THE SPIRIT OF RAMAZAN — Patience and Self-Control

THE SPIRIT OF RAMAZAN Patience and Self-Control R AMAZAN — the month of fasting, is a special and blessed month for Muslims. It was in this month that revelations of the Quran began to be made to the Prophet Muhammad, marking the commencement of Prophet-hood. Ramazan is a month of restraint and worship; of caring and thanksgiving; of repentance and piety. The multitude of benefits of Ramazan inspired the Prophet to exclaim: "Welcome to the one who purifies!" Ramazan is a month of spiritual activism when believers endeavour to awaken their spirituality. It is a scheme to improve human beings. The main aim of fasting is to weaken a man's dependence on material things and strengthen his spiritual resolve, so that he may enter the higher realms of piety. The Prophet Muhammad divided the month of Ramazan into three parts. He called the first ten days, "Blessings", the next ten days, "Forgiveness" and the last ten days, "Freedom from hell-fire". The Prophet also said, "The best days of this world are the last ten days [of Ramazan].” The Month of Supplication While giving commands regarding fasting, the Quran makes special mention of supplication, or dua. When my servants ask you about Me, say that I am near. I respond to the call of one who calls, whenever he calls to Me: let them then respond to Me, and believe in Me, so that they may be rightly guided. THE QURAN 2: 186 Fasting by its very nature is an act of patience. Patience and forbearance are what lead man to the state of the heart which enables him to experience the feeling of nearness to God. It is only then that words worthy of divine acceptance come to one's lips. Patience is the ground on which the blessed tree of dua is grown. Dua is not just a verbal act. In its essence, it is an act of the heart. This shows the relation between fasting and dua. Fasting increases the