Okikiola Qasim
Islam is the only religion that has retained the outward and spiritual dimensions of fasting throughout the centuries. Selfish motives and desires of the base self-alienate a man from his Creator. The most unruly human emotions are pride, avarice, gluttony, lust, envy, and anger. These emotions by their nature are not easy to control, thus a person must strive hard to discipline them.
Muslims fast to purify their soul, it puts a bridle on the most uncontrolled, savage human emotions. People have gone to two extremes with regards to them. Some let these emotions steer their life which lead to barbarism among the ancients, and crass materialism of consumer cultures in modern times. Others tried to deprive themselves completely of these human traits, which in turn led to monasticism.
Almighty Allah has divided Ramadan in three parts, the first ten days reflect the mercy of Almighty Allah; the other ten days represent forgiveness of Almighty Allah, while the last ten days represent safety from the fire of Hell. There is no doubt in the fact that Ramadan is a month of mercy and forgiveness, it also provides the opportunity for all the believers to be saved from the fire of Hell. Although the complete month of Ramadan is a blessed one and it overflows with Grace and Mercy. A Muslim is also blessed with a night (Laila-tul-Qadr) which is better than thousand months. And the question is, are we inking these rewards or are we thinking about them only? Hence, my main objective for this article.
For more than a decade now, I noticed some improvements in the mode of welcoming the 9th month of Hijrah calendar, for the purpose of benefiting from the 4th pillar of Islam. Most of the ideas I am in love with them but simultaneously, I am also afraid of the fact that we do more of proclamation than working the accomplishment towards acquisition the mammoth rewards.
At first, the Muslims pay more responsiveness on the food consumption during Ramadan fast, which I am sure it’s not. But it’s about tasting the feelings of the have not, the poor, the Masaakin in order for those that were blessed with much, the rich to extends hands of giving to the poor.
Based on this, lots of masaajid all over the world are basically working in this direction in order to feed people. These are laudable ways of gaining rewards, this are wonderful and well rewarding activities that should be encouraged not only during the month of Ramadan but for the rest of all the months of calendar year. Let’s ink the rewards not think it!
It was so obvious that when Ramadan approaches, many Islamic organisation, highly respected Islamic scholars, Muslim philanthropies and individuals move to organize pre-Ramadan lectures. The main objectives of doing this is to awaken the consciousness of the fasting Muslims towards the duties expected of them during the Month of Ramadan. These, to me are excellent. Though, I have my observations that I wish could be looked into but I would rather reserve that for another article. But my fears became worrisome and I noticed that many scholars and conscious Muslim individuals are also rising some fears in this direction.
This includes the mode of organizing the pre-Ramadan lectures. The Ramadan lectures are becoming a misplaced obsession at this period to the extent that we can no longer hold its importance within the Ummah. It’s also becoming a celebration and fund raising for the organization’s plans to be executed during Ramadan. And that is more reason why it would be very difficult for the organization to jointly plan and execute a pre-Ramadan lecture that would impact and be beneficial to the Ummah. In that case, I advise, let’s ink the rewards not think it!
Another aspect I really wish to touch is the recitation of the holy Quran during the month of Ramadan. Many Muslims are in between reading the Quran in their language and reading it in Arabic. Many scholarly opinion are varied on this but I will recommend that we should learn how to read the Quran in Arabic based on this verse of the Quran:
“So, [O Muhammad], we have only made Qur’an easy in the Arabic language that you may give good tidings thereby to the righteous and warn thereby a hostile people.”
But why in Arabic? I have 3 experiences, Arabic, Yoruba and English. But the Yoruba and English translation does not have any effect to my heart! You may ask why? Because the translated one is no longer in its original harmony provided by Allah also consider you want to drink water and compare drinking with a glass or with a plate and a spoon. The water is same but the structure which keeps the water is very important.
In same way, I think Arabic structure and grammar can traverse more information and feel with always fresh optimized words and sentence length. My point here is that many Muslim make excuses for not reading the Quran during the month of Ramadan simply because they can’t read the Arabic text. I advise they should strive to learn the Quran in Arabic, it would be a double reward for such strugglers.
We must understand that the Holy Quran was revealed in the month of Ramadan. It is a source of true guidance for all mankind. Nowadays, with the availability of internet, the soft copies of the Quran are now made easy true our phones and desktop accessories. You can read Qur’an while sitting at your home. Ramadan is a month of blessings, spiritual reflection, increased devotion, worship and improvement. Let’s ink the rewards not think it!
On the special iftaar packages that virtually all the massajid and individuals engage in now with a special name tag, some call it FOOD BANK, FEED THE INDIGENTS, IFTAAR SPECIAL etc., is another area we need to prioritize our interest and our expectations during and after the month of Ramadan. Allah said in Quran 2v 162
“Have you seen him who belies the rewards and punishments of the Hereafter? He it is who drives away the orphan and does not urge giving away the food to the poor. (Q 107:1 – 3)
“Give to the near of kin his due, and also to the needy and the wayfarers. Do not squander your wealth wastefully; for those who squander wastefully are Satan’s brothers, and Satan is ever ungrateful to his Lord”. (Q17:26 – 27)
Giving iftar (fast-breaking) meal is very rewarding (thawab). If a person, while walking on the road, gives only a date or an olive to a fasting person, the reward for giving iftar meal is attained. When our master the Prophet declared, “If a person gives iftar to a fasting person in this month, his sins will be forgiven. And he will be given as many rewards as has that fasting person,” some of the Blessed Companions said that they were not so rich as to give iftar meal to a fasting person. He declared as a reply, “The rewards will be given even to a person who gives a date as the iftar or who provides water to break the fast or who offers a little milk” [Bayhaqi].
It is declared in another Hadith that Crossing the Sirat Bridge will be easier for a person who provides a guest with food to break his fast. It is very rewarding to feed people. Feeding a fasting person in particular is much more rewarding. Such a person receives as many rewards as the fasting person receives, without any reduction in the reward of the fasting person. Offering foods to one’s companions and friends is more meritorious than giving alms. A meal I offer to my friends is more valuable than five loaves of bread I give to the poor. A meal that is eaten with friends is better than freeing a slave.
We should not say, “He does not invite me.
Why will I invite him?” Our sole objective should be to seek the pleasure of Allah when we invite someone for a meal or when we accept someone’s invitation for a meal. One must not partake in an invitation if sins are committed where the meal is offered. It is conceited to refuse a poor person’s invitation and to accept a rich one’s. To visit those who are lower in rank than you is a sign of humility. Let’s ink the rewards not think it!
Let me conclude on the issue of I’tikaf, doing i’tikaf in the holy month of Ramadan is sunnat-i muakkada. However, because i’tikaf is sunnat-i kifaya, if a few Muslims in a quarter perform it, then this sunnat will lapse from other Muslims. Therefore, those who are able to do so should perform i’tikaf. A person who observes i’tikaf eats, drinks, and sleeps in a mosque. He is allowed to go out in order to make ablution (wudu’). The purport of several hadith-i sharifs is as follows.
My experience witnessed in some of Masaajid in quite unsatisfactory. Some Muslim brother travelled across states to get to Abuja National Masjid and other bigger Masajid for their I’tikaf, not only that this act may be wrong in Islam but some of these people turnout to become liability on the officials of the Masjid and the Muslims in the vicinity. They turned to begging, and struggle with any sadaqa food that is brought around the Masjid, to the extent of fighting the people while there in I’tikaf. I considered this attitude absurd and uncalled for. Therefore, we must check our souls and ask the question what are we expected to gain from all our efforts during the month of Ramadan. Let’s ink the rewards not think it!
I rest my case.
