ISLAM

Fasting is a cardinal pillar on which Islam is based:

Ramadan, season of renewal of faith

Al Haj A M M Rauf

Islam has different roles for men and women that are of a complementary nature, but the pillars on which Islam is founded on compasses no gender differences. Fasting’s greatest benefit is what Allah says in Surah Al Baqarah that you may learn self restraint (Quran,2:138). It undoubtedly, teaches in self discipline and better concept of what it means to remain without food and drinks for long hours..

Fasting is an universal act of devotion advocated by all the religions of the world, with more restrictions in than in others. Lest it be understood as mere starvation or as an act of self-denial and asceticism and therefore, a renunciation of the world, let us not call “Siyam” by the word fasting.It is a make up Islamic fasting “Sawm” or “Siyam” is a special kind of a service to Allah (Ibadah) by able bodied and sane Muslims, by observing a particular kind of abstinence (from food, drink, marital relationship) for a specific period (from dawn to sunset) in a specific lunar month called Ramadhan, the ninth month in the Islamic Calendar.

Sawm also refers to fasting of the tongue (Quran, 19:26). During the Islamic fast (and indeed at all times) the person must refrain from indecent talk, slander lies and back-biting. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported to have said: “If one did not give up speaking falsehood and acting by it, Allah does not require of him to give up eating or drinking. Also in another Hadith: “Many are the people who fast but who gain nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst; many are those who stand up praying all night but gain nothing except sleeplessness”.

The original meaning of Sawm is “to be rest”. We give rest to the gasto-intestinal tract, the sexual organs, and the tongue. Which is the characteristic of the Islamic fast. Fasting is an institution for the improvement of the moral and spiritual character of man. The purpose of the fast is to help develop self-restraint, self-purification, God-consciousness (taqwa),compassion, the sprit of caring and sharing, to love humanity and to love Allah.

However, for some Muslims Ramadan is a burst of Islamic activity in a year-long ocean of un-Islamic behaviour. At the beginning of each day of fasting an intention is necessary. The yaqeen we attach to the intention helps no to accept each day of fasting with good cheer. In our intention we ask Allah to grant us strength to bear the hardship of fasting and accept from us.

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA);The Prophet (PBUH) said “When the month of Ramadhan starts the gates of Heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained”. In the light of the Hadith chances of going astray under the promptings of the devils or the possibility of being misled by them are substanticly reduced if one undertakes fasting with full belief (Iman), that is with firm faith in Allah.

Ayesha, wife of the Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) said “A person who ought to have fasted the missed days of Ramadhan died, his heirs must fast on the deceased persons behalf (Sahih Al -Bukhari, Vol 3 Hadith 173).

The struggle for attaining a higher status in Taqwa (fear of Allah) is an individual effort. It makes the difference in the concentration we employ when performing salah in our determination to abstain from what Allah has forbidden and shun undesirable things when we observe the fast during Ramadan.

We inculcate generosity when we spend from our wealth in fulfilling the obligation of zakah understanding that all sustenance comes from Allah which may enable us to perform the Hajj (as well).

The Prophet (PBUH) remarked “Allah said:”All the deeds of Adam’s sons (people) are for them except fasting which is for Me,and I will give the reward for it”. Allahs Apostle (PBUH) said, “Whoever prayed at night during the whole month of Ramadan with belief and a wish for reward from Allah then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” Just as plants have their season of flowering, so Ramadan is the time of year for the growth and flourishing of goodness and righteousness. In the season of blossoming of goodness and piety,not one but millions of people jointly water the garden of virtue.

The month of Ramadan is earmarked as a time for all muslims to fast together and ensure similar results. This measure turns an individual worship into a collective one by the whole Muslim Ummah. The collective aspect of fasting manifests itself in the fact that it takes place in the same lunar month for the faithful all over the world.

Fasting has been prescribed by Allah as a form of worship, and also as a training period to develop piety, as well as to show gratitude for the great favour of the Revelation of the Holy Quran during Ramadan in Lailathul Qadr. And the best way to show gratitude for a favour is to fulfill His Commandments.

Fasting unlike Prayers, Zakah and Hajj, is strictly private, since no one can know about it, unless the fasting person mentions it. It is a common knowledge that when Ramadhan is over muslims celebrate Eid with a feast. Noble Prophet (PBUH) said Eid Prayer should be offered in the open space outside the City. This give a chance to all people in the City to attend the prayer and meet their fellow muslims afterwards offering them their Congratulations on having completed the duty of fasting in Ramadan and praying Allah to accept their worship and reward them for it.

