YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

The remedy for ignorance is asking questions. (Prophet Muhammad)

The spirit of enquiry is the hallmark of an open society and the above saying of the Prophet aptly illustrates this principle. A culture of curiosity and open-mindedness will foster development in any society by motivating its members to learn enthusiastically and enrich their knowledge. This is because awareness of one’s ignorance is half of knowledge, as it becomes a stepping-stone to seeking and finding answers. A questioning mind is like a flowing river that is replenished with fresh thoughts and ideas and continues on its journey.

What is the special relation between the Quran and fasting during Ramadan?

The Quran states, “The month of Ramadan is the month when the Quran was sent down as guidance for humankind with clear proofs and criterion by which to distinguish right from wrong”. (2: 185) This shows the close link between the month of Ramadan and Quran. The Quran is a reward to His servants from God and fasting is acknowledgement of the reward. Through fasting man makes himself worthy of being thankful to God.

The main purpose of fasting is to go through the Quran with complete focus and dedication. This is a very serious study. So, believers are required to stay away from all other activities and concentrate their minds totally on the study of the Quran so that they are able to discover the deep meaning in the Quran.

How can we discover the deeper meaning of the Quran?

According to a Hadith, “The wonders of Quran shall never cease.” (Sunan al-Darimi) From this we understand that just as taking more and more water from an ocean doesn’t dry it up; similarly, continually reflecting on the Quran keeps unfolding its deeper meaning.

Materialists think on the lines of “more and more money” but the mindset of a believer should be “more and more wisdom from the Quran.” In other words, if you dedicate the month of Ramadan to the study of Quran, you shall discover newer meanings. Taking us away from the routine of life, fasting prepares one for the study of the Quran. And when a person studies the Quran with a well-prepared mind, contemplating on the verses, he can understand the teachings of the Quran in greater depth and discover the deeper meaning of the Quran.

Can you give an example of discovering the deeper meaning of the Quran?

I think the following verse of the Quran opens a whole new meaning to the reader: “Believers, fasting has been prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard yourself against evil”. (2: 183)

This verse highlights that fasting is a universal practice and it is a common element across religions. And ever since man inhabited earth, prophets were sent to guide him, and they enjoined their community to observe fasts. When man observes a fast today, he gets connected to a long history.

When I understood this, I was gripped by the realization of this thrilling idea that those who observe fasts in the month of Ramadan become a part of that divine chain which begins from the first pious person and ends with the last man of history! The realization that you have got connected with the list of those pious and God-fearing men who led a rightly guided life is an overwhelming experience.

Is overeating during sehri desirable?

Those who indulge in overeating to curb the feeling of thirst and hunger during sehri, in effect do not observe the fast as they do not allow the purpose of Ramadan to be met. Let me clarify this with the following instance from the life of the Prophet.

When the Prophet Muhammad was returning from Taif, he was overwhelmed with sorrow at the response he received from the leaders of Taif. The people of Taif ordered their children to throw stones at the Prophet Muhammad to drive him out of the city, causing him to bleed profusely.

It was in this state of being wounded, hungry and thirsty, that God suggested turning the valley of Makkah into gold for him but the Prophet Muhammad replied, “No, my Lord, but let me have enough to eat and be hungry on alternate days; then when I am hungry, I shall make supplication to You and make mention of You, and when I have enough, I shall praise and thank You.” (Musnad Ahmad)

From this Hadith, it can be drawn that the feeling of hunger and thirst serve the purpose of inculcating sensitivity within a person by making him experience helplessness. This develops piety in a person.

Why is Ramadan called a month of patience?

In the Hadith, Ramadan is called the month of patience. (Musnad Ahmad) This month is meant to serve as a training course in patience. Patience enables the individual to lead a successful life in this world by keeping his negative feelings under control.

Negative feelings, it must be remembered, present the greatest obstacle to human progress. Fasting is the pious way to solve the biggest of human problems.

How is Ramadan a month of sympathy?

The Prophet said: The month of Ramadan is the month of sympathy. (Shu’abul Iman) Fasting teaches a man what basic human requirements are. It tells him what hunger and thirst are. Those who do not get a chance to feel hungry or thirsty, experience these feelings during this month when they fast. For a few hours, the rich also come to live in the same conditions in which a poor man lives. Ramadan is, therefore, a process of rejuvenation of a believer. He can look forward to applying the lessons learnt during Ramadan to everyday life.

A person who has fasted in the true spirit can count on drawing upon the reservoir of fortitude that he has built up, on the power of dua, of patience and gratefulness when he is faced with any trying situation.

Does a believer who fasts in the best of form and spirit contribute positively to the society?

Contributing positively to society is possible for a believer by universalization of the spirit of fasting. Every person in this world who eats, and drinks should acknowledge the act of eating and drinking as exceptional, as if God Almighty were directly sending down these blessings to him.

One must make the spirit of fasting a universal realization for oneself. That is, the profound feeling of God being the Giver and one’s own self being the ‘taker’ should inspire him to become a ‘giver’ member of the society. That is, one should strive to give to others what one is receiving from the Creator.

What is Laylat-ul Qadr?

One of the special features of Ramadan is the ‘Lailat-al-Qadr’ in Arabic. Its English equivalent is the Night of Destiny. It is also referred to as the ‘Night of Decisions’ and God takes decisions for the coming year on this night. This night falls on one of the last ten nights of Ramadan. Great importance is attached to this night and the Quran calls it ‘better than a thousand months.’ (The Quran, 97:1-3)

Once Aishah (The wife of the Prophet), asked the Prophet as to how she should pray during Lailat-ul-Qadr. The Prophet gave this prayer: “O God, You are the Forgiver, You love to forgive Your servants, so You forgive me.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

The greatest thing to ask God is forgiveness. It is forgiveness which leads one to eternal Paradise. Therefore, one should seek forgiveness from God Almighty on this night.

What is the essence of the festival of Eid after fasting for a whole month?

As fasting does not imply mere hunger and thirst, the day of Eid al- Fitr does not merely imply feasting and celebration. It should rather strengthen in us the right perspective of the ephemeral nature of this worldly life and the imminent delights of the Hereafter that are sure to follow.

This should be truly manifested in the thankfulness we present to the Creator by offering prayers and by giving more in charity to the needy. As the period of fasting is spent in self-preparation and spiritual development, the day of Eid should inculcate in the believer a new spirit and a renewed sense of zeal and determination towards the journey to the life Hereafter. The message of Eid fosters the rekindling of our faith and the opening of new vistas and an entirely fresh and innovative approach to the struggles of life which would culminate by the grace of God with the rewards of everlasting Paradise.

Does Eid help in strengthening the social bonds among people?

The occasion of this festival provides, above all, a valuable opportunity to extend the hand of friendship to people from other communities and remove misunderstandings often prevalent in the society. Muslims should forge friendship with their neighbours, friends, and colleagues to foster harmony and the spirit of sharing.

Eid provides a God-given opportunity for social interaction between different communities. By sharing our happiness with them we can go a long way in easing the tension between people of all faiths. The establishment of cordial relations among different communities will result in prosperity of the community and the nation at large.