Siam in Ramadan

Al-Siam indeed is something unique. It enjoys, in the eyes of Allah, a divine grace unparalleled by any other act of piety and worship. According to a Qudsi Hadith (utterances attributed to Allah outside the Holy Quran), the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful Allah, in His infinite Mercy, declares: "A man's work belongs to him. A good deed is repaid from tenfold to seven hundred times. Fasting belongs to Me and I repay." (Bukhari).

The holy month of Ramadan occupies a unique place in the Islamic Calendar. It is the only month which has been explicitly described and analysed in the Holy Quran. The very fact that the Revelation of the Holy Quran commenced in the month of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Arabic year, testifies so eloquently to the sanctity, serenity and divine excellence of this holy month. The Holy Quran authenticates: "Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Quran, as a guide to mankind; also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong)".

What is more, it was in this sacred month that Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was blessed with the divine Sahifa. It was in this month of majesty that the holy Taurat reached mankind through (Hazrat Musa (peace be upon him). It was again in this holy month that the sacred Zabur saw the light of day through Hazrat Daud (peace be upon him). Last but not the least, Hazrat Isa (peace be upon him) had the privilege and honour of receiving divine Injil on the 12th of this auspicious month. A good number of Ahadith also testify to the divine excellence and eminence of this sacred month. Abu Huraira (RA) reported God's Messenger (pbuh) as saying, "When Ramadan begins the gates of paradise are opened, the gates of Jahannam are locked, and the devils are chained." (Bukhari and Muslim).

Sal'man al-Farisi (RA) told of God's Messenger (pbuh) saying in a sermon which he delivered to them on the last day of Sha'ban: "A great month, a blessed month, a month containing a night which is better than a thousand months has approached you people. God has appointed the observance of fasting during it as an obligatory duty, and the passing of its night in prayer as a voluntary practice....It is a month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness, and whose end is freedom from hell.

" (Baihaqi in Shu'ab al-imam).

Ramadan is derived from the word Ramz which means "to burn," "to scorch". The root meaning of Ramadan is "excessiveness of heat"; the month was so called "when they named them according to the seasons in which they fell, this month agreed with the days of excessive heat", or because the month is supposed to burn away the sins of men. (Ghiyasu'l-Lughah, in loco). Some say that it is one of the names of Allah, but there is no authentic or reliable authority to testify to this claim.

Fasting is divided into two main categories -- (1) The Fard or the obligatory Fasting and (2) the Tatawwu or the voluntary Fasting. The Fard Fasting comprises the Ramadan Fasting, the Kaffara or the Fasting of Atonement and the Nadhr relating to the taking of a vow.

Allah ordains in the holy Quran: "O ye, who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint." (2:183)

Al-Siam or the Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, one of the five pillars or Arkans of Islam, is obligatory for every Muslim provided he or she is in full possession of his or her faculties. There are, however, exemptions for temporary causes, such as menstruation or child-birth bleeding and persons in sick-bed or on a journey. The exemptions clearly signify that Allah never wants His Bandas to suffer and undergo self-torture. The Holy Quran clearly says: "Allah does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has guided you: and perchance ye shall be grateful." (2:185).

Al-Siam or the Fasting is indeed an ancient form of worship, prescribed for the Muslims as well as other nations which preceded us, ever since the time of Hazrat Adam (peace be upon him). According to the commentaries of Al-Manar, "Fasting is an ancient form of worship recognised by previous religions -- even heathen ones. It constituted an essential part of every religion. It was known to the ancient Egyptians, from whom it passed on to the ancient Greeks, who used to enforce it". Fasting in different forms was also in vogue among the Hindus and the Buddhists, the Christians and the Jews. According to Al-Manar, "The best-known and oldest of Christian Fasts is that of Lent, which precedes Easter. It is the same Fasting period as observed by Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them) and his apostles". The Christians were categorically commanded by their Prophet to fast: "Moreover, when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance........ But thou when thou fastest, anoint thine head and wash thy face" (Matt. 6: 16, 17). Again, when the Pharises objected to Jesus' disciples not keeping the fast as often as John's, his only answer was that when he would be taken away "then shall they fast in those days" (Luke 5: 33-35).

Moses (peace be upon him) himself fasted for 40 days to qualify himself to receive that Divine Revelation. Jesus (peace be upon him) also fasted for 40 days in the desert and commanded his disciples to do the same.

Islam introduced a new meaning, a new vision, a new idea, a new spirit into the institution of Fasting. For the first time in history, Fasting was blessed with a systematic regulation, a scientific method, a noble justification. In the days before the holy Prophet (peace be upon him) Fasting meant the suffering of some privation in the hours of mourning and sorrow. Islam introduced a revolutionary innovation -- Al-Siam stood not for mere suffering or abstinence but for an institution for the moral uplift and spiritual elevation of the human soul. A Muslim Fast never indicates mere abstention from food and drinks and sex, and Fasting in Islam is never meant for self-torture. It is undoubtedly stricter than other systems of Fasting, but it provides alleviations for special circumstances. The restraint from the animal instincts for food, drink and sex enables the attention of a man or a woman to be directed to higher and nobler aspects. Fasting in the light of Islam helps him or her overcome lusts and thereby sets us at the mouth of the road leading to perfection -- perfection to be achieved through prayers and penance, Taqua and Tarawwih, contemplation and acts of charity, total restraint and abstinence from all evil acts and thoughts. The self-restraint or Taqwa, indeed, has to be a voluntary effort comprising the elements of caution, alertness and fear of Allah. Benign Providence Himself loves this glorious and voluntary effort and attempt at self-restraint by his Banda. In the words of the holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), "By He, in Whose hands Muhammad's soul rests, Allah prefers the bad breath of one who fasts to the fragrance of musk" (Bukhari and Muslim).

The holy month of Ramadan has come back once again with all its pristine glory and divine excellence to enable us to learn self-restraint, to temper us in the kiln of Taqwa, to provide us with a divine privilege, a unique opportunity to receive Allah's Mercy directly from Him. Let us celebrate it in a befitting way, not through lavishness and sumptuous Iftars and Sehris, not through extravagance and prodigality, but through Taqwa and Tarawwih, self-restraint and meditation, prayers and penance.

Syed Ashraf Ali is former Director General of Islamic Foundation Bangladesh.