Spirit of Ramadan

On the other hand, if the iftar takes the form of a lavish affair, all attention will focus on the taste and the physical aspects, and the spiritual benefits will be lost. In fact, a lavish iftar kills the true spirit of fasting. Iftar ostensibly ends the time of fasting but treating it as just that would be an underestimation. For the spiritually awakened mind, it is like a new beginning towards spiritual upliftment. Such a person will analyse the experiences of the day and try to learn lessons from them. These days, organizing iftar parties has become a tradition. But this party should not be like any other party. Such a party should give us an opportunity for spiritual and dawah exchange, turning our individual experience into a social and dawah experience. IFTAR INVOKES THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER It is reported that the Prophet of Islam used to say at the time of iftar, ‘Thirst has been quenched, and hunger is no more, and God willing, God will bless us with His reward.’ (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 2357) This shows that iftar invokes the spirit of prayer. It gives us an opportunity to say, ‘O God, I have fulfilled my duty and now I hope You will not deprive me of Your higher blessings.’ During the fast, the pangs of hunger and thirst make a man feel vulnerable and he turns towards God with renewed zeal. He cries out, ‘God, I have obeyed Your one command, there are many I could not. I kept one day’s fast, but I failed on several other occasions. I seek Your special blessings.’ When a sincere prayer like this is uttered, God turns His special attention to it, and the rewards are boundless. Man prays in this