This blog is inspired by some recent tweets, fb posts and whatsapp messages from family and friends and I too feel strongly about this so here goes..
"Dear Family and Friends, know the days of this world are short and days of the hereafter are longer. No matter how much the person does of the good deeds in this life, he/she will benefit from it in the hereafter which has no end."
Ramadhan is the month to seek blessings, goodness, obedience, learnings and teachings of Islam. Most importantly, Ramadhan is a month to achieve piety.
It is not about food or buka puasa at all instead it is more about humility, controlling desires and connecting to God. The intention is to be sincere, grateful, controlling anger, bad thoughts and words in order to achieve the ultimate goal – piety.
In spiritual terminology, piety is a virtue that can mean religious devotion, spirituality, or a combination of both.
In a google search, piety is defined as follows:
“Noun
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Ramadhan entails fasting. As a dutiful Muslims, we are required to fast for the whole month. Now what is fasting? Wikipedia says:
“Fasting is primarily an act of willing abstention from all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. An absolute fast is normally defined as abstinence from all food and liquid for a defined period, usually a single day (24 hours), or several days. Other fasts may be only partially restrictive, limiting particular foods or substance. The fast may also be intermittent in nature. Fasting practices may preclude sexual intercourse and other activities as well as food.”
Now, the true definition for fasting in Islam is abstinence from all, food, drink and sensuous activity. Basically nothing can pass through the body cavities including ear and nose. We don’t do intermitten fasting during Ramadhan nor do we fast for the whole day (24 hours). Our body can still function properly and it gives our digestive system a rest. Women is forbidden to fast when they have their period and the number of days lost can be replaced post Ramadhan at anytime. Also, people who are unable to fast due to sickness or need to breastfeed will also be given a leeway from fasting but will need to replace it post Ramadhan as well.
As a Muslim, fasting is a choice you make despite your fridge and cabinets are full of food. You choose not to eat out of sincerity and faith to God.
We should all be reminded that the month of Ramadhan should not be reduced to a “food festival”. In fact, we should eat less and not be wasteful. This is when we should delve into the lives of fakir miskin. That some less unfortunate people only get two meals a day, if they are lucky, and they really have to withstand their hunger. For those people, This IS their daily lives whereas we, only have to fast for a month.
An aunt who volunteers through Pertiwi saw that many unfortunate people lined up for a meal be it young or old, regardless sick or weak, it is still worth it to queue for a meal. A meal my friend T__T
Imagine how we feel when someone who is not fasting eating in front of us lavishly while we are fasting. Imagine how those people feel when we eat lavishly and flaunting in front of them in all the 11 months in a year.
Hence, let us immerse ourselves in the true spirit of Ramadhan. Fasting is a break from 11 months of worldly selfish pursuits, a chance to cleanse one’s heart. It just doesn’t make sense to fast all day but only to break fast with a table full of food and eat till you drop. One, this will put a pressure on our digestive system and two, this eat till you drop thing just beats the whole concept of fasting. Our body and soul should be detoxifying the whole of this month not otherwise. We should feel cleansed. We should eat less and feed the needy – the orphans, the Bangladesh, the Indonesian workers, the homeless and the refugees. This is particularly magnified during Ramadhan but feeding the needy should be a constant act all year round.
May you have a blessed Ramadhan and may Allah grant us all full barakah.
Selamat berpuasa.
Selamat berpuasa.
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