Ramadan Reflections: Is Fasting a Ritual or a Spiritual Journey?

Ramadan Reflections: Beyond Tradition, Unveiling the True Essence of Fasting in Ramadan as a Profound Act of Worship”

Is fasting a addiction or is it an act of non secular devotion?

It is associated that Prophet Muhammad stated:

“Good behavior is a dependancy, and bad conduct is simply obnoxious.” [Sahih Ibn Hibban and Sunan Ibn Majah with a good chain of transmission]

This Prophetic statement brings up the question of the volume to which our formal worship is prescribed to us to definitely develop our personalities and domesticate our spirituality.

This position for our worship is in addition strengthened by means of the Prophet’s phrases:

“A man continues to talk the truth and confirm the reality till it’s far written with Allah that he’s an sincere guy… And some other man continues to lie and chase after false reviews till it is written with Allah that he’s a recurring liar.” [Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]

When we do an act again and again once more, it turns into a habit. Carrying it out turns into part and parcel of our personalities and identities. When someone strives to be sincere through intentionally and always choosing to speak truely (even towards self-interest), then honesty becomes a man or woman trait. Ultimately, Allah elevates that character to the status of Siddiq (One Who is Truly Honest).

For honest people, honesty is indeed a dependancy. However, this doesn’t negate the fact that speaking the fact stays an act of worship and pious devotion.

Prophet Muhammad did now not separate among habituation and devotion. In fact, he did the alternative. In truth, he said:

“The most cherished of true deeds with Allah are the ones that are practiced with fidelity over a protracted time frame, even if the deed is small.” [Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]

Also, `a’ishah relates that:

“When Allah’s Messenger practiced a terrific deed, he could achieve this consistently.” [Sahih Muslim]

Habituation turns into a hassle whilst people start carrying out habitual acts unthinkingly. Some behavior – just like the way of combing one’s hair, or transferring one’s palms, or biting one’s nails – come to be so ingrained that the individual ceases to be conscious of doing the routine act. People might even deny one of these habit if it’s far brought to their interest.

At the equal time, some fantastic conduct have a tangible exact effect on someone’s man or woman and outlook on existence. For example, someone who has a habit of devoting a positive hour of each day to the remembrance of Allah or to reading the Qur’an has incorporated these virtuous acts into day by day life. They come to be, as a consequence, resulting in more benefits and religious growth.

Ramadan Reflections: Is Fasting a Ritual or a Spiritual Journey?, Dua, Prayer, Supplications, Ramadan, Beliefs, Pillar of Islam, Holy Month, Daily Dua

Once a man got here to Prophet Muhammad and stated:

“All the Islamic rites have grow to be such a lot of for me. Give me some thing I can hold speedy to.” The Prophet responded: “Keep your tongue wet with Allah’s remembrance.” Sunan al-Tirmidhi and Sunan Ibn Majah]

This is a recommendation to show the remembrance of Allah into a very good dependancy.

We have to therefore now not use the word “addiction” as if it’s miles a terrible issue, like while a number of us say: “Prayer is an act of worship and not a addiction.” Certainly prayer is an act of worship, and if it is our steady dependancy as properly, then all the higher.

It is a great factor that it is someone’s habit to hope, so long as we do now not suggest by way of “addiction” that the person is simply going together with the gang or is praying absentmindedly.

The effective connotation of addiction we intend here is that of fidelity and willpower, along side presence of mind and sincerity. A habit is some thing someone is snug doing.

Leaving it off is something that makes the habituated man or woman uncomfortable. How top it’s miles for worship to be smooth and snug for someone in order that it in no way appears like a burden.

Prophet Muhammad once said:

“O Bilal! Call the people to prayer. Give us our rest in prayer.” [Sunan Abi Dawūd]

This indicates us that for the Prophet and his Companions, the overall performance of prayer became a source of consolation and solace.

The Prophet also stated: “Prayer has been made the beauty of my eyes.” [Sunan al-Nasa’i]

Devotion and piety can themselves end up conduct. When a person starts offevolved concentrating in prayer, it’s far tough at the beginning to hold attention. The thoughts is without problems distracted. However, after years of persistence, devotion and presence of mind in prayer grow to be 2nd-nature.

Ask yourself without a doubt: Do you sense happy about the arrival of Ramadan? Or does it get you down? Or do you’ve got combined feelings?

If you have got any negative feelings, then make the effort to read approximately the virtues and benefits of Ramadan. Then consider your very own lifestyles and your shortcomings.

Think of the way much you need Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. Know that fasting in Ramadan changed into prescribed with the aid of the One who is Most Generous, Most Kind, and Most Forgiving.

He did no longer prescribe fasting to punish us, but as a substitute to purify our minds and hearts, and to make us extra beneficent, compassionate, and healthful humans. You will come far from such thinking searching ahead to the appearance of Ramadan, grateful which you are capable of speedy.

With the equal spirit, you may be inspired to carry out the nightly Tarawih prayers, or at the least to examine of those prayers each day what is straightforward for you.

Think of the remarkable variety of folks who are praying with you. Look for a location in which the nice atmosphere sis maximum conducive. Find a mosque where the imam reads most beautifully. There is nothing wrong with that.

Observe the prayer as an awful lot as your heart remains engaged with it. If you discover yourself developing weary, then depart. Keep in mind that Allah’s mercy is descending upon the congregation and you are amongst them sharing in that blessing. “They are such an assembly, that one who is of their enterprise isn’t bereft of benefits.”

When you’re prostrating, expose your problems and sorrows to Allah whilst beseeching Him to forgive you and neglect your sins. No matter how fantastic your transgressions might be, they are not anything in contrast to Allah’s generosity and mercy.

Be constructive that Allah will receive your prayers, no matter the shortcomings on your devotion and presence of mind. Everything in lifestyles requires striving, and we all have our shortcomings and problems. We vicinity our hopes in Allah.

Remember that Allah says:

“I am as my servant expects of Me to be.” [Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]

Ramadan will become the beginning of a alternate for the better. It may be an experience of religion on the way to deliver joy, new hope and extra happiness for your lifestyles.

Make it your addiction in Ramadan to spend in charity. When you’re buying to choose first-class foods to break your fast with, recollect those who do now not have sufficient to eat. Think about the moms inside the global who do not have enough food to feed their ravenous youngsters and whose choice is to decide which of them is currently in the direction of death.

Make it your addiction in Ramadan to be together with your family. Make the atmosphere at domestic one of love and kindness. Ramadan offers us many occasions to spend pleasant time collectively and to share memorable experiences with our youngsters.

We ought to likewise make it our Ramadan habit to cement ties with our spouse and children, buddies and pals, even via making phone calls, sending an electronic mail, or giving Ramadan greetings by means of Blackberry.

Let us not make it our Ramadan dependancy to overeat at night time. Let us not make it the month wherein we eat more than at some other time of 12 months.

Instead, make it your dependancy to show kindness to others, to maintain your anger in test, and to forgive others their faults.

May Allah accept from us our worship all through this blessed month.

Source:IslamToday

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