October 27, 2005

On the macro level the universality of Ramazan celebrates unity in diversity in perhaps the most durable and high profile festival of the world, one based not on conspicuous consumption, but on abstinence. Muslims all over the world come together on a spiritual and humane plane, and demonstrate the superior dynamics of the global village, one that has been in existence for over 1400 years, writes Adil Ahmed

The worst earthquake in Pakistan for 100 years has heralded the advent of Ramazan this year. Even as we struggle to comprehend the scale of the devastation that has followed in its wake, the fasting regimen divinely mandated during this month establishes a nexus between those who have been spared the wrath of Allah and those upon whom it has fallen.

Those who practice abstinence regardless of their access to plenty share the trials and tribulations of those without food and water in the unreachable and remote Northern Areas.

The cleric who led the Friday prayers in Muzzafarabad extolled the calamity struck survivors to stick to the regimen of fasting and observe Ramazan in all its many glorious manifestations. Initially it appeared a bit of a harsh statement to a people already suffering. In retrospect, it was the best advice that could have been given to those who ran the very real danger of being engulfed by a sense of hopelessness and helplessness. In this time of their acute trial and tribulation, a close proximity to God was, and is, their only salvation, the efforts of the Pakistan Army, civilians, and assorted international good Samaritans notwithstanding.

What strike one as odd about the month of Ramazan every year are the stern warnings issued by local administrations to profiteers in an attempt to keep supplies of essential items up and their prices down. Theoretically, a society given to fasting should be consuming less, and the market forces of demand and supply should on their own bring prices down.

Why is it then that every year the reverse happens? Do people go berserk at iftari and embark on an eating binge till sehri? While it might happen in certain gluttonous quarters, it is anticipated to be more the exception than the rule. The answer can probably be found in General Pervez Musharraf regime’s opening statement, that corruption in our society has permeated the grassroots and become a way of life.

Ramazan is the quintessential month wherein the body and soul are cleansed of worldly longings, and the individual discovers within him or her reserves of strength that he or she did not know they had. It sets aright the mindset by making the morning prayers a time for social interaction following an early morning feast. This clearly reveals the Lord’s desire for humans to be early risers, and there are few who will contest that the morning hours are the most productive, making for enhanced levels of mental and physical stimulation. It is said that God disburses the livelihood of people at that hour, and those who are up and pray for dignified sustenance are blessed with the same. Those of us who snore and snarl our way through the best time of the day spend the rest of the day playing catch-up, and wondering where the next cheque is going to come from.

In Ramazan human dignity and personal humility get reinforced manifold within those who fast. The fact that the giving of Zakat (charity) requires anonymity, and its objective is to make the needy self-sufficient with dignity, testifies to the great emphasis placed on human feelings. Those of us who have been charged with the provision of help and assistance to the earthquake victims need to be fully sensitized to the above, for our very salvation depends upon it.

The balance four prayers of the day, in the afternoon, early evening, sunset, and early night, are augmented by the Tarawihs during Ramazan, a marathon session that starts after the night prayers, and can last for upward of an hour. These comprise going the extra mile in terms of worship, and help in developing superior levels of mental focus, and a perfect opportunity to digest that little bit extra that one might have eaten at iftar. Tarawihs keep the mosques populated late into the night, and generate a festive atmosphere bringing neighbours together.

The last ten days of Ramazan see a proliferation of curtained enclosures within the mosques where people go into seclusion known as Itekaf, seeking solitude and extended worship through contemplation and the reading of the Quran. During this period they do not communicate with the outside world.

On the macro level the universality of Ramazan celebrates unity in diversity in perhaps the most durable and high profile festival of the world, one based not on conspicuous consumption, but on abstinence. The Muslims all over the world come together on a spiritual and humane plane, and demonstrate the superior dynamics of the global village, one that has been in existence for over 1400 years. At the micro ‘village’ level the main differentiator of this unity in diversity is perhaps food, and the many ways in which it is cooked and the many aromas that define it from culture to culture.

The sehri, or the pre-prayers morning feast, varies from person to person, and may appear in the guise of a light snack with an emphasis on rehydration through milk and water, or a heavy meal to compensate for the lack of lunch, complete with parathas and chapli kebabs! And let’s not forget the tea. Restaurants are open for sehri, and the city roads are up and about and alive and well at that generally considered unearthly hour.

In Pakistan the pakora, samosa and jaleybee culture prevails at sundown, making for a highly greasy and starchy situation at iftar, or the opening of the fast, also known as the breaking of the fast, or breakfast. But breakfast is normally taken first thing in the morning in most of the societies, signaling perhaps the end of the normal nightlong fast during which the individual traverses the many dimensions of dream world.

