An Essential Spiritual Tool for Purification
Maqsood Ahmed, OBE
Introduction
After creating human beings Allah Almighty did two favours, among many many others, to ensure that His creation (human beings) is fully well-versed, prepared, enabled and counselled about purpose (51:56) of their life on earth, and how to accomplish that, lest they transgressed. Therefore He sent Messengers to every nation with the mission to explain and enact (by practically living) the purpose of life on earth (23:44), ordained by Allah Almighty. Allah says:
اِنَّاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنٰكَ بِالۡحَـقِّ بَشِيۡرًا وَّنَذِيۡرًاؕ وَاِنۡ مِّنۡ اُمَّةٍ اِلَّا خَلَا فِيۡهَا نَذِيۡرٌ “
Verily! We have sent you with the truth, a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner. And there never was a nation but a warner had passed among them (35:24).
Allah has named some of those Messengers (peace be upon all of them) and told us their stories, but not of many others (4:163-164).
The second related favour was to reveal His scriptures and guidance through revelations (wahey) or other means to the Messengers e.g. Torah, Injeel, Zaboor (old and new testaments) and finally the Qur’an, revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ .
Having facilitated thus, Allah has repeatedly reminded mankind about the accountability of their deeds (good and bad) on the day of judgement (3:30), including questioning the Messengers who were sent to deliver the message:
فَلَنَسْـَٔلَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَنَسْـَٔلَنَّ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ
We shall question those (people) to whom It (the book – the message) was sent and, We shall question the messengers (7:6).
Allah swt then devised numerous mechanisms, strategies and essential tools to assist His Ahsan-e-Taqween (best of creation) to guide them to equip themselves to live the purpose of their lives on earth. In these mechanics are included some obligatory acts, which are not negotiable, such as five pillars of Islam, including compulsory fasting and some voluntary acts too, which are essential but humans have discretion to exercise their fee will.
Fasting as one such obligatory command is not an end unto itself, but a means of focusing our minds and bodies for a spiritual development and purification. Whenever one fasts, they do so for a reason that is mentioned or modeled in the Quran and in other scriptures as well.
2. Role of Prophet Muhammad (saw) to purify
On several occasions Allah has highlighted the role played by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for development and transformation, for example:
⦁Recited the divine revelations of Allah (3:164, 62:2).
⦁Taught them the Book and Wisdom (3:164, 62:2).
⦁Explained and clarified the message which was sent down for people to contemplate (16:44).
⦁Stressed the belief in the Last Day of Judgment and its recompense (84:1–15).
⦁Purified and reformed the lives of the people (3:164, 62:2).
⦁Enjoined upon them what was good and forbad them what was evil (7:157).
⦁Explained justice and good conduct, forbad immorality, bad conduct and oppression (16:90).
⦁Made the permissible lawful to them and prohibited all corrupt things.
9. Completed the religion of Islam (5:3), amongst other such roles.
3. Role of Obligatory decrees
The obligatory decrees are essentially related to ‘dos’ (Amr al-Maroof). Obligatory, supererogatory or pillars of Islam are important acts of worship that develop the Muslim character and fortify Islam. Muslims are commanded by Allah Almighty to carry out these duties and to follow the example of the Prophet ﷺ in performing these duties.
The five pillars of Islam – Shahaadah, Salah, Saum, Zakat and Hajj are meant to:
(1) Develop and transform Muslims – their identity, character and persona.
(2) Remind the Muslims about the purpose of their life which is to worship Allah alone in the broader sense, not just ritualistic worship but beyond that by serving humanity by following the teachings and actions of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
(3) Unite Muslims locally, nationally and internationally and strengthen links between them as they worship only one Allah and follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
(4) Support the development of consciousness of Allah and taqwa (piety).
(5) Inculcate gratefulness for all and everything Allah has provided and continues to bestow blessings on His servants.
Each pillar has its special importance. For example, Shahaadah (believing in one Allah) reminds the Muslims about the purpose of their life which is to worship Allah alone by following the teachings of His Messenger ﷺ. We do this by demonstrating complete surrender to the will of Allah and observing His commands with robust patience, perseverance and absolute determination.
Similarly, Salaah (daily prayers) reminds Muslims of their duty to Allah in worshipping Him alone, throughout their lives and seeking His support and guidance. Zakaah (alm) reminds richer Muslims of their duty to the poor and strengthens the feelings of brotherhood among Muslims. Sauam (fasting) inculcates self-discipline, and Allah’s obedience that enhances spiritual strength, develops empathy for the poor and an opportunity to thank Allah Almighty for the gift of the Qur’an. Hajj (pilgrimage) reminds Muslims of Prophet Abraham ﷺ devotion, obedience and act of sacrifice, which Muslims follow. It provides an opportunity for the international community of Muslims to get together in Makkah.
4. The virtues and distinct features of Ramadan
Allah swt says that “Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain taqwā (piety and mindfulness of Allah)” (2:183). The greatest purpose of fasting is to attain taqwa. Taqwā is to protect oneself from the punishment of Allah by avoiding His prohibitions and implementing His commands.
Allah has made the month of Ramadan a distinct one and attributed to it many virtues, such as:
Allah made fasting as one of the pillars in Islam. Allah Says): “The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it” [Quran 2:185].
Allah revealed the Qur’aan during the month of Ramadan as in the above mentioned verse.
Allah placed the night of Al-Qadr as one of the nights of this month, and this night is better in reward than the worship of one thousand months (97: 1-7).
Allah Says: “Indeed, We sent it [i.e. the Quran] down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit [i.e. Gabriel] descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is (Upon the believers) until the emergence of dawn.” [Quran 97:1-5]
Allah made fasting it with full faith and in hope for the reward result in the forgiveness of all previously committed sins. Abu Hurayrah may Allah be pleased with him reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan faithfully (out of sincere faith) and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards (not for showing off), all his past sins will be forgiven.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
Allah opens the gates of Paradise and seals the gates of Hell. Abu Hurayrah may Allah be pleased with him reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.”[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
Allah frees chosen slaves from Hell daily. Abu Umaamah may Allah be pleased with him reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “Allah frees a number of people every night when it is time for breaking the fast (i.e. sunset).” In another narration he said: “Allah frees a number of people every day and night (i.e. during the month of Ramadan) and each slave has a supplication that will be responded to”.
Fasting this month expiates ones sins so long as one refrains from committing the major great sins. Abu Umaamah may Allah be pleased with him reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “The five (daily) prayers, and from one Jumu`ah prayer to the (next) Jumu`ah prayer, and from Ramadan to Ramadan are expiations for the (sins) committed in between their intervals; provided the major great sins are not committed”.[Muslim]
5. Purpose and Benefits of Fasting
(1) Spiritual growth: Fasting is a way to overcome desires and bad habits, and to become a better person: by developing spiritual strength, including resisting temptation, developing self-mastery and self-control, and showing humility.
(3) Empathy: Fasting helps Muslims feel more empathetic towards others and understand the struggles of the poor.
(4) Charity: Fasting encourages Muslims to be more charitable and to share their food with others.
(5) Devotion to God: Fasting is a way to show devotion to God and to seek forgiveness from Him. It is a private act of worship bringing about nearness to God. Fasting helps draw near to Allah swt, surrender ourselves to Him, hear His direction, and steel ourselves with determination to do Allah Almighty’s will.
(6) In Nutshell: Fasting strengthen prayer, helps seek Allah’s guidance, helps express repentance and return to Allah Almighty, to humble before Allah Almighty, overcome temptation, to express love and devotion to the Creator swt and above all attain Tazkia-e-Nafs (purification of soul).
6. Sincerely of The intentions is paramount
The precondition of performing any deed (e.g. remembering Allah (swt) or fasting in any context) is getting the intention pronounced in one’s heart or verbally, defining objectives and purpose – the motivation behind the intended action.
Intention is a determination or plan to perform a specific action, for instance prayer. It is a pillar of worship in the spiritual sense and the spirit and foundation of any behaviour. It is an act before any action.
The intentions and behaviours should be aligned all the time in an affirmative spirit. Good and sincere intentions align one’s life with one’s deepest values. It is imperative to examine its dimensions and values, not only for just devotional acts but literarily for every intended action in daily life. According to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) “innamal a’malu binniiyyaat”
إِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّات
The actions of a person are judged only by the intentions (and the person’s purpose behind the act will have only what he intended) (Saheeh al-Bukhari and al-Muslim).
Any deed or action without proper ‘sincere’ intention is futile (batil). Purification of intention from any corruption or mixed motivation is vital for an expectation of due reward both in this world and hereafter.
7. Exemptions
and spin offs
In Islam, there are several excuses and exemptions for not fasting during Ramadan, including pre-pubertal children, women during their menstrual period or postnatal bleeding, travelers, pregnant or breastfeeding women who believe fasting for long hours may cause harm to either themselves or their babies, the elderly who cannot tolerate. However these excuses are permitted subject to certain conditions
Notwithstanding the religious and spiritual imperatives, the health workers and researchers have taken interests positive gains of fasting, both intermittent and continuous for a long period. For example:
i) blood sugar control has been witnessed, ii) fasting appears to reduce chronic inflammation, iii) It appears to promote weight loss, iv) likely to boost heart health, v) may lower total cholesterol levels, vi) May aid brain function and prevent neurodegenerative disorders vii) may help prevent certain type of cancer and may also viii) extend lifespan.
