The True Spirit of Ramadan?

With the Holy Month of Ramadan approaching, we witness a number of people engaged in preparations. Yes, preparations. Sadly these preparations usually revolve around all worldly things. Some people are busy planning Aftar parties, some are found to be preparing large quantities of food items for Sehri and Aftari and others are just to busy to be bothered about anything at all. We would often hear a number of people exclaiming, ‘Oh this time I’m going to throw the biggest Aftar party in my friends’ circle’ or ‘I wish I knew how many Aftar parties I have to attend this Ramadan so I could’ve got a new dress for each of them’. Do we ever hear people saying that, ‘This Ramadan I would seek forgiveness for all my sins and abstain from doing them in future’ or that ‘Instead of wasting my money on Aftar parties this Ramadan I would rather be feeding the poor.

Have we? Unfortunately we haven’t.

We have lost the true spirit of Ramadan. We have deliberately forgotten the real meaning of this Holy month. Today what Ramadan means to us is a month when we stay hungry during the day and party in the evening. It is a month when we can sleep hibernate during the day and stay up all night. It is a month when we can diet and be rewarded for it.

Today the question that I ask you all is that why do we, Muslims, Fast during the month of Ramadan? According to the teachings of Islam this practice is intended to help Muslims learn self-discipline, self-restraint and generosity. To help Muslims understand the agony of the poor and helpless who bear food deprivation for days. Fasting doesn’t simply apply to being hungry and thirsty from sunrise to sunset but it also implies to abstain from all bad deeds and performing all righteous deeds through out this period.

It is the month in which the devils are chained, the doors of Hell are closed and the doors of Heaven are opened. It is that month in which Quran was revealed. It is the month of piety and forgiveness. This Ramadan let us all seek forgiveness for sins. Let us all feed the poor and needy instead of organizing grand Aftar parties. Let us all pledge to live this month in its true spirit and give up all ill practices which corrupt the true spirit.

Ramadan Mubarak!