The Reminders in Ramadan
With the great message of mercy, forgiveness, and deliverance, the holy month of Ramadan comes as a precious gift of moderation, purity, and piety from the Almighty Allah to throw away all sins, impurity, and corruption on the ocean of repentance. It is such a month of mercy in which all the devils are chained and the gates of Hell are closed and all the gates of Paradise are opened. Ramadan is also a blessed month in which all good deeds are rewarded seventy times. And it is such a month of salvation in which all the sinners are forgiven after their repentance, and every day throughout the month countless captives of Hell are sent to Paradise.
Therefore, magnificent in glory, beauty, and solemnity, the holy month of Ramadan is uniquely important and incomparably prestigious among the other eleven months of the year. Because Ramadan is the glorious month in which the great wonder of the universe, the glorious book Al-Qur’an was revealed by Allah Almighty as a beacon to guide the entire mankind and distinguish between truth and falsehood. Therefore, as per the instructions of the Almighty, every able-bodied Muslim celebrates the happiness of receiving Al-Qur’an, the path of guidance, the final constitution, and the book of the soul through fasting throughout this holy month. So, what is behind this dignity of Ramadan is the great book Al-Qur’an. Therefore, the most important thing for us throughout Ramadan is to learn and understand the Qur’an, and to guide our lives according to the light of that learning and understanding.
By the way, all the instructions and teachings of the Holy Quran can be implemented only through the development of our soul. The great revolution that every moment of the month of Ramadan brings about in our lives through fasting is to achieve controlling our instincts, self-restraint, self-correction, and above all, to achieve the maximum development of ourselves. Similarly, constant contact with the Holy Quran makes our hearts a cool reservoir, a tender touch in which all worldly evils and delusions are instantly transformed into goodness and a virtuous atmosphere.
Indeed, temperance is a noble virtue and a strong shield that protects us from all physical, mental, and biological tendencies. So, only with restraint can we control our passions, desires, lusts, or greed. And, a fasting person is constantly at struggle with his hunger, thirst, desire, and lust. Therefore, there is no alternative to self-restraint to control oneself from all that is evil and sinful. And practicing fasting essentially manifests moderation in us and makes us healthy, beautiful, and pure people. The magic touch of that serenity instantly removes jealousy, hatred, and differences from our hearts.
And this is why our beloved Prophet (PBUH) said: “Fasting is like a shield”. That is, as the shield protects us from the blows of the enemy’s sword, fasting protects us from all the sins and evils driven by the devil and instinct. As a result, we remain protected from all the harmful acts of the world and the terrible punishment in the Hereafter.
Moreover, the importance and significance of fasting to become a clean, loyal, and devoted servant of our Lord Almighty by curing physical, mental, and spiritual weariness, sickness, and numbness are beyond explanation. However, this practice of fasting can not only be achieved through abstaining from food and drink only. What we will see, what we will hear, what we will say, where we will go, where we will return from – everything is included in this great pursuit of Siam. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e., telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink.” (BUKHARI: 6057)
Indeed, the Holy Qur’an is the only precious path to guide our lives from the cradle to the grave. Therefore, the temporary implementation of the holy path that Almighty Allah has guided us through the revelation of the Qur’an can be achieved through fasting during the month of Ramadan. Therefore, the great purpose of fasting during Ramadan is to reflect the most valuable guidelines of the Holy Quran throughout our entire lives. And for this, there is no substitute for complete Quran study, practice, and education.
Although we realize some of the importance of reciting the Holy Quran during Ramadan, most of us do not really understand what Quranic teaching means. And so, maybe reading two pages of the Qur’an daily in the routine of Ramadan worship and completing it once during the month is considered as fulfilling the right of the Quran in Ramadan for us. Maybe that’s why we can’t come out of the whole year, even in Ramadan, from the regular practice of all the bad deeds and desires that drive our instincts.
Therefore, this Ramadan should be our aim to acquire the teachings of the Holy Quran along with regular recitation. If we can reflect them in our own lives, then they will be the main source of peace in this world and liberation in the hereafter. May Almighty Allah grant us all the grace to build our lives in the light of the Quran, and grant us maximum success in fasting this Ramadan. (Ameen)
