Opinion - Tuesday, September 23, 2008 11:12 - 0 Comments

Mysteries of the Muslim fast

Zamboanga City — Fasting is the Fourth Pillar of Islam. The Arabic word “Sawm “, meaning to stop or to abstain is used to describe fasting. Fasting then is refraining from eating, drinking and engaging in other physical activities except to pursue livelihood and employment from sunrise to sunset. This annual Islamic fasting is a time to spread and receive the Blessings and Mercy of Allah and strengthen physical and moral wellbeing along with mental and spiritual strength.
In Islam, the month of Ramadhan is a Blessed Month. The Holy Prophet declared this month as the “Month of Allah” and Muslims abandons all earthly pleasures from dawn to dusk and submit to the call of Allah to sacrifice and seek spiritual renewal, physical rebirth, sharing of material blessings and implore forgiveness for sins committed towards Allah and fellowmen.
Islamic traditions say that during the Holy Month of Ramadhan, the gates of heaven are opened, the doors of hell are closed, and Satan is put to chains in hell.
Muslims start fasting when the new moon is seen at the first day of the Holy Month of Ramadhan and stop fasting thirty days after the new moon is seen.
Food taken before dawn, called Sehri in Arabic is a blessed meal to fasting Muslims. A fasting Muslim is physically, spiritually and mentally strengthened as he adopts the habit of getting up long before dawn to partake and share simple meals, and to worship and offer prayers of praise to Allah.
Fasting is prescribed as obligatory for all Muslims, as fasting was prescribed for all Prophets and Messengers of Allah from Adam onwards. A fasting Muslim will attain righteousness by withholding earthly pleasures and focus on the meaning and purpose of life and the meaning of the Message revealed in the Holy Qur’an. The Prophet Jesus fasted for forty days and nights.
The month of Ramadhan is the month in which the Holy Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad as guidance for mankind.
The Holy Prophet of Islam gave guidelines to Muslims for each and every aspect related to day-to-day activities during fasting. He has given detailed instructions on how to spend fasting in the most comfortable and appropriate manner.
A line lifted from the “Hadith”, or traditions of the Prophet has stated that during the Month of Ramadhan, the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Prophet and the Angel declared: Allah said, “Is there anyone who calls on me so that I can accept prayers? Is there anyone who asks for anything so that I can fulfill desires? Is there anyone who asks for forgiveness so that I can forgive?”
In Islam, every act of goodness is regarded as a prayer and is rewarded on Earth and in Heaven. And rewards are based on the sincerity and intention of any individual. But fasting is the highest form of worship about which Allah has said that He Himself is the reward.
This means that during the Islamic Fasting month of Ramadhan, fasting Muslims develop a close and personal relationship with Allah and a mysterious power becomes a comforter and unseen hands becomes a helper so that neither thirst, hunger or evil temptations strikes the path of those who sincerely fast in His Name.
A Fasting Muslim never gets thirsty, hungry or angry, nor desire Earth’s pleasures. And that is one of the Mysteries of the Muslim Fast. Allah is indeed Compassionate and Merciful to His True Believers. — The writer is a convert to Islam and 1996 graduate of the International Islamic University (IIU), in Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He was awarded two-year studies in the History of Major Religions and Books, Comparative Religion, the Meaning of the Holy Qur’an and courses in Arabic writing and reading.(By CHARLIE S. APOSTOL, AL HAJJ - Daily Zamboanga Times)