Good Work!

Please keep it up. In these days of crisis of confidence among religions, it is our duty to convey Islamic teachings to the non-muslim community. This will help improve relations between communities.

Dr Shariq Nisar

Thanks for giving us the insight to Ramadan. Indeed, it must take lot of self control to not eat anything for the whole day for 30 days.
I used to think that only Hindus have this practice of self control to take mind from lower bodily desires to higher desires toward spirituality and divin qualities of love and compassion for all.

It appears we have all these different religions but all are trying to lead us from our lower mind to higher mind. thanks

Shambhu Nath, Shakopee, MN

There are some people who think the purpose is to inflict starvation on one's self but it is really to learn spiritual discipline and self restraint. Although it seems really hard, the body gets used to fasting after a few days and the rewards last, especially if you repeat the same thing each day. I've been able to study for the GRE and go to grad school, exercise, get my wishes granted, and do many other things. There are other ways to go through changes and to worship, but this is one I've found effective so its not as much about social pressures as it is about personal conviction.

This article should be recommended to any person of faith, as fasting is truly a Universal principle, known to assist in healing and purification on so many levels, regardless of religious, spiritual or other belief systems. Just do it, and you will experience the wonderful, often long term effects. http://www.HealingNews.com

Thanks Mike it is well written post, keep up the good work, do not be deterred from the few loud mouth who thrives on sh ism and violence.
AJ Huss

Hi Mike
I am going to start by hadith of our prophet Mohammed,
"Ramadan is a month whose beginning is Mercy, whose middle is Forgiveness and whose end is freedom from the fire."
Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, has drawn attention in various ways towards the real aim of fasting and has explained that to be hungry and thirsty without keeping in view the objective is in no way useful. He said: “Whoever did not give up lying and practicing falsehood, Allah is in no need of his giving up food and water”. In another Hadith he said: “Many are the fasters whose fasting does not bring them anything except hunger and thirst and many are those who keep standing in the night but their standing does not bring anything except being awake in the night”. The purport of both these Hadiths is quite plain. It means that being merely hungry and thirsty is not by itself ‘`Ibadat’ but an instrument of performing real ‘`Ibadat’. And real ‘`Ibadat’ consists in not violating the law of Allah for fear of Allah, and for the love of Allah an eager pursuit of every such work as would please Him, and lastly avoidance of satisfying corporeal urges as far as possible. Whoever remained heedless of this real ‘`Ibadat’, unnecessarily caused inconvenience to his stomach with hunger and thirst.

Thanks to the author for an excellent and timely article and to the following reader who catches its essence and shares it with us:

Fasting is done out of deep love for God, with a genuine virtue of devotion, honest dedication and closeness to Allah, for Fasting is for Allah and Him alone.
In reality fasting brings silent revolution. Those who have understand or recognize who does not have. This recognition leads to equality. All the Islamic Pillars (Proclamation of One GOD, Prayers, Ramadan Fasting, alms to the poor –zakat – and Hajj) emphasizes equality.
Thus Universe become peaceful, minds become peaceful, community become peaceful. No Hurts exists, but Love.
Prathiba from India

Religion is a great formula for human beings to bring peace, balance and tranquility to one and what surrounds them; people and environment.

Most people work the formula, a few don't. There will always be a small percentage of people who violate the social, religous, or moral guidelines.

A majority of the people in every group understand the essence of religion and few don't. Let's look at the world from general terms rather than exceptions.

thanks

As mentioned in the article Ramadan is all about sacrifice, charity, mercy and rememberence of Allah abundantly. It is the month in which the complete and final book Quran descended. This is the book that Allah has made Islam as final and complete religion for mankind. Faith must be practiced and not be followed.

Ramadan is like a fuel station where Muslims go and refuel their spirituality/creed/faith. They submit to Allah with hunger, immence self-humiliation by sacrificing their eye,mouth,tounge usage by remembering and submitting to Allah. This is month that every mankind should remember those misfortunate poor people in Africa, Asia, Afghanistan, Middleeast who are struggling to for a single day meal or water.

Muslims must always remember these needy people on the planet and donate generously as this is the month immence rewards and mercy from Allah swt. This is month to clean up their wealth by giving Zakat, 2.5% of their wealth. Zakat has been made mandatory for Muslims and this is the month of the fiscal year where a Muslim must pay their Zakat.

Muslims must limit their fancy iftaars, gossip and other social iftaar parties and turn their attention towards acheiving salvation by fasting,reading quran and praying at Mosque in cogregation. Muslims must also express their love, caring attitude towards their immediate family members, relatives and friends, and the most important will be our non-muslim friends.

