In an
article in the Mauritius-based newspaper “LE SOCIALISTE”
published on July 31, 2012 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of
Mauritius reflected on the special blessings of fasting for the human body,
mind and soul. The fasting month of Ramadan is a spiritually rewarding time for the believers as it allows them to seek to reach the source of all perfection through abandoning one's ego and personal desires by focusing on Allah, the Most Exalted. [Inset: "Craving for the blessings of Allah"- a Painting by Pakistani artist Khurso Subzwari ].
We reproduce the article below for the benefit of all our esteemed
readers.
“O
you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those
before you that you may become righteous.” (2: 184)
Fasting has
been prescribed to all people before the advent of Islam. Each prophet of God
came to teach their people through divine intervention a form of fasting which
shall suit their needs, both physically and spiritually.
Fasting is
voluntarily not eating food for varying lengths of time. Fasting in Islam can
be observed with the intention to cleanse one’s body and mind from all kinds of
ills, but mostly to come closer to God, for when the body and mind is cleared
of food and other privations, then the soul also is cleansed. This occurs
especially when fasting is observed along with acts of worship to seek the
pleasure of God Almighty, our beloved Master and Creator.
God has ordained a special
sacred month whereby this form of complete purification can be put into action.
This month is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Ramadan. The Quran
explains the sanctity of this special month in these terms:
“The
month of Ramadan (is that month) in which the Quran was revealed, (being) a
guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever
sights (the new moon of) the month, let him observe the fast…” (2: 186)
This month has therefore a special
characteristic in that which it was during one of its nights that the last law-bearing
Book, that is, the Quran was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as
guidance for mankind. This month’s purity has been acknowledged by God the
Praiseworthy and fasting has therein been made obligatory upon every able and
healthy Muslims, rich and poor alike for all times.
Our honoured guest, Ramadan is back
again in our lives. Ramadan: as a reminiscence of purity, atonement for sins
and mistakes, and the opportunity to strive to accede to the pleasure of God
and obtain the Creator Himself as our recompense.
Fasting teaches us to fight our innermost
vain desires, and to turn away from selfishness and heedlessness. It teaches us
to turn away from the pleasures of our mind and focus on what pleases the
heart, that is, the remembrance of God Almighty. It teaches us to empathise and
to better understand the poor and needy. It teaches us to realise gratitude for
the blessings of health and provision and to surrender our will to the will of
God. It teaches us to humble ourselves, and that we are dependent upon Him
(God).
We Muslims must strive to do
justice to our own selves. Justice must prevail at all times, and justice can
only come if we are true to the commandments of God. Ramadan is a sure means to
make justice not only to our spiritual side, but also to our physical side, our
health.
There are some recommendations
which we cannot ignore. Indeed if we follow a good diet during the days of
fasting, then our health will not only ameliorate but also this shall be a plus
for us in spiritual matters. The soul is influenced by what the body consumes.
That is why the Holy Prophet of Islam (pbuh) has instructed that when one takes
in food, one has to make provision of one-third place for food, one-third for
water and one-third for air. A full stomach is not good for a person as it has
a negative effect on his soul also. Thus, when our physical health joins in
harmony with our spiritual health, we mankind (not only Muslims) shall profit
from one of the best divine ways of cleansing our body, mind and soul.
May this month of Ramadan comes as
a trigger of conscience for submitting our body, mind and soul to the harmony
of good living through proper fasting and the accomplishment of such acts of
worship which shall guarantee us (if God wills) the pleasure of God Almighty. (Ameen).
(c) Le
Socialiste Newspaper, Mauritius, July
31, 2012