By: Parsa Bukhari
It is that time of the year once again. It is the advent of a month that is filled with innumerable blessings – the thirty days which require a Muslim to observe one of the five pillars of Islam, fasting. Ramadan is characterized not just by its obligation on every Muslim to keep away from certain things which are allowed in other months, but also by the weight of blessings attached to every good deed performed in this month. So what are these unique features which make Ramadan such a special and sanctified month for Muslims the world over?
Probably the most significant is the fact that in this month, as we are told by Allah, the gates of Heaven are thrown open, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained. This essentially signifies that, in Ramadan, the devils and their advocates have a much more difficult job diverting true Muslims from fully reaping the bounties of Allah by performing every religious duty with a pure intention.
I remember when I was younger my mum lifting her hands up to pray to ask Allah to make it an easy month of fasting for all the Muslims around the world as this is a testing time of self-control, mind over body. I have lots of fond memories of delicious foods that would be prepared in Ramadan and the distinct taste and smell of the Rooh Afza drink (rose water syrup), which is commonly drunk as it is refreshing to quench thirst. Of the typical foods cooked in Ramadan I remember having pakoras and samosas as snacks followed by a meal in later in the evening. As a child I always looked forward to fasting, however wasn’t quite able to fast all of them and may have fasted half days to introduce myself to fasting.
But now, Ramadan for me is a time of self-reflection and being thankful for what I have in my life, even if this is not a lot. It is a time of togetherness with family and uniting as a community all around the world to celebrate this blessed month. It is also a time to think about others who are less fortunate than me who may be going without food, clean water all year round. Ramadan is also about obedience and worshiping God which lifts me spiritually and makes me feel calmer and relaxed both mentally and physically. Another physical benefit can be seen when you stand to pray as some of the actions are similar to that of yoga, which improves your physical health. Ramadan is an amazing month, as there is a flow of blessings and rewards from Allah to those who truly want to reap the full benefits from these thirty days. Probably the best thing about Ramadan is the fact that each and every action is done truly for Allah and each serves to strengthen our faith in Him.
There are no strings attached to any action, as they normally are with most of our routine work. Ramadan is not just a month in which we refrain from food and drink for a few hours. It is a chance to make up for the time lost around the year in other work and revert to Allah, beg forgiveness for the sins done around the year, and finally, a chance to better the life awaiting in the Hereafter.