Mosques/Muslim Organizations must and should host iftaar parties to bring in their non muslims friends, city counsels, police/fire departments to give them an overview of Ramadan and its importance to Muslims. This is a must do activity which majority of the Muslims organizations fail to organize.

Even though this month brings Muslims more close to Allah swt, but unfortunately Muslims tend to practice their faith in this month and leaving behind the remaining 11 months in business as usual mode. Muslims shoud fill up their heart with imaan/faith/rememberance of Allah such that Ramadan should become a foundation month to maintain your spirituality for the rest of the 11 months.

Asif Akbar, Irving TX

I fully agree with the comments of Kumar. For many well to do Muslims Ramadan is the party-time. It is like Christmas here in USA. For the entire month of December the work slows down, at least in corporations, because there are office party during the day almost every other day. There are gift exchanges and in the evening there are private parties. Then last half of December is the holiday season and those who can afford spend the time in warmer climes or holiday resorts... so much for the spirit of Christ(mas). So Kumar is right, during Ramadan, as in Christmas, those who can afford to do good, they do not do it to themselves (i.e. lower that cholesterol or loose some pounds. But because Ramadan is also a period when Muslims engage in charitable giving, it does do some good to many poor Muslims. If there was no such obligation,even that much good would not come to those deprived. However, the spririt of Ramdan (Sanskrit: dan=giving, Ram=God, thus giving in the name of God) is recharge those instincts of self-abnegation
and continue for the rest of the year, not stop after Ramdan or Christmas or Hindu/Jain fasting in which diamonds/money is thrown in the streets of India on certain holy ceremonies but 400 millions continue to struggle in their daily 'jihad' while temples accumulate tons of gold from the deveotees... Religion, be it Islam, Christianity or any other can easily slip in preposterous perversity. However, Pratibha (a Muslim with Hindu name or a Hindu with Muslim spirit) has done well to point to real spirit of the season which is All-love from Allah for 'Peace on Earth'!
Ramadan emphasizes the power and permanence of the Spirit over the ephemeral body, - that human beings are more than the sum-total of their physical, biological or psychological selves...!

Wasim in US of All (ah!)

For Muslims, the start of Ramadan this year in radically different than a year ago
www.dailyexception.com

As we enter the month of Ramadan, it is a good opportunity to take a pause and look back at how much has changed over this past year. True, most problems are still to be resolved. Questions of governance, war and economic inequality all remain. However, there is a difference – a tangible one – and one from the most unlikely of places, the life story of the President himself. The election of Barack Hussein Obama simultaneously removed the man that the Muslim World had come to hate more than any other (George W Bush) and also marked the moment that the world’s only superpower was led by someone with an innate understanding of Islam, given that Islam was the faith of his own father.

Full post on www.dailyexception.com

Nice article and expresses the true meaning of Ramdhan. This month is all about purifying our bodies, our minds and our outlook to life in general. It also helps us to build self control. It is a time to share with others who are less fortunate.

There have been good and bad comments from people. Probably who do not truly understand the meaning of Ramadhan have a different idea. I urge them to talk to a friend of a muslim faith who can explain in more detail.

Peace to all.

Mike, thank you for sharing your wisdom and compassion.
I especially related to this:
"The fasting of the stomach must be matched by the fasting of the limbs. . . . for example - lies, backbiting, slander, vulgarity and senseless argumentation - must be challenged and curbed to maintain the integrity of the fast."
and this:
"Our hardness of heart often springs from our distance from the human condition of others."

Yet while reading comments posted by others, many seem to not get the connection between fasting as a spiritual practice, to get in touch with our inner self, and fasting as just an 'I have to do it' mindless practice. Like so many other things we do in our lives, we can either choose to get in touch with our inner self and our spirituality, or we can be on auto-pilot, mindlessly racing through life. It becomes a personal choice, one (I) must recognize and acknowledge this for it to have any significant impact or meaning in their (my) life.
Again, thank you!

Great post, Mike!
What's really ironic but equally sad is how some Muslims emphasise heavily on the abstaining of food, drinks and sex from dawn to dusk, but still talk dirty, slander etc. when fasting.
So in effect, they abstain from what is normally permissible, and indulge in what is never permissible .. and think it's alright!

the real purpose of ramadan is to replace individual identity with the group islamic identity

giving cult members stupid pointless tasks to do, LIKE STARVING THEMSELVES, erodes their sense of individual self

ramadan is a sham. islam is dangerous.

You have done some justice Mike, to the spirit of Ramadhan with the following:
“For fasting to be truly universal, its benefits must extend beyond the fraternal ties of Muslims ( and culinary delights as you say) and must extend to forging a common humanity with others”.
One may infer that Muslims are therefore suppose to “invite” as many non-Muslim friends of ones circle to share the iftaar (breaking of the fast culinary delights!). This goes without saying, but essentially one does not have to go hungry to indulge in such social activity.

The following quote from one of the comments is therefore very note worthy, as it sums up the purpose of Ramadhan:-
“look around who is in need of your assistance reach them and give it in a manner that the other hand does not know”. This is applicable in Ramadhan with more vigor than normal,not only the culinary delights of the missed lunch, but part of all other human pleasures and delights, in order to share with the needy.
Customarily Muslim house holds spends at least twice as much on food in Ramadhan, as on the normal day. Then go to traawhee ritual to digest all that.
It defeats the spirit of Ramadhan of experiencing the pangs that have nots go through in their life.
Rashid
Western Australia

THE REAL PURPOSE OF FASTING IS TO ALLOW THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM TO REJUVENATE ITSELF BY SECRETING JUICES AND STORED SUGAR IN LIVER AS GLYCOGEN TO BE PUMPED BACK INTO THE BLOOD FOR ENERGY.

PERIODICAL FASTINGS IS PROMOTED BY ALL FAITHS SINCE TIMES IMMEMORIAL.

BUT, IS ISLAMIC FASTING IN RAMADAN REAL FASTING? OR FEASTING?

IT IS ONLY REVERSING THE DAY TO NIGHT AND VICE VERSA!!

WHILE MUSLIMS FAST FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET, THEY FEAST WITH RICHEST FOOD OF MEAT, CARBOHYDRATES, FATS AND SUGAR APLENTY IN THE ELABORATE DINNERS PREPARED IN IFTARS, THE FOOD TAKEN SOON AFTER BREAKING FAST AFTER SUNSET, AT MIDNIGHT AND AGAIN BEFORE SUNRISE!!

IS IT REAL FASTING OR JUST FOR 30 DAYS YOU ALL TURN DAYS INTO NIGHTS BY SLEEPING THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND EATING TO THE BRIM THROUGHOUT THE NIGHTS?

Dear Sir,

Fasting is done out of deep love for God, with a genuine virtue of devotion, honest dedication and closeness to Allah, for Fasting is for Allah and Him alone.

In reality fasting brings silent revolution. Those who have understand or recognize who does not have. This recognition leads to equality. All the Islamic Pillars (Proclamation of One GOD, Prayers, Ramadan Fasting, alms to the poor –zakat – and Hajj) emphasizes equality.

Thus Universe become peaceful, minds become peaceful, community become peaceful. No Hurts exists, but Love.

Prathiba from India

Islam believes in inner purification. Physical purification can not be achieved without the inner. Month of Ramadan is just a lesson in that direction.

If one studies the spiritual attainments of various Aulia,(Saints) they emphasized on inner purification through constant prayer and fasting.

Fasting without praying is nothing but a hunger strike. During this month, the doors of Hell are shut, every faithful is encouraged to be patient, polite and sacrifice for others. You share with others what you have, you feed the hungry, clothe the poor and also provide them with cash so they can meet some of their needs.

Those who earn in millions and do no give in the way of Allah have certainly lost on the blessings of Allah; without His blessings life is meaningless.

So, please brothers and sisters in faith keep your ears and eyes open, look around who is in need of your assistance reach them and give it in a manner that the other hand does not know.

Islam does not allow to expose the needs and the condition of the needy nor it allows anyone to make fun of the poor by exposing them to public through media or any other means; never try to elevate yourself at their cost or try and raise your status in the eyes of the others. His hijab, sanctity and dignity has to be maintained, so Allah would maintain yours.

Islam is a synthesis of Judaism & Christianity upon the authority of the Quran itself. You can only appreiciate Islam in its Judo-Christian context. As to the fasting in other religions, Al Beruni while travelling to India in 10th century describes many different fasting traditions of Hindus. Last year, I was at an 'iftar' at a friend's. I was introduced to a gentleman by the host who I thought was the new Indian Consul General who was supposed to be the chief guest. This gentleman refused to eat or drink anything even that late in the evening saying in his Hindu tradition of fasting they eat only once during twenty four hours. He will eat or drink only next evening, he said. When I got home and found my glasses to read his business-card: It turned out, he was a Pakistani born Hindu billionaire, one of the several brothers. Traditional discipline had taken the family far as a conglomerate of successful businessmen! One wishes AIG and Citibanks of the world had not forgotten that critical significance of descipline. Al Biruni noted in his now classic travelogue only authoritative account of India of that period, that the essence of the Hindu religion is same as Islam. Al Biruni was writing 200 years before any Muslim dynasty was founded in India nor there was any Muslim populations centers requiring him to engage in an interfaith dialogue. He was commenting based on his observations in contemporaneous India of 10-11th century.

Without "discipline", life of any kind and from any faith, cannot be successful and remarkable.

Ramadan is the month of training of such discipline in a Muslim's life. It is a blessing, that cannot be expressed in words, only experienced with full faith and humility.

Mike Uncle, your article does complete justice to the beauty of Ramadan. May God Most Exalted shower all mankind with His blessings, Ameen!

"Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book.
Ramadan is a special month of the year for over one billion Muslims throughout the world. It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control. Muslims think of it as a kind of tune-up for their spiritual lives.
Thanks Mike for your informative article,i am forwarding your Ramadan article to my family and friends.

Thanks for your informative and educational article.
The essence of all religions have the same inner core, only the outer core differs in the forms of rites and rituals.
Instead of condemning others, we should try and accept others
to make this world a better place for all of us.

Dear friends, you are good at googling and sending the comments to my personal email; whether it is good, bad or ugly, please post it at this site where the article is published.

In Dallas we are set for the 5th Annual Unity Day USA

You and your friends are invited to the 5th Annual Unity Day USA.

WHAT: On this Unity Day USA, we, the people of the United States of America of every faith, race, ethnicity, culture and background will gather to express our desire to co-exist in peace, and pray for the unity, safety and well being of our nation.

WHEN: Please mark your calendar for 5:00 PM on Sunday, September 6 at Unity Church of Dallas, 6525 Forest Lane, (between Hillcrest & Preston), Dallas Texas. 75230.

If you would like to be a volunteer, donor, sponsor or would like to list your organization to participate, please log on to www.UnitydayUSA.Com

“This is an annual event for Americans to come together and look to each other as American and nothing but American. We will rededicate our pledge to the safety and security of our nation”.

God Bless America;
One Nation under God with Liberty and Justice for all

Mike Ghouse
Chair, Unity Day USA,
(214) 325-1916 –email: UnitydayUSA@gmail.com
Website: www.UnitydayUSA.com

Thanks, Mike. Ramadan teaches to be more compassionate to our fellow human being. It makes us realize what hunger is and how we should control our feelings. We, Muslims, should invite our friends and neighbors to share our food at the time of iftar (in the evening).

Zafar Iqbal, PhD
Washington

Thanks Mike, It is very well written article about Ramadan. The month of Ramadan is also very special for families and friends. It was a very special month for me as a child because it bonded us even more as a family. We ate both meals together and lots of friends and family members were a part of the festivities. People prayed together and it was my favorite thing to do as a child.

This year American Muslim Voice along with Multifaith groups and community organizations is sharing the spirit of Ramadan with Iftar and candle light vigil. “Light the Night for Peace & Friendship” www.amuslimvoice.org.

On Friday September 11th 2009, we will have Iftar (breaking of the Ramadan fast) and a candle light vigil at Lafayette Park (in front of the White House) in Washington DC to spread the "Miracle Movement of Peace and Friendship." We will honor 9/11 victims and their families by sowing the seed of peace and friendship. Together we can build a safe secure, peaceful and harmonious world.

Thanks for your article and a reminder Mike. Now we just need to extend the spirit and intent beyond the month of Ramadan in order to make a lasting change in our lives.

In addition to fasting, Muslims read the entire Qur'an. Some Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, which are held in the mosques every night of the month. Everyday 1/30th Qur'an recital takes place. Therefore the entire Qur'an would be completed at the end of the month.

Among Hindus too, fasting is not only a part of worship, but a great instrument for self-discipline too. It is a training of the mind and the body to endure and harden up against all hardships, to persevere under difficulties and not give up. But Hindus generally keep fast once a week or once a fortnight. They eat once a day as per convenience.

According to Hindu philosophy, food means gratification of the senses and to starve the senses is to elevate them to contemplation.

Luqman, the wise once said, "When the stomach is full, the intellect begins to sleep. Wisdom becomes mute and the parts of the body restrain from acts of righteousness." Fasting helps arousing that intellect too.

Jains also fast during rainy season called 'Chaumasa'. Like Ramadan, they observe fasting during an eight day period, which is presently running. They completely abstain from food, water etc. but the duration is optional from a day to full eight days. At the end of eight day period they observe ख्मत्खावना, means they beg forgiveness from all for their sins during the preceding year.

In essence all religions of the world have many rituals in common, differing in form, but the spirit behind the rituals is the same viz. purification of the soul.

Excellent! Ramadan is a wonderful reminder to all faiths of the discipline we all need to practice in order to live in union with each other as God intended.
Thanks from a grateful Episcopalian, Mike, for a profound and beautiful explanation of Ramadan.