Reflections on fasting

Perhaps one of the most important reflections which we can deduce from the obligation of fasting is not only abstaining from food, drink, and idle talks but also the application of the guidance approach based on the following Ayah: "The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'ân, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)." [Surat Al Baqarah: 185].

There is no doubt that the best virtue of Ramadan is the revelation of the Glorious Qur'an which is a full guide to behavior and includes the meaning of running away from polytheism to oneness; the division between falsehood and the truth represented in the absolute straightness to Allah, abstention from lewdness and foul words, and abstention from argumentation about trivial matters. This is the basic solid ground which the Qur'an creates for a better society.

When the Muslim society was described by brotherhood according to the rule which states: "Believers are brothers to one another." [Surat Al Hujurat: 10], hence (None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself . ) Here another virtue becomes prominent which is feeling the condition and suffering of hungry people. Consequently, a person inclines to the poor and feels sympathy and mercy, and hastens to help them when he feels it is the duty of every Muslim to provide food, drink, clothes, housing and basic needs to protect one's religion, self, and children, and to gladden the entire society. By fasting, a person knows the suffering of the poor, the needy, and the hungry people, and feels sympathy, mercy, and compassion to the poor and the needy in order to establish the principle of social solidarity and equity. These meanings are embodied in the Muslim society through fasting where all Muslims fast one month [i.e., Ramadan] and break their fast at one time.

This beautiful description to the days of fasting with [few fixed days] likens the matter to a workshop in which a person practices to worship Allah once a year. That workshop renews Muslims' awareness and belief, and reinforces his practical behavior. We can say for sure that fasting aims to achieve equity, sympathy, and full cooperation among the Muslim society where fasting is no longer just annual rituals which a Muslim practices in the term of temporary help or charity he pays then it soon ends by the elapse of time.

Through sincerity in worship we can benefit truly from the workshop of Ramadan to promote our behavior and qualities to the best level. We can also adopt a developed mechanism for distributing and administering aid in a way we can promote a real Muslim personality that is harmonious with its religion and society either practically or in faith. By this way, we can create a society in which the poor and the hungry do not suffer all year long not only during Ramadan.