The relevance of Ramadaan
Ramadaan is seen as a time of spiritual reflection, improvement, increased devotion and worship
Local Muslims will join over a billion brothers and sisters worldwide to commence fasting from tomorrow (May 17) for the holy month of Ramadaan.
The word Ramadaan comes from the Arabic root ramiḍa or ar-ramaḍ, which means scorching heat or dryness.
Fasting is obligatory for adult Muslims, except those who are suffering from an illness, travelling, are elderly, pregnant, breast feeding, diabetic, chronically ill or menstruating.
Muslims engage in increased prayer and charity during Ramadaan.
Ramadaan is also a month when Muslims try to practice increased self-discipline.
As well as fasting (abstaining from eating and drinking during daylight hours), Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Quran throughout the month.
The fast is from dawn to sunset, with a pre-dawn meal known as suhoor and a sunset meal called iftar.
The purpose is essentially spiritual upliftment.
The intention of fasting in Islam is to develop and strengthen powers of self control so that we can resist wrongful desires and bad habits, and therefore guard against evil.
In fasting, by refraining from the natural human urges to satisfy our appetites, Muslims are exercising their ability of self-restraint so they can apply it to everyday life to bring about self-improvement and to attain nearness and closeness to God so that He becomes a reality in life.
Ramadaan is seen as a time of spiritual reflection, improvement and increased devotion and worship.
Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and this includes fasting – which teaches people how to be more self-disciplined and have empathy for those less fortunate.
In addition to abstaining from eating and drinking, Muslims also increase restraint by abstaining from sexual relations. Charity and intense generosity are conspicuously urged during Ramadaan. We learn to give and not to take. The fast is not merely of the body, but essentially that of the spirit as well.
The Ladysmith Gazette wishes its Muslim readers “Ramadaan Mubarak”!
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