In Islam, Ramadan is a month of fasting, prayer, and contemplation. It is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic year (Ramadan). It is believed that Ramadan is when the Holy Qur’an “was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and a means of Salvation” (Fasting in Islam). Muslims take this time to concentrate on their faith. During Ramadan, Muslims are not supposed to eat or drink from sunrise to sunset and steer clear of wrongful thoughts and behaviors. Ramadan celebrates the guiding light in the Qur’an that protects humans from evil and vice and leads them towards good and virtue Fasting is the third pillar of Islam. All healthy Muslims are required to participate in a fast during Ramadan. “When the soul enters into a station of gratitude and submission to its Lord, through fasting, there is a recognition that life has been given by God as a gift and trust to be used for good works that reflect God’s mercy, compassion, love, generosity and so on”Not being able to eat or drink teaches humans self-control from temptations and evil. Fasting is also seen as cleansing the soul and having empathy for people who are less fortunate in the world (Ramadan). Fasting is a commanded spiritual exercise that is about discipline and generosity. It is about learning to be thankful and appreciative. Prophet Muhammad saw says, “If anyone does not refrain from lies and false conduct, God has no need for him to abstain from his food and drink” . If fasting will not affect someone or their habits then there is no point in participating. This month mends the gap between rich and poor. Fasting inspires the generosity of wealth and time to help Throughout Ramadan, fasting done from dawn until dusk and known to purify the soul and body. Fasting is a pious practice in Islamic culture that fosters a sense of spirituality in Muslims. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, mandatory acts that form the foundation of Muslim life. Fasting reminds Muslims of the suffering poor; also, it helps Muslims gain self-control and cleanses the body and mind.
“Ramadan is one of the most sacred events in the Muslim world. Wherever people live, wherever they stay during Ramadan, they follow all the traditions and peculiarities of the event, fasting, purification of soul and mind and other facilities, such as reading of prayers. Ramadan helps some people to understand their assignment in this life, to analyze the mistakes made during their life and to give opportunity to correct these mistakes.”
The meaning of fasting is to be abstained from eating, drinking, and any sinful acts during the daytime. Ramadan is a month of purification, so anything that is done like cursing and backbiting somebody can break the fast, even if it continues till dawn without food or anything entering down the throat this is considered not to be counted. Ramadan is also about intentions. One of the important Ramzan brings Muslim face to face with the hard realities of life like pangs of hunger, thirst and deprivation. It also inculcates discipline and declaration of subservience to the laws of God. Muslims give alms and recite the Quran during the holy month.The main idea of Ramadan is the strengthening of faith, moral growing, consideration of the personal way of life, understanding of life priorities, and shifting of these priorities. The person has the opportunity to leave the city life and to retreat in some cozy and lonely place with the aim to think about true vital values, to evaluate the person’s life and to relax. People are sinful and Ramadan allows pople to look on their life, on their sins and to make some conclusions, to provide some changes in life.Spiritual purification is provided by means of fasting. Muslims try to refrain from loaves and fish, they try to refuse from eating, drinking, smoking and other life facilities. To avoid bad language and save soul from shady thought is the main consideration of people during the whole their live, but especially during Ramadan. This fasting is obligatory for all Muslims and should be followed since the sunrise till the sunset. When the sun has disappeared, Muslims have the opportunity to interrupt their fasting, but still the food they eat should be of small portions. Fasting is allowed to be avoided by pregnant, children, old and sick people. People should give the food to sick or poor people (in the sum which they spend of their eating everyday) in the case of inability to follow fasting. So, Ramadan is one of the most sacred events in the Muslim world. Wherever people live, wherever they stay during Ramadan, they follow all the traditions and peculiarities of the event, fasting, purification of soul and mind and other facilities, such as reading of prayers. Ramadan helps some people to understand their assignment in this life, to analyze the mistakes made during their life and to give opportunity to correct these mistakes. All people are sinful and reading prayers and living solitary lives at least during Ramadan, help them to expiate their scanty sins and to become living life from white sheet. All of this could bring about nearer to undergoing a real month of fasting, a period that is full of love, intimacy, and awareness of the creator. Additionally, abstain from eating, drinking, and marital intercourse’s may seem hard, but keep in mind that how people use their eyes, ears, mouth .etc. in trading in the sin and desperate acts. Hence, we can settle that it is a month full of breaks from the creator, and Muslims should be thankful about it, and put more effort to fully advantage from such period.
(The author is Persuing Bsc Nursing at Deash bhagat University Mandigobingard Punjab. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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