Ramadan: A Period of Massive Spiritual Growth
Many are excited about this special holiday and this is why
Growing up as a Muslim child, the word Ramadan comes with an aura of delightful ecstasy. The community was bubbling, the mosque was brimmed, and there was an avalanche of food to satisfy our cravings.
My parents encouraged us to indulge in fasting at an early age, although it wasn’t compulsory. In those days, kids abstained from eating and drinking until midday. This then counts as a half day — in our own wishful calculation. So when we fast another half day, we add it up to complete one day of fasting.
On the contrary, the Muslim way of fasting is quite different. It’s abstinence from eating, drinking, and sexual relationships from dawn until sunset. In most times, we’re talking about an average of 13–18 hours of spirituality. This then continues for 29 or 30 days based on the Islamic lunar calendar. Therefore, you can’t help but get excited and prepared.
The objective of Ramadan is to nurture every believing soul with
acts of righteousness until piety is attained. So, by its nature, Ramadan heralds the spiritual and moral rebirth of society. This is why its impact is felt by everyone in plural communities, including the non-Muslims.
For this goal to be achieved, Muslims must fast in accordance with the guidance of the Qur’an and Sunnah to experience a spiritual rebirth.
Hence, Ramadan isn’t all about abstinence but mindfulness. You have to be cautious about your thoughts and intentional about your actions during this unique spiritual exercise. This is a sure way to harness the rewards in full.
Muslims see fasting as an act of worship enjoined upon the faithful believers by Allah — The Almighty Being.
O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious) — Qur’an 2[Al-Baqarah]:183
Ramadan is that period of the year when virtually everyone becomes God-conscious. In fact, it’s the only time when you see more ladies wearing the hijab and men visiting the mosque frequently. People abandon their evil ways and adorn themselves with a cloak of righteousness.
Since the goal of Ramadan is to become more pious, it serves as a training ground for you. One has 29/30 days to build good habits or break away from bad ones. The things we do in Ramadan are not limited to:
- Intention: For every act of worship in Islam, you have to set out with good intentions. This involves doing it solely for the sake of Allah Alone, not for show-off. In addition, it has to align with how the Prophet Muhammad — peace be upon him — exemplified the execution. Hence, we strive to make every Ramadan our best ever because it may be the last one. You never know.
- Fasting: The act of fasting in itself is the main course in this blessed month. This isn’t just abstinence from food, drinks, and desires. It also entails being at a peak state of morality. Showing kindness to others and not harming them. Avoid telling lies, lowering your gaze, controlling your tongue, and lots more.
- Qur’an: The holy book of Islam which was the final revelation from God to humanity was revealed in this blessed month. Hence, Muslims do a lot of recitation and reflection on the verses sent through the noble angel Jibril.
The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Quran; a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, a number of other days. Allah desires for you ease; He desires not hardship for you; and that you should complete the period, and that you should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that perhaps you may be thankful. — Qur’an 2[Al-baqarah]:185
- Charity: Muslims around the world indulge in a lot of charitable projects in this month of sanctity. One of the most rewardable deeds includes feeding a fasting person. More often than not, people give out their zakat to those in need during Ramadan.
- Prayer: Aside from the five daily prayers that Muslims observe as a cornerstone, there are also nightly prayers in Ramadan called tarawih. This is comprising between 8–21 units after the last obligatory prayer of the day. And if you want to take it a step further to earn more goods, you rise up to pray Qiyamul Layl in the last part of the night.
These are but a few of the numerous activities we indulge in during the blessed month of Ramadan.
The benefits of Ramadan cannot be overemphasized because the rewards that come with it are just too enormous. This is one of the reasons why we’re so excited about Ramadan — it is an opportunity to do a lot of good deeds.
Allah prescribed the holy month to the believers in order to rectify their actions and purify their souls with the goal of attaining piety. The reason for this authorization by The Most-High Lord is far beyond the rewards. It entails physical, spiritual, and mental benefits which many Muslims take for granted or do not even know about.
Let’s examine some of them:
- Forgiveness: One of the numerous benefits of Ramadan is earning God’s forgiveness. It is important to note that Allah’s Apostle Peace Be Upon Him said:
“Whoever observes Saum (Fasting) during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s Rewards, all his past sins will be forgiven.” — Sahih Al-Bukhari
- Steadfastness: Since the goal of Ramadan is to attain piety, then everyone braces up with good deeds. Ramadan propels you to goodness even beyond the blessed month. It gives you a chance to scale up righteousness and keep it as a habit. It’s a beautiful opportunity for growth: evolving from a previous you to a new you.
- Detoxification: Abstaining from eating and drinking enhances the metabolic process of the body. Research shows that this is done by naturally expelling body toxins and systematically reducing the rate of food consumption. So it’s really not about how much you eat and store, it’s the patience and perseverance that really keeps the body in shape.
- Humility: I must be honest with you, fasting is not that easy. We only submit to Allah’s injunction because this is a prescription. This noble action humbles you and as well teaches you empathy. We are able to express gratitude to God for His endless bounties and provisions. Then, we also feel the pains of the poor who have nothing to eat and thus remind us of the virtue of supporting the needy.
- Accountability: Ramadan helps you stay on track. You consciously take into cognizance what you say, eat, do, etc. Most often, people get to abandon their sinful ways as a result of self-discipline which leads to a positive transformation. This is because the holy month gives room for reflection in order to assess one’s progress as the days count.
So with the siting of a new crescent, our beloved month of Ramadan comes to an end. Here’s the moment of truth where you’d realize if Ramadan was really impactful on your spirituality.
A lot of Muslims will find it difficult to be consistent with the goodness Ramadan had instilled. This is where human nature sets in, thereby returning to sinful ways. Most Muslims are left with either of two sighs after Ramadan; that of relief and the other of anguish.
Those with a sigh of relief feel like a burden has been taken off their necks. These are the ones who rush towards recklessness and evil ways to offer their assistance. On the other hand, the sigh of anguish is felt by those who feel sobered losing touch with a conscious state of piety.
Once Ramadan is gone, it’s arguably more difficult to sustain the practices adopted during the season. This is an addendum to the reasons why we can’t deny this fact — the feeling of Ramadan is second to none. Hence, Ramadan comes annually to prepare sustainability grounds for the rest of the year. That way, we are sure to retain some of its lessons and practices.
To keep up with the struggle after Ramadan, one will have to pay attention to the following:
- Be mindful of Allah: Know that your Lord is All-Aware: the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing, and the All-Hearing. What is lawful in Ramadan remains enjoined even after and that which is unlawful should be avoided as much as possible. This will keep you conscious as you strive to be dutiful to Him.
- Be mindful of your deeds: Don’t stop the good deeds that you’ve become consistent with during Ramadan. Continue to do them no matter how tough or little they may be. And when you fall short by committing sins, don’t give up on yourself. Ask Allah to forgive you as He is truly forgiving and merciful to everyone.
- Be mindful of your association: Always keep good companies as they will remind you of your purpose in life. Good friends will help you in performing acts of righteousness and distance you from evil ways. Allah’s Messenger gave us a prophetic analogy through this parable thus:
“Verily, the parable of a good friend and a bad friend is only that of a seller of musk and a blacksmith. The seller of musk will give you some perfume, you will buy some, or you will notice a good smell. As for the blacksmith, he will burn your clothes or you will notice a bad smell.” — Muslim
- Be mindful of your lifetime: Recall, the dead have no second chance at life and soon we’d all be gone. The life of this world is transient and deceitful like a fading shadow. Hence, the need to always remember our time is short so we need to invest it wisely. Don’t forget to always recite this beautiful supplication by Abubakar:
Oh Allah, make the best part of my life be the end of my life. And the best of my deeds be the last of them. And the best of my days be the day upon which I will meet You.
