IN today’s world, the value of just about anything is measured not through logical thought, but through its positive impact on life in general.

This valuation is particularly important in the acceptance of Islam. If the true spirit of Islam were alive, there would seldom be any need to prove the attraction of the faith. The obvious benefits of following Islamic values would have been enough to attract people towards it. Hence, the need of the time is to revive the spirit of religion.

In this regard, fasting is especially unique. Unlike other pillars of Islam, it involves absolutely no physical movement of any kind. On the face of it, a man who is fasting is no different from any other man. Yet, it is the intention and the spirit of fasting that makes it so significant and so important that it was made mandatory for all the nations that existed even before the arrival of Islam and to dedicate a whole month to its performance.

Clearly, if we lose the essence of fasting its effects would disappear and in that case, fasting would be little more than an exercise in starvation. Unfortunately, this is the prevalent trend in Pakistan and to change it, we need to concentrate and understand the basis and spirit of fasting.

The soul of fasting lies in control. Perhaps in all the teachings of Islam there is none more important than control. When a person sacrifices his most innate desires of food and water merely on the command of Allah, it trains him in the art of putting the will of the Creator before his own. In essence, if humans can learn to control their desires, their path to perfection and towards the ultimate objective of life becomes easier.

However, the common practices today deliver a message completely opposite to the true message of control. Our emphasis today is on using Ramazan as an opportunity to satisfy our material desires of taste and rest, which has destroyed the concept of enhancing control through fasting.

The act of ignoring one’s body provides an opportunity to concentrate on the soul. When we are liberated from the daily routines of material life, we venture ahead and ponder over facts greater than matter and the material world, realities like God, spirituality and the greater good. This ever-elusive need of a spiritual connection exists in all of us, in every religion, whether it is the concept of soul-searching in Christianity and Judaism or deep meditation in search of Nirvana for the Buddhist, or even arts and music for spiritual satisfaction in non-religious people.

Fasting is one such process which allows the individual to concentrate, to meditate, to discover. This is the reason why the concept of worship is glorified in the month of Ramazan by specific prayers and supplications. This is the perfect time to plan and concentrate on the greater objectives of life. Perhaps this is one of the wisdoms behind the practice of Aitekaf, when believers seclude themselves and dedicate themselves to prayer and worship.

Ramazan is not limited to the development of an individual; it plays a vital role in the progress and advancement of the society as a whole. The key to the development of any society is interconnection of emotions and feelings between each and every member of society. Fasting plays an important role in binding the whole society together. It helps those who have wealth and material luxuries to understand what goes on with those that do not.

Furthermore, as the whole society collectively abandons the most basic need, it creates this unique sense of brotherhood that invariably, we are all fighting the same battle, worshipping the same God. Invariably, we are all one and the same. It is one of the reasons why acts of charity are so abundant during Ramazan. People want to help others once they realise what the problems of society actually are.

However, the problem today lies in the maltreatment of fasting. Due to this, its true spirit has almost ceased to exist. It seems that Ramazan has turned into just another target for mass consumerism.

Aren’t these glamorous and luxurious iftar and sehri parties pushing aside the true essence of Ramazan and portraying its sacredness and piety as something obsolete and dreary? In the absence of control and concept of obedience to Allah and spirituality, gradually, the holy month of Ramazan is losing its sacredness and turning into little more than a mere cultural event.

The situation has gotten so out of control that it is not uncommon to see banners at various malls advertising products with the line ‘the true spirit of Ramazan’.

It is imperative now, more than ever, that we break this pattern of decadence and destruction. We need to revive the original spirit of Ramazan and the key to that lies in control and spirituality.

Conceptual clarity behind the wisdom of fasting is the first step towards the revival of Islamic values. This Ramazan, let us not divulge in unnecessary luxuries and let us concentrate all our thoughts and struggles on control, spirituality and obedience to Allah so that this holy month can shower on us its true and most sacred bounties and blessings.

The writer is a religious scholar.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.