A FOOL'S PARADISE

RAMAZAN : THE MONTH OF PEACE A GROUP of people subscribe to the notion that Ramazan is the month of Furqan; that is, the month of victory. According to their way of thinking, victory becomes certain if Jihad, in the sense of war (qital), is waged in the month of Ramazan. That is why, over the last few years, some battles were waged against supposed enemies in the month of Ramazan, but such wars have always ended in the destruction and defeat of the aggressors themselves. In spite of this obvious reality they have not changed their opinion or reconsidered their stand. It is strange indeed that they are still talking of war. Now the question arises, as to what is the basis or source for regarding the month of Ramazan as the month of victory. In fact the battle of Badr took place during the life of the Prophet in the month of Ramazan, in 2 A.H., on the 17th day of the month. In this war the Prophet and his companions emerged victorious. This was why the month of Ramazan came to be regarded as the month of victory. The month of Ramazan is the month of awakening one’s inner nature, rather than of involving oneself in external conflicts and controversies. But this is as baseless as anything could be. The occurrence of the battle of Badr was not a matter of choice for the Prophet of Islam. The Battle of Badr was a defensive war. It was fought in the month of Ramazan only because the enemy had marched towards Medina at the place called Badr, to attack Medina in this month. This was a unilateral action on the part of the other party (opponents). It was because of their armed aggression that the defensive war at Badr had taken place. One proof of it is that: in the initial history of Islam some other battles besides Badr also took place, for instance, the battle of Uhud and Hunain. None of these battles were fought in the month of Ramazan. Had it been the choice of the Prophet of Islam, these battles would also have taken place in the month of Ramazan. This is clear proof that the month of Ramazan has nothing to do with war and fighting.