Ramadan: The Month of Self-Healing

[Muhaba]

Ramadan: The Month of Self-Healing By Anonymous
(A booklet I found in the masjid)

Lessons to be learnt during Ramadan:

Lesson 1: Gaining Taqwa (piety)
Allah legislated fasting for gaining taqwa. Allah says in the Quran: “O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you, so that you may attain taqwa.” (Chapter 2 - Al-Baqarah - verse 183)

Taqwa in this case means to make a shield between oneself and Allah’s anger and Hellfire.


Lesson 2: Drawing closer to Allah
This is achieved by reciting and reflecting on Al-Quran during the night and day, attending the taraweeh prayers, remembering Allah and, for those who can, making ‘Umrah (visiting the House of God in Mecca for the lesser Pilgrimage). Also, for those who can, making I’tikaaf (seclusion) in the last ten nights of Ramadan, so as to leave all worldly pursuits and seclude oneself in a masjid just thinking of Allah in order to bring oneself closer to Allah.


Lesson 3: Acquiring patience and strong will
Fasting teaches patience and strong will. Also it teaches the person to take control over his/her desires and needs so that he/she guides them and not vice versa. When one fasts, and gives up one’s food and drink and one’s marital sexual relations for those hours [hours of fasting from dawn to sunset], one learns restraint and patience.


Lesson 4: Striving for Ihsaan (Righteousness and Sincerity) and staying away from riyaa’ (showing off)
Ihsaan means to worship Allah as if one sees Him, and even though one does not see Him, He sees all. Allah singles out fasting from all other types of worship saying, “Fasting is for Me,” because no one knows whether you are fasting or not except Allah.


Lesson 5: Refinement of manners, especially those related to truthfulness and discharging trusts.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said, “Whoever does not abandon falsehood in word and action, then Allah has no need that he should leave his food and drink.” What we learn from this is that we must pay attention to the purification of our manners [and controlling one’s manners during the fast is just as important as controlling one’s desire to eat and drink].


Lesson 6: Recognizing that one can change for the better
The Prophet (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) said, “Every son of Adam sins and the best of the sinners are those who repent.” Allah provides many opportunities to repent to get rid of sins, as the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and with the hope of reward, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [However, it is evident from other Islamic sources that certain sins such as usurping the rights of others will not be forgiven until the rights have been restored or the usurper has sought forgiveness of the victim and has been forgiven by the victim.]


Lesson 7: Compassion toward the less privileged and being more charitable.
When the fasting person feels the pangs of hunger, he/she experiences how the poor feel so he/she has compassion toward them and gives them something to ward off their hunger.


Lesson 8: Sensing the unity of the Muslims
Fasting Ramadan gives the sense of unity and one community since all Muslims fast and break their fast at the same time. In this month we sense that there is a possibility for unity because we all fast together, we break the fast together, we all worship Allah together, and we pray at Eid together.


Lesson 9: Learning discipline
The Prophet made us adhere to discipline and strictness, strictness that does not lead to fanaticism or going outside the bounds that Allah has laid down. One cannot knowingly break the fast before sunset as this will not be accepted by Allah.


Who is Exempt from Fasting:
Fasting is mandatory on every Muslim who is sane, adult, able and resident. The following exemptions apply:
1. The insane
2. Children who are not adolescent yet
3. The elderly and chronically ill for whom fasting is unreasonably strenuous: such persons are required to feed at least one poor person every day in Ramadan when he/she missed fasting.
4. Pregnant and nursing women may postpone the fasting to a later time
5. Women during the period of menstruation or of post childbirth confinement – fasting during these periods is forbidden and should be made up later, a day for a day.
6. The ill and the travelers can also defer their fasting.


What Muslims do in Ramadan:
At first, Muslims prepare themselves for the fast by having Sohur, which is a meal before the dawn prayer time. Having Sohur is not obligatory [but preferred]; Muslims can eat Sohur in order to bear the hunger during the day.

At the end of the day [after sunset, with the Maghrib call for prayer], the fast is broken with a meal called Iftar.

After the night prayer is performed, a special prayer called Taraweeh takes place. Muslims should take advantage of every minute of the day by reciting Quran, praying, giving charity, and worshipping Allah in all means. This is because Muslims are double rewarded in this month.


What can be gained from Ramadan [in addition to spiritual benefits]:
Health benefits: fasting has its advantages from the health and hygiene point of view. Islam wants a Muslim to be healthy, clean, alert, agile, and energetic.

Social benefits: as rewards are doubled in the month of Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to give more money to the poor. Therefore, charities play a significant role by ensuring that the general wealth is spread evenly and effectively. Also, Ramadan unites fasters together when breaking their fast or praying together. It is a time for family and friends to get together. Restraint from food, water, and undesirable behavior makes a person more mentally disciplined and less prone to unhealthy behavior. This is why the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “He who does not desist from obscene language and acting obscenely (during the period of fasting), Allah has no need that he didn’t eat or drink.”


What is the month of Ramadan:
o Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During this month, Muslims are commanded to fast, meaning to abstain from food, drink, and other sensual pleasures. The Almighty Allah says: “O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you so that you may attain self-restraint.” (2:183)

o Muslims fast the whole month from dawn to sunset. The fasting person must abstain from lying, cheating, argumentation, fighting, foul language and every sort of evil. These are considered offensive at all times but are most offensive during the month of Ramadan.

o Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. The five Pillars are: Shahada (affirmation of faith), Salat (five daily prayers), Zakat (obligatory almsgiving), Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca), and Siyam (fasting).

o It is a holy month because in this month the whole Quran, Islam’s Holy Book, was sent down. The Angel Jibreel imparted the wisdom of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

o In the month of Ramadan, there is the night (Laylatul Qadr), which is better than a thousand months. Quran was imparted in Laylatul Qadr.

o This is the month of patience and the reward of this patience is Jannah (Heaven).

o This month teaches the lesson of kindness towards others.

[Taabuu]

Surah Al-Baqarah V. 183
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
Oh You who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you so that you may become righteous. (Surah 2, V. 183)

Ramadan is the month of fasting. The month where we put aside worldly desires, pleasures and requirements to nourish and nurture our souls....to gain “taqwa” or awareness of Allah.
As we begin this month, let us remember that this is the goal of our fasting: Taqwa (Righteousness ).
Allah we ask of you mercy in the Month of Mercy, Taqwa in the Month of Taqwa, and nearness to You for our lifetimes.
Ameen.