paradise. This is also month of mutual love and sympathy, a month in which the livelihood of a believer is blessed and amplified. One who treats a fasting person to breakfast (offering just a date or a plain water drink) (iftaar) in this month, it earns him forgiveness of his sins and freedom of his neck from Hell fires. In this act social aspect is involved. The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Holy Quran was sent down, a guidance for the people, and clear verses of guidance and criterion (Quran, Chapter,2:183). It is known that Holy Prophet (SAW) was the most generous of people, and in the month of Ramadan he (SAW) was even more generous. His companions described him as a wind that bears gifts. The Holy Prophet (SAW) said, that the best charity in Ramadan is setting things right between people who are in conflict and those who harbour hatred for each other. The month of Ramadan is the month of great gains and profits, whose beginning is Mercy, whose middle is forgiveness and whose end is deliverance from Hell. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to seclude himself for the last ten days of the month of Ramadan. Zakat-a-fitr (i.e., a charity) must be paid at the end of Ramadan and Zakat-a-mal (i.e., a charitable tax) must be paid every year based upon your wealth, if paid during Ramadan is more rewarding. The Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAW) said, the smart man is the one who takes stock off himself and strives to do that which will benefit him after death, and the helpless one is the one who follows his own whims and desires and engages in wishful thinking (assuming that Allah will forgive him regardless of what he does and that he does not need to strive to good deeds) (Reported by Al-Bukhari). The month of Ramadan is superior to others because in it there is the best night of the year, which is Laylat Al-Qadr, worship on this night is better than worship for a thousand months. Almighty Allah says: Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Power. Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is! The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees (That night is). Peace until the rising of the dawn (Quran Sura Al-Qadr, 97:1-5), the best book i.e., Holy Quran (a guidance for mankind) was revealed to the best of the Prophets (SAW).
“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you many learn piety and righteousness” – Al Baqarah, 2:183
Almighty Allah says, The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and criterion (between right and wrong) (Al-Baqarah, 2:185).The Battle of Badr and the conquest of Mecca also took place during the holy month of Ramadan. The gates of paradise are opened and gates of Hell are shut, and the devils are chained up also there are many kinds of worship in Ramadan, such as fasting, praying Qiyam Al-Layl (Night vegil prayer), feeding the poor, performing itikaaf (religious retreat), giving charity, and reading the Holy Quran. This means evil actions and sins become less for those who observe the conditions and etiquette of fasting. The Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAW) said, the Scriptures of Ibrahim (AS) were sent down on the first of the month of Ramadan, the Tawrah was sent down on the sixth of Ramadan. The Injeel was sent down on the thirteenth of Ramadan. The Zaboor was sent down on the eighteenth of Ramadan, and the Quran was sent down on the twenty-fourth of Ramadan (Reported by Ahmad). Allah neither wishes to punish His subject nor starve them because neither of these benefits Him. Cultivation of righteous and humility is the wisdom behind fasting. The real purpose of fasting is to value the tremendous blessings of Almighty Allah and realize that a large percentage of people in the world do not have what we take for granted everyday. Hopefully a person will carry this realization throughout his or her life and become a better person and member of the world community. There are numerous spiritual benefits of fasting. Fasting is extremely efficient for the acquisition of Taqwaa (piety, without Taqwaa Muslim cannot gain closeness to Allah), purifying the soul, fasting creates gratification in worship, making the heart conducive for worship. Another outstanding feature of fasting is that it lifts man above the level of beasts and animals- who eat, drink and copulate at will, whenever the wages comes and takes him to the parallel of the angles. To control instinctive desires, the source of all sins, Holy Prophet (SAW) said, O you young people! Those of you who can afford marriage, let them marry, for it confines eyes to modesty and protects the wombs (of women) from evil intentions. Those of you who cannot do this, let them fast because fasting breaks off their lusts. The health benefits of fasting cannot be questioned. It has been proved that during fasting, the body gets a chance to develop its immune system and rid itself of the toxins that have accumulated. It has also been related to a longer life expectancy. According to Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAW), One who keeps the fast of Ramadan with Imaan (faith) and longing for reward, all his previous sins are forgiven (Bukhari, Muslim). It is important a person on fast should not tell lie, backbite, quarrel, eat haraam items and earn through unlawful means. If one does not abstain from sin and futility then his/her fasting will merely be staying hungry and thirsty, without any reward or spiritual upliftment. According to Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAW), One who fasts the month of Ramadan and six days during Shawwal will be rewarded as though he fasted the entire year. In short a person should try his best to refrain from all kinds of sins- protecting his ears, eyes, tongue and all other organs from indulging in unlawful activities. When a Muslim spends Ramadan in this manner then he will certainly notice great