FROM MAULANA’S DESK

fasted in the true sense of the word, who emerges from the experience not only a thankful and pious devotee of God, but also a human being in complete control of his thoughts, words and deeds. The fasting person repeatedly reads in the Quran that God is the Sustainer, that is, while man is the taker, God is the Giver. Everything that a person receives in this world, right from his existence and the oxygen he inhales to stay alive, to the sunlight necessary for his survival, everything is God’s gift. When a person starts to think in this way, he experiences a tremendous change within. He begins living in society as a giver-member. He becomes a creative member of society. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that what one witnesses during the month of Ramazan in the present culture is extravagance in eating and shopping which is totally contradictory to what the Quran wants of the believers. Do not judge Islam in the light of Muslim behaviour but judge Muslims in the light of Islam. Fasting, the third pillar of Islam, inclines one to become a student of the Quran and, by seriously studying the Quran, one discovers those principles by which one may develop one’s personality and become a peaceful person who contributes positively to society. o Maulana Wahiduddin Khan editor@thespiritofislam.org Follow Maulana at speakingtree.in