So while there may appear to be an inversion of the process during Ramazan, with breakfast being taken at the end of the day, it is in harmony with the Ramazan philosophy that seeks to upturn within the individual the many malfunctions that may have crept in during the course of the year. When one visits the doctor with an ailment, along with the medicine prescription the particular advice on offer, irrespective of the ailment, is a change of lifestyle. Unhealthy lifestyles are primarily responsible for ill health. We are either eating too much, sitting around too much, exercising too little, and generally operating at the extremes of excess.

Extreme behaviour patterns require extreme measures to redress, and the month of Ramazan introduces us to what some consider extreme discipline that not only counters our excessive behaviour patterns, but also makes us men and women of sterner stuff with the willpower to resist temptation.

Certain quarters claim that God ties down the devil during the month of Ramazan. Ground reality, however, does not testify to that, and there are a lot of people who succumb to temptation and refrain from fasting. Perfectly healthy people who would not bear exemption from fasting on medical grounds are found sneaking a mid-day snack in almost childlike fashion. While their spirit is willing, they say, their flesh is weak.

There can be no compromise on the sanctity of the month of Ramazan, and the public space between sun up and sun down is a no food zone through a voluntary acceptance of the code by the public. There are those amongst us who take upon ourselves the policing function of the public’s morality, and sometimes there are unpleasant tales of people taking the law into their own hands and dealing harshly with people found violating the code. At the end of the day the pursuit of spirituality is a personal affair, and the hijab/veil must reside in the eye of the beholder.

Therein lies the crux of the matter. Ramazan is not just about abstaining from food and drink, for that would be tantamount to starving oneself. Ramazan is about keeping one’s ego in check and becoming holistic people with a healthy self-image, having the capacity of turning their weaknesses into strengths, and always thinking positively and proffering the benefit of the doubt. It’s about inculcating the need to live a balanced life, communicate effectively, and resolve interpersonal conflicts.

As Ramazan draws to a close and the Eid ul Fitr festival approaches, the markets are all lit up and filled by shoppers till late at night. The last couple of days of fasting are followed by bustling nights with the ladies in search of the customary bangles and henna designs on their hands, and the purchase of new shoes in which to visit relatives and friends on the joyous occasion of the feast, the Eid ul Fitr.

While primarily a ladies occasion, Chand Raat, or the night the new moon is sighted, also finds the gents out in large numbers, either escorting the ladies or admiring them from a distance! There is also a large influx of people into cities from far-flung areas, all seeking alms. Such is the generosity of the spirit, rejuvenated during the month of Ramazan, that nobody goes empty handed. By some accounts the Pakistani society leads the world in its philanthropy. It may well be true, given that the general condition of our destitute is that they are well-fed and healthy. There are complaints that professional mafias control beggars, and that denying them alms should discourage them.

This time Karachi is bracing for the genuinely needy, people who succeed in escaping the harsh winter of their discontent in the Karakorams and the Himalayas savaged by the earthquake, and make their way down to the warm and inviting shores of the Arabian Sea. We, the fortunate, the hale and the hearty, must prepare ourselves to receive them with open arms, and share with them our meal, no matter how meagre. The spirit of Ramazan must prevail much after the official fasting has come to an end.

 

An all-pervasive gloom

Generally considered a festive month, Ramazan this year has been a low-key affair in Lahore following the terrible quake crisis in the north of the country. There are no elaborate iftar parties, no visible rush for Eid shopping, no rush in the restaurants and cafes offering special iftar deals on the hefty side. An all-pervasive gloom and a state of shock is tangible in the air. Neighbourhood grocery store owners tell you it’s been a slow month. People are just not buying the regular but expensive items that go into the making of delicacies at iftar time. Meanwhile the presence of beggars on city roads has also thinned out, some conjecturing that many of them have headed north to the quake-affected areas to claim ‘damages’ from the earthquake which never affected them; others just say there are no alms givers because people have been taking their charity to the disaster relief camps. Unlike, say, Karachi or Rawalpindi, taraweeh prayers in Lahore have never been a big haunt. There are no shutter-downs for iftar and taraweeh, no blocking of roads for prayers, not even an odd spilling out of the faithful into the street in front of a mosque; so these continue in their traditional low-key mode. Iftar, however, remains a crowded affair at the sufi saints’ shrines in particular. Thousands throng to Data Darbar, Mian Mir, Pir Makki, Shah Jamal, Bibiyan Pak Daman and Madho Lal Hussain’s shrines, to name but a few. Meanwhile, the regular expensive, once popular and filling fare of khajla-pheeni may have taken a backseat owing perhaps to health reasons, but samosas, pakoras and kachoris still remain a favourite with those fasting and not fasting alike. Again, unlike in other cities, these poor man’s delicacies make an appearance in city bazaars as early in the day as 10 am, and start selling. Bakeries, too, remain open, and the kind of rush seen at these shops and stalls at lunch hour makes you feel as if half of the city is infirm and advised not to fast by their doctors. Huge placards put up at food stalls and inside the shops urge citizens not to eat in the street or inside a bakery. Some say regular lunchtime favourites, like naan-chhollay and haleem, are also being sold undercover in the backstreets from homes. This is Ramazan, Lahore style, minus the pomp and extravagance seen otherwise. — Shahrezad Samiuddin

