Once again the holy month of Ramadhan is fast approaching us. Fasting in Ramadhan is not only an act of worship and devotion and a means to nourish taqwa (piety) but has also been characterised as an act of gratefulness to Allah for His great bounty of true hidayat (guidance) in the form of the Qur’ān. In fact, the best way of expressing gratitude for someone’s bounty or kindness is to prepare oneself, to the best of one’s ability, to achieve the purpose for which that bounty has been bestowed.
The Qur’ān has been revealed so that we may know the way that leads to Allah’s pleasure, follow that way ourselves and direct the world along it. Fasting is an excellent means by which to prepare ourselves for shouldering this task. Hence fasting during the month of the revelation of the Qur’ān is more than an act of worship and more than an excellent course of moral training. It is also an appropriate form for the expression of our thankfulness to Allah for the gift of the Qur’ān. Therefore, it’s time for us to get ready and prepare ourselves to make the best of it. On getting closer to the Qur’ān we find ayaat 183 to 187 which are related to Ramadhan. So, in the first part of this article it is better to refresh ourselves in the light of the above mentioned ayaat.
“O’ you who believe! fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you.” Allah the Exalted says that He has ordained fasting for us as He ordained it for previous nations namely the Jews and the Christians. “So that you may learn self-restraint.” Fasting is a means for restraining and controlling our nafs. It purifies our souls and cleanses them from the evil and ill behaviour. Through fasting, we are able to guard ourselves against evil.
The very next ayat 184 says: “(Fasting) for a fixed number of days. But if any of you is ill or on a journey the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (with hardship) is a ransom: the feeding of one that is indigent.” The injunctions related to Fasting were revealed gradually. In the beginning Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) instructed the Muslims to observe fast for three days in a month but it was not made obligatory. Then the hukm (command) of fasting in Ramadhan was revealed but there was an option for a sick person, a traveller and for those who did not wish to fast, to pay Fidyah (compensation in the form of feeding a poor person) instead. But this concession was later abrogated in the next ayah. “But he that will give more of his own free will it is better for him” i.e. whoever can feed an extra person will be well rewarded. “And it is better for you that you fast if you only knew.” This was abrogated in the next ayah when fasting in Ramadhan was made obligatory.
“Ramadhan is the month in which was sent down the Qur’ān.” We all know that it was in the month of Ramadhan in which the complete Qur’ān was revealed to the Holy Prophet in Layla-tul-Qadr (the Night of Decree). The Qur’ān was revealed in two stages. At first, Allah the Exalted sent the Qur’ān down all in one go (i.e. in its totality) from the Preserved Tablet to Baytul-Izzah (the House of Might), which is in the heaven of this world. Then it came down in parts to the Messenger of Allah in the context of the historical incidents that occurred over a period of thirty-two years “as a guide to mankind also clear signs for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong).”
This Book is the guidance for Muttaqoon (Allah-fearing and the righteous) who believe in it and follow its ahkam (commands) and it contains clear and unmistakable signs and criterion between haq-o-batil (right and wrong) for those who understand and have discerning minds.
“So every one of you who is present during that month should spend it in fasting”. This ayah abrogated the ayah that allows a person either to fast in Ramadhan or pay Fidyah. “But if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later.” This ayah indicates that a sick person or a traveller is allowed not to fast, but he will have to compensate the missed fast on other days. “Allah intends every facility for you and He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has guided you, so that you may be grateful to Him.”
Allah the Exalted has made matters easier for His servants and through His mercy He allows a sick person or a traveller to refrain from fasting in Ramadhan and then complete the number in other days, so that His servants glorify Him and be grateful to Him for these concessions. This shows that fasting in Ramadhan has not only been prescribed as a form of worship or training of a Muslim but also to show gratitude for the great favour of the revelation of the Qur’ān in the holy month of Ramadhan .
“When my servants ask thee (O’ Muhammad) concerning Me, tell them I am indeed close to them. I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me.” Even though people can neither see Allah nor subject Him to any other form of sense perception, this should not make them feel that Allah is remote from them. On the contrary, Allah the Exalted is very near to all of us, even nearer than the jugular vein. He is so near to us that He even answers those requests and prayers which we do not express verbally but keep within the innermost recesses of the heart. He hears every cry of help and gives to His devotee that which is best in his interest, known to Him alone in His infinite wisdom. Further Allah the Exalted says: “Therefore, they should respond to Me and put their trust in Me, so that they may be rightly guided.” This means a person should answer and reciprocate by acting on the ahkam (commandments) of Allah the Exalted, and have firm belief in Him so that he may be guided to the right path and veridical knowledge.
“Permitted to you on the night of the fasts is the approach to your wives.” In the beginning Muslims who observed fast supposed that they were not allowed to eat, drink or have sexual intercourse with their wives even after Isha prayer, but Allah the Exalted made the matters easier for them and allowed eating and drinking, along with having sexual activities, during any part of the night until the light of dawn is distinguished from the darkness of night. “They are your garments. And you are their garments.” i.e. As clothes and the body are closed to each other, in the same way husband and wife are closely related to each other and a source of mutual comfort to each other.
“Allah knows what you used to do secretly among yourselves, but He turned to you and forgave you, so now have conjugal relations with them and seek what Allah hath ordained for you.” Although Muslims used to refrain from sexual intercourse after Isha prayer, but still there were some sahaba (Companions) who confessed to the Prophet that they had some food and had sexual intercourse with their wives during the Ramadhan nights. So this ayah was revealed and Allah the Exalted forgave them and gave them permission to approach their wives during the night of Ramadhan.
Further Allah the Exalted says: “And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn appears to you distinct from its black thread, then complete your fast till the night appears.” The Muslims were given permission to eat, drink and have sexual intercourse in the night until the light of dawn is distinguished from the darkness of the night. The sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) indicates the encouragement of eating Suhur just before dawn.
“But do not approach your wives while you are in retreat in the mosques.” This ayah refers to those who stay in I’tikaf in a mosque. Allah the Exalted prohibited the Muslims to have sexual intercourse with their wives until one finishes his I’tikaf. “Those are limits (set by) Allah, do not ever violate them. Thus Allah makes His revelations clear to mankind so that they may guard themselves against evil.” Allah the Exalted has made clear His revelations to mankind. He explained in detail what He has allowed and what He has prohibited in fasting. And He commanded His servants not to transgress the limits set by Him, so that they may acquire righteousness.
May Allah make Ramadhan easier and fruitful for all of us and may we pass the holy month under the light and guidance of the above mentioned ayaat, amin.