THE HOLY MONTH OF FASTING AND PRAYER

THE HOLY MONTH OF FASTING AND PRAYER Spiritual Nourishment R AMAZAN, the month of fasting, is a blessed spiritual period for believers, for it is during this month that they do their utmost to awaken and enhance their spirituality. The aim of fasting during Ramazan is to diminish a person’s dependence on material things, so that he may elevate himself to a higher plane of devout living. Abiding by the guidelines of fasting raises believers to a state of humility, truth and honesty. It was in the month of Ramazan that revelations of the Quran first began to be made to Prophet Muhammad. The objective of fasting has been aptly summed up in this Quranic verse: ‘Believers, fasting has been prescribed for you, just as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard yourselves against evil.’ (2: 183) Ramazan teaches the believer to uphold truth and refrain from evil and falsehood. It is important, therefore, to reflect upon the Prophet’s admonition to believers: ‘God does not need the fast of one who does not leave off falsity in speaking or who acts according to his false assertions.’ In the Hadith, Ramazan is called the “month of patience”. The prescribed abstemiousness of this month is designed to train the individual to control all negative feelings, so that he may lead a successful life in this world, for it is negative feelings that place the greatest hurdle in the path of human progress. By the mere observance of a fast, he becomes conditioned to leading a life of moral restraint. As a reassurance to believers, the Quran says: ‘Those who persevere patiently will be requited without measure.’ (39: 10) According to the Prophet, ‘Whenever one of you is on a fast, he should be soft in his demeanour. In the event of being abused or provoked, he should simply say that he is on a fast.’ The prescribed abstemiousness of this month is designed to train the individual to control all negative feelings, so that he may lead a successful life in this world, for it is negative feelings that place the greatest hurdle in the path of human progress.