changes in his life. To conclude, fasting is expected to make a person better. It not only offers us an opportunity of self purification and self-rectification but opens on us the doors of Allah’s Grace and Mercy. The Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAW) says, Let it not be that the day that you fast and the day that you break the fast be equal, meaning one’s behaviour, attitude and outlook should improve from having undergone the fast. A lot of rage, anger, oppression and talk of war is heard around the world. Kashmir where all hearts, except those which have been blackened by the blind pursuit of this worldly power and self, feel deep wounded. Hundreds of families are mourning the tragic deaths of budding young man. The estimated number of widows whose husbands have been martyred due to disturbance in Kashmir since 1989 is more than 40000. These women are ignored by the society as well as by the government. Do we think about them? Do we educate ourselves about the Kashmir problem? Do we participate in the community issues? We observe in the name of internal security innocent killings, rapes mass destruction everywhere in our valley. Law or religion is not respected, human killings, human rights violation, corruption; dishonuoring of our sisters is common. Responsible people are silent and religious scholars issue futwas in minor issues to show their existence? Ramadan teaches us to build in ourselves the concern for the others; the poor, the hungry, those in distress, those in debt, those who are away from their homes, the innocent prisoners. The sacred month of Ramadan is a time to examine shortcomings and build resolves to rectify them. It is expected that Ramadan seeks to replace aggressive thoughts and behaviours with ideals of peace and charity. Ramadan focuses on individual human beings. If a human being learns to restrain himself from making wrong decisions, it carries on through his family, community and country, and could make the planet earth entirely peaceful. Ramadan is the time for us to focus on our faith and responsibilities and turn to Allah with broken and contrite hearts. Let us cry, let us shed tears, let us pray for unity, let us beg for Allah’s Mercy. A single glance of that Mercy can pull us out of the vortex in which we have been helplessly wallowing.
The holy month of Ramadan in the Muslim world is marked by social and religious gatherings where Muslim families and friends unite to break their fast together, after sunset during iftar or before dawn during suhour. Muslims increase their attendance at mosques during the month and congregate for longer prayers for taraweeh and qiyam. Some Muslims also spend consecutive days and nights at mosques during the last 10 days of Ramadan (i’tikaf) for prayers. This year Ramadan falls between late April and late May as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The transmission of COVID-19 is facilitated by close contact between people, as the virus is spread through respiratory droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces. To mitigate the public health impact, several countries have implemented physical distancing measures aimed at interrupting transmission by reducing interaction between people. These measures are fundamental control mechanisms to control the spread of infectious diseases, particularly respiratory infections, associated with large gatherings of people. Physical distancing measures, including the closing of mosques, monitoring of public gatherings and other restrictions on movement, will have direct implications for the social and religious gatherings central to Ramadan. Religious leaders should be involved early in decision making, so that they can be actively engaged in communicating any decision affecting events connected with Ramadan. National health authorities should be considered the primary source of information and advice regarding physical distancing and other measures related to COVID-19 in the context of Ramadan. A strong communication strategy is essential to explain to the population the reasons for decisions taken. The communication strategy should also include proactive messaging on healthy behaviours during the pandemic and use different media platforms. Muslim countries around the world are taking different measures to control the spread of COVID-19 so it is important we follow the same pattern for social and religious practices and gatherings during Ramadan. It is important to report that no study of fasting and risk of COVID-19 infection have been performed. Healthy people should be able to fast during this Ramadan as in previous years, while COVID-19 patients may consider religious licenses regarding breaking the fast in consultation with their doctors, as they would do with any other disease. In settings where movement restrictions are in place, psychological health, social issues, religious issues, economic issues, incidents of domestic violence are likely to increase. Religious leaders can actively speak out against violence and provide support or encourage victims to seek help. Every Muslim must remember and be firmly aware that the month of Ramadan is only a means, not an end which can help one to become a better person, both in the eyes of others and in Allah’s. One must uphold the state of Imaan and Taqwaa and perform righteous action after the month of Ramadan until one dies. This is the way of the Sahabah (RA) and their true followers, some of whom were reported to have said: I will not feel quite safe if I see that one of my feet is already in Jannah- not until both of them are in there. According to Holy Quran (Sura, Al-Hijr), And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty. May Almighty Allah bless us all and forgive all our sins and make us good Muslims and good human beings.
(The authors write regularly on Islamic topics exclusively for “Kashmir Horizon”. Views are their own, [email protected])