 

Are we losing the real meaning of Ramazan?

Ramazan brings a month of religious devotion and an immense change in every Muslim’s lifestyle. While the faithful fast from sunrise to sunset everyday, we must explore the essential, spiritual and absolute meaning that this month conveys. To begin with, the meaning of fasting is not just to stay hungry throughout the day. Along with not being allowed to eat and drink, fasting implies other restrictions that are necessary to fulfill. What we are talking about is the devotion and love for God that gives us immense self-control and self-discipline. Not only is the fast a physical abstinence from food and drink, it is also a moral and social exercise. In Ramazan, we should display an extra patient and compassionate side of our personality. Attention to other people’s needs is also a major requirement during this month. But having said that, isn’t that how a proper person is supposed to behave anyway? In Ramazan, while fasting, people will attempt to refrain from telling lies or try their best not to gossip or talk about others behind their backs. They are usually quick to say, “Oh dear, I shouldn’t have said that, I’m fasting.” It is also quite a common occurrence to encounter vendors and shopkeepers who will tell you that they are selling you pure or cheap items and that they are not lying or cheating because it is Ramazan! This reflection shows that inwardly we know we are doing something wrong but the only reason we stop is because we are fasting. So in another situation (apart from the month of Ramazan) people are ready to carry on with characteristics that are disliked and discouraged. This seems to be quite a hypocritical approach which basically implies that we are ready to undergo moral changes just for one month of our lives every year. It also seems to suggest that the rest of the year we can indulge in lying, undermining other people, cheating and exploiting without thinking. In actual fact, we should be carrying the changes we make in our lives in Ramazan, throughout the year. While the month of Ramazan teaches us to be grateful and compassionate, there is also the message of simplicity to be learnt. Of course, after fasting every person wants to enjoy a nice meal, but if dishes and dishes of food are to be gorged on afterwards, then where is the element of moderation? At many iftar parties you can often see people pushing and shoving while they fill their plates to the top with food -- not really a very exemplary way to end what should be a day of patience and reverence. During this month you see a furious rush of shoppers buying new clothes for the whole family. While there is nothing wrong in preparing for the festival of Eid, the element of moderation should still be adhered to, as many people will miserably tell you how they spent all their money and went broke for the rest of the month. Looking at another aspect of exploitation, I once had a mother of three tell me how she would get exhausted and depressed in Ramazan. The reason was that she had an extensive family to cook for and the whole of this month Ramazan was spent preparing food in the morning and then slaving away in the afternoon to make enormous amounts of iftari, while the rest of her household got to sleep away their time. All this was happening because her family was not sympathetic and caring enough to share some of her workload. If you want to accurately sum up the atmosphere that prevails about an hour before iftari, just think of the time spent stuck in traffic. Here you will witness furious drivers irritated and impatient to get home with no consideration for the well-being of anyone else. The state of driving in our country leaves much to be desired in normal circumstances, and in Ramazan traffic seems even more aggressive, potentially life-threatening and unbearable. I once witnessed a fist fight between two people who got out of their cars to have a go at each other in the midst of honking horns and shouts from other drivers. No one was concerned with them causing each other any harm — they just wanted them to get out of the way so the traffic would clear up. “Oh, they’re just in a temper because it’s near iftari time,” observed my driver. It was obvious that he thought it was okay to display tantrums while fasting. As I sighed at the sight in front of me, I wondered where we are all headed as a nation. If tempers are not restrained, cheating is not stopped and exploitation is the order of the day – what are we really learning from the message of this holy month?  — Shabnum Nasir

 

The flavour of Ramazan

You’re up even before the cock crows and the faint light of dawn is still very distant. But in spite of the ungodly hour, the entire household is up and about, and the house is vibrating with the sounds of clattering dishes and the wafting aroma of fried eggs, oily parathas and steaming tea. That’s sehri for you in Ramazan. Getting up long before sunrise is unthinkable in any other month, but in Ramazan it merely becomes part of an automated routine. A routine which disciplines you right from the regular offering of prayers five times a day, to the purging recitation of the Holy Quran till the time when you bite into that luscious date at the end of your 13-hour fast. Ah, pure bliss! Food has never tasted better, families have never been closer and your body has never before felt as light (physically and spiritually) other than in these few coveted days. In this rat raced era, when families hardly ever have the time to partake of their meals together, Ramazan brings together the elderly grandfather, the over-worked father, the harried mother, the rowdy teenaged children as well as that precocious 11-year-old for sehri and iftar. Notice that your boss hasn’t passed a caustic remark in quite a few days, You know he’s usually itching to out you in your place. The display of tolerance leaves you open-mouthed. Well, why not! This is a time to control those hunger pangs and exercise self control, and yet go about your diurnal chores and duties. It is a time to be scrupulous about not hurting anyone’s feelings or rebuking a servant. It is a moment to experience what it feels like to go without a meal, and how that rumbling stomach seems to rule your every thought and action. And thus realizing this, it is a time to give generously to the needy. Usually Ramazan brings the anticipation of Eid, and the nights are filled with women going from one shopping mall to another, doing what they do best, haggling and bargaining. Sadly, though, this Ramazan is stamped with images of the earthquake devastation that has rocked the country. Certainly, Karachiites have united to display laudable compassion and empathy. We must remember, though, that while we enjoy our sehri and iftar within the comforts of our homes, possessions and loved ones, there are many shivering in the cold under the stars, weeping over their lost ones and suffering untold miseries. Thus this Eid is going to be celebrated without the usual fanfare, by most.  — Maryam Murtaza Sadriwala

 

Fasting in Islamabad

Ramazan-ul-Mubarak in 2005 will be etched in the memory of Islamabadites for a long time to come. Many residents will forever remember that on the third day of this holy month, they were blessed with a new life when their forty-five year old city narrowly escaped devastating destruction after being rocked by the strongest earthquake that it had ever experienced. Fasting, prayer and charity, the three main pillars of Ramazan have never held so much significance as this one has, as Islamabadites are constantly reminded of the grief of the 60 over families whose loved ones died in the Margalla Towers collapse, and the suffering of the tens of thousands of men, women and children in Azad Kashmir and NWFP who had survived the quake but lost loved ones and everything else. For many who had not physically gone themselves into the quake zone to the north to help with relief efforts, fasting, praying and donating generously to the various quake relief funds have helped them to develop a spiritually closer kinship with the quake survivors than would perhaps have been the case if it was not for Ramazan. This being a month in which charity and good deeds have special significance, it was natural that even as they bore the fear of aftershocks which continued for days on end after the quake, Islamabadites, especially students and women, felt obligated to share their blessings by helping out in any way that they could as thousands of injured quake survivors were brought to the main public hospitals in the city after being airlifted here. Whether it is donating blood, cheering up the injured children with toys, or distributing items ranging from food to toilet rolls, these fasting volunteers have been flocking the corridors of hospitals brimming with injured quake survivors. Several more enterprising volunteers have even helped to establish temporary mini-hospitals for quake-affected women, complete with surgical facilities and 10 women doctors. Now that tent villages are being set up in H-11 Sector and other places for displaced quake survivors who have reached Islamabad, residents, students and NGOs have been given the chance to personally provide relief and help in making the lives of these guests in the Capital as comfortable as possible as they go through the difficult period of recovering from injuries and adjusting to what seems to be an uncertain future for them right now. One family in Islamabad is known to have “temporarily adopted” three members of a quake survivor family from Muzaffarabad (a mother, son and young daughter) by opening up their home to them, while more permanent arrangements are being sought. For this samaritan family, this generous deed constitutes a gesture of thankfulness to God for sparing them and their city from devastation. If every family in Islamabad can open up their home in this way to one quake survivor family, says the head of this samaritan family, the suffering of thousands of quake survivors can be mitigated until they are permanently re-settled. The other side of Ramazan, i.e., the pre-Eid festivity in the bazaars and iftar parties in homes and offices, has naturally been a much watered down affair this year. The bazaars are not so brightly decorated and relatively less people are thronging there after iftari for shopping and eating. Even for those who do dine out or shop, they are being reminded of the suffering quake victims as students and other youngsters come up to them with donation boxes, requesting them to donate to the various quake relief funds. Distinctly missing in Islamabad this month has been the countless and often lavish iftar parties thrown by government leaders, MNAs and diplomats. Eid-ul-Fitr this year cannot be anything else but a much more sombre event, and the usual rush of Eid Milan parties will probably not take place.— Aileen Qaiser

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