Miscellaneous - Religion   

Day of thanksgiving

CHENNAI: Ramadhan, the ninth lunar month in the Islamic calendar, heralds the season of fasting for Muslims who begin the fast at the sight of the Ramadhan new moon, abstaining not only from food, drink, and sexual pleasures but also from foul speech and action. It provides alleviation under special circumstances.

The Holy Quran says, “O ye, who believe Fasting is prescribed to you, as it was prescribed before you that you may (learn) self-restrain. It is an armour against all evil thoughts and deed.” Fasting is pre-Islamic. All teachers, saints and seekers of truth, in every age and clime, practised fasting. It was given to Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) to institutionalise the fasting hours by partaking of pre-dawn food called “sehri” and breaking it immediately after sunset called “iftar”, and it is a sight to see our non-Muslim brethren joining the Muslims in “iftar”, a wholesome demonstration of brotherhood of man and oneness of God.

Fasting is not broken at random. And it is not a retreat from normal life, but a life to be led full of virtue and kindness in the remaining 11 months of the year also. Fasting embellishes the soul to attain perfection. It was during this sacred month that the first revelation of the Holy Quran was made to Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), the last Messenger of God, for the guidance of mankind and for disciplining life and restoring it to its pristine purity. The spiritual discipline enhances doing good to humanity. Fasting helps man to develop close affinity with his benevolent Creator and also “abstinence from the sins associated with the ear, eye, tongue, hand and the sins of the heart and mind.” Fasting bridges the gulf between the rich and the poor, as the rich also experience the pangs of hunger and their thoughts go to the poor and the deprived to alleviate their sufferings.

The culmination of fasting is celebrated as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty Allah by offering prayer in open spaces and mosques in congregation before noon, and it is incumbent on them that “sadqa” (charity ordained before Eid prayer) is given to the poor and the needy.

K.S. Ahmed Pasha,

Ambur

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Cartoonscape
The Hindu Crossword 9342
Solution to Puzzle 9341
Day of thanksgiving
dated October 1, 1958: Import policy
dated October 1, 1958: Local administration
dated October 1, 1958: Wildlife week
Weather

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu