Ramadan, a month of purification, a month rich in graces and a special month in all Muslim’s lives, the month during which the Holy Qur’an was revealed. Fasting was made obligatory for Muslims in the 2nd year of Hijra (623 AD) in accordance with the divine injunction in the Holy Qur’an, “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was for those before you, so that you may guard against evil”.
The fight against the physical tendency of hunger assists the Muslim to achieve control over his nafs (inner self) to overcome his worldly desire and to give supremacy to his spirituality over worldly pursuit. The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is observed as a month of fasting, a religious institution almost as universal as the prayer. In Islam fasting is one of the five fundamental practical ordinances as the other four being prayer, zakat (alms), pilgrimage and Jihad.
Ramadan must be observed by every adult Muslim, except the sick, the infirm and pregnant women, or mothers who are nursing their children. Travelers are also exempted from fasting during the month of Ramadan. In the case of a sick person or traveler, the month’s fast must be kept as soon as they are able to perform it.
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) has said, “fasting is an armor with which one protects oneself so let not him (who fasts) utter foul speech, nor let him act in an ignorant manner and if a man quarrel with him or abuse him, he should say twice “I am fasting”.
The Prophet (S.A.W) also said, “He who does not give up uttering falsehood and acting according to it, Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink”. The celebration of Ramadan this year by the Islamic world is occurring at a time when Muslims in many parts of the world are suffering many atrocities like in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, Libya, Palestine and some part of Nigeria, Chad, Mali, Niger and Cameroun.
The Zionist state with its terrorist police has made a mockery of world science. The leaders in Muslim countries, however, have done little except to pay up service to support the Muslim cause. Ramadan offers the Muslims a golden opportunity to reform their shortcoming and to fight against the ignorance and to struggle to change the status quo.
It was in the blessed month of Ramadan that Holy Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). The Holy Qur’an says, “The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur’an was revealed- a book of guidance to men with proofs of guidance distinguishing right from wrong”.
Fasting has innumerable social and health advantages. It teaches equality which is not witnessed even in prayers. A king may pray along side with a poor man in the mosque but at home he may lead quite a different life by eating food at will and enjoying other pleasure. Fasting, however, places all men, rich and poor, on the same. Pitiful plight of hunger and does not permit anybody to take food and drink or to have sexual relations during the day time.
Fasting accustoms a man to face hardships of life and increases his power of resistance and teaches his moral disciple. A believer is enjoined to sleep less and devote himself to good deeds and worship during Ramadan. It removes pride because a hungry man find himself weak and this makes him modest.
Modern study of science has proved that the value of fasting for preservation of good health is very great. Eating less is a key to good health as the doctors say. In western countries, people diet to keep their bodies fit as fasting keep both the body and the soul healthy. Fasting enkindles a spirit of kindness to poor and distressed and spurs believer to exert efforts to remove hunger and poverty in the world.
Islamic calendar is based solely on the moon’s revolutions and a lunar month consists either of 29 or 30 days. Hence, the month of Ramadan rotates in every season and come back to its starting point during the course of nearly 29 to 30 years. The world today stands in chaos and disorder. Hardly a day passes by without the signs of the prevalent system falling apart. The only hope that we have is through the adoption of the strong and adhering ideology of Islam, embodied in the great disciplinary act of fasting.
Baba Ali Mustapha is of Ngarannam ward near former 7up depot, Bolori II, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
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