Ramadan Reflections On Fasting Week 1

Dave Andrews

Day 1

The other day I got an email from my friend Ibrahim Abdelhalim, Imam of the Lincoln University Mosque, member of the Canterbury Muslim Community and New Zealand Ambassador for Peace. Ibrahim wrote: ‘Dear Brothers and Sisters, Asslamoalikum. As the new Moon will be sighted, the Holy Month of Ramadan will begin soon. “So whoever of you sights the crescent on the first night of the month he must observe sawm (a fast) that month”.’ Ibrahim wrote to remind us that ‘Ramadan is a great blessing.’ And I hope to partake in that ‘great blessing’ by fasting with my Muslim friends and sharing my reflections.

 

Day 2

We live in a modern society dominated by capitalist economy that has created a consumerist culture. And, as Quaker theologian, Richard Foster says, ‘in a culture where the landscape is dotted with shrines to the Golden Arches and an assortment of Pizza Temples, fasting seems out of place, out of step with the times.’[i] For most consumers in a consumer culture fasting is considered a dangerous anachronism. ‘The constant propaganda fed us today convinces us that if we do not have three large meals each day, with several snacks in between, we are on the verge of starvation.’[ii] Ramadan proves this is false. Fasting is a subversive act in a consumer society.

 

Day 3

For those of us who have the money to purchase it, our economy provides us with the bread we need. Indeed, we have access to much more than we could ever need – an almost endless supply of a delectable dishes of fresh dates, spicy vegetables, paneer fritters, gosht kebabs, rumali rotis, and fruit chaat. However, in the Torah it says: ‘one shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ (Deuteronomy 8.3) These are the words Jesus chose to quote in resisting the temptation to misuse his miracu-lous capacity to ‘turn stones into bread’. (Matthew 4.4) He insisted: ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to complete his work.’ (John 4.34)

 

Day 4

‘Ramadan is the (month) in which the Qur’an was sent down, as a guide to mankind and a clear guidance and judgment (so that mankind will distinguish from right and wrong).’ In the Qur’an it is says: ‘Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you many learn piety and righteousness” (Qur’an 2.183) Abu Umamah reported: ‘I came to the Messenger of Allah (SAW) and said: “Order me to do a deed that will allow me to enter Paradise.” He said: “Stick to fasting, as there is no equivalent to it.” Then I came to him again and he said: “Stick to fasting”.’[iii]

 

Day 5

Fasting, of course, is not an exclusively Muslim practice. Greek philosophers like Plato, Socrates, Aristotle and Hippocrates practiced fasting. And major leaders of the major religions of the world – Zoroaster, Confucius, Buddha, Mahavir, Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, and Baha’u’llah– all practiced fasting. Well-known historical leaders like David the king, Esther the queen, Daniel the seer, Elijah the prophet, Anna the prophetess, and Paul the apostle, practiced fasting.[iv] And there is probably no-one more well-known in recent history for his practice of fasting than Mohandas Gandhi. The Mahatma said: ‘to shirk a fast where there is a clear moral indication (to do so) is a dereliction of duty’.[v]

 

Day 6

The ‘moral indication’ for fasting in Islam is clear. So for Muslims, not to fast in Ramadan, would undoubtedly be considered ‘a dereliction of duty’. The call to fast in the Qur’an is quite explicit and specific: O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious)’. (Qur’an 2.183) ‘So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan), he must fast that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not fast must be made up) from other days.’ (Qur’an 2.185)

 

Day 7

‘And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (i.e. an old person, etc.), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person (for every day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast, it is better for you if only you know.” (Qur’an 2.183-84) Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him” (Qur’an 2.185).

 

[i] Foster, Richard J. (1978). Celebration of Discipline. Harper & Row. Kindle location 894

[ii] Foster, Richard J. (1978). Celebration of Discipline. Harper & Row. Kindle location 903

[iii] Imam Ahmad, Imam Nasa’i, and Imam Hakim Hadith http://www.minhaj.org/english/tid/2954/Quranic-Verses-and-Hadith-on-the-Month-of-Ramadan-and-Fasting.html

[iv] Foster, Richard J. (1978). Celebration of Discipline. Harper & Row. Kindle location 910,914

[v] Prabhu,R.K. & Rao, U.R. (Ed) Mind of Mahatma Gandhi H, 28-7-1946, p. 235 http://www.mkgandhi.org/momgandhi/chap36.htm

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