An estimated 2 billion Muslims worldwide are fasting from dawn till dusk for the month of Ramadan. It isn’t only to abstain from food and drink. It is considered a point of change.
Let’s explore how to change in Ramadan.
Here we will learn the following:
1. If you can do it, you can do anything.
In Ramadan, you’re over your desires for 30 days, you’re over your addiction for 30 days, and you’re over your body’s needs for 30 days.
Fasting strengthens self-confidence because you see yourself acting in the way you intended.
When you learn to control eating and drinking, even abstain from them, you develop the ability to control what’s less essential.
Anyone who’s living for a goal faces hardships and challenges and may stop in the middle of the way saying “I can’t”.
Fasting increases self-control. It’s a message saying “You can”.
It’s simple; overcoming those challenges is a piece of cake. The real problem is in the mindset.
If you can resist desires, you can overcome challenges
2. Change by the Qur’an in the month of the Qur’an
Fasting reduces your distractions, consequently softens the heart and makes it more receptive, so you can understand, feel and respond to the commands of the Qur’an.
Ramadan is when Allah (The Creator of heavens and earth) revealed the Qur’an. So, there is a pearl of divine wisdom in linking Ramadan with the Quran.
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.” [Quran.com/2/185]
Muslims study the Qur’an to take advantage of the noble time during this month, but the Qur’an is a guide for all humanity, the Muslim and the non-Muslim.
Really, Qur’an is the most glorious book. It’s an important cause to change one’s life for the better.
Read it, it’s where you find the change you need: Quran.com
Is there a reference for studying the Qur’an in Ramadan?
Yes! During Ramadan, Jibril (i.e The Holy Spirit) used to visit Prophet Mohammed every night and revise the Qur’an with him.
Great benefits come from following the Prophet and studying the Qur’an with an open heart, focus, and fewer distractions.
You get more out of it when you give it more of You!
3. Awaken your awareness of your Creator
Many criminals hide in order to do their crimes. We also may hide from people to commit sins. But, what about Allah –The Watchful?!!
Fasting reminds us that Allah is always watching over us.
One who is hungry and thirsty can hide to eat or drink, but because he knows that Allah is with him and sees him he doesn’t. Allah is his Witness.
This acts like an alarm to awaken our awareness of Allah. Thus, we refrain from bad deeds, neither out of fear for the state laws nor people, but out of fear of the Watchful.
Allah –The Watchful sees you even if others do not.
4. Give the needy and thank Allah
Ramadan is also a month of charity. Feeding the poor and needy is highly recommended during Ramadan. And while living their struggle you break the walls of stinginess.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was the most generous of all the people, and he used to become more generous in Ramadan when Jibriel (i.e The Holy spirit) met him. Jibriel used to meet him every night during Ramadan to revise the Qur’an with him. Allah’s Messenger then used to be more generous than the wind (bringing clouds).” [Bukhari]
Ramadan reduces the gap between the rich and the poor on an annual basis; which makes a better community
There’s even an obligatory charity that one has to give to the poor before the end of Ramadan. it’s called Zakat-Elfitr.
No one should be hungry at the end of the blessed month!
When we give we also thank. –We Thank Allah for providing for us and giving us countless blessings.
Remember, the one who created you gave you all what you have. So thank Him.
5. Salvation in Fasting
To begin with, the main activity during Ramadan is Fasting. Fasting is one of the doors to salvation.
Committing sins is the burden of life. By continuously clearing yourself from sins, you can elevate your soul and be the happiest.
Allah’s messenger said: “All humans sin, and the best of those who sin are those who repent.”
وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «كُلُّ بَنِي آدَمَ خَطَّاءٌ وَخَيْرُ الْخَطَّائِينَ التَّوَّابُونَ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ والدارمي وحسنه الالباني
(Hadith)
Here is where Ramadan fasting shines. Abstaining and showing commitment to Allah in present, erases what we had fallen into in the past, and sets us on a straight path for the future.
Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) says:
He who observes fasting during the month of Ramadan with Faith while seeking its reward from Allah, will have his past sins forgiven.” (Hadith)
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: من صام رمضان إيمانًا واحتسابًا، غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه ” ((متفق عليه))
Note that, the heaviest sin ever is to set a partner for your Creator. And the way to clear this sin is to declare your belief in the only One God, as well as to believe in His Messenger. Indeed, this is the core of Islam’s message.
Islam is a practical religion. No one carries the burden of others, and no one guarantees the salvation of others away from His Creator. That’s why Muslims fast for God.
