The true spirit of Ramadan lies in abstaining from iniquity and wickedness
Dear Editor,
I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words about Ramadan. Ramadan is a holy month in the Islamic calendar. Muslims all over the world are fasting this month. During the fast, they are not allowed to eat or drink anything from dawn until dusk. But the true spirit of Ramadan lies in abstaining from iniquity and wickedness. As the Holy Prophet of Islam (Peace be upon him) said, “If a person does not avoid falsehood and false conduct, Allah need not abstain from food and drink.” (Bukhari)
Another purpose of fasting is to gain self-control. During fast, we are supposed to have complete control over our emotions. As the Holy Prophet of Islam (Peace be upon him) said, “Fasting is a shield; so when one of you is fasting, he should not indulge in obscene language and should not raise his voice in anger. If someone attacks or insults him, let him say, “I’m fasting!” (Muslim)
Although there are many spiritual and physical benefits of fasting, one social benefit of fasting is that it encourages us to care for the needy and poor in our community. When we abstain from food and drink, we share the pain of hunger. This way, everyone in the Muslim community can understand the feeling of a poor man who doesn’t have enough food to eat or feed his family. So we are encouraged to spend on the poor and needy in Ramadan just as the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) used to spend generously in the Holy Month of Ramadan.
By the grace of God, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is partnering with Humanity First Guyana to share cooked meals for street residents and needy people. We also distribute food hampers to needy and poor families in the community. These activities take place in the capital city and four other towns in Guyana. This way, we can lift the weak and help them heal. May God help us to spend Ramadan in the true spirit. Amen.
Truly,
Maqsood A. Mansoor