At a speed faster than imagined, we are now in the second lap of this year’s Ramadan. By sunset today, Muslims would have successfully had 14 days of Ramadan fast. Allahu Akbar! This middle phase of Ramadan is, according to the Prophet (SAW), full of forgiveness. But have we really taken advantage of this divine amnesty offered by Allah in this unique month? As a sinful generation, are we deploying enough time to seek the forgiveness of our sins? With two days to the midpoint of this year’s Ramadan fast, it’s time to assess our spiritual activities since the holy month commenced.
As we pray for and hope in Allah’s forgiveness, let us sincerely repent from our sins; pledging that our repentance, this time, is a permanent one. It should not be a repentance that would lead us back to the path of disobedience. Let us strive during this Ramadan to defeat the devil by denouncing all the forms of disobedience against Allah’s injunctions in which we hitherto engaged as corrupt public officers, underhanded politicians, fraudulent judges, egocentric lawmakers, dishonest civil servants, exploitative businessmen and women, mischievous security or law enforcement officers, double-faced lawyers, wicked teachers, spiteful medical or health workers, cruel husbands, defiant wives, and naughty children.
Let us take advantage of Allah’s infinite mercy and forgiveness in this Ramadan to delete from our minds every word that denotes unrighteousness and wickedness including envy, backbiting, stealing, cheating, betrayal, selfishness, greed, corruption (in thought and in action), bribery, forgery, etc. Let this spiritual fight be the last one in which the devil shall forever remain conquered such that he is left with no strength to mislead us again in the rest of our life. Let us use this Ramadan to build a strong foundation of taqwa (fear of Allah) in our hearts; leaving no space of the sneaking whisperer to build his fraudulent studio. We can achieve this if we make the holy Qur’an our constant companion; if we make the glorification (tasbih) and remembrance (dhikr) of Allah the constant activity of our tongue; and if we make the appreciation of Allah’s mercy and favour the pre-occupation of our mind.
Because Ramadan fast is an act of worship about which Allah said “It is for me and I (alone) give the reward for it”, it is important for Muslims to shun anything that would threaten its sanctity. For example, Imam Muslim relates on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the Prophet, Salla-llahu Alayhi Wasalam (SAW), cautions Muslims against telling lies while fasting; saying
“Whoever does not stop telling lies, Allah has no need of his abstinence from food and drink (fasting).” In another hadith related by Ahmad, Muslim and An-Nasai on the authority of Abu Hurayarah (RA), the Prophet (SAW) said that Allah had instructed believers to avoid vulgar speeches while fasting and that if anyone fights, provokes or vilifies them in that sacred state, they should say “I’m fasting” twice.
Let us remember that fasting is not all about abstaining from eating, drinking and conjugal relationship during the day time. It extends to avoiding every act that constitutes a sin. We must remain righteous; preventing our senses and body from engaging in acts of disobedience. We can add value to our Ramadan fast by restricting our eyes, tongue, hands and legs from treading the devil’s path.
Another way for Muslims to add value to their Ramadan fast would be by upholding every prophetic tradition that seeks to preserve the purity of the Ramadan fast such as it concerns the ethics of Sahur and Iftar. Although the fast of a Muslim remains valid even without taking Sahur, it would contradict the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) to vacate it. Imam Muslim relates from Amr bn al-As (RA) who reports that the Prophet (SAW) said, “The difference between our fast and that of the People of Book is the eating of Sahur”. All the six authentic compilers of hadith relate from Anas (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said, “Take Sahur for there’s blessing in it”.
It was the practice of the Prophet (SAW) to take, at least, water at Sahur time. He never fasted without taking something for Sahur at dawn (fajr). Thus, it would be un-prophetic, for whatever reason, to abandon Sahur. Some Muslims forgo Sahur in order not to “disturb” their ‘sound’ hours of sleep. Nonetheless, it is Sunnah to delay Sahur until the last part of the night. The wisdom in this timing is to forestall the possibility of Muslims missing their early morning (Subhi) prayer because if they were to take Sahur at midnight, they could fall back to deep sleep and consequently wakeup late for the Subhi prayer.
Breaking of fast, on the other hand, is encouraged to be hastened. Bukhari and Muslim both relate on the authority of Sahl Bn Saad (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said “People would not cease from doing well as long as they hasten (always) to break their fast.” The Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) recommends that Muslims should break their fast with dates or with ordinary water where the former is not available. It is also a prophetic practice to break the fast before observing the Maghrib (dusk) prayer.
Among the supplications offered by the Prophet (SAW) when breaking his fast is “Allahumma Laka Sumtu Wa Ala Rizkika Aftartu” meaning “O Allah! I fasted for You and (it is) with Your wealth, I’m breaking the fast”. The granting of a Muslim’s needs, according to the Prophet (SAW), is guaranteed while breaking his or her fast. In a hadith related by Tirmidhi, the Prophet (SAW) said the supplications of three persons are (assured and) never turned down. The three persons are: a man or woman fasting until he or she breaks the fast; a just leader; and a person who was unjustly wrongly.
May Allah (SWT) guide us to use that which He (SWT) has favoured us with including good health, physical strength, and understanding of Islam to earn His forgiveness and achieve a virtuous Ramadan fast, amin.