(The writer is a retired officer of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.)

Islam is for every walk of life

Islam is concerned with man’s well-being in both body and soul. Hence it encourages all kinds of sports which strengthen the body and maintain good health as well as provide relaxation and leisure, such as swimming, archery, horse-riding, sword-fighting and wrestling. All these sports are encouraged by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

In the current scenario, being a sportsman and following Islamic tenets has become a huge challenge, but the South African cricketer Hashim Amla stands apart and sets a practical example for all the Muslim sports personalities across the globe.

Hashim Amla was chosen for the provincial team, Nashua Dolphins; captained the under-19 South African team; and was finally selected for the Proteas at the tender age of 21. But alas, after playing in only two test matches, he was dropped from the squad.

Amla, mature for his years and firm in his faith said, “Although it was disappointing for me not to do as well as I wanted to, it was taqdeer. I had worked hard to get there, but Allah knows best. This belief helped me overcome the disappointment.”

Amla’s strong belief and commitment towards practicing his religion is commendable. Amla reminds us how easy it is to take a stand, but only if we’re willing to do so.

Where many people claim that practicing Islam completely is not practical in today’s scenario, Amla has set a practical example. Allah says in the Qur’an, O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely (and perfectly) and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. (Qur’an 2:208)

When Amla was selected for the South African squad, he asked that he be excused from wearing the logo of an alcoholic beverage sponsor, Castle. Castle, a liquor company, sponsors the South African cricket team. We can notice ‘Castle’ written on the T-shirts of all players, except one.

Amla was granted special permission by Cricket South Africa and the sponsors because he refused to wear Castle’s logo as liquor is prohibited in Islam. Not only this, he has also decided not to pocket a cent from his match fee. Islam is for every walk of life and a Muslim can be a sportsman, but he has to be within the limits of Islam.

May it be wearing T-shirts to promote an alcohol brand or wearing skirts while playing tennis to follow the international guidelines.

We need to stand by for what is true rather than falling prey to the financial benefit.

Today alcohol has become such an integral part of some sports, no victory celebration is complete without a toast of victory, without opening up, drinking, spilling and bathing in champagne. The following Hadith suffices to illustrate the need to avoid all things associated with alcohol:

Hashim Amla’s wife Sumaiyah follows him around the world like wives of other international cricketers. His wife wears the full Hijab.

Most of the time, she is spotted in the stands with the wives and girlfriends of the other teammates.

Even after such huge success he has continued to carry on with his humble and polite attitude, whereas some other Muslim cricketers have indulged themselves into many kinds of unlawful activities just after getting a little fame and popularity.

Questions about Islam and its practices might have been raised and thus, on and off the field, Amla might have got excellent opportunities for Dawah work. Over the years, he has met with many curious enquiries, specifically from his teammates.

Amla remarks, “My teammates have begun to understand what Islam is, what Muslims do and how we lead our lives.” Praying five times a day, fasting in the month of Ramadan despite the heat, even when playing, has gained him great respect from both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Once in an interview he said, “The importance of my religion has increased as I have got older. I couldn’t put a time frame on it but I have found that following the Islamic way of life has a lot of beauty to it.

Although I was born into a Muslim family I wasn’t always practicing. The more I have understood the differences in the various faiths, I have adopted as much of Islam as possible.

I’m certainly no saint but the discipline of the Islamic way of life has helped my cricket without a doubt. I don’t drink and I pray five times a day, which gives stability to my daily routine.”

Hashim Amla epitomizes a rare breed in today’s times, a young man with excellent character. He is a man who is not afraid of what the society will say but is afraid of what will Allah think? For Amla, success comes from balancing worldly activities with deen.

Amla is surely a role model for Muslim youths and the sports personalities across the globe.

Today, many Muslim youths are apologetic about their faith, but it is not the case with Hashim Amla. On the Day of Judgment we all will be judged according to our adherence to Islam and not by any man made laws. Allah says in the Qur’an, And hold firmly to the rope of Allah.(Qur’an 3:103). The sooner we realise this, the better.

Courtesy: The Companion

The Holy Qur’an - revealed by God for mankind

The Qur’an is the literal word of Allah, which was sent to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), through the Angel Gabriel, during the month Ramadan. “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). (Qur’an 2:185).

The Qur’an , the basic fundamental source, was revealed as a law and a reference as to what is permissible and prohibited, what is commanded and forbidden, for people to follow, so that they obey its commands and abide by its prohibitions, take what it allows as permissible and leave what it prohibits as forbidden. The Qur’an tells us about what happened before and what is yet to come and it is a reference for judging between us.

One of the most remarkable things about the Qur’an is that it was revealed by God for entire mankind, contains many verses which accurately describe natural phenomenon in various fields. Many of the processes and functions mentioned in the Qur’an have been discovered only recently. This fact alone has been the cause of a number of distinguished scientists embracing Islam.

For example, an explanation that the roots of mountains are like pegs which help to anchor and stabilize the earth’s crust is a proof that the Quran is the word of all-knowing God, Allah.

Qur’an and Mountains

A book entitled Earth is a basic reference textbook in many universities around the world. One of its two authors is Professor Emeritus Frank Press. He was the Science Advisor to former US President Jimmy Carter, and for 12 years was the President of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC. His book says that mountains have underlying roots. These roots are deeply embedded in the ground, thus, mountains have a shape like a peg.

This is how the Qur’an has described mountains. God has said in the Qur’an: “Have We not made the earth as a bed, and the mountains as pegs?’’ (78:67)

Modern earth sciences have proven that mountains have deep roots under the surface of the ground and that these roots can reach several times their elevations above the surface of the ground. So the most suitable word to describe mountains on the basis of this information is the word ‘peg,’ since most of a properly set peg is hidden under the surface of the ground. The history of science tells us that the theory of mountains having deep roots was introduced only in the latter half of the 19th century.

The Qur’an was never meant to be a ‘science book’; whether highlighting the wonders of nature or the lesions of history, its verses direct us to reflect on the glory of God. Muslims believe that this is one of the Qur’an’s proofs; one of the things that makes it a credible, ‘living revelation’ for the modern age, and allow it to reveal its afresh social responsibilities.

Social responsibilities

The teachings of the Qur’an concern social responsibilities. Sometimes the importance of a social responsibility is so great that it cannot be compared to a number of individual actions. This would mean that one social obligation, for instance helping poor, needy, orphan, jobless, widow, handicap is more important and has more merit than a number of prayers, fasts, and other individual actions.

The teachings of the Qur’an are based on kindness and consideration of others. Since a broad injunction to be kind is likely to be ignored in specific situations, Islam lays emphasis on specific acts of kindness and defines the responsibilities and rights of various relationships. In a widening circle of relationship, then, our first obligation is to our immediate family - parents, husband or wife and children, then to other relatives, neighbours, friends and acquaintances, orphans and widows, the needy of the community, our fellow Muslims, all our fellow humanbeings and animals.

Further, the Qur’an encourages Muslims to cooperate with everyone regardless of his/her religion or creed in all projects that are virtuous or beneficial to humanity or other creatures of God; so we must cooperate with everyone on projects intended to restore justice, peace and betterment of humans or Cooperate on virtue and God-consciousness and do not cooperate on sin and aggression. (Qur’an 5: 2)

The Muslim’s obligation is to live in cooperation, not competition, with his fellow men and to be helpful, kind, just and compassionate towards everyone regardless of whether they are Muslims or non Muslims. Kindness to animals as well as to human beings is required.

Moulavi A.R.M. Mahroof (Gaffoori) M.A

Prayers of a fasting person

Once Prophet Moosa (AS) asked Allah Ta’ala: O Allah ! You have granted me the honour and privilege of talking to you directly, Have you given this privilege to any other person? Allah Ta’ala replied, O!! Moosa during the last period I am going to send an ummat, who will be the Ummat of Mohammed (SAW) with dry lips, parched tongues, emaciated body with eyes sunken deep into their sockets, with livers dry and stomachs suffering the pangs of hunger-will call out to me (in dua) they will be much much closer to me than you O Moosa! while you speak to me there are 70000 veils between you and me but at the time of iftaar there will not be a single veil between me and the fasting Ummati of Mohammed (SAW) O!! Moosa I have taken upon myself the responsibility that at the time of iftaar I will never refuse the dua of a fasting person!