Ramadhan is for hope, peace, society and unity

The dictionary meaning of hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen.

What is that hope that stays as a desire in people’s minds as they take up the challenge of refraining from drinking water to quench thirst and food to silence hunger? Asked Saif al Raheili, lecturer on Islamic studies, about hope and its association with Ramadhan. He explained hope and said the objective is to accomplish “Taqwa.”

“In chapter two verse 183 {O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may accomplish taqwa}, there is mention of accomplishment of “taqwa” — the state of a being getting connected with Allah, lord of the worlds. Such connection has been a goal throughout eras in the history of humanity.”

So why is it important to seek this Taqwa this month? “Ramadhan is the particular month chosen by Allah to establish that connection in its ultimate form. The achievement of connection leads to a complete transformation of the person in terms of soul and body due to the rituals assigned with the month (i.e fasting and extra praying and recitation of verses from the Holy Quran).

“Moreover, seeing humans seeking higher values by giving up basic instincts sends a clear message that there is hope in humanity and there is always a gate of goodness in humans,” he explained.

Ramadhan is also the month people hope to achieve peace. What is it that leads us to peace?” Al Raheili explains, “Fasting is the act of worship in the month of Ramadhan, where a person is commanded to take full control of his body and desires, as the first step to achieving internal peace is by taking complete self-control, for example, desires for food, desires to collect money and not spending, and desires of increasing self-ego. The more you control temptations and desires, the closer you get to internal peace.” Ramadhan also has social elements to it and that is why one feels very much an integral part of society.

“Most of the rituals in Ramadhan are related to self-behaviours towards others. Keeping your fasting valid means following the dos and don’ts of Ramadhan. Giving charity, helping the poor, fixing relationships, visiting relatives, and preaching good messages are some examples of the dos you need to fulfil to prove your sincerity of fasting. While backbiting, stealing, cheating, envying and assaulting are some examples of the don’ts you have to avoid to keep your fasting valid. These behaviours have a significant contribution to improving society and the lives of people,” explains Al Raheili.

As much as it is a personal journey, Ramadhan also brings unity.

“Fasting in the month of Ramadhan is a universal act of worship where you see blacks and whites, easterners and westerners, males and females, rich and poor despite all their traditional and cultural differences from all over the globe practising the same rituals on the same month, worshipping the same one God, according to the teaching of the same one holy book and following the teachings of the same one prophet — Muhammad, (peace be upon him).

This shows the world a form of spectacular unity that hardly ever existed in the history of humanity,” notes Saif al Raheili.