Curbing desires in this Holy month

By Ayesha Yusuf

The Holy Month of Ramadhan is the month that brings Allah's mercy and blessings. Fasting is incumbent on every Muslim who is in good health and has the ability to fast.

It is the month in which Almighty Allah, sent down his book of guidance Al-Quran, to mankind and the believers, and the criterion between right and wrong. "Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain Taqwa" (2-183).

Ramadhan Fast is one of the five pillars, Islam is built on. Testifying that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Muhammad (Sal) is his messenger, to establish sallah, payment of Zakaat, fasting in the month of Ramadhan, and performance of Haj.

The Holy Prophet (Sal) explaining the excellence of fasting, said that by fasting a person's sins are forgiven. Fasting subdues man's desires, and comes between the fasting person and the fire.

In his wisdom, Allah enjoins us to fast, as it not only purifies the soul, but also helps control one's passions. In this Blessed month Allah has made Paradise come within our reach. Let us rediscover our lost faith, and strive to fast with faith, and in complete submission to Allah, Fear of Allah sustains our faith to live as Allah has ordained us to live.

Let us live this life as Allah commands us to, not only in the month of Ramadhan, but throughout our life.

Fasting also strengthens us, both physically and spiritually.

As we fast we come to terms, with the pangs of hunger. It is also meritorious, if we could help at least one person to break the fast. Fasting not only means a restriction in the intake of food but also a curbing of desires. Fasting enables us to master oneself and resist the cravings of the inner self.

The time for breaking the Ramadhan fast is determined by the setting of the sun. And this has to be done before Maghrib prayers.

A Muslim being a servant of Allah, has to remember that the reward and benefit of fasting can only be accounted for by the most merciful and forgiving.

It was in the month of Ramadhan, that the Holy Quran was revealed, on the night of Laila-tul-Qadr. It is obligatory for a man in sound health to fast. However allowance is made for the sick and travellers. A person who is too old to fast has to feed a poor person, each day he is unable to fast. Allah says, "On no soul does Allah place a burden, greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and suffers every ill that it earns." (2-285).

Allah says, "Should he not know, he that created" (67-14). He is the one that understands the finest mysteries, and is well acquainted with them.

This is also the month of charity (Zakkat). Give of the largesse, Allah has bestowed on you. Wealth is something bestowed on man, not only for himself but also to assist the needy. Allah reiterates this in the Holy Quran thus: "Covet not that which God has bestowed more freely on some than others. God loveth not the arrogant, and vainglorious, not the niggardly. Who hide the bounties that God hath bestowed on them. For we have prepared for them, a punishment that steeps them in contempt." (4-36)

In Chapter 2-verse -215 Allah says, "They ask thee (O Muhammad) what they shall spend." Say, "That which ye spend for good, must go to parents, near kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and wayfarer. And whatever good ye do, lo! Allah is aware of it". Believe in Allah and his messenger, and spend of that whereof he hath made you trustees, theirs will be a great reward. Let him who hath abundance, spend of his abundance, and he whose provision is measured, let him spend of that which Allah has given him."

We should not wait to be asked for that which should be distributed among the needy. It is our responsibility to see that those who deserve our help, should receive it in the proper way. Shadaqa is voluntary charity, but Zakaat is incumbent on every Muslim who has the means to give.

He does so for Allah's sake, and Allah is aware of this.

The unity of the Muslim Ummah, is once again manifest, with the advent of the Holy month, when the Muslim World fasts in obedience to Allah's commands.

Abu Huraira a companion of Prophet Muhammad quoting the Prophet has said: "Every act, of the son of Adam, is for Him, except for fasting. It is exclusively meant for me, and I alone will reward him for it" (Bukhari-Muslim).

Explaining the benefits of fasting, Imam Ghazali (Rahmatullah), a scholar said: "Fasting overpowers shaitan, the enemy of Allah (who also leads man astray) because the base of all carnal desires is the stomach."

From the first night of Ramadhan, the doors of paradise are open and remain so until the end of Ramadhan, so that the believer, by meritorious deeds, strives to attain Jennah (Paradise) said Rasulullah (Prophet Muhammad). When a believer sincerely performs salaat (prayers) during the nights of Ramadhan, for every rakat, (unit) he gains the thawaab, (reward) of one and a half thousand good deeds. The sins committed since the previous Ramadhan are forgiven. 70,000 angels make dua of (Magrifah) forgiveness daily, on behalf of the believer, from Fajr (pre-dawn) salaat (prayer) to sunset.

Zakaat-ul-Fitr is compulsory on every individual, and is given in the form of grain. It has to be given on behalf of every member in the house, including servants.

In this Holy month let us indulge in Ibadha (good deeds) and seek Allah's mercy and guidance, and pray. He grants us sound health, that will enable us to fast. Let our human failings not deprive us of his blessings. Let us strive to achieve, what Allah has made accessible to us in this blessed month, of peace and tranquillity. As we fast let us be mindful of our creator, almighty Allah at all times, and be thankful for his mercy, as he gives sustenance, that helps us fast in this sacred month. Let us remember, that the beginning of this month is compassion, its middle is forgiveness and its end release from the fire. May it be a peaceful and blessed Ramadhan for the Muslim Ummah.

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