THE ESSENCE OF RAMADAN

According to Islam, man has been put in this world so that he may be put to the test. He has been given freedom so that he may make use of this freedom in following the commandments of God of his own free will.

To pass the test of life, man has to restrict the use of this freedom: he has to promote all that is good and try to eradicate all that is bad. Self-control is needed for this. Fasting is a form of annual training to gain the self-control.

One has to have patience for this self-controlled life. Fasting inculcates in the individual this spirit of patience. On this ground, the month of fasting has been termed in a hadith  the month of patience. The most important thing required to lead an Islamic life in this world is patience. For this very reason it was declared in the Quran, “Those who persevere patiently will be requited without measure.” (Al-Zumar,  39:10)

The same glad news of immeasurable reward for patience is also given in a hadith. Abu Hurayrah quoted the Prophet as having said “The good deeds of a person will receive tenfold to seven hundredfold reward. But (God, the exalted has said) fasting is (observed) for Me and I will give reward (without measure) for it.”