Dr Qurratul-Ain Anni Rehman, London
We have just gone through a month of fasting in Ramadan which is, as we all know, much more than just refraining from eating and drinking. Ramadan is the month of generosity, alms and charity. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) used to give charity “like the fast wind” in the month of Ramadan, as his wife, Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) described.
Ramadan also reminds us to be grateful and content with what we have and calls our attention to help the less fortunate of society. It is the month in which the gates of Paradise are opened, good deeds are rewarded manifold, prayers are answered, and people are forgiven.
During Ramadan, Muslims are expected to put more effort into performing every type of virtuous acts and the month in which seeds of new righteous deeds are sought and sown. Our relationship with those around us is worked on; forgetting the faults of others and spreading love and harmony. Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) drew our attention to this in his saying that Allah does not need our fasting if we do not refrain from false speech and unkind words.
In this blessed month, we are encouraged to detach ourselves from worldly distractions and focus on our relationship with Allah the Almighty. This month is a blessing to help us build a stronger relationship with God and carry out the good deeds we inculcate within us for the rest of the year. It’s a refresher course for how to live the rest of the year, before the start of Ramadan 2025, or 1446AH.
The Promised Messiah (peace be on him), on one occasion, explained:
“Both fasting and salat are forms of worship. The fast affects the body powerfully, and salat affects the soul powerfully. Salat generates a condition of burning and melting of the heart, and is, therefore, a higher form of worship than fasting. The latter fosters the capacity for visions.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 7, pp. 378-379; The Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 316).
We see in our everyday lives whether it is being a student, professional or housewife that consistency, steadfastness and perseverance are the key to success. The teachings of Islam have laid great emphasis on this and performing salat five times a day, at the specified time, throughout one’s life with consistency is regarded as one of the most significant acts of worship In Islam.
The Holy Prophet’s (peace and blessings be on him) hadith, “The best of deeds is that which is done consistently,” (Ibn Majah, Kitab al-zuhd) also sheds light on the significance of remaining consistent in one’s efforts to perform good deeds. This saying is a constant reminder for us that one must remain consistent in righteous actions to attain the pleasure of Allah the Almighty.
Whilst this is the case for our spiritual health, we can perhaps understand this more easily when we consider the effect of consistency in exercise and good diet to improve our physical health. Without consistency and dedication, the gains that have been made through spurts of hard work will be lost. Some research has, for example, shown that regaining lost weight causes a detrimental increase in the fat content of the body (1). Likewise, if good deeds are only performed during Ramadan and neglected throughout the rest of the year, we cannot truly achieve the purpose of fasting and may even experience a regression in our spirituality.
Counselling on keeping the spirit of Ramadan alive throughout the year, His Holiness Musleh-e-Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Out of twelve months, people consider Ramadan, i.e., fasting, to be limited to only one month, but for us [Ahmadis] the entire year should be Ramadan and our whole life should be spent like it.” (Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 27, p. 531)
The discipline and self-control achieved while fasting during Ramadan can only be beneficial if we keep up the same momentum with consistency. His Holiness Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, said:
“We should strive in all those matters which we have been reminded of during the month of Ramadan and all the virtuous deeds which we were able to carry out during the month, and continue them even after Ramadan. In fact, we ought to try and excel in them. Otherwise, if we do not maintain these virtuous deeds and pious changes and do not excel in them, then there is no benefit in us simply passing through the month of Ramadan.” (Friday Sermon, 7 May 2021; Al Hakam, 4 June 2021, Issue 168, p. 31)
Hence, we should never let the spirit of Ramadan ebb away lest our achievements also disappear in vain. To get the most out of this blessed month, we should make it a never-ending Ramadan.
While speaking about steadfastness, the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) said:
“The true and perfect grace that conveys a person to the spiritual world depends upon steadfastness, by which is meant that degree of sincerity and faithfulness which cannot be shaken by any trial. It means a strong relationship with the Divine which a sword cannot cut asunder and fire cannot consume, nor can any other calamity damage it.” (The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam, 2017, p. 111)
May Allah the Almighty enable us to make continuous spiritual progress so that our Eid is a day of true happiness on our journey in building our relationship with our Creator. Whilst we are celebrating Eid, the act of remembering and praying for those who are hungry and suffering cannot leave us. Pray for our brothers and sisters in Palestine and Yemen, those caught up in war anywhere in the world and all those who are suffering. Let our supplications be offered in way that is most acceptable to Allah.
Reference
Impact of weight loss and weight gain trajectories on body composition in a population at high risk of type 2 diabetes: A prospective cohort analysis Yates et al 14 December 2023