By GEB
Subject to the sighting of the moon, the Muslim faithful, globally, will tomorrow commence the yearly Ramadan fasting for 29 or 30 days, as the fourth pillar of Islam. The month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar, is regarded as a unique month of spiritual examination and upliftment. Besides, fasting during the holy month of Ramadan carries a unique reward whose scale outweighs the reward of several other rites undertaken by Muslim faithful.
For many Muslims across Nigeria, it is ironic that the holy month is again coming on the heels of wanton and senseless killings of innocent Nigerians across religious divides. Often, the perpetrators who come from other countries and recruit vulnerable Nigerians into their midst are prompted by a self-serving extremist agenda that is patently not Islamic. The ethics of Ramadan require that leaders, especially Muslims, do everything possible to provide a congenial environment for all Nigerians, including fasting Muslims.
Indeed, every Muslim is aware that the ultimate gain of fasting during Ramadan is the attainment of piety (Taqwa) as enunciated in Qur’an 2V 183. The same reward awaits a conscious Muslim who professes and internalises basic articles of faith in addition to observing, faithfully, the fundamentals of Solah (prayer), Zakat (charity) and other conduct that promote socio-communal living among humanity.
The fact is that most of the rites, virtues and conduct listed in the Quran are reflected in the wholesomeness of fasting during Ramadan. For instance, the fundamental essence of fasting, as stated (in Qur’an 2V183), is to attain piety, which is interpreted to be the first pillar, bearing witness that none deserves to be worshipped except Allah (SWT). And in addition to observation of specific forms of solah (prayer) and overwhelming acts of charity (zakat) during Ramadan, the reward of performing lesser hajj during the holy month is equated to actually performing the real hajj. It is a month of high social and communal value in which fasting, unlike in the other months, is mandatory on all healthy Muslims.
Indeed, for Muslims, the most important consideration in embarking on fasting, as is the case with other acts of devotion in Islam, is to seek nearness to Allah; to seek His pleasure and forgiveness. Thus, a Muslim who fasts conscientiously during Ramadan would ultimately attain a status of piety. When a Muslim observes fasting and other extra acts of worship like Nawafil, he becomes the beloved of Allah, such that He, the Almighty, becomes his tongue with which he talks. Thus, whatever he says becomes encoded with divine gravitas; his wishes become the wish of Allah. Thus, fasting during the month of Ramadan provides the opportunity to examine one’s spiritual status. A Muslim who forsakes the pleasure of food and drinks and embarks on this fasting, a Muslim who creates the conditions of hunger and thirst for himself/herself, simply in obeisance to Allah, is actually and indirectly sharpening his/her weapon of survival on the terrestrial earth, where survival has become simply difficult if not impossible.
Generally, the act of fasting is a condition of artificial or temporary scarcity and want. This is meant to awaken humanity to the value of the bounties of the Almighty, which human beings often take for granted. This inculcates in humans a spirit of gratitude and consequent devotion to the Almighty.
After fasting during the day, Muslims settle down at dusk to break the fast. The meal on their table should remind them of the perpetual scarcity and want in which some fellow human beings are presently steeped.
In other words, each morsel Muslims put in their mouth during this month should remind them of the life of penury and want that many Nigerians are going through. That reminder should also inculcate in Muslims the important ethic of moderation; that the real pleasure of Allah’s bounties lies in moderation and restraint and not in overindulgence.
Fasting is like a school in which the Muslim is expected to receive training and skills in endurance, perseverance and tenacity. Fasting teaches the Muslim that he should not quit difficult situations; that the war is won not through resort to escapism. When Muslims fast and forsake the luxuries which Allah has endowed them with, they are indirectly affirming the slippery nature and essence of this world; that in-between life of prosperity and austerity is a distance which is as long as the movement of our eyelids. A Muslim who fasts is preparing for possible life changes; he is affirming that nothing in life is ever permanent.
Thus, fasting develops in the Muslim the ideals of courage, fortitude, and a fighting spirit to surmount the heavy odds in life with a tranquil mind. It sharpens the power of concentration and steels the willpower and resolve.
One of the challenges confronting Nigeria is that its leaders, many of whom are Muslims, are more like dealers, with lax moral status. They have condemned the country to that abyss of bad governance and corruption. Ramadan comes every year with that opportunity for the leaders, particularly those who are Muslims, to conquer their hedonistic and libidinous excesses. It provides the servant with the mechanism to overcome anger; it seeks to imbue the faithful with self-control. Is it not true that the vigorous effort required to put up with hunger and thirst can well be extended to conquer other infirmities of human character that often lead to error and sin?
Moreover, fasting inculcates a spirit of tolerance, particularly in the face of unpleasant conditions and situations. Fasting helps a man become more tolerant despite his own discomfort. The Prophet says that when a Muslim who is fasting is abused, he should say: “I’m fasting”. Thus, it instils in him the spirit of forgiveness towards others, as we all seek forgiveness of Allah for our iniquities.
Time management is another value derived from fasting during Ramadan. Islam expects its adherents to replicate this ideal of the strict schedules observed during Ramadan in wakeful moments. Ramadan reminds Muslims of the fact that everything in the cosmos is dated and timed; that to trifle with time is to trifle with human existence.
Above all, Ramadan comes with a lot of health benefits. It cleanses the body of impurities and fortifies the internal organs against what medics refer to as “radicals”. It reenergizes the organs, sharpens the intellect and enhances the well-being of fasting Muslims.
Really, Ramadan is a journey of self-discovery and it is hoped that the Muslim faithful, and indeed, the nation, will emerge from the whole month of spiritual engagement with a deeper commitment to ensuring the welfare and security of all and sundry.
The Guardian wishes all Muslim faithful a fulfilling and rewarding Ramadan fasting